January 23, 2007

Ducks in southern Vietnamese province are bird flu positive

Specimens taken from ducks in Vietnam's southern Dong Thap province have been tested positive to bird flu virus strain H5N1, according to local newspaper Youth.

The tested ducks came from the districts of Thanh Binh, Lap Vo and Thap Muoi, and in Sa Dec town, the newspaper quoted the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The department said the existence of virus among ducks in Dong Thap would aggravate the situation of bird flu as the province had also difficulties in monitoring cross-border transport of poultry and quarantine fowls entering their area.

Bird flu has already struck in 18 districts in the seven southern localities of Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Vinh Long, Soc Trang and Can Tho, said the Department of Animal Health under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Since its first outbreak in December 2003, bird flu has had 42 human deaths and killed millions of poultry in the country.