Bird-flu outbreaks worry WHO
2004-07-16 22:08
Geneva - The World Health Organisation said on Friday it was concerned about the potential spread of bird flu into humans after new, simultaneous outbreaks of the disease in poultry in Thailand and Vietnam.
"While these outbreaks remain restricted to poultry populations, they nevertheless increase the chances of virus transmission and human infection of the disease."
WHO said there also was the chance of a possible emergence of a new influenza virus strain capable of sparking a global pandemic.
The United Nations agency repeated its recommendations to protect people involved in culling birds, including the need for protective clothing, and standard influenza vaccinations for those in contact with infected poultry and carcasses.
Thailand on Friday announced a sharp increase in outbreaks of a lethal strain of H5N1 bird flu in poultry and confirmed it had reached the capital, Bangkok.
Vietnam confirmed on Tuesday that the same highly pathogenic strain of bird flu was present in its poultry stocks.
Eight people died in Thailand and 16 in Vietnam from an outbreak earlier this year, when the strain of bird flu crossed the species barrier and infected humans in direct contact with diseased poultry.