People Need To Be Alert To Bird Flu, Says Expert
Bernama, 29 Mar 2006

BEIJING, March 29 (Bernama) -- A recent rise in the number of human cases of avian influenza reported in cities, is a dangerous sign of things to come, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported Wednesday, quoting Zhong Nanshan, president of the Chinese Medical Association as saying.

In Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, the main source of the virus is spreading through dead poultry, said Zhong at an international conference.

 However, in China, some 16 human cases of bird flu have resulted without any direct contact with ill or dead poultry, he noted.

Eleven victims have died of the epidemic, the news report quoted a local daily reported that people don't just contract the virus through contact with dead poultry.

"They can also get the virus from contact with live poultry and migratory birds. Some poultry, especially ducks, are possibly virus carriers and might transmit the virus to human beings," he said.

Stronger monitoring of poultry, wild birds and human beings should be undertaken to control the virus from spreading as virus had been found in mammals like cats.

"I am worried that human flu and avian flu will combine in pigs, which will be easily spread to humans. So far, in China, the virus in only found in poultry," he said.-- BERNAMA