The United States is to give Kazakhstan $40 million over the next two years to aid in the battle against infectious diseases.
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar announced the grant while visiting Almaty Monday. The money will help upgrade a laboratory for the study of plague and other infectious diseases, and for the development of vaccines.
Officials in Kazakhstan Monday reported the death of a four-year-old girl on Saturday from bubonic plague.
During his two-day visit to Kazakhstan Mr. Lugar also discussed nuclear non-proliferation issues with Kazakh officials.