The confirmed H5N1 avian influenza in Heishan County of northeast China's Liaoning Province has been brought under effective control, an official with the provincial government said at a press brief Friday morning.

He said a total of 8,940 chickens have died. About 369,900 sick chickens and other birds had been culled within a radius of three kms of the outbreak to stem the spreading, and another 13.9 million had been vaccinated.

Local people who raise poultry found some chickens dying in Heishan county's Badaohao township and reported the case to the local government. Liaoning provincial government took immediate measures to curb the spreading of bird flu case so as to prevent commutating to humans.

The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed the case as H5N1 bird flu Thursday.

The Liaoning provincial government has launched emergency plans and taken a range of measures to stop the epidemic from spreading. The epidemic-stricken areas were blocked and 30 checking stations and disinfections points were set up around the areas, more than 3,000 staff and 50 tons of disinfector were used, about 8.5 million ml bacteria were put into use, and the provincial government has allocated five million yuan (about US$625,000) as compensation to local farmers for the loss of culling chickens.

Heishan county is located on migratory birds' route from East Asia to Australia, and more than 20 magpies and other wild birds have been spotted.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2005)