Improved farming key to fight bird flu: WHO
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-12-25 19:14

Scientists fear the close proximity between poultry and other farm animals as well as humans can provide more opportunity for the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus to mutate into a more lethal strain.

The virus is currently spread among animals and from animals to humans. If it becomes easily spread among humans, it could create a pandemic that would likely kill millions of people, experts say.

The nation's chief veterinary officer, Jia Youling, told reporters last week the "primitive management" of many backyard farms made prevention of outbreaks difficult.

China last week confirmed its sixth human case of bird flu in east China's Jiangxi province and announced its 31st outbreak this year among poultry.

Despite the toll, China is seen as having escaped relatively lightly from the bird flu virus, which has killed more than 70 people in Asia since 2003.