China confirms bird flu outbreak

China has confirmed a new outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus in the central province of Hunan, state media has reported.

More than 11,000 poultry died of the virus in Shijiping village near Yiyang city, the Agriculture Ministry said.

Some 53,000 birds have since been culled and officials say that the outbreak is now under control.

China's last reported case was in March, when chickens died at a poultry market near the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.

There were no reports of human infection in the latest outbreak.

A total of 15 people have died in China from the H5N1 virus and millions of birds have been culled.

Officials are working to vaccinate billions of domestic poultry by the end of May in preparation for the northward migration of wild birds in the summer, Xinhua news agency has said.

Since the H5N1 virus emerged in South East Asia in late 2003, it has claimed more than 180 lives around the world. Indonesia has been hardest hit, with more than 70 deaths.

Scientists fear the virus could mutate to a form which could be easily passed from human to human, triggering a pandemic and potentially putting millions of lives at risk.

Has Hell Frozen Over?

London, Friday, May 11, 2007

by M V Smith

Reports are difficult to get from that location but the First Minister of the Norther Irish Assembly Revered Ian Paisley has been visiting today the site of the Battle of the Boyne together with the Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

This could, so we all can but hope, be a great beginning for the two Irelands and be even better for the people of the divided country.

At the time of writing this article there are still no firm reports as to the weather conditions in hell but the two politicians have met and everyone seems to have had a great day. May this be the beginning of a lasting peace in Ulster and the associated areas.

© M V Smith, May 2007