AID agencies ask for help as bird flu appears in China

International health and food safety agencies have appealed to donors for money to help stop the rapid spread of bird flu in Asia.



The appeal comes as Thailand prepares to host an international conference on ways to contain the virus and reports that the virus has spread to China.



Nearly a dozen governments including China and the United States, along with the European Union, will take part in the meeting hosted by Thailand.



The meeting will hear the latest assessment of the crisis from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.



Experts warn bird flu could mutate with the flu and become a global pandemic if affected countries cannot bring the virus under control.



Authorities across the region are continuing a mass slaughter of suspect chicken.



It is estimated more than 24 million birds have been culled.



But the WHO says the operation needs to be sped up if Asian governments are to stop bird flu spreading further.



Meanwhile, the Chinese government last night confirmed there has been an outbreak of the lethal strain of bird flu among ducks in a south-western province.



Fourteen thousand ducks have already been slaughtered and quarantine measures put in place.



But initial testing also indicates that the country has two other outbreaks, in ducks and chickens.


The WHO has warned that a Chinese outbreak would be serious, as it increases the risk of the virus mutating.