IN BRIEF (Page 19)

Bird flu virus could be back, UN warns

The United Nations warned on Monday of a possible resurgence of the deadly bird flu virus, saying wild bird migrations had brought it back to previously virus-free countries and that a mutant strain was spreading in Asia.

A mutant strain of H5N1, which can apparently sidestep defenses of existing vaccines, is spreading in China and Vietnam, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a statement on Monday. It urged greater surveillance to ensure that any outbreaks are contained.