flu

WHO in Thailand investigating possible spread of bird flu by humans

28 September 2004
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) is helping authorities in Thailand determine if two recent cases of bird flu are evidence of the first human-to-human transmission of the virus, raising fears of a possible influenza pandemic.

Bird flu crisis of 'global importance,' UN agency warns

27 September 2004
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today warned that the bird flu epidemic in Asia is a "crisis of global importance," and predicted that the virus, which continues to circulate in the region, will probably not be eradicated in the near future.

Bird flu: UN health agency to probe possible role of cats in the infection of humans

3 September 2004
The United Nations health agency is investigating reports that bird flu, which experts say could mutate into a potentially deadly human pandemic under certain conditions, has now jumped the species barrier to infect cats.

UN health agency seeks details on potentially ominous bird flu infection in pigs

23 August 2004
The United Nations health agency is seeking further details from China about the first-ever reported natural infection of pigs with a highly infectious strain of bird flu, a development that could be of particular concern as it would increase opportunities for the emergence of a new human influenza virus with pandemic potential.
Avian Influenza

Bird flu: UN to send team to Viet Nam to assess risks from latest human deaths

19 August 2004
The United Nations health agency is sending a small staff team to Viet Nam to assess the risks posed by the latest deadly outbreak of bird flu in humans and its potential to mutate into a human pandemic.
Avian Influenza

UN warns of risk of bird flu evolving into human pandemic after three new deaths

13 August 2004
Bird flu has killed three more people in Viet Nam, the first officially reported cases of avian influenza in humans since February, raising concerns about the potential evolution of the virus into a human pandemic, according to the United Nations health agency.
Avian Influenza

UN agency sets up regional Asian networks to better fight deadly bird flu

30 July 2004
With bird flu continuing to pose a serious threat after killing almost two dozen people and ravaging Asia's domestic poultry earlier this year, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today announced a series of regional veterinary networks to better battle the virus.

UN health agency urges steps to prevent bird flu causing human pandemic

16 July 2004
Concerned by a new simultaneous outbreak of bird flu in several Asian countries, the United Nations health agency today warned of the possible emergence of a strain capable of sparking a potentially deadly global human pandemic and called on local authorities to take all necessary precautions when culling infected poultry.
Avian Influenza

UN agencies warn that Asia will continue to be plagued by bird flu

9 July 2004
New outbreaks of bird flu in three Asian countries in the past fortnight show that the virus which killed almost two dozen people and devastated the region’s domestic poultry population earlier this year remains endemic and a threat to human health, United Nations agencies said today.

UN agency warns against any early declaration of victory over deadly bird flu

19 March 2004
Warning against any early declaration of victory in the battle against the Asian bird flu epidemic that has so far resulted in nearly two dozen human fatalities and the deaths or culling of more than 100 million birds, the United Nations agricultural agency today stressed the need for cooperation to ensure the virus is really under control.