Two sisters in Vietnam became the latest victims of Asia’s bird flu crisis today, as ministers from across the region convened an emergency meeting with international health experts in the Thai capital.

Chinese officials today began raiding wildlife markets believed to be possible sources of SARS.

Faeces may be a more important method of spreading the SARS virus than was originally thought, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

SCIENTISTS have confirmed the identity of the virus that causes the lethal new disease known as severe acute respiratory syndrome, the World Health Organisation said yesterday, marking an important step toward developing new drugs to combat the disease.