The 60-odd blue pheasants that died late January in Tainan County of Taiwan were confirmed infected with the H5N2 strain of bird flu virus, the local quarantine department announced Friday.

The blue pheasant farm is no more than three kilometers away from a chicken farm that has been infected with the same bird flu virus, sources said.

The farm used to have over 100 blue pheasants. Many of the birds began to have difficulty in breathing on January 29, and then died quickly. The agricultural authorities have decided to kill the rest of the birds against any possible spread of the virus.

Also on Friday, a chicken farm in Zhanghua County on the island was found to be infected with the H5N2 strain of bird flu virus.

(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2004)