China confirms bird flu outbreak in Xinjiang
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-06-09 16:10

The Ministry of Agriculture Thursday confirmed a bird flu outbreak in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, saying the situation was under control.

The national bird flu reference laboratory confirmed that the latest death of geese in a backyard farm in Tacheng City of Xinjiang was caused by the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus.

A total of 1,042 geese were affected and 460 of them had died, the laboratory said.

The local government has taken emergency measures, having the affected areas isolated and slaughtering 13,457 fowls. Quarantine and vaccination measures have also been adopted.

The outbreak had been brought under control and the source of agent was being investigated, said Jia Youling, director general of the Veterinary Bureau of the ministry.

The Ministry of Agriculture has informed the World Organizationfor Animal Health and the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as authorities in Hong Kong and Taiwan, of the bird flu outbreak.