WHO urges prompt action on bird flu outbreaks

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2004

MANILA (AFP) — The World Health Organization (WHO) urged Asian countries newly affected by bird flu outbreaks to make samples of the virus available to be analysed by international laboratories.

"We need to take a close look at the viruses to see if we are dealing with a continuation of the major outbreaks earlier this year or whether this is a new Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus," said Dr. Shigeru Omi, regional director of the WHO's Western Pacific regional office.

"The answer to that question will help guide our response," he said in a statement Saturday.

The samples would be used to compare suspected bird flu cases from different areas to see if they were the same strain of virus.

In the past two weeks, outbreaks of avian...