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Nov 2, 4:51 AM EDT
WHO's Chan says too early for China to let guard down on bird flu
By HENRY SANDERSON
Associated Press Writer
BEIJING (AP) -- China has improved in its fight against bird flu but it is too early to ease up on the battle, the head of the U.N.'s health agency said Friday.
China has invested in effective systems for disease surveillance, prevention and response since it came under criticism for its secretive response in fighting severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS in 2003, World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said.
The number of outbreaks of avian influenza has decreased and the time from outbreak to reporting has shortened, she told a news conference after a visit to Beijing to meet senior health officials.
"I'm very pleased with the progress they have made," she said. She warned, however, "The risk of an influenza pandemic is still with us."
China, which raises more poultry than any other country, has vowed an aggressive fight against the H5N1 bird flu strain, which has sickened at least 333 people worldwide, killing 204 of them, according to the World Health Organization.
Chan said her meetings with Chinese leaders involved with health were constructive, but that with one-fifth of the world's population, "many of China's health challenges can become global challenges."
China has reported 25 human cases of bird flu since 2003, 16 of them fatal.
Experts have warned that if poultry outbreaks are not controlled, the virus may mutate into a form more easily passed between people, potentially resulting in millions of deaths.
H5N1 is most commonly passed from sick poultry to humans who have close contact with the infected birds.
Chan also warned Friday that China faced challenges from chronic illnesses and conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, as well as wide tobacco use and health threats from the environment.
WHO's Chan says too early for China to let guard down on bird flu
By HENRY SANDERSON
Associated Press Writer
BEIJING (AP) -- China has improved in its fight against bird flu but it is too early to ease up on the battle, the head of the U.N.'s health agency said Friday.
China has invested in effective systems for disease surveillance, prevention and response since it came under criticism for its secretive response in fighting severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS in 2003, World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said.
The number of outbreaks of avian influenza has decreased and the time from outbreak to reporting has shortened, she told a news conference after a visit to Beijing to meet senior health officials.
"I'm very pleased with the progress they have made," she said. She warned, however, "The risk of an influenza pandemic is still with us."
China, which raises more poultry than any other country, has vowed an aggressive fight against the H5N1 bird flu strain, which has sickened at least 333 people worldwide, killing 204 of them, according to the World Health Organization.
Chan said her meetings with Chinese leaders involved with health were constructive, but that with one-fifth of the world's population, "many of China's health challenges can become global challenges."
China has reported 25 human cases of bird flu since 2003, 16 of them fatal.
Experts have warned that if poultry outbreaks are not controlled, the virus may mutate into a form more easily passed between people, potentially resulting in millions of deaths.
H5N1 is most commonly passed from sick poultry to humans who have close contact with the infected birds.
Chan also warned Friday that China faced challenges from chronic illnesses and conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, as well as wide tobacco use and health threats from the environment.
