Burma hit by more bird flu outbreaks

Rangoon, (dpa) - Seven poultry farms in Rangoon's neighbouring townships have been hit by outbreaks of the H5N1 virus since February leading to the culling of 65,812 birds, Sunday dailies reported.

According to laboratory tests, 24 samples out of 675 samples from the affected farms were infected, while the virus was also detected in six samples of the dead crows out of 561 samples taken of wild birds, reported The New Light of Myanmar.

The cullings and sample tests have been conducted in cooperation with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and US Agency for International Development, between March 6 and April 21.

Restrictions on transport and sale of poultry and poultry products in the five townships has since been lifted.

The government has requested the people and breeders to come forward with information on the dead birds, to ensure bio-security and cooperate with the department in order to be able to prevent the recurrence of bird flu.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=118255