March 8, 2007

Bird flu hits two Vietnamese chicken farms in Hanoi

Bird flu has struck two chicken farms in Vietnam's capital Hanoi, animal health officials said Wednesday (Mar 7), marking the latest outbreaks reported in recent weeks across the country.

Several chicks died suddenly on two farms in the rural district of Dong Anh on Sunday and authorities have slaughtered the remaining 1,950 chicks, said Hoang Gia Tuc, director of the district animal health station. None of the chicks, aged 10 to 20 days old, were vaccinated.

Test results from a government laboratory showed the chicks were infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, said Hoang Van Nam, deputy director of the Department of Animal Health.

Tuc said local animal health workers disinfected the two farms and banned the movement of poultry to and from the area.

Bird flu outbreaks have been reported in two northern provinces of Hai Duong and Ha Tay recently. Outbreaks were also reported last week in the southern province of Vinh Long.

Vietnam went without reporting a bird flu outbreak for a year until the disease killed and forced the slaughter of about 40,000 birds in eight southern Mekong Delta provinces since January.