Egyptian Minister of Health Dr Hatem el-Gabali affirmed on Tuesday the importance of international coordination to deal with any potential bird flu pandemic.

Dr Gabali regretted channelling most of the funds used for combating the disease into Asia at the expense of Africa despite the fact that the continent was facing the same problems associated with bird flu.

During the inauguration of the second world conference on coordinating communications in case of a bird flu pandemic, the Minister thanked the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its regional office for east of the Mediterranean for its cooperation with Egypt since the first case of avian flu appeared in Egypt on February 16 of last year.

He added that Egypt was facing a virulent strain of the bird flu which could not be controlled 100 per cent.