Beijing, Feb 19: China on Thursday reported three new confirmed outbreaks of bird flu, state media said, quoting the Ministry of Agriculture. The three confirmed outbreaks were in Huanggang city in Hubei province, Baicheng city in Jilin province and Qizhou city in Hunan province.

Three earlier suspected cases were also ruled out.

Thursday's report brings the total tally in China to 46 confirmed and two suspected cases, with 16 provincial-level regions affected. China is battling a widening outbreak of the deadly virus, although no human transmission has been reported on the mainland.

Scientists this week said they were close to identifying the source of bird flu in China, while stepping up warnings about the dangers posed by migratory birds which will begin flocking to China's north next month.

The World Health Organisation has warned that bird flu could take years to be eradicated in Asia, and urged affected countries not to drop their guard. China reported its first case of bird flu on January 27 and has since culled more than 1.2 million chicken, geese and ducks.

As the world's fifth largest exporter of poultry, some officials estimate the industry is facing losses of more than 100 billion Yuan. Bureau Report