Government to allocate over 1.3 billion rubles to fight bird flu domestically

MOSCOW, February 2. The government plans to allocate over 1.3 billion rubles ($46.43 million) to combat bird flu inside the country, Health and Social Development Minister Mikhail Zurabov told journalists Thursday after a Cabinet meeting that discussed the issue.

The minister added that the plan of measures submitted to the Cabinet by the ministries concerned envisages development of a vaccine against avian influenza, inoculation of domestic poultry, expansion of laboratories recording outbreaks of the disease, purchasing of diagnostic equipment and expendables, and specialist training.

According to Zurabov, within the next few days funding allocations will be agreed with the Finance Ministry, and a relevant government regulating document will be adopted to deal with bird flu.

In addition Russia will assign more than 330 million rubles ($11.79 million) to strengthen the logistic infrastructure of institutions dealing with the problem in Russia and equip and develop the laboratories in CIS countries.

Russia will also contribute $1 million to a campaign against bird flu to be launched by a trust fund managed by the World Bank, the minister said.

He indicated that the money would be transferred to the fund as part of G8 international initiatives to counter the spread of the illness.