The European Commission today backed the setting up of a stockpile of bird flu anti-viral medicine as long as EU governments agree to pay for it.
As a fourth victim, a teenage girl, died in Turkey of the H5N1 strain of the virus, a commission spokesman confirmed that a report on the feasibility of a stockpile was being prepared and would be presented to EU leaders in June at the latest.
The EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner, Markos Kyprianou, has been asked by EU leaders to look into the issue, although not all member states are yet convinced that a centralised European stockpile is required.
Earlier, the United Nations and the World Bank said it is hoped that more than $1 billion can be raised at an international donors' conference which is under way in Beijing.
Representatives from nearly 90 countries and 20 international groups are attending the meeting, which has been organised by the World Bank, China and the European Union.
The World Bank estimates that between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion will be needed to prepare for and respond to any outbreaks.
