Rising threats to public health such as bird flu could place international security in peril, the World Health Organization (WHO) said here on Friday, one week before the World Health Day on April 7.

The international community has yet to adopt a global health response to disease outbreaks and other health-related concerns, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Shigeru Omi said in a press statement.

"Health and international security are closely intertwined. A danger in one country can present a risk to communities on the other side of the world," said Shigeru Omi.

All countries should continue building up their common capacity to prevent, detect, report and respond to these threats, the WHO official said as he added that this year's theme for World Health Day is international health security with the message "invest in health, build a safer future".

He said rich nations have to do more to help poor nations address health risks, particularly of the Western Pacific, which has been the most affected by disease outbreaks and natural disasters among the six WHO regions.

In recent years, the Western Pacific Region has endured challenges from SARS and bird flu to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, floods and typhoons, according to ShigeruOmi.

If the bird flu virus presently circulating in backyard farms develops the ability to spread between humans, it would be a big threat to international security, the official warned.

Since 1950, WHO has spearheaded the worldwide observance of World Health Day on every April 7 to raise awareness of key global health issues.