March 2, 2007

Bird flu recurs in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region
 

Bird flu has recurred in the Mekong Delta after over a month of being contained in the region, the Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Bird flu has re-occurred over the weekend among a flock of 800 unvaccinated ducks of 45 days old in Thoi Hoa commune, Tra On district, Vinh Long province, the department said.

All ducks have already been culled and disinfections have been conducted at the site.

Bui Quang Anh, Director of the Veterinary Department, urged the Mekong Delta provinces to increase their control of water fowls breading in accordance with the ministry's regulations.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has urged the import of bird flu vaccines to meet the urgent demand for vaccination for fowls in localities.

At present, northern provinces are in need of bird flu vaccines for fowls since the reoccurrence of the epidemic outbreak in Hai Duong province.

The current outbreak in Mekong Delta provinces would require more vaccines for their newly-hatched fowls.

The Department of Veterinary said only 25 million doses out of the 150 million doses of vaccines needed have been imported and distributed to Mekong Delta provinces so far.

An additional 20 million doses is expected to arrive on March 10 to 13. The remainder should be received by the end of this month.

Bird flu reoccurred in Vietnam last December, hitting a total of eight southern and one northern localities.