July 30, 2004

Poultry Affected By Bird Flu Increase In Vietnam

The number of fowls being affected by bird flu in Vietnam has risen to 63,000.

As of July 29, the disease hit 22 districts of 11 southern localities, either killing or leading to the forced killing of nearly 38,000 chickens, 13,000 ducks and 12,000 quails in 30 small-scale farms since late last month.

Bird flu may continue to spread, on a small scale, to other localities across the country, especially provinces in the Mekong Delta and the southeastern region in the coming time, the country's Department of Animal Health forecasted.

To deal with the situation, the department has asked localities to intensify disease control, destroy suspected poultry flocks, safeguard hygienic environment, and monitor fowl imports.

Bird flu killed 17 percent of the country's poultry population and claimed 16 human lives during its outbreak in December 2003. A total of 43.2 million fowls nationwide either died or were culled, causing the local poultry industry to suffer direct losses of 1.3 trillion Vietnamese dong (82.8 million US dollars).