March 31, 2006

Vietnam vaccinates more than 6 million poultry against bird flu

More than 6 million poultry in 10 northern and southern localities in Vietnam has been vaccinated against bird flu viruses since early this month, according to the local animal health department.

Some 3.1 million poultry in northern Nam Dinh province has been vaccinated. Vaccination has also been carried out for 3 million poultry in the northern provinces of Ha Nam, Phu Tho, Ha Tay, Bac Giang and Hai Duong, and the southern provinces of Tien Giang, Hau Giang, Dong Thap and An Giang.

Vietnam is expected to vaccinate 100 million fowls nationwide.

The department said Vietnam faces a high risk of bird flu reoccurrence because of existing bird flu viruses in the environment and loose control over poultry smuggling.

In 2005, bird flu affected 44 cities and provinces of Vietnam, forcing some 4.8 million poultry to be culled. This accounted for more than 2 percent of the country's poultry population. Vietnam has not detected a bird flu outbreak for more than three months.

The country has 8 million poultry-raising households and has a total poultry population of almost 220 million.