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Not bird flu cause

NANCHANG: U.N. officials on Thursday said migratory birds did not play a major role in the transmission of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1. They were speaking at the 1st international Living Lakes Conference held here on Wednesday and Thursday. Vincent Martin, an official with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, said the spread was mainly the result of the world's fast and unregulated development of animal production to meet the increased demand. Highly concentrated domestic poultry production systems, especially in Asia, were using centuries-old practices that place humans and poultry in proximity, he said. Evidence indicates wild migratory birds played a minor role in the long-distance spread of the virus, he said. — Xinhua

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