UN farm agency seeks 300 mln dollars to fight bird flu

ROME, May 19 (Reuters) The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) today said it needed 308 million dollars over the next three years to fund its fight against bird flu, twice the amount it estimated was needed a few months ago.

The Rome-based body said it had only received 71 million dollars and complained that public attention was focused too much on the risk to humans, rather than on tackling the disease in birds where it can devastate livelihoods.

''FAO is concerned that international interest is focused almost exclusively on the possibility of avian flu hitting human populations to the neglect of its potentially devastating impact on poultry and other animals,'' it said in a statement.

''The international fight against avian flu must start with increased surveillance and monitoring of poultry and other animals,'' it said. Reporting outbreaks and taking measures such as culling were the next steps -- work the FAO is involved in.

At least 123 people have died from bird flu since 2003, according to the World Health Organisation. The World Bank said in January it would cost 1.2 billion dollars globally to counter the disease, of which 75 million dollars was for animal health measures.

REUTERS DKS KN2207