Bird flu crisis hits China, UN calls for international help

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2004

BANGKOK (AFP) — United Nations agencies called for an all-out global effort to combat bird flu and warned the virus could kill millions if it mutates, as China became the 10th Asian country to be hit.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned millions of people could die if the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu racing through Asia combined with another human influenza virus that is moving towards the region.

"In my judgement it is possible and so that's why we have to work very hard today, not tomorrow, to contain this, to prevent that mutation," said Shigeru Omi, director of the UN health agency's Western Pacific office.

The WHO has said that while humans have so far only caught bird flu from infected poultry -- usually through contact with animal faeces --...