Lao agriculture officials have confirmed that samples taken from dead ducks in Nambak district of Luang Prabang province tested positive for avian influenza, the Vientiane Times reported on September 9.

Officials say they plan to cull more than 7,000 birds in the red zone (outbreak area), which covers four villages, in an attempt to contain the virus, it said. About 3,000 birds have been culled so far and authorities are closely monitoring the situation to see if further culling is necessary.

The outbreak was first suspected on August 27, when 18 ducks died on a private farm in Nambak district. By September 2, the farm owner reported the deaths of 353 ducks. Officials began testing for the H5N1 virus on September 4, the paper said.

Bird flu outbreaks have occurred in Laos since 2004. The most serious outbreak occurred in 2007 when two human fatalities were confirmed in Vientiane province and the capital.

Earlier this year, an outbreak of the virus occurred in Luang Namtha province and authorities there culled thousands of birds to halt the spread of the disease.-