Kuwait has reported two cases of bird flu - the first report of the virus in the Persian Gulf region.
The head of the Public Agricultural Authority Sheikh Fahd Salem al-Sabah said Thursday the cases were discovered in two birds and that at least one was a migrating fowl. It is not clear if the birds were carrying the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.
Meanwhile, China has reported two new outbreaks of bird flu among poultry in the northeastern province of Liaoning, bringing the total number of reported outbreaks in the country over the past month to six.
Wednesday in Geneva, the World Bank said it plans to provide $1 billion to pandemic programs, while the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agricultural Organization said another $500 million will be needed to fight the disease in animals.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.