November 10, 2006

Chinese bird flu expert slated to lead WHO
 

Dr. Margaret Chan, who lead the World Health Organization's fight against bird flu, was chosen Wednesday to head the agency, highlighting the organisation's focus on the animal disease and its influence on human health.

Chan, 59, was Hong Kong's health director when the city reported the world's first known human outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus in 1997.

Although six people died in the resulting outbreak, Chan was credited with heading off a health crisis by ordering the slaughter of Hong Kong's entire poultry population.

She was also lauded for Hong Kong's response to a 2003 outbreak of SARS.

Her nomination is seen as a victory for China and indicated the nation's interest in playing a bigger role in global affairs.

Chan joined WHO in 2003, after the SARS outbreak, and took over as the agency's flu pandemic chief in 2005. As an assistant director general, she has led efforts to fight communicable diseases and prepared for a possible bird flu pandemic.