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Two milder forms of deadly bird flu found in Taiwan

Infection Control Monitor, December 17, 2004

Routine testing uncovered two strains of avian flu in migratory birds in Taiwan, although they appear to be milder than the deadly H5N1 virus that has killed more than 30 people in Thailand and Vietnam, Reuters reports.

Taiwan health officials say the H5N2 and H5N6 strains are the first cases identified in that region since the start of 2004, noting that the H5N1 strain has not been found there.

So far this year, more than 400,000 fowl were slaughtered in Taiwan after some birds became infected with the H5N2 strain.

As health officials continue to work on identifying the source of the virus, they suspect migratory birds or fowl smuggled from China.

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