YANGON, March 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is coordinating with the Myanmar authorities for fresh measures in preventing H5N1 from spreading further in the country, a resident representative of the FAO told Xinhua Thursday.

    An FAO expert group has arrived here and they will go to the bird flu-infected areas of Mandalay for the measures, said Dr Tang Zhengping.

    The FAO has provided 45,000 U.S. dollars worth of equipment to Myanmar as the first batch of aid, which includes 100 sets of protection equipment, 500 liters of disinfectant, 50 sets of sprayers and two containers for shipping samples, he added.

    No human infection has so far been detected, Myanmar Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department officials said.

    Myanmar's state-run media reported for the first time on Thursday the outbreak of suspected H5N1 bird flu in the country's northern part, saying that measures have been taken to deal with the situation.

    According to the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department of Myanmar, suspected avian influenza virus of H5N1 was found in poultry farms in Khin U township in northwestern Sagaing division and Pyigyidagun township in adjacent Mandalay division in the first half of this month.

    The department's statistics show that 3,427 fowls and 200 quails were killed in 37 poultry farms and two quail farms between the first week of last month and the second week of this month. Enditem