A suspected outbreak in Gongga county's Jiedexiu town was brought to the attention of authorities on Jan. 25. The National Bird Flu Reference Laboratory yesterday confirmed the virus as the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza subtype, according to the MoA.

So far, 1,000 fowl have died from the disease and Tibetan authorities have culled 13,080 more as part of preventative measures. No human infections have been reported.

The MoA said that it has sent experts to the affected area to bring the outbreak under control. The area is currently under quarantine and the MoA said it will cooperate with the Tibetan government closely to ensure the best outcome.

The last outbreak of bird flu in China occurred on Dec. 29 last year in the city of Turpan in the northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and led to the death of 4,850 fowl and the culling of another 29,383 by Dec. 29. The local government lifted the quarantine on the area last Sunday as no new cases have surfaced.

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a contagious disease of animal origin caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs.