Birdflu could spread to NZ in just hours, says expert

New Zealand virologist Lance Jennings says the bird flu virus in Vietnam is beginning to adapt to humans and if it does, it could spread to New Zealand in a matter of hours.

Since the Asian H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus first emerged in China and Hong Kong eight years ago, it has killed 37 people in Vietnam, 12 in Thailand and four in Cambodia. A new outbreak has just been reported in China.

Dr Jennings has just returned from Vietnam where he has been researching for the World Health Organisation.

The vaccine for poultry did not work for humans but a human vaccine was under trial in the United States, he said today.

Dr Jennings said if the virus adapted to pass between people, it would then move quickly, including being carried by air travellers.

"It would be spread around the world in a matter of hours. New Zealand would be at an equal threat as most other countries."

But Dr Jennings said New Zealand had appropriate systems and procedures in place.

"New Zealand is well prepared in terms of having a pandemic preparedness plan. We've had one since 1999," he told National Radio.

In China, the government has had to send millions of doses of bird flu vaccine for birds to a western province where migrating geese were found dead earlier this month.

- NZPA