Family doctors across Britain have been warned to look out for a potentially fatal new strain of influenza, dubbed "bird flu".

The Chief Medical Officer, Kenneth Calman has written to all doctors informing them of the virus which originated in chickens.

There are no reported cases of bird flu in Britain. But it has already killed two people in Hong Kong where a total of seven cases have been identified.

Calman: Warning a 'precuationary measure'

It first appeared in Hong Kong in May when a three-year-old boy died. Tests revealed it was a strain previously only found in birds, particularly chickens.

It was thought that the boy and the second person who died had caught the virus directly from birds. The hospital admission of two young cousins has raised fears that the virus could be spread from person to person.

Researchers will test for new strains in London

The situation is being monitored by the World Health Organisation and the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta in the United States.

Sir Kenneth Calman said informing all family doctors of the new strain of flu was a precautionary measure. He told the BBC: "We are simply going to let doctors know the situation at the present. There is no action they need to take."

Officials at the Public Health Laboratory Service in London have reminded family doctors to send in flu samples for testing.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©