WHO calls for calm after dead birds found in Zambia

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for calm after scores of wild birds were found dead in tourist city Livingstone of southern Zambia, saying laboratory tests are being conducted to determine the cause of the deaths.

WHO country representative Stella Anyangwe said Wednesday it would be premature for anyone to speculate that the birds were dying from bird flu that has hit eight African countries so far.

She said birds die in most cases due to change in weather pattern or other infections hence there is no need for panic over the issue.

"We are investigating the matter but so far there has been no confirmation of an outbreak (of bird flu)," Zambia's Health Ministry permanent secretary Simon Miti said on Tuesday.

The samples of the dead birds have since been sent to Lusaka for laboratory tests, a veterinary officer, Jack Shoko, confirmed.

Source: Xinhua