Dr. Lee Jong-Wook

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) is assuring consumers there is no risk of catching bird flu from properly cooked food.

Dr. Lee Jong-Wook said Monday that none of the 173 confirmed bird flu cases since 2003 came from eating well-cooked poultry or eggs.

Dr. Lee says poultry products are an important source of protein and that thorough cooking kills the virus.

European poultry farmers have said they have lost millions of dollars from people giving up chickens because of bird flu fears.

French officials say 20 countries have banned French poultry since bird flu was found on a commercial turkey farm last week.

Meanwhile, the virus has spread to a third African country with Niger reporting the disease in domestic ducks. Bird flu has also been found in Nigeria and Egypt.

In Europe, Bosnia has reported its first bird flu cases in swans.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.