A new Avian flu center, created by the World Bank, has awarded its first grant to Laos for projects aimed at controlling and preparing for bird flu outbreaks.
The Avian and Human Influenza Facility announced Tuesday that it approved a $2 million grant for Laos.
The center was created by the World Bank with donations from eight donor agencies, including the European Commission. It says the grants are to help developing countries prepare and implement action plans designed to reduce the social and economic impact of the bird flu virus.
The bank's department that processes grants for the Avian Flu facility says it is committed to helping Laos make sure its people can benefit from quality public health care as well as reforms in the animal health system.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.
