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Yangon reports more outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu

Military-ruled Myanmar yesterday confirmed three more outbreaks of bird flu in Yangon, and urged people to report any suspicious bird deaths.

The state-controlled New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza had been discovered in the southern township of Thingangyun, in Insein township in the north, and in Hlinethaya, a western suburb.

The secretive nation on Friday confirmed an outbreak of bird flu in Mayangon township, a western suburb of Yangon.

The outbreak on a small farm in a residential neighborhood was initially reported on Wednesday by the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health, which said 68 birds had died from avian flu.

That figure rose to 71 yesterday, the New Light of Myanmar reported, with an additional 21 cases found in chicken and ducks in the other three suburbs.

It did not reveal the total number of culled birds, although a livestock official said last week that 1,500 birds had been killed.

The New Light of Myanmar said 30 dead crows found across Yangon had tested negative for the H5N1 strain.

Authorities have said that they believe wild crows and sparrows may have carried the H5N1 virus to poultry farms and other places.

The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD) yesterday urged people to immediately report any dead birds to the authorities.

"The LBVD has requested the public to send dead crows to the disease diagnostic laboratory of LBVD, using hand gloves and masks when handling them," the newspaper said.

It also urged people "to bury dead crows after spraying them with pesticide and hot water, to avoid eating and selling of dead crows and fowls, [and] to prevent domestic crows, sparrows and pigeons from entering the poultry farms."

Brigadier General Maung Maung Thein, minister of livestock and fisheries, also met with officials and farm owners to urge them to take preventative measures against bird flu, the New Light of Myanmar said.

Myanmar had declared itself bird-flu free in September after months without any new cases of the disease following an outbreak around the central city of Mandalay in March last year.

No human cases have been detected in the country.

Although Myanmar has one of the world's worst health care systems, the UN has praised the country's vigilance in monitoring for cases of bird flu.
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