The Ministry of Agriculture today confirmed a bird flu outbreak
in the Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region, but said the situation was under
control.
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The national bird flu reference laboratory confirmed that the
latest deaths of geese in a backyard farm in Tacheng City were
caused by the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.?
A total of 1,042 geese have been affected and 460 of them have
died, the laboratory said.
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The local government has taken emergency measures, having the
affected areas isolated and slaughtering 13,457 poultry. Quarantine
and vaccination measures have also been implemented.
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Jia Youling, director general of the ministry's Veterinary Bureau,
said the outbreak has been brought under control and that the
source is being investigated.
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The ministry has informed the World Organization for Animal Health
and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization of the outbreak, as
well as authorities in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2005)