ANCHOR: The world's first bird flu center has opened in Thailand. The much-needed facility allows officials to swiftly dispense emergency supplies within 24 hours to infected areas in Asia. STORY: The new facility, which is funded by the United States Agency For International Development (USAID) is the first of three planned regional distribution centers. Supplies of personal protective equipment, decontamination kits, and laboratory kits will be stored in the center. A ceremony to commemorate the opening of the center was attended by the US ambassador to Thailand, Eric G. John, Thai public health officials and leading Avian Influenza experts. [He Change Chui, UN Food & Agricultural Org.]: "The very purpose of this centre is to deliver equipment, commodities in the shortest time possible." The H5N1 virus made the first known jump to humans in Hong Kong in 1997, infecting 18 people and killing six of them. Since then millions of birds have been culled across the world and 235 people have died from the virus. [Oliver Carduner, USAID Director]: "We're able to mobilize these life-saving commodities within 24 hours of the order. Previously when they were based in the United States, depending on the method of shipment, it could takes as long as two to three weeks to move." USAID says bird flu is still a big problem, especially in Asia, and could mutate so that it spreads easily among humans. It could potentially claim 150 million lives in a global pandemic. Global efforts to ...
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Orignal From: Bird Flu Center Opens in Thailand
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