The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture Friday confirmed outbreak of
bird flu among wild birds in a remote area of Qinghai Province, northwest China.
The outbreak was confirmed by the national bird flu laboratory
on Wednesday, and the number of dead wild bird had risen to 123 by
Thursday, the ministry said on its website.
Dead bar-headed gooses were first spotted by local herdsmen in a
wetland in Yushu County on April 23. Veterinarians rushed to the
site and found 17 dead gooses.
The samples were first sent to the provincial veterinary
laboratory and later to the national bird flu laboratory for
test.
The test result on Wednesday confirmed it was highly contagious
bird flu.
The epidemic area is 800 kilometers from the provincial capital
Xining and 60 kilometers from the county town. There are no
residents or domestic fowls in the epidemic area, which is very
high and cold, the ministry said.
The area has been put under close surveillance with due
disinfection measures taken.
As a precaution, cattle and sheep in nearby areas have been
moved to farther pastures.
Local residents have been informed of the bird flu outbreak and
told to take preventive measures.
(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2006)