Reuters AlertNet Lite - China confirms birdflu outbreak among poultry-Xinhua

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

China confirms birdflu outbreak among poultry-Xinhua

19 May 2007 10:24:21 GMT
Source: Reuters

BEIJING, May 19 (Reuters) - China has confirmed an outbreak of the H5N1 birdflu virus among poulty in the central province of Hunan, state media reported on Saturday, reporting no cases of human infection in the area hit.

The outbreak was in a village in Yiyang city in Hunan and it killed 11,172 birds, a Ministry of Agriculture spokesman told Xinhua news agency.

Scientists had sourced the poultry deaths to H5N1, the strain of avian influenza that scientists fear could mutate into a form that jumps easily from human to human, threatening an epidemic.

China, with millions of backyard birds and a strained medical system, is seen as key in the fight against bird flu. The country's last reported human death from bird flu was in March.

Hunan authorities have taken steps to contain the outbreak, culling close to 53,000 other birds, Xinhua reported.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• China profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Christian Aid joins green.tv
Christian Aid - UK

• Christian Aid comment on 5 April Gleneagles event
Christian Aid - UK

• Governments must invest to help poor people adapt to climate change
CARE International - UK

• Beware of hidden strings on EU's offer on trade
Christian Aid - UK

• Australians see little improvement for children in developing countries
ChildFund Australia

MORE >>

Latest news

• China confirms birdflu outbreak among poultry-Xinhua

• Australia plans carbon scheme counting U.S., China

• Poultry in melamine probe are safe to eat-USDA

• Deadlock at climate talks mars Kyoto hopes

• INTERVIEW-Kyoto nations seek deeper greenhouse gas cuts

MORE >>

Last updated:Sat May 19 10:26:06 2007