A two-day workshop on bird flu opened here Monday by Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith for print, radio and television journalists.

The back-to-back workshop was part of the overall support of the United Nations to the government's efforts to combat the spread of bird flu.

The workshop aims to improve journalists' awareness of basic information on bird flu, high risk, behaviors, practical prevention measures and recognition and response to bird flu in animals and humans.

"Through the workshop, UNICEF wants to help Cambodian journalist do their job better and be able to contribute to the national efforts to prevent and control the spread of Avian influenza," said Mare Vergard, chief of Communication under UNICEF(United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund).

According to the World Health Organization figures, bird flu has killed more than 100 people worldwide since late 2003. Cambodia has 6 people killed by the virus and two of them were killed this year.