China reports two new bird flu outbreaks

Shanghai. November 18. INTERFAX-CHINA - The Chinese government reported Thursday two new bird flu outbreaks in Hubei and Xinjiang provinces, raising the number of bird flu cases in the country to 13 in a month.

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture reported 662 birds were found dead in Hubei province's Xiaogan city and 32 birds were also found dead in Hetian county of Xinjiang Autonomous Region.

A total of 2,722 birds in Xinjiang and 86,215 birds in Hubei have been culled within three kilometers of the outbreak sites, the statement said.

China's National Bird Flu Reference Laboratory confirmed the bird deaths in Hubei and Xinjiang were caused by the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, the ministry said.

China confirmed on Wednesday night the country's first two human bird flu cases ?a woman who died and a boy who recovered earlier this month.

During a press conference held yesterday afternoon, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it is unnecessary for the government to hide the epidemic and denied the rumor of 300 human bird flu cases in China.

The ministry also said the local governments have adopted emergency measures including quarantines and disinfections to control the bird flu epidemic.