January 14, 2004

OIE To Probe Into Asian Bird Flu Outbreak

The OIE group, a Paris-based world organisation for animal health, will be sending scientists to investigate the recent bird flu outbreak in Asia.

OIE says its research will commence in Vietnam where the World Health Organisation says bird flu has killed two children and one adult.

However, the WHO also says there are no signs yet the virus is spreading between people.

Bird flu has been reported in South Korea and Japan as well as Vietnam.

South Korea alone has culled two million chickens and ducks.

Thailand says it is free of bird flu but battling an outbreak of poultry cholera.

Cambodia says it has sent experts to its chicken farms after banning poultry imports from neighbouring countries last week.

China says it has no cases of bird flu.