On November 10, China reported the discovery of two new outbreaks of avian influenza in Liaoning Province, raising the total number of avian influenza outbreaks in the country to six since last month.
The two new outbreaks were reported in Fuxin and Jinzhou, both located in Liaoning Province, where a previous outbreak had been reported the week before. Approximately 1,000 chickens have died, and the National Avian Influenza Testing Laboratory confirmed that many of the deceased birds were infected with the H5N1 virus.
So far, China has not reported any human cases of avian influenza, although the country has requested assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) to test a suspected human case of avian influenza in Hunan Province, which previously experienced an outbreak in October. Health experts are concerned that the avian influenza virus could mutate into a strain that is easily transmissible between humans and could potentially kill millions worldwide.
According to China Daily, government officials stated that approximately 500,000 chickens and birds have been culled within a 3km radius of the outbreak area to control the spread of the avian influenza virus. The country has also previously culled 10 million birds in Liaoning Province.
Yesterday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao warned that the country would face a “very serious situation” if poultry trading is not controlled.
T.VY (According to Reuters, China Daily)
