Bird flu more deadly than Sars, spreading in Asia
Hanoi (AsiaNews) The deadly avian virus, a.k.a. "bird flu" or H5N1 influenza, spreading throughout Asia is now found over nearly half of Vietnam's provinces, as the country gears up to celebrate Tet, the Lunar New Year, on Jan 22.
Tet is the country's largest festival, lasting several days. It is marked by a peak period of poultry consumption, as traditional chicken dishes are prepared to celebrate the New Year.
Vietnamese newspapers have reported 4 new human infections and 1 death, as the WHO (World Health Organisation) confirmed the disease has now been detected in 25 of Vietnam's total 58 provinces.
Health authorities have linked the bird flu to 18 reported human infections and 13 deaths (3 confirmed by WHO) and to over 2 million chickens culled in recent weeks.
The dramatic spread of the disease comes as WHO official Peter Cordingley issued a statement saying that the transmission of the disease to humans could supersede that of Sars. He explained that "if the H5N1 virus attaches itself to the ordinary human flu and then effectively transmitted, it has the potential to cause widespread damage." He warned moreover that "the mortality rate (of the bird flu) is far higher than that of the Sars virus."
Dr. Shigeru Omi, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, denied the need to panic just yet. But said if the contagion were to evolve as Cordingley said it might, "we would have a serious situation."
Meanwhile the Vietmanese government has quickly organized quarantine centers in local hospitals and ordered anyone suspected of having contracted the virus to be immediately isolated.
Elsewhere in Asia, a less virulent strain, H5N2, was detected yesterday in central Taiwan, resulting in the destroying of 20,000 chickens and Hong Kong temporarily banning Taiwanese poultry imports. No human infections were reported. In South Korea, 2 million chickens and ducks have been killed. The disease has now reached even Japan, with 6000 chicken being culled so far. Thailand has stated it has no cases of the bird flu. (MS)
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