Bird flu threatens to kill half of world population, Azeri MP says

The bird flu virus is posing great danger to the entire world and could kill half of the world population in case the deadly strain is spread among humans, an Azeri parliament member has said.

The chairman of the Democratic Reforms Party Asim Mollazada told a parliamentary session Tuesday that considering the threat, the government should step up its efforts at fighting the virus in Azerbaijan.

The H5N1 strain was earlier detected on bird populations in the country’s southern Beylagan district bordering on Iran, as well as the Caspian coast.

Mollazada said the current situation over the virus hazard should be regularly tabled in parliament, suggesting that the agriculture and health ministers be invited to the discussions.

The chairman of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society, MP Novruz Aslanov proposed to use protective masks for children to prevent infection with the deadly strain in schools.