Human bird flu death toll increases to 22

Asia's human bird flu death toll has risen to 22 as Thailand and Vietnam reported more human deaths from the disease.

Asia's human bird flu death toll has risen to 22 as Thailand and Vietnam reported more human deaths from the disease.

"This virus is still spreading no matter what some authorities are saying about it being under control. It is spreading on a daily basis," World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman Mr Peter Cordingley told reporters in Manila.

The WHO in Geneva renewed its warnings about the H5N1 bird flu virus, saying wild birds could easily spread it and that people were still at risk.

"Highly pathogenic avian influenza, caused by the H5N1 strain, is currently infecting poultry in eight Asian countries. Full control has not yet been achieved in any of these countries, despite intensive efforts in many," WHO said in its latest statement, posted on its website at http://www.who.int.

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Thailand and Vietnam, where all the human cases have been reported, are talking about declaring victory over the virulent H5N1 virus in a matter of weeks.

Mr Cordingley said doing that would carry great risks. "If you re-stock too soon and the virus is still in the environment and you get a second infection in a re-stocked flock, then you have an endemic situation where the virus is embedded in the region and risk a recurrence every flu season," he said.