China reports first outbreak in almost two months
October 2nd, 2006
China is reporting the first avian influenza outbreak in over six weeks, as poultry were found dead in a province from the far north of the country. 985 chickens died from the disease in a village in the city of Baotou, in Inner Mongolia. The agriculture ministry made the announcement, as almost 9,000 other domestic birds have been culled to prevent the virus from spreading. It is not yet known when did the first sign of the disease appeared, but the virus was confirmed as the highly pathogenic H5N1 on Friday. Quarantine was set up in the area and the outbreak is now under control, authorities say. So far, 21 people have contracted avian influenza, of which 14 died, as official reports say. The last recorded victim occurred in July in the western region of Xinjiang.