The International Office of Epizootic (IOE), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) will meet on Feb. 3 in Rome for a joint policy against bird flu, the IOE said on Friday.

Representatives from these organizations will design coordinated and efficient actions to direct technical assistance needed by countries hit by bird flu, the Paris-based IOE said in apress release.

"We are facing a real disaster for the animal production in Asia," the IOE said, adding that the present Asian outbreak had no precedent since the virus had never spread in such a vast area.

The best way to stop the bird flu virus from infecting human beings is by eliminating, as soon as possible, the bird droves from the affected regions and areas, it said.

The most urgent action to take, the IOE said, is to localize the sick animals and set up state-run control and vigilance centers where the veterinary services could focus on their work.

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2004)