August 14, 2006

Vietnam reports more bird flu infected fowl

An official in Ben Tre province in Southern Vietnam said Thursday (Aug 10) more than 50 healthy waterfowl had been culled after tests showed they had the H5 subtype, but there had been no outbreaks.

Dong Manh Hoa, head of the Ho Chi Minh City Regional Veterinary Centre said tests of waterfowl in Tien Giang, Long An and Ben Tre provinces revealed the H5 subtype virus.

Officials say a failure to control waterfowl, which can carry the bird flu virus without showing symptoms, puts Vietnam at high risk of further outbreaks. The risk was heightened by the fact that wild birds would be migrating soon from the north.

Farmers in the Mekong Delta have been ignoring a ban on breeding waterfowl and have been breeding ducks in large numbers. Vietnam's free-range ducks often roam from field to field feeding on spilled grain during the harvest period, which is occurring now.