China Reports Bird Flu Outbreak in Tibet

Via globalsecurity.org -

Chinese agricultural authorities have reported an outbreak of bird flu among poultry in Tibet.

China's official Xinhua News Agency says the outbreak occurred in Tibet's Gongga county, which lies about 50 kilometers outside the capital, Lhasa.

Xinhua says the outbreak, of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus, had been suspected since January 25, and was confirmed Tuesday.

The Ministry of Agriculture says efforts are underway to contain the outbreak.

One thousand birds have died from the virus, more than 1,300 others have been culled to prevent it from spreading. No human infections have been reported.

Bird flu remains difficult for humans to catch but scientists worry it could mutate into a form that passes easily between people.

The World Health Organization says the bird flu virus has killed more than 200 people worldwide since 2003, mostly in Asia.