WASHINGTON, Sept 30: The US Senate passed legislation on Thursday to add $4 billion to the fight against deadly avian flu by stocking up on anti-viral drugs and increasing global surveillance of the disease.

The provision, which was attached to an unrelated fiscal 2006 spending bill for the military, faces an uncertain future in the House of Representatives.

The Senate vote came as international organizations urged the United States and other countries to be more aggressive against the avian flu outbreak.

Sen. Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican shepherding the defence spending bill through the Senate, said he would try to block the avian flu provision. His next opportunity will be when Senate and House negotiators meet to work out a compromise on the defence spending bill. That meeting has not been set.

Avian flu among flocks in Asia has been growing for several years and outbreaks have been spotted in parts of Russia. So far, 65 people in Asia who are thought to have had close contact with infected birds have died since 2003.

Scientists fear a mutation of the H5N1 virus could make it transmissible among humans, sparking a worldwide epidemic that could kill millions of people.

“It’s the midnight hour. We have to get moving on it now, not next year, not after some study group in the White House bangs this thing around for another three months,” said Sen. Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat.

Harkin, with the backing of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, wants the government to spend nearly $3.1 billion to stockpile enough doses of an anti-viral drug for half the US population.

Harkin said there were only 2 million doses on hand now, enough for 1 percent of the population.

Two anti-viral drugs have been shown to ease avian flu symptoms and possibly prevent it.

—Reuters