Fighting Flu In South Asia

Massey University has received $5 million from the World Bank to develop an on-line project which will fight animal-borne diseases that can transmit to humans, such as bird flu and rabies, in South Asia. The university project will develop “One Health Hubs” which will link with other specialists across the region. The project is part of an education program to strengthen Asian public health and veterinary capacity to fight zoonotic diseases, such as avian influenza, rabies, brucellosis and anthrax. One Health Hub project manager Dr Peter Jolly (right) said: “Through building intellectual capacity in the region, control of endemic and emerging zoonotic diseases, can be undertaken using an integrated approach that involves both veterinary and public health specialists.”