HANOI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- A bird flu outbreak has
been confirmed in Donngeun village, Xayaboury district of Xayaboury province of
Laos, Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported on Tuesday, citing Xayaboury
district governor Phompan Souththivohaneas saying.
The Xayaboury Provincial Avian Influenza Control
Committee has declared a red zone which covers areas within one kilometer radius
of the outbreak. This area includes the seven villages, said Phompan on Monday.
All birds in these villages will be slaughtered to
prevent the virus from spreading and the movement, consumption and sale of birds
throughout the district has been banned until further notice. This ban also
includes products made with the blood of poultry.
A yellow zone will be established to include villages
that are outside the red zone, but within five kilometers of the outbreak.
Villagers in the yellow zone will be advised to
destroy birds at the first sign of illness, without waiting to have them tested
for the virus.
Phompan said the district public health office was
cooperating with the provincial public health department to monitor people's
health, particularly those living in the red zone.
Checkpoints have also been established throughout the
district to prevent the movement of poultry. These checkpoints will remain in
place until 45 days after the last case of the virus is
identified.