World Health Organisation says bird flu pandemic could kill up to 7 mln people |
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Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:04
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MANILA (Thomson Financial) - A global bird flu pandemic could infect 1 bln people and kill between 2 and 7 mln of them, the World Health Organisation said.'The next pandemic may cause very high morbidity and mortality in a few weeks. It could cause 1 bln cases and 2 to 7 mln deaths,' said Jean-Marc Olive, the organisation's country representative for the Philippines.The estimates were derived from models based on previous flu epidemics, he told a forum organised by the Australian embassy.Even 'a modest pandemic lasting over one year might cause losses as high as 3 pct of Asia's GDP and 0.5 pct of world GDP,' Olive said.The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed at least 172 people since 2003, mostly in Southeast Asia, according to the WHO.The organisation said the evolution of the threat posed by bird flu 'cannot be predicted.'Olive said mass poultry culls could help to avert a human pandemic, and that countries should boost preventative measures, strengthen surveillance and prepare for any outbreak.tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.comafp/rfwCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.
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Advisers urge OK of bird flu vaccine 