Two new outbreaks of bird flu last month have brought the total number of cases in

Cambodia to 12, said Kao Phal, head of the country's Animal Health and Production

department.

Pal said 17 chickens in Kampong Cham province and 30 chickens in Takeo were found

to have the H5N1 influenza virus. Both outbreaks were on household farms.

Seven Cambodians have been tested for the disease, but World Health Organization

entomologist Dr Sean Tobin said no cases of human infection have been reported.

An official declaration that a country is free from the disease can only be made

by the World Organization for Animal Health after a 21-day surveillance period with

no new outbreaks reported.