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WHO allays bird flu fears

Asia's poultry industry has been devastated by bird flu.
Asia's poultry industry has been devastated by bird flu.

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An outbreak of bird flu is hitting China's rural province of Hubei hard.
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BANGKOK, Thailand -- The World Health Organization is trying to calm fears that the reported infection of cats with bird flu could signal an increased risk to humans.

At least three domestic cats are thought to have died from the disease in Thailand, while a tiger at a zoo is also reported infected.

Bird flu has devastated several Asian nations' poultry industries and has killed at least 21 people across the region.

The finding by Thai veterinary officials has alarmed authorities still battling to contain the deadly disease and pet owners have been told not to have direct contact with cats that live near chickens.

The WHO, however, says the feline infections are unlikely to increase the risk to humans.

Across Asia, apart from millions of poultry, other bird species have also been killed by the H5N1 strain of avian flu.

But there is no evidence yet of the disease becoming contagious in humans, who have been found to contract the disease directly from poultry, not infected people.

However, health authorities are concerned bird flu may sicken other animals, especially pigs, because of genetic similarities to humans.

They fear a new hybrid of the virus may form that would be contagious among people.

Other affected countries are Cambodia, Japan, China, Indonesia, Laos and South Korea. Pakistan and Taiwan have been hit by a milder strain not considered a threat to humans.

In other developments:

• An Australian-designed drug could prove to be an effective human treatment for the deadly bird-flu strain that has been causing havoc across Asia. (Full story)

• Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has called for the epidemic to be brought under control within this month, but despite a positive response from local authorities, the United Nations food agency's director of animal health said it might be impossible to eradicate the virus. The disease has spread to 57 of Vietnam's 64 provinces and major cities.

• The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization will hold an emergency meeting February 26-28 in Bangkok to discuss ways to fight the disease and measures to revive the poultry sector.

• Singapore gassed and incinerated 5,000 chickens at a remote farm on Wednesday to practice culling techniques in case the virus spreads to the city-state.


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