A previously suspected outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in southwest China has been confirmed by the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory, the Ministry of Agriculture said Tuesday.

The outbreak is in Songming County of Yunnan Province.

The local government has taken measures to cull poultry in the affected areas and impose prompt quarantine restrictions, said the ministry.

No new suspected cases were reported Tuesday, the ministry said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2004)