A three-day international strategy session will start Monday in the Swiss city of Geneva on the issue of bird flu.

Officials from the UN health bodies said the risk of a bird flu pandemic was still significant.

Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation said the risk of contamination to parts of northern and eastern Africa was of greatest concern.

"The hypothesis of transmission long distance through wild birds is a reality, so normally the fears are that Northern Africa and most importantly Eastern Africa could become the next regions of the world to be contaminated and this is very worrying," said Domenech.

He said there was more to do in Vietnam and Indonesia, because there was still a considerable risk of a human pandemic of avian flu.

A series of meetings in many parts of the world are culminating in this international gathering.

More than 300 scientists, public and animal health experts, government representatives and others are expected to share what they have learned and plan the next steps.

(CRI.com November 7, 2005)