Burma Confirms Additional Bird Flu Outbreak in Rangoon Suburb

Burma has confirmed additional outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of bird flu virus among poultry in the suburbs of Rangoon.

The latest outbreaks were discovered in Hlinethaya, a western suburb of Rangoon. Earlier this week Burmese authorities confirmed a new outbreak of the H5N1 virus on poultry farms, also in Rangoon's western suburbs.

No human cases have been announced in the country.

More than 160 people have died from bird flu since late 2003. Most of the victims came in contact with infected poultry. Experts fear the virus could mutate into a form that is easily transmissible by human-to-human contact.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP.