Two new bird flu outbreaks

Two new outbreaks of bird flu in poultry were reported in the north-western region of Xinjiang and in central Hunan province, state media reported. China has culled more than 20 million birds this year and has reported 24 outbreaks of avian influenza since mid-October in nine regions and provinces. The deadly H5N1 strain is known to have infected 133 people in Asia since late 2003, killing 68. China confirmed this month its first three human bird flu cases, two of which were fatal.