June 29, 2005

Number of wild birds dead in China's northwest at 5,000 and counting

The WHO has reported that bird flu has killed some 5,000 wild birds in China's northwest. In Qinghai province, twenty birds are still dying a day from the disease although the outbreak does seem to be winding down.

Dr Julie Hall, WHO's China-based coordinator for communicable diseases, surveillance and response said Chinese authorities has not taken action to kill any birds so far as many of them are rare, protected species. Most of the birds that have died include species of gulls, geese, shelduck and cormorant.