Death toll rises to 12 as bird flu spreads in Asia

A TEENAGE boy in Vietnam and a woman in Thailand yesterday became the latest victims of the bird flu sweeping Asia as world health authorities sought to confirm the first possible case of human-to-human transmission.

Bird flu has now killed 12 people in Asia and millions of chickens have been destroyed to prevent the spread of the virus.

The outbreak is "far from being under control," said He Changchui of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. "It remains a serious public health and animal threat, particularly in China, Thailand and Vietnam."