| GERMAN BIRD FLU DOUBTS
Germany health authorities are waiting for test results from two women possibly infected with the bird flu that has killed at least 12 people in Asia . The results are expected to be released tomorrow, although authorities say they doubt it will turn out to be the virus.
One of the women complained of nausea, dizziness and fever after returning from a trip to Thailand .
She is in the Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg and another woman who was traveling with her is also under observation.
The head of the city's infectious diseases department, Clara Schlaich, said: "It is very unlikely that a tourist has been infected with bird flu."
Meanwhile, bird flu has claimed two more victims in Asia .
Thai Health Ministry officials said a 58-year-old man had become the third person to die of the disease in Thailand .
He is the 12th person to die during the epidemic which has hit 10 Asian countries.
Thailand has now recorded four confirmed human cases of bird flu.
An 18-year-old man has died from the disease in Vietnam , the country's ninth victim.
The World Health Organization is continuing to investigate the deaths of two Vietnamese sisters who may have caught the disease through contact with their brother.
It is not known how the girls caught the virus but it is not thought close contact with poultry was to blame.
If true, it would be the first time humans have passed the virus to each other and would be a big blow to attempts to stem the Asian-wide outbreak.
Chinese officials have now reported confirmed or suspected bird flu cases in one third of the country.
The total of confirmed and suspected outbreaks is now 14, affecting 10 out of China 's 31 provincial regions.
Source: German bird flu doubts @ http://www.sky.com/skynews/ - February 2, 2004 |
