The risk of genetic reassortment which might give rise to a potential pandemic has become the common concern of experts in the disease-control field, a Thai public health official said here on Thursday.

    At the Senior Officials and Experts´ Meeting for the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Ministers´ Meeting on Avian Influenza, Vichai Tientavorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, said Thailand had a deep concern over human infections of bird flu virus in the country and in some other Asian countries over the past years.

    "In such a situation, the risk of genetic reassortment which might arise from co-infection of human and avian influenza virus, resulting in a new influenza virus with a pandemic potential, has become a major common concern," he noted.

    According to a document released at the meeting, the constant genetic changes in the avian influenza viruses have made them difficult to control. Moreover, the viruses could mix their genes with other influenza viruses, which could probably result in virulent virus strains and then give rise a pandemic.

    The recent outbreak of bird flu in Asia, historically unprecedented in the geographical scope, spread and consequences, have caused a loss of more than 100 million poultry in the region.     

    Since the beginning of year, 40 human infection cases have been reported in Thailand and Vietnam, including 29 reported deaths.

    As long as bird flu remains circulating among poultry and wild birds, there is risk of further outbreaks, it said.

    To guarantee mutual benefits and safety of the global community,strong international collaborations on research and development and on the implementation of disease control intervention are needed, said Vichai.

    Scheduled for Nov. 25-26, the WHO and ASEAN+3 Health Minister Meeting on Avian Influenza saw the participation more than 100 delegates, including health ministers and senior officials from 10 ASEAN members along with China, Japan and South Korea and experts from WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).