Vietnam bird flu toll rises to 39

HANOI - A 73-year-old Vietnamese has died from bird flu, taking the country's toll to 39, 19 of them since the virus returned in December, state-run media reported on Thursday.

The Hanoi resident, one of four people infected by the H5N1 virus being treated in hospital, died on Tuesday after being admitted on June 23, the Lao Dong newspaper quoted hospital officials as saying.

It gave no further details of the patient, and doctors at the hospital could not be reached immediately for comment.

The Health Ministry said bird flu had infected 60 people since it returned to Vietnam in December.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation repeated its warning that the H5N1 virus could mutate into a form which could pass easily between people and cause a global pandemic.

"Because influenza viruses are inclined to change frequently, WHO advises Vietnam and the rest of the world to remain vigilant in its influenza control efforts," the WHO said in a statement.

"The risk of a pandemic remains, but with further research and international collaboration, the possibility of lessening its impact is a goal that may ultimately be realised," Hans Troedsson, WHO Representative in Vietnam, said in the statement.

The virus, which arrived in Asia in late 2003, has also killed 12 Thais and four Cambodians.

The Health Ministry has called on a campaign to raise public awareness and clean up the environment between now and December to combat the poultry virus, which seems to thrive best in the winter but still jumps to humans in the hot months.

It said there was a high risk that outbreaks would turn into a large-scale epidemic in the winter.

The Agriculture Ministry said chickens would be vaccinated in two provinces from August 1 on a trial basis after the vaccine for poultry had been tested successfully.

- REUTERS