Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
WHO may send bird flu team to China
08 APRIL 2013
The World Health Organisation is talking with the Chinese government about sending international experts to China to help investigate a new bird flu strain which has struck at least 21 people, killing six of them.
Michael O'Leary, head of WHO's office in China, told reporters in Beijing on Monday that the organisation has confidence in China's efforts to track and control the outbreak of H7N9 infections, but that growing interest in the virus globally has prompted WHO to consider sending a team.
The cases are of "great interest not only in the scientific community but in the world at large", Mr O'Leary said. "WHO's responsibility in part is to make sure that we serve as liaison and linkage between China and the rest of the world."
The team is likely to include epidemiological, laboratory and communications experts, but the matter is still being discussed by the two sides and it remains unclear if and when such a group would arrive, Mr O'Leary added.
More: Independent
08 APRIL 2013
The World Health Organisation is talking with the Chinese government about sending international experts to China to help investigate a new bird flu strain which has struck at least 21 people, killing six of them.
Michael O'Leary, head of WHO's office in China, told reporters in Beijing on Monday that the organisation has confidence in China's efforts to track and control the outbreak of H7N9 infections, but that growing interest in the virus globally has prompted WHO to consider sending a team.
The cases are of "great interest not only in the scientific community but in the world at large", Mr O'Leary said. "WHO's responsibility in part is to make sure that we serve as liaison and linkage between China and the rest of the world."
The team is likely to include epidemiological, laboratory and communications experts, but the matter is still being discussed by the two sides and it remains unclear if and when such a group would arrive, Mr O'Leary added.
More: Independent
