The United States Agency for International Development has allotted $20 million for the Food and Agriculture Organization’s efforts to study and prevent avian influenza and other potentially pandemic zoonotic pathogens. Most of the money will go to countries in Southeast Asia, a hot zone for emerging diseases due to the high concentration of people and animals living in close proximity. "The U.S. government has been key in generating international support to combat avian influenza and to reduce the chances for a human pandemic by assisting FAO and others to address the threat in animals before it spills over into humans," said Dr. Juan Lubroth, FAO's chief veterinary officer.