New outbreak of bird flu comfirmed in Cambodia

03/02/2010

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodian authorities began a mass killing of ducks Wednesday after confirming a fresh outbreak of the deadly bird flu virus.

The cull comes after more than 15,000 ducks died last week in the southern province of Takeo and samples tested positive Tuesday for the H1N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu, said Kao Phal, an official of the Agriculture Ministry.

He said the sale of duck meat and its transport from the affected villages will be banned.

So far there have been no signs of human infection from the ducks, the official said.

At least seven Cambodians have died from the disease since the first reported outbreak in 2004. - AP