ROMANIA TO RECEIVE $37.7 MILLION FOR BIRD FLU PREPAREDNESS

The World Bank has approved a new loan to Romania in the amount of $37.7 million for the Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response project. The project has been prepared within the framework of the Global Program for Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response, which includes production and distribution of antiviral drugs and vaccines.

Romania's wealth of waterfowl habitats in the Danube Delta, coupled with an abundance of backyard poultry, creates a risk of human infection and presents the danger the infection could spread to poultry and humans in other countries in the region, according to the World Bank.

The project will support a national program to increase Romania's avian and human influenza preparedness. The objective of the project is to reduce the threat posed to humans and the poultry sector in Romania by and to support the preparation for, control of and response to influenza pandemics and other infectious disease emergencies in humans. To achieve this, the project will support activities in the areas of prevention, preparedness and contingency planning.