February 7, 2006

Vietnam to begin mass bird flu vaccination on poultry this month

Vietnam will start this year's mass vaccination on poultry against bird flu on Feb 16, said deputy head of the Animal Health Department Huynh Van Nam on Jan 5.

The country's second mass vaccination will begin in the northern province of Nam Dinh and southern province of Tien Giang, said Nam.

Over 120 million birds nationwide were involved in the first vaccination in 2005. Agricultural officials said the first vaccination helped reduce the number of bird flu outbreaks in poultry nationwide.

Vietnam has not reported any outbreaks in poultry in about two months.

However, experts said the authorities should not be complacent and newly-hatched poultry should be vaccinated.