WHO expects global bird flu resurgence

Bird flu is expected to make a resurgence across the world this year and the new cases detected in Asia are just the beginning, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday.

But governments appear more prepared than last year, when there were outbreaks outside Asia where it had previously not been detected, said Peter Cordingley, a spokesman for the WHO’s Manila-based Western Pacific office.

"It’s pretty clear why we’re seeing these new cases. We’re just going into the colder months in the northern hemisphere. The influenza virus is a cold weather virus and is more likely to flourish in this time of year," he told AFP.

"We expect a repeat of last year, when the virus suddenly became very active," spreading to the Middle East, Africa and Europe, Cordingley said.

"It’s a cold weather virus and everybody should be on their toes," he warned.

The comments came after an Indonesian woman died of bird flu, bringing that country’s death toll from the disease to 59.

China also reported on Wednesday its first human case of bird flu in six months, while a South Korean farm worker was reported infected last month, becoming the country’s third case.

Japan and Vietnam are probing possible outbreaks of bird flu in poultry.

Bird flu can kill some human victims within days after infection while in other cases a person can be infected and show no symptoms, making it difficult to detect, warned Cordingley.

"While we do expect to see this virus becoming more active, hopefully the governments that were not ready last time will be more prepared this time," he said.

He conceded that some governments were still not ready to deal with bird flu but declined to identify them, saying the WHO was helping to boost their readiness. — AFP