The Ministry of Agriculture today confirmed a bird flu outbreak in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, but said the situation was under control.
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.
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.
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.
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)
