BANGKOK, Thailand -- The US government said Monday it contributed US$1.55 million (euro1.21 million) for a new bird flu surveillance and control project in Vietnam and Laos.

The US Agency for International Development's regional office in collaboration with other agencies will help train health and animal workers to recognize and report suspected bird flu cases and improve sanitation and biosecurity on poultry farms to prevent outbreaks.

The H5N1 bird flu virus has ravaged poultry farms across Asia and has spread to humans, killing at least 141 people in Asia and Africa, including 42 people in Vietnam, according to the World Health Organization. Laos has reported bird flu outbreaks in poultry, but no human cases.

The USAID statement said that that the agency has provided more than US$41 million (euro32 million) for bird flu projects in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.