Philippines on alert against deadlier bird flu strain

Aug 31, 2011, 9:12 GMT

Manila - The Philippines' Department of Health on Wednesday alerted the public to a new and deadlier strain of bird flu or avian influenza virus which was detected in China and Vietnam.

Eric Tayag, director of the National Epidemiology Center, said the new strain of the bird flu virus (H5N1) has a 60-per cent mortality rate. He said that in Cambodia eight people have died due to the infection this year.

Tayag said that while the Philippines was still free of bird flu, the people should be vigilant amid the re-emergence of the virus.

'The probability (of getting infected) is always there so the people should strengthen their immune system so they can fight off infection,' he said. 'We should be alert.'

The Food and Agriculture Organization has warned against the resurgence of bird flu amid signs the new strain is spreading in Asia.

Efraim Nuestro, director of the Philippine Bureau of Animal Industry, said the government has banned the importation of chicken from China and Vietnam where the new bird flu strain was detected.

The Philippine government said the Department of Agriculture would also step up efforts against smuggling to prevent infected poultry from entering the country.

Bird flu has killed 331 people since 2003, according to the World Health Organization.