The World Health Organisation is talking with the Chinese government about sending international experts to the country to help investigate a new bird flu strain that has sickened at least 24 people, killing seven of them.

The number of new SARS cases in Beijing hospitals is declining, officials said today.

CHINA yesterday said the worst appeared to be over for SARS-stricken Beijing as international experts said China faced a crucial battle in the next few months to contain the virus and stop it spreading globally.