WHO Calls for Urgent Action after China Reports 2 H5N6 Deaths

On Sunday, China reported two deaths from bird flu after five new H5N6 cases were confirmed, with the WHO calling for "urgent" action.

A jump in the number of people infected with bird flu in China last year has raised concern among experts, who warn the strain could be more infectious to humans.

The Hong Kong Health Department said five people in Sichuan province, Zhejiang province, and the Guangxi Autonomous Region were infected with the avian influenza strain in December last year.

"Two people have now died, while the other three remain in hospital fighting for their lives," officials said in a statement.

A 75-year-old man from Luzhou, in Sichuan province, fell ill on December 1 after exposure to live domestic poultry. He was rushed to the hospital four days later and died on December 12.

A 54-year-old man from Leshan, in the same province, also fell ill on December 8 and died three weeks later on December 24. He was also reported to have a history of exposure to live domestic poultry.