The US Agency for International Development pledged US$5 million to Cambodia's Avian

Influenza program. The September 27 USAID agreement says the funding should be used

to help the government strengthen its human and animal surveillance systems; develop

disease outbreak response capability; improve laboratory diagnostic capacity; and

fund Bird Flu awareness campaigns. Other US agencies including the Center for Disease

Control and Prevention and the Department of Agriculture are already providing assistance.

According to a US Embassy press release, US government assistance to Cambodia's health

sector this year will total more than $37 million.