Hunan provincial government is mobilizing emergency aid to its Xiangtan County which is short of bird-flu vaccines for 1.7 million fowls in fighting an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, local government sources said.

Over the past few days, Xiangtang County carried out compulsory injection of bird-flu vaccines for 2.3 million fowls. However, thecounty still needs vaccines for 1.7 million fowls in order to carry out the compulsory injection by 100 percent in the county, said local sources.

The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that the latest outbreak in Wantang village, Shebu Town of Xiangtan County in the province was identified as deadly H5N1 strain by the State Avian Influenza Reference Lab on Tuesday.

The ministry said on Wednesday that the bird flu outbreak in Xiangtan County is now under control and there is no new case reported in Hunan Province.

The provincial and county governments are taking measures to fill up gap between supply and demand of bird-flu vaccines, said Wang Yonghong, deputy head of Xiangtan County.

(Xinhua News Agency October 28, 2005)