February 10, 2006

80 percent of vaccinated fowls in Vietnam are immune to bird flu

Eighty percent of vaccinated chickens and ducks in Vietnam have developed immunity to the bird flu virus, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Over 10,000 fowls were tested as part of 246 million poultry turns (each vaccine dose is considered as one turn) in the first batch from August 2005 to January 2006, said the ministry. Vietnam plans to start its second mass vaccination in coming weeks.

The ministry added that 21 cities and provinces nationwide reported no new outbreaks for at least three weeks. This meant that they have met the criteria to declare their territory free of the virus.

However, Vietnam still faces high risk of the bird flu recurring in February and March. This is because cold weather and heightened transport and sales of poultry nationwide during the Lunar New Year will be conducive for the virus to spread.