Four reports of suspected H5N1 bird flu cases in southern China have been confirmed by the National Bird Flu Reference Laboratory, the Ministry of Agriculture said Saturday.

The confirmed bird flu cases were reported in Jiangcheng District of Yangjiang City, Maogang District of Maoming City and Doumen District of Zhuhai City, all in Guangdong Province; and Xingning District of Nanning City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

All the above bird flu-hit areas have taken measures to control the highly pathogenic avian flu, and no new suspected bird flu cases were reported Saturday, said the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2004)