Bird flu researchers gather in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Expert researchers in Bangkok say there are no studies to confirm whether wild birds are carriers of the H5N1 bird flu virus.

Researchers gathered this week in Bangkok in hopes of figuring out better ways to track how the disease is spreading, the Voice of America reported Monday.

Researchers are worried that the data they have been using might be unreliable because there is no uniform system of checking H5N1 infection among wild birds.

The Food and Agriculture Organization is sponsoring the gathering of more than 70 experts from about 12 countries.

Scott Newman, the FAO's international wildlife coordinator, says the aim is to identify what countries need what kind of support and training to improve their surveillance of wild birds.

"We are hearing that wild birds have not been found to be positive if they are healthy, free-ranging birds. We are hearing, though, that dead wild birds are being found in various countries and they are confirmed positive for H5N1 avian influenza," said Newman.