China: New H5N1 outbreak detected

Chinese media have said authorities have discovered a new H5N1 outbreak in central Hunan province.

China's Ministry of Agriculture said more than 11,000 poultry died of the virus in Shijiping village near Yiyang city. About 53,000 poultry were destroyed and health officials announced that the outbreak was controlled.

(Photo: javno.com) Previously, China announced it had discovered another outbreak in March when many chickens died at the poultry market near Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. In this new outbreak, people have not detected any cases of the disease.

In China, 15 people died because of H5N1 and millions of poultry were destroyed. According to Xinhua, authorities are currently vaccinating billions of poultry to prepare for a wild bird flight north this summer.

Since the H5N1 virus appeared in Southeast Asia in late 2003, 185 people worldwide have died from bird flu. Indonesia is the most affected place with 70 people killed. Scientists are concerned that the virus can mutate and easily spread from person to person, causing a worldwide pandemic.

Vinh Bao