Donors to give Bangladesh 2 mln dollar as bird flu aid

DHAKA, May 29 (Reuters) The World Bank and other international donor agencies will give Bangladesh 2 million dollar to help the South Asian nation prepare to fight any bird flu outbreak.

No bird flu cases have been reported in Bangladesh so far.

But health officials have said the country is potentially at risk after outbreaks in neighbouring India and Myanmar.

A World Bank statement issued yesterday said the aid was part of the World Bank's Global Programme for Avian Influenza (GPAI), which has earmarked 500 million dollar to enable countries to strengthen their capacity to reduce the possibility of an outbreak, and deal with one if it occurs.

Avian flu has spread at an alarming rate in recent months, sweeping through parts of Europe, into Africa, and flaring anew in Asia.

REUTERS AD BST1304