"No bird flu virus has been discovered," said the release published by the New Light of Myanmar, adding that the restrictionon the two affected areas will be lifted by the end of this month if no spread of the avian influenza is further found.

Myanmar reported for the first time on March 13 the outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in the central Mandalay and Sagaing divisions as some 112 chickens died of the disease on March 8 in a poultry farmin Pyigyidagun township in Mandalay.

Since the outbreak of H5N1 bird flu, Myanmar has placed five townships in Sagaing division and eight in Mandalay division under restriction and movement control of animals, temporary closure of markets and disease investigation into poultry farms were undertaken.

According to the up-to-date statistics of the LBVD, since the outbreak of the avian influenza in early February this year up to Wednesday, 9,206 chickens in 480 poultry farms and 5,206 quails in 136 quail farms died.

After the initial outbreak in the 13 townships, investigation was made on poultry farms in the areas with 470 samples being examined, of which 33 were detected with the H5N1 deadly virus butwith no evidence of human and other animal infections from the H5N1 being found.

Field investigation and disease surveillance were also carried out in constant cooperation with experts from international organizations including the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO) and some others.