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China seeks WHO help in testing for bird flu
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-07 12:53
China has had four outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu among
poultry in the past three weeks, but there have been no confirmed human deaths.
Julie Hall, disease
control expert of the World Health Organisation (WHO), speaks during a
news conference in Beijing November 7, 2005. WHO confirmed it will help
China probe a possible human case of bird flu on Monday after 6 million
birds were culled in an area hit by the country's fourth outbreak of avian
flu in a month. [Reuters] | Since late 2003, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has ravaged poultry stocks
across Asia and jumped from birds to humans. Most of the human deaths have been
linked to close contact with infected birds, but experts fear the virus could
mutate into a form easily passed among humans and spark a global pandemic.
Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, addressing a national anti-flu meeting by video
link, called for tougher controls against bird flu, declaring it the No. 1
killer of Chinese poultry and "a major threat to public health and security,"
Xinhua reported.
A series of meetings throughout the world are culminating in a three-day
strategy session starting Monday in Geneva. More than 300 scientists, public
health experts, veterinarians and government officials are expected to share
what they have learned and plan the next steps.
"While we cannot predict when or if the H5N1 virus might spark a pandemic, we
cannot ignore the warning signs," said Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO's top official
in charge of monitoring bird flu. "For the first time in human history, we have
a chance to prepare ourselves for a pandemic before it arrives."
Efforts to develop a vaccine have been hampered because it is unknown exactly
what form the deadly virus would take. Many governments are stocking up on
antiviral drugs that work against regular influenza and are believed to be the
best existing weapon against a bird flu pandemic.
Japan was mulling a $2.6 million donation to the WHO to help combat bird flu
and other infectious outbreaks in developing countries, the national newspaper
Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday, citing government officials it did not name.
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