May 14, 2007

Bird flu hits Vietnam again in May
 

Another bird flu outbreak has hit Vietnam again in May, this time on three duck farms in the central part of the country, the agriculture ministry's Animal Health Department said.

The H5 virus type was detected following tests on 1,298 ducks that died in Nghe An province May 9, reported the department.

Authorities said the birds were not vaccinated against bird flu.

In a bid to curb the spread of the disease, animal health workers have culled the remaining 2,500 ducks in the affected farms. Additionally, disinfections were conducted and poultry transport prohibited from the affected region.

Nearly half of Vietnam's 64 provinces have completed the first of a two-phase vaccination campaign, with 111 million poultry including 70.3 million chickens vaccinated as of May 13, the department said.