Thailand has demonstrated its commitment to spearhead regional efforts to halt the spread of avian flu, announcing that it was joining hands with China's Hong Kong to set up the world's first bank of influenza vaccines and anti-viral drugs, the Thai News Agency reported.

While attending a meeting of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Public Health Minister Suchai Charoenratanakul said that he had secured the deal during discussions with Hong Kong Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Dr. York Chow.

The agreement forged between Thailand and Hong Kong also included the establishment of a joint bank of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.

The bank, which will also store vaccines, will serve as a regional resource, to be drawn on by Asian countries and regions should an outbreak of influenza emerge.

Currently, Thailand has a stockpile of 300,000 doses, and Hong Kong has managed to store up to 3 million.

The second aspect of the deal will involve the exchange of experts to control and prevent the spread of avian flu.

While Hong Kong is quite professional in laboratory diagnosis, Thailand has considerable expertise in epidemiology, said Suchai.

Joint research will also be conducted under the agreement, with the two sides pledging to exchange laboratory samples of viruses.

"This will help ease the burden on the World Health Organization (WHO) and help boost the confidence of the global population," he noted.

Source: Xinhua