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Japan's flu strain similar to that in Vietnam, S Korea

The strain of bird flu that caused the deaths of thousands of chickens in Japan is similar to one in South Korea and Vietnam, local media reported yesterday.

According to Kyodo News, the avian influenza H5N1 strain was also found in Vietnam -- where at least five people have died from it -- and is known to be similar to the virus which caused the death of a man in Hong Kong last February.

Japan's health minister Chikara Sakaguchi said yesterday that Japan will provide medical assistance to Vietnam if necessary to help contain the bird flu epidemic there.

Japan would like to send doctors to treat people with bird flu and provide medical supplies to Vietnam, Sakaguchi said.

Sakaguchi also said he is considering increasing drug stocks to prepare for a possible outbreak of a new type of flu triggered by bird flu.

Some health experts believe the virus was first transmitted to Japan by migratory birds because the strain matched the type that hit South Korea at the end of last year.
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