While the government’s reaction induced panic- news stations covered cases of avian flu in Turkey and gave up to the minute reports on the government’s response – it also insured that public awareness was high. Reports flooded in from villages throughout the country of sick birds and suspicious bundles thrown across the border from Turkey. However, on January 11, Mikheil Svimonishvili, the minister of agriculture, announced that there were no cases of avian flu in the country.

The government also announced an increase in funds to fight the disease. According to Civil.ge, in October the budget called for eight million lari to fund measures against avian flu; by January that amount was up to 2.9 million lari. Most of the funds were spent on new equipment for the borders, including special mats all incoming travelers had to walk over to cleanse their shoes of any bacteria. A powerful spray was also purchased to wash down trucks and tires bringing goods into the country.

Other measures include 200,000 informational booklets which reportedly have been passed out to border check points, as well as to schools located in border towns. The government has also reportedly ordered additional supplies of Tamiflu, which is supposed to help fight the disease in some cases. However, there is some doubt if there will be enough of the medication if an outbreak occurs; officials have asked the public not to stockpile the antibiotic at home if it is not needed.

The American government has given Georgian preparations a sign of approval: on January 13, the U.S. embassy in Georgia announced that, “According to the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit in Cairo, Egypt, and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Georgia has the capability to test for avian influenza,” via an email to American citizens in Georgia.

The World Bank and other donors recently met in Beijing to raise funds for the fight against avian flu. According to press statements, $1.9 billion was raised on January 18-19 at the conference. Reportedly, those funds will go to help both investigate possible remedies to the virus and support efforts to eradicate it.

According to media reports, the Georgian government is among those requesting more funds from the World Bank to combat the disease. On January 18, Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli announced the government is asking the WB for $15 million for ‘emergency offices’ throughout the country to monitor the situation.

The lack of rudimentary medical care in most villages outside of the capital is a concern. During the original panic after Turkey announced deaths due to the disease, doctors and veterinarians in Poti, a port city on the Black Sea not far from the Turkish border, announced they do not have the facilities to even check possible birds for traces of the disease.

While the death rate remains low in the 14 countries that have reported signs of the disease, experts at the World Bank have estimated the virus will cause serious damage for local economies – especially in developing nations. Georgians are already feeling the impact: local poultry importers are scrambling to educate the population about the differences between the potential dangers and the popular myths surrounding the avian flu and market sellers have reported a decline in sales over the past month.

It still remains to be seen whether the Georgian government can continue its full out efforts once the hysteria – and the media attention – subsides. To date, its efforts have been admirable. A true test of the administration’s commitment and organization lie in the months to come. If it continues to prepare and educate the public, it will show the rest of the world the Georgian state is truly on its way to creating an efficient and modern government.