Australia is to provide 3 million dollars (US$2.25 million) to the World Health Organization (WHO) to fight against A/H1N1 flu, the Australian government announced on Tuesday.

The funds will be used to improve detection, surveillance and emergency preparedness in developing countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

Australia's contribution includes 1.5 million dollars (US$1.12 million) to assist countries in the region strengthen their capacity to respond to pandemic outbreaks and 1.5 million dollars to support WHO's Global Pandemic Response Plan.

In 2006, Australia committed 100 million dollars (US$75.1 million) over four years to help the region detect, prevent and respond to pandemics and other emerging infectious diseases. Australia said the support had done much to boost the ability of those countries to respond to the current outbreak.