August 28, 2007

Bird flu strikes again in Vietnam, hits two more provinces

Authorities in Vietnam confirmed Saturday (August 25) that bird flu has spread to two more provinces in the country, bringing a total of 64 provinces hit by the dreaded disease.

Agriculture officials say the virus killed 250 young chickens in the southern Dong Thap province about a week ago. Another 150 ducks and 35 chickens were affected on Wednesday (August 22) last week in the northern Thai Nguyen province.

The virus had earlier been reported in the northern provinces of Dien Bien and Cao Bang.

The government says bird flu has killed four people in Vietnam this year, bringing the human death toll in the country to 46 since the first outbreak of the virus in 2003.