Australia warns Asian countries against bird flu cover-ups

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has issued a warning to Asian countries that Australia will not tolerate any cover-ups of bird flu outbreaks.

Mr Downer was speaking at an APEC forum on bird flu in Brisbane.

He also warned that complacency in response to a major outbreak could see it quickly escalate into a pandemic.

This is the first time Australia has held such a meeting, where disaster management experts from APEC have gathered to discuss how to prevent what could be the world's worst medical and social disaster.

A PNG official said he was at the forum because like all the developing countries his country does not as yet have a plan.

Mr Downer warned that the region needed to cooperate to defeat bird flu and that all APEC members must be open and honest.

He said China had learnt a lesson since covering up some cases of SARS.

He believes the Chinese now understand only too well that in the interests of human life there has to be transparency and accountability and Downer says the Chinese are very committed to that.

Vietnam, where the virus has killed seven people, is requesting more than $65 million in aid and to stockpile one million doses of antiviral drugs.

A Vietnamese delegate commented that some countries have very good conditions to combat the virus, but others lack the technical skill and resources.

The International Red Cross warns the risk of a pandemic is very real, and according to Dr Grete Budsted, the virus is developing and it is becoming easier for it to infect humans.

She believes that most experts are now certain this is going to happen.

News of a vaccine being developed in Hungary has been greeted with interest by Australian authorities.

While delegates are looking at the best way to prevent a pandemic, doctors' groups are calling for calm, saying what's needed is to be prepared, not to panic.

The conference will also consider issues such as transport and how and when countries should close their borders to stop the spread of the disease.