July 12, 2007

Bird flu hits Vietnam anew; strikes two provinces

While some municipalities are prepping up to declare their area as bird flu-free, two provinces have again been hit by the dreaded disease, the country's animal health department said Wednesday (July 12).

Since July 5, the department said the outbreak killed 500 ducks raised by six households in northern district of Dien Bien province. Specimens from the affected poultry have been tested positive to bird flu virus strain H5N1.

On July 2, bird flu has also been found in a flock of 14 ducks raised by a household in southern Ca Mau province's Dam Doi district, causing nine ducks affected and five others dead, said the department, adding that the provincial veterinary bureau has slaughtered all fowls in the affected flock.

Bird flu has hit 20 Vietnamese cities and provinces since early May.

The Vietnamese government has called for more efforts in the fight against bird flu by strengthening bird flu vaccination among poultry and tightening management over poultry egg hatcheries.

The country has already vaccinated 154.3 million fowls, including 85.6 million chickens, 65.11 million ducks and 3.59 million white-winged ducks, said the department.