Myanmar reports fresh bird flu outbreak

YANGON (AFP) - Military-ruled Myanmar has detected its second outbreak of bird flu in less than a month, this time on a poultry farm in the central region of Bago, health officials said Wednesday.

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Lab tests on Tuesday confirmed the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in dead chickens at a poultry farm in Bago, about 145 kilometres (90 miles) northwest of Myanmar's main city Yangon, said Kyaw San, an official at the government's livestock department.

About seven dead chickens were found Saturday at a farm in Letpandan township, he said.

Health officials are slaughtering about 3,800 chickens at the farm to prevent the virus from spreading, he added.

"No human case has been reported yet. We hope to avoid any human cases," said Kyaw Nyunt Sein, a senior health ministry official.