The Hindu : International : WHO warns of bird flu pandemic

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 10, 2004

International

International

WHO warns of bird flu pandemic

GENEVA: The World Health Organisation, fearing a killer flu pandemic may be on the way, is stepping up efforts to ensure Governments around the globe are ready to fight it, a top official said. The alarm has been sounded by the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has become endemic in a number of Asian countries and which health officials fear could eventually mutate into a lethal new virus that will spread rapidly amongst humans. ``We have been stepping up our level of preparedness in the last month. Our level of concern is increasing,'' Dr. Klaus Stohr, head of the WHO's global influenza programme, said on Wednesday. The worst hit countries so far have been Thailand, where the virus has killed at least 12 persons, and Vietnam, where 20 have died. ``It would not be unexpected that the number of avian flu cases will increase with the onset of winter and we have to get our act together,'' Dr. Stohr said. — Reuters

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