August 2, 2007

Myanmar reports second bird flu outbreak in a week
 

Myanmar Thursday (Aug 2) reported a second outbreak of the bird flu virus in a week after discovering infected fowl on a farm north of Yangon.

The H5N1 virus was detected on a small, privately owned farm in Lepadan, 118 kilometres north of the city Saturday, said Than Hla, an official at the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department.

"Laboratory tests confirmed Tuesday that at least three ducks and four chickens from the farm in Letpadan were infected with H5N1," Than Hla said.

Nearly 4,000 chickens there have been slaughtered as a precaution and other measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the virus, he said.

The detection came after an outbreak Sunday on two chicken farms in Mon State, 180 kilometres south-east of Yangon. Authorities slaughtered 312 chickens from the farms and the infection has been contained, Than Hla said.

Bird flu outbreaks on the outskirts of the country's largest commercial city, Yangon, occurred in February and April, while the virus was also detected in Bago, 80 kilometres north of Yangon, in June.

Before those cases, bird flu was found among domestic poultry in March 2006.