CHINA ON FRIDAY CONFIRMED AN OUTBREAK OF BIRD FLU AMONG WILD BIRDS IN A REMOTE AREA OF FAR-WESTERN QINGHAI PROVINCE, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE OUTBREAK WAS CONFIRMED BY THE NATIONAL BIRD FLU LABORATORY ON WEDNESDAY, AND THE NUMBER OF DEAD WILD BIRDS HAD RISEN TO 123 BY THURSDAY, THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE SAID ON ITS WEB SITE. AN OUTBREAK OF THE H5N1 STRAIN OF BIRD FLU IN CHINA'S QINGHAI LAKE LAST MAY KILLED THOUSANDS OF BIRDS AND THAT PARTICULAR STRAIN HAS SINCE BEEN FOUND IN AFFECTED PLACES IN EUROPE, AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST.