Discovery of bird flu in pigs sparks outbreak alert

THE discovery of a deadly bird flu strain in pigs in Malaysia signals a major winter outbreak is likely, international health experts said yesterday.

Since a strain deadly to humans emerged in Asia several months ago, scientists have voiced fears the flu could mutate and spread.

Adding to concern was an announcement by a Chinese scientist that pigs in China had been infected with bird flu. The World Health Organisation said the discovery did not come as a complete surprise.