Mar 9, 2009 (DVB), Authorities in southwest Mandalay have imposed a ban on the sales of quails and chickens following fears of a bird flu outbreak, local residents said.

"Authorities told people to stop selling quail eggs and roast quails," a resident said.

"At markets near our place, such as Mingala market, no chicken is allowed to be sold," he added.

Although the authorities didn’t comment on why the ban was imposed, local residents say that local media reported the destruction of a quail farm at the end of February because the birds were suffering from influenza.

Another resident said there have been various outbreaks of bird flu, some of which have spread to humans, and the authorities ordered the burning of a number of chicken farms in southwest Mandalay township.

Reporting by Nan Kham Kaew