August 11, 2005

Kazakhstan reports new cases of bird flu

Kazakhstan's government reported it has quarantined a village in the Karaganda region, following the death of 20 domestic poultry there due to bird flu. The virus also hit poultry in two other villages in the Akmolinsk region. Tests have detected the presence of the deadly H5N1 virus in all three villages, the government said.

The country recently reported a bird flu outbreak in the Pavlodar region.

While the government said the virus's spread among poultry in Kazakhstan could be checked, it added there was no guarantee it would be completely eradicated in the country, although all efforts were being made to do so.

The government also expressed its concern about the immediate threat from infected migratory birds in neighbouring Russia, where the recent outbreaks in the region started recently.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's affected areas were under quarantine and birds within them were being culled.