The World Bank last week approved a $18.2 million grant to support the Nepal government's efforts to minimise the threat posed to humans by the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The Avian Influenza Control Project is designed to control such infections among birds, especially domestic poultry, and to control and respond to possible human infections, especially an influenza epidemic and related emergencies.

The project will support prevention, preparedness and planning, and response and containment. "This project is aimed at reducing the burden of disease, the consequent economic losses, the risk of human infection, and the loss of productivity attributable to human infections in Nepal," said Ken Ohashi, World Bank Country Director for Nepal.

Nepal has not had any cases, human or animal, of avian flu. However, the flu has been recorded in China and India, and Nepal is at high risk because it is on two migration routes for birds that are known carriers of the disease.