Plans for bird flu fighting fund

Some 120 countries pledged to pay up to US$1.5 billion to an "insurance policy" fund to limit the fall-out created by the global bird flu epidemic, the Financial Times reported. The idea of a fund, proposed by the World Bank and United Nations, was discussed by government and health authorities from around the world when they met in Beijing for talks on combating the H5N1 virus. Money raised will go to upgrading health and veterinary services in affected countries, with a large share going to Asia.