The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday confirmed a previously suspected outbreak of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in Chenggong County in Yunnan Province, southwest China.

The confirmation was based on the report from the National Bird Flu Reference Laboratory. No person has been reported to have contracted the disease so far.

The local government has been taking measures including fowl slaughter and compulsory vaccination to prevent the spread of the outbreak.

In addition, the ministry on Wednesday announced two more areas where suspected outbreaks of bird flu cases have been found.

The two areas are Guandu District of Kunming, Yunnan's capital city, and Gaolan County of Gansu Province, northwest China.

As soon as the suspected cases were spotted, local governments began slaughtering chickens and implementing compulsory vaccination. Samples have been sent to the National Bird Flu Reference Laboratory.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2004)