31.03.2014

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza is reported in a village poultry flock in the north-west of the country - the first for more than five years.
The outbreak, in Sainyabuli province in northwestern Laos, which borders Thailand, involved 457 dead birds in a flock of 5,142 poultry, some of which tested positive for H5N1 at the country's National Animal Health Laboratory. In addition, health officials culled 543 poultry to prevent H5N1 spread. 

The dead and culled birds were part of a shipment of 1,000 ducks and chickens from neighboring Luang Prabang province. The 457 reported by the OIE died in transit, and the rest were culled by authorities on arrival. Xinhua called the village "isolated," which it said might help prevent spread of the disease. 

This is Laos's first H5N1 since December 2008.