News - China confirms 2 more bird flu outbreaks

China today confirmed two more deadly bird flu outbreaks in the country leading to mass culling of poultry in the affected areas.

The Ministry of Agriculture said 288 poultry died on November 22 in Shanshan County in north-western Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. After a preliminary analysis, it was determined that the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic bird flu could be cause of the outbreak.

A state avian flu lab confirmed the hypothesis yesterday, the ministry said in a statement. By last night, authorities in Xinjiang had culled 52,162 poultry within three km from the affected areas, it said.

The lab also confirmed another bird flu outbreak on November 18 that killed 390 chickens and 12 ducks in Laobutou village in Lingling district in central province of Hunan.

China confirms 2 more bird flu outbreaks