Danger arises when the virus leads to bacterial respiratory infections, triggering conditions such as pneumonia, says Edward Dubovi, director of virology at Cornell University's Animal Health Diagnostic Center.

WSJ: A New Breed of Flu Shot to Avoid Getting Sick as a Dog

The bird flu outbreak is also on the front pages of many Hong Kong newspapers and it coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak that killed at least 349 people on the mainland, triggering a global epidemic.

BBC: China media: Concerns over bird flu