FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 24 October2015]
http://www.fao.org/news/archive/news-by-date/2015/en/
U.S. backs FAO efforts to combat global animal disease threats with $87 million
Ebola, MERS-CoV and H5N1 avian influenza among diseases with human health implications and pandemic potential being targeted in Africa, Middle East and Asia
20 October 2015, Rome – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is backing FAO’s efforts to combat pandemic animal disease threats in Asia, Africa and the Middle East with an additional $87 million in funding covering the 2015-19 period.

USAID and FAO have worked in partnership on controlling animal diseases and managing related human health threats for over a decade. USAID financial backing for this work now amounts to $320 million since 2004.

The new funds will support monitoring and surveillance, epidemiological studies, prevention and control activities as well as improving veterinary capacities in Asia, Africa and the Middle East and promoting links between animal health specialists and the public health sector.

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva thanked the U.S. for its support and longstanding partnership. “This shows how important transboundary diseases are for FAO and the UN system, and how much more important they will be in in the future if we want to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said. “Millions of people rely on livestock for survival, income and nutrition, and their livelihoods must be protected,” he said…