April 2, 2007

Fifth bird flu outbreak hits Myanmar's Yangon region
 

Burmese authorities suspect H5N1 bird flu to be behind the recent deaths of some 900 chickens at a farm in Yangon's Mingaladon Township, according to a statement by the Livestock Breeding Veterinary Department (LBVD).

This marked the fifth reported outbreak of the disease in Yangon since bird flu first hit the region in late-February. The other four areas affected are Mayangon, Hlaingtharya, North Okkalapa and Hmawby.

In response, authorities culled a total of over 6,600 chickens including those remaining at the affected farm and birds from three other neighbouring farms to prevent the spread of the disease, LBVD said.

Authorities assessed that the disease spread to the affected farm due to transport and sale of chickens, ducks and quails in the area where there was an outbreak of bird flu in February, said the official New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

Consequently, a six-kilometre quarantine radius has been set up around the affected farm within which transport and sale of poultry and poultry products are restricted.

LBVD also called for unusual poultry deaths to be reported, tighter bio-security measures and disinfection at farms as a precaution.

While all five H5N1 outbreaks have resulted in the culling of about 40,000 fowl, a Health Ministry official said no humans have been infected so far.