July 24, 2007

Bird flu strikes another province in Vietnam  

The dreaded avian influenza strikes Vietnam again, killing 220 ducks in the central province of Quang Binh last week, the Animal Health Department said on Monday (July 24).

Quang Binh had earlier been officially declared bird flu free until bird flu struck a 3,000-duck flock in Le Thuy District's Cam Thuy commune. The province has been without outbreaks for 21 days.

Two southern provinces have reported H5N1 virus resurgences since the beginning of this month.

The southernmost province of Ca Mau reported bird flu in early July but has been removed from the list of affected areas.

Other than Quang Binh, avian flu still plagues four provinces such as Bac Giang, Ninh Binh, Dien Bien, and Dong Thap.

Since the beginning of the year, 153.5 million fowls have undergone a mass national vaccination throughout the country.