December 3, 2007

Myanmar reports bird flu

Myanmar officials blamed the entry of bird flu into the country's north-east Shan State to a duck dealer who bought 900 birds early November.

Yangon, the duck dealer, sold 6-month-old female ducks in Mongla district to breeders near the ancient regional capital of Kengtung, the government said.

When the ducks started to die, the farmers returned the remaining birds to the dealer, who attempted to breed the infected birds at Naungngin village.

Infection spread rapidly among ducks, geese and chickens, prompting authorities to cull around 15,000 birds from November 20 to 25 in Myanmar.