February 5, 2004

Asia Bird Flu Death Toll Climbs To 17

Vietnamese officials today announced the death of a 16-year-old girl from the southern Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang at Ho Chi Minh City's Hospital for Tropical Disease, bringing the number of bird flu deaths in the country to 12, and the total death toll in Asia to 17. 

Vietnam is the worst affected of 10 Asian nations tackling outbreaks of bird flu.

Thailand has recorded five deaths from the avian influenza virus.

China and Cambodia have confirmed further outbreaks of the disease, and China has also reported two new suspected outbreaks.

China's Agriculture Ministry says the country is now dealing with 23 confirmed and suspected outbreaks of bird flu.

The ministry says China faces an uphill battle in controlling the deadly bird flu, but it is confident it can emerge victorious.

China denies there have been any cases of human infection, but a Health Ministry spokesman says procedures are in place to deal with such a development.

Nearly 50,000 poultry in China have died from the virus, and more than 1.2 million chickens, ducks and geese have been culled.

The World Health Organisation has warned that no part of Asia is safe from the disease, adding that the virus is moving faster than prevention teams.

More than 25 million chickens have died or been culled across Asia, with the disease believed to have been passed on to humans through contact with sick birds or their droppings.