World Bank Bird-Flu Grant

The grant consists of $3 million from the World Bank’s Avian and Human Influenza Facility and another $10 million from the World Bank’s own resources.

“The Bank is committed to helping the poor and vulnerable benefit from quality public health care as well as reforms in the animal health system, to help avert a possible human pandemic with the devastating social and ,economic impacts this would imply,” Arif Zulfiqar, World Bank Head of Department responsible for all Facility Grant Applications.

In April, the avian influenza (H5N1) virus was confirmed across eight locations in Gaza. The World Bank said the increased risk of the virus among domestic poultry results from the proximity of outbreaks in neighboring countries and the high volume of bird migration.