(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-02-26 11:32

A UN-sponsored international conference on avian influenza begins Wednesday in Bangkok in a bid to boost cooperation in the fight against the killer outbreak.

The three-day regional emergency meeting organised by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will examine control and rehabilitation strategies.

FAO director of animal production and health Samuel Jutzi will chair the opening session, at which Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob will address Thailand¡¯s handling of the outbreak.

Infected countries, including Thailand, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos and Pakistan, will present their respective technical reports.

Non-infected countries will offer their views before a discussion veterinary quality, surveillance, bio-security and vaccines.

Food safety and the flu¡¯s economic impacts are also expected to be discussed at length.

The FAO Wednesday stressed the need for continued control campaigns and tighter bio-security.

¡°The situation in some countries is still unclear, and further epidemiological investigations are required to get the virus under control,¡± it said in a statement. The findings of experts sent by the organisation to infected countries are expected to be instrumental in determining the origin of the epidemic and factors that led to its rapid spread.