New bird flu outbreak in China

Health authorities in China have revealed that a new outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus discovered in the western region of Xinjiang has been contained by the culling of more than 17,100 poultry.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture domestic poultry on a farm in Hetian County had died from the bird flu virus.

Officials say no new suspected cases have been discovered near the infected site and experts and veterinarians have killed birds and disinfected the area to prevent possible new outbreaks.

It is unclear how many birds had been infected.

The area lies on a flight path for migratory birds between east Africa and west Asia and it seems the virus found in Hetian County is similar to the one found in migratory birds in western Qinghai and Tibet earlier this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture say it is possible that the virus in Xinjiang may also come from migratory birds and they are taking measures to prevent spread of the virus via this method.

Since February 2004 more than 80 outbreaks of bird flu have been reported in China affecting 24 provinces.

There have been eighteen confirmed human cases with 12 fatalities reported since last September.