April 21, 2008

Myanmar government declares country as bird flu free

Myanmar's government on Sunday declared the country to be bird-flu free after three months without a bird flu outbreak, according to a report by the state media.

Authorities had submitted the announcement and evidence to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, said Mirror newspaper.

The last known outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus was in eastern Shan State last November, but was under control by January this year, said the paper.

Myanmar last declared itself to be bird flu free in September 2006 after outbreaks in the central city of Mandalay. However, fresh outbreaks occurred in and around Yangon and Bago in early 2007, leading to the culling of thousands of fowls.