Australia to Aid Asia in Bird Flu Fight

Australia is expected to provide technical and veterinary support as part of a global effort to combat the avian influenza outbreak.

Australia is expected to provide technical and veterinary support as part of a global effort to combat the avian influenza outbreak.The nation’s chief vet, Gardner Murray, says Federal Government officials are waiting to see what comes out of a meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome next week before firming up its commitment. Mr Murray says the meeting is expected to develop a coordinated plan to help Asian nations stop the spread of the deadly virus.”We’re not sending people to individual countries unless we have an international effort so that we can work in a cohesive way,” he said. “A number of these organisations really want to use our expertise to help in the control area.”(Source: ABC Health News, JAN 2004)