Bird flu outbreaks reported in two Mexican states

MEXICO CITY - Two Mexican states have reported outbreaks of bird flu at poultry farms, local media reported Thursday.

Poultry farms in the central state of Puebla and southern state of Oaxaca reported incidents of the "highly pathogenic H7N3 bird flu," news network Radio Formula reported on its website.

"Mexico's Agriculture Ministry, in a report released by the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), reported 139 infected birds were found at the farms," the agency reported.

Government veterinary services began the epidemiological research confirming the bird flu virus, the agency said, adding no links have been found between the two outbreaks.

In Oaxaca, where the incident marks the first ever outbreak of bird flu, 96 chickens were destroyed at farms in the region of Juquila, the area has been placed under quarantine, and vehicles used to transport the chickens are set to be disinfected, the agency reported.