Vietnamese bird flu linked to deaths of 10 children

A BIRD FLU outbreak that has sickened nearly 600,000 chickens in Vietnam is suspected of being linked to the deaths of 10 children and an adult in Hanoi, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday.

Viruses in both the chickens and the people appear to be similar but further testing is being done.

"There is a possible link," said Peter Horby, a WHO epidemiologist in Hanoi. "In the past, chickens have infected people in outbreaks in Hong Kong in 1997 and again in 2003."