Japan aborts bird flu all-clear as new cases confirmed

JAPAN confirmed a new outbreak of bird flu yesterday, thwarting its plans to declare an end to the scourge there, while China confirmed two more outbreaks among poultry in a central province.

The cases came a day after hard-hit Thailand's hopes of declaring victory in its war against the disease were dashed after it reported fresh outbreaks of the virulent H5N1 strain in nine provinces.

"This thing is still not under control," Hans Wagner, a senior official with the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation, said in Bangkok. "We have outbreaks in new geographical regions and recurring outbreaks where we had bird flu already. You can't expect to clear it up with one go."