January 12, 2006

East Asia at greatest risk for bird flu spread

WHO's top official in Asia said Wednesday that East Asia remains the region at greatest risk for the spread of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.

"Although there are new developments in Turkey, the situation in Asia is more serious than in any other part of the world," said Shigeru Omi, the WHO's regional director for the Western Pacific.

Preliminary tests indicate the virus has infected 15 people in Turkey, including two children who have died. The number of suspected cases in one week is a record for the current bird flu outbreak.

Omi was in Tokyo on Wednesday ahead of a two-day conference aimed at measuring how ready Asian countries are to identify and respond to a potential flu pandemic.