WHO talks with China on sending bird flu team

BEIJING (AP) — The World Health Organization is talking with the Chinese government about sending international experts to China to help investigate a new bird flu strain that has sickened 21 people, killing six of them.

The head of WHO's office in China, Michael O'Leary, told reporters in Beijing on Monday that the international health organization had confidence in China's efforts to track and control the outbreak of H7N9 infections.

He said growing interest in the virus globally has prompted WHO to consider sending a team.

O'Leary said the two sides were in discussions and it was not yet clear when such a team might arrive in China. It would likely include epidemiological experts.