Bird flu pandemic fears: 'No time to waste'

The UN and the World Bank told international donors today that they must prepare for a potential flu pandemic that could kill millions worldwide and result in economic costs far greater than the $1.5bn (€1.2bn) now needed.

“The decisions you make today will shape the ways we work together. There’s no time to waste. Let’s ensure that we are ready,” UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a taped address on the second day of a funding conference in Beijing.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said China would donate $10m (€8.2m) to help fight the H5N1 virus in poor countries and to help prepare for a potential pandemic.

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said through a taped message that the bank would make $500m (€411m) available through a loan.

The bank and United Nations have estimated that up to $1.5bn (€1.2bn) will be needed over the next three years to tackle the threat in poor countries.

International donors were expected to make their pledges today, and there were hopes the target amount would be exceeded.

“Money is not the only answer, but without it nothing can be done,” said Dr Lee Jong-Wook, director-general of the World Health Organisation.

Bird flu has killed at least 79 people in Asia and Turkey since 2003.

Health experts fear it could mutate into a form that spreads easily from person to person, possibly sparking a pandemic that kills millions.

So far, most human cases have been traced to contact with infected birds.