A three-day global meeting began in Geneva on Monday to develop a common approach to deal with bird flu and human pandemic flu.

More than 400 animal and human health experts, senior policy makers, economists and industry representatives gathered here to work toward a global consensus to control the H5N1 bird flu virus in domestic animals and prepare for a potential human flu pandemic.

The meeting, from Monday to Wednesday, is co-organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health and the World Bank.

The H5N1 virus, which is firmly established among animals in Asia and has begun to extend its reach into Europe, has resulted in the culling of at least 150 million birds in the last two years.

The H5N1 remains for the moment an animal disease, but the WHO has warned that the virus has the potential to ignite a human flu pandemic.

While no one can predict the timing or severity of the next flu pandemic, governments around the world are taking the threat seriously. A series of international meetings held over the last 10 weeks will culminate in the Geneva meeting.

Because flu pandemics have typically caused enormous social and economic disruption, the WHO advised its members to develop national strategies to cope with such a public health emergency, and coordinate with international partners to develop a comprehensive response.

Topics on the agenda of the Geneva meeting include how to contain the H5N1 virus in birds and strengthen disease surveillance systems worldwide, as well as several critical issues related to potential human disease.