June 5, 2007

Vietnam reports fresh bird flu cases among ducks

Bird has again taken its toll on three duck farms in Vietnam's central and southern regions last week, killing more than 300 birds, the government said on Monday (June 4).

More than two hundred ducks last Friday have died on two duck farms in Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap while 95 ducks died in the central province of Quang Nam on Thursday. All were positive of the dreaded H5N1 virus, the Animal Health Department said.

The two provinces had already reported outbreaks among ducks last month and remain in the government's watch list comprising 14 provinces and Can Tho city where bird flu has re-surfaced among poultry since early May.

The Animal Health Department said 129 million poultry have been vaccinated against bird flu and 41 out of Vietnam's 64 provinces and cities have completed the first phase of a vaccination campaign.

Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat said the vaccination campaign should target all the country's waterfowl flock.

Ducks and geese can carry the virus without showing they are sick, making it harder to detect the infection. The fowl spread the virus in their droppings as they roam from one rice field to another.