WHO to investigate claims over Bird Flu origin

The World Health Organisation is investigating cases of bird flu in China in February of last year.

The World Health Organisation is investigating cases of bird flu in China in February of last year. A report in a British science magazine says China was probably the source of the current Asian bird flu outbreak, and that it began in first half of last year. China has angrily denied the claim as groundless and wrong. (Source: ABC Health News, Jan 2004)The WHO says it is too early to say, but it is examining an incident in February last year where two tourists died from bird flu after visiting China. However the WHO says there is nothing at all to suggest a link between that incident and the current outbreak affecting 10 countries. Meanwhile, India’s Government has ordered the banning of all poultry imports from all countries, while across the border in Pakistan, all infected birds are to be killed. Pakistani authorities now insist that the bird flu believed responsible for the deaths of 3.5 million chickens has been contained in Sindh province around the southern port city of Karachi. But the Government has also ordered the destruction of all birds infected with bird flu strains h7 and h9, which are regarded as less harmful to humans. India’s Government says there have not been any reports of bird flu within India’s borders but the import of any poultry products has been banned.