UN health agency maintains current level of pandemic alert for bird flu

30 June 2005

Although there is no laboratory evidence that human infection with bird flu in Vietnam is occurring more frequently or that the virus is spreading readily among humans, the UN health agency today maintained its current level of alert over a potential pandemic, which in a worst case scenario could kill tens of millions of people worldwide.

Bird flu outbreak in DPR of Korea contained, UN agency reports

25 April 2005

Thanks to the culling of nearly 220,000 infected chickens, vaccination of others and strict biosecurity measures, the recent outbreak of bird flu in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been successfully contained, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today.

Eight more human cases of bird flu reported in Viet Nam, UN health agency says

15 April 2005

Eight more human cases of bird flu have been reported in Viet Nam, according to the United Nations health agency, bringing the total since mid-December to 41, 16 of them fatal, in the latest outbreak of a disease that in a worst-case scenario could kill tens of millions people worldwide.

UN health agency urges destruction of potentially dangerous laboratory flu virus

13 April 2005

Although the risk for the general public is considered low, the United Nations health agency is calling on nearly 4,000 laboratories, mostly in the United States and Canada, to destroy immediately flu proficiency testing samples containing a sometimes deadly strain for which many people have at best limited immunity.

A lab technician checks eggs for the avian flu virus

DPR of Korea requests UN aid in fighting bird flu among chickens

11 April 2005

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has formally appealed for United Nations and other international help in its fight against bird flu among chickens, including diagnostic tools and technical aid for control strategies and vaccination, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Five more cases of bird flu reported in Viet Nam, UN health agency says

4 April 2005

Five more human cases of bird flu have been reported in Viet Nam, the United Nations health agency said today, bringing the total since mid-December to 33, 15 of them fatal, in the latest outbreak of a disease that in a worst-case scenario could kill tens of millions people worldwide.

Despite new bird flu cases, no evidence so far of easy spread in humans – UN

30 March 2005

Despite three more human cases of bird flu in Viet Nam, bringing the total there since mid-December to 28, there is currently no evidence that the virus is spreading easily from person to person, according to the United Nations health agency’s latest update on a disease that in a worst-case scenario could kill tens of millions people worldwide.

UN health agency offers aid to DPR of Korea in bird flu epidemic

29 March 2005

The United Nations health agency has offered assistance to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in preparing a response to an epidemic of bird flu among chickens.

Fast probe of bird flu cases vital to prevent human pandemic, says UN agency

14 March 2005

With Viet Nam confirming 10 more human cases of bird flu, bringing the total since mid-December to 24, 13 of them fatal, the United Nations health agency is stressing the critical need for full information to assess of the risks of a pandemic that in a worst-case scenario could claim tens of millions of lives worldwide.

UN health agency gathers data on new human bird flu cases in Viet Nam

8 March 2005

With Viet Nam confirming four more human cases of bird flu, the United Nations health agency is gathering as much data as possible on each new case in efforts to pre-empt a human pandemic that in a worst case scenario could claim tens of millions of lives worldwide.

Audio

Video

flu