The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) handed over a second donation of key supplies to the Ministry of Livestock Development to help strengthen Sri Lanka’s early warning and reaction capacity against Avian Influenza.

Since 2006, USAID Sri Lanka has worked with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to increase Avian Influenza preparedness activities across the island, in collaboration with the Department of Animal Production and Health. The program has strengthened Sri Lanka’s early warning and early reaction capacity and provided critical preparedness materials to government and private sector stakeholders in the poultry industry.

The new supplies include 1,500 sets of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) – which safeguard government officials and farmers against exposure to infected birds or their manure in responding to an actual or suspected outbreak – donated from USAID in Washington.