Vietnam confirms 21st case of bird flu

The human cost of Asia’s bird flu crisis mounted today with Vietnam’s 21st case of the disease confirmed, while Singapore’s top health official moved to ease fears of travel in Asia by saying it was safe going to countries affected by the virus.

The 15-year-old boy in Vietnam was in hospital with fever, coughing and shortness of breath in northern Thanh Hoa province, where doctors said it was unclear how he was infected.