Vietnam reported four new suspected cases of bird flu in humans today - including one who died – bringing to 18 the number of people believed to have been infected by the virus that has ravaged the country’s poultry industry.

UN HEALTH chiefs yesterday said the worst of the SARS outbreak appeared to be over in Singapore, Hong Kong and Canada, while Vietnam has become the first country to contain the highly infectious disease.

The worst of the Sars outbreak appears to be over in Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada, but the deadly virus is still spreading in China, the UN’s World Health Organisation warned today.

UN health officials today said Vietnam was the first country to have successfully contained SARS, and said there was still time to stop the deadly virus spreading much further.