The bird flu that has killed 80 people in Asia and Turkey may also spread into Africa unless effective preventive measures are taken, warned the African Union (AU) on Sunday.

The movements of migratory birds through Eastern Europe and Asia pose "real" threats to Africa, said the AU in a report, adding that a major outbreak of the epidemic in Africa would be a catastrophe for the whole of humanity.

The group stressed the importance of coordination between African nations in any efforts made to curb the disease, including research and information sharing.

It said countries which had confirmed infections should lose no time in culling the contaminated birds to keep the epidemic from spreading further. Monitoring and compensation systems and provisions should also be put into place in the meantime, it said.

It also called for cooperation between African countries and international groups such as the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

African leaders and their representatives from 53 AU member nations are gathering in the Sudanese capital for the 6th AU summit which opens on Monday.

Source: Xinhua