New cases of bird flu noted

New bird flu outbreak in Myanmar

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — The U.N. reported a new outbreak of bird flu in Myanmar on Wednesday and called for more stringent measures to control the spread of the deadly H5N1 virus.

About 1,600 chickens contracted the virus and died during the weekend at a farm in Nyaunghnapin, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, said Tang Zang Ping, the Myanmar representative for the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization.

Authorities slaughtered the farm's remaining 20,700 birds as a precautionary measure, he said.

"We need to impose stricter control on the movement of poultry, poultry products, chicken feed, eggs and even the trucks that carry these materials," Tang told The Associated Press.

The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department said in a statement that the virus might have spread in the farm, located in Hmawyby township, through contaminated trays used to carry eggs or small birds, the New Light of Myanmar reported Wednesday.