Australia sending bird flu medication to Indonesia
The Australian government said today it would buy 40,000 doses of a bird flu anti-viral medication to help its northern neighbour Indonesia cope with the illness.
Bird flu has killed four people in Indonesia since July, and two other recent fatalities are being investigated.
“This funding will help Indonesia develop a stockpile of Tamiflu which will be used to treat suspected victims and people who have been in immediate close contact with them,” Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in a statement.
Today’s announcement brings the number of Tamiflu courses Australia has pledged to buy for Indonesia to 50,000. The government last week said it would buy 10,000 doses of the anti-viral medicine through the World Health Organisation.
“The Australian government is committed to taking a strong leadership role in combating avian influenza in the Asia Pacific and this assistance demonstrates our intention to work closely with regional partners as they implement their plans to treat victims and prevent spread of the disease,” Downer said.
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