The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed yesterday a new bird flu
outbreak in north China's
Shanxi Province.
According to the ministry, 15,000 fowl at a farm in Yijing
Township, Yangquan City, died on February 2 and 3.
After a preliminary analysis, the state avian flu lab confirmed
February 7 that the birds were infected with the H5N1 strain of
highly pathogenic bird flu.
The ministry has since sent quarantine teams to the affected
area, and veterinary departments in Shanxi have so far culled
187,745 poultry within three km of the heart of the outbreak.
(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2006)