The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday confirmed new outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, both in China's northwest, and in the southwestern province of Yunnan.

It said in a statement that 38 domestic birds died last Wednesday in Dabancheng District of Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, and were later confirmed as being caused by the H5N1 strain.

The same virus killed 2,500 poultry in Chuxiong City, Yunnan and 230 poultry in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia, on Thursday.

The ministry said it has sent teams of experts to help control the outbreaks, and local veterinary departments have culled poultry within three kilometers of affected areas: 8,388 in Xinjiang, 99,400 in Yunnan and 66,800 in Ningxia.

Also on Tuesday, Vice Premier Hui Liangyu urged for the implementation of the State Council's statute on emergency planning for the occurrence of major animal epidemics, issued on Sunday.

Speaking at a workshop discussing the new regulations, he said they should be studied, widely publicized and integrated with veterinary sector reforms.

(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2005)