Countries must unite to fight against bird flu

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 11-14-2007 08:56

The world needs to remain vigilant and united in the fight against the H5N1 virus. That's the message from experts from Asian and European countries at a seminar on Avian Influenza in Beijing.

The death of a 30 year old Indonesian woman from bird flu pushed the southeast Asian nation's death toll from the virus to 90 on November fifth. Worldwide, bird flu has killed 205 people out of 334 known cases since it reemerged in Hong Kong in 2003.

David Nabarro, a UN official on influenza says the global avian influenza situation is stable in 2007, compared with the two previous years. However, he warns that continuous vigilance is essential and efforts to control the virus should be intensified.

Dr. David Nabarro, UN System influenza coordinator, said, "Circulation in several countries is a threat to the whole world... so the world should be on alert."

The meeting, hosted by China's Agricultural Ministry, provides an opportunity for delegates from 36 countries to share experience, analyze progress and make plans to work more closely in future. They agreed building solidarity between countries when threatened by disease is essential to preventing a pandemic.

Nabarro calls H5N1 "a dangerous enemy" and says cooperation must be worldwide, not just among neighboring countries.