August 28, 2006

Vietnam finds bird flu on duck farm

Vietnam, has found the H5N1 virus on a small duck farm in the southern province of Ben Tre, animal health officials said on Monday (Aug 28).

Vietnam, which has been free of human bird flu cases this year, now joins neighbouring countries Laos, China and Thailand in having new outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 virus in recent weeks.

An animal health official from Thach Phu district in the province said lab results confirmed the presence of the virus.

He added all 84 ducks on the farm were immediately culled on Saturday (Aug, 26) and that ducks in 14 nearby farms were also tested.

All test results have so far been negative.

Authorities are still investigating the source of the virus, but officials said the ducks had not been let out in the open for a long period.

A H5 subtype appeared in Vietnam in July, mainly in ducks and wild storks.