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Is Bird Flu Making A Comeback?

By Steve Murphy, NewsRadio 830 WCCO

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Avian flu claimed 310 lives in 15 countries from 2004 to 2006, then the disease quieted down -- until now.

"Actually, we've had as much activity in the bird side of it -- meaning poultry flocks, wild birds and humans -- in Asia and Africa over the past four months as we've really had at almost any time since H5N1 became a problem back in 2004," said noted University of Minnesota disease expert Michael Osterholm.

Osterholm says the increased activity "has really got us concerned."

WCCO's Steve Murphy Interviews Michael Osterholm

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Health authorities are on high alert for bird flu on the Thai-Cambodian border after two Cambodians, a 21-year-old mother and her 11-month-old son, reportedly died after consuming an infected chicken.

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