UN warns of global birdflu crisis Asia's bird flu epidemic is a
"crisis of global importance," two UN agencies warned as
Thailand went on nationwide alert today after the virus was
confirmed in a woman whose case has raised concerns over human-
to-human transmission. Recent outbreaks among poultry in China,
Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand show that the virus is
still gripping the region and probably won't be eradicated soon,
the two agencies said in a joint statement. "A permanent threat
to animal and human health continues to exist," the Food and
Agriculture Organisation and the World Organisation for Animal
Health said. The warning came hours after Thai authorities
confirmed that a woman was suffering from bird flu, the second
person in Thailand confirmed with the disease since it
resurfaced in July after appearing to subside for a few months.
The woman, identified only as Pranom, 32, is in an isolation
ward in hospital but her condition has been improving, Charal
Trinwuthipong, director general of