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Bird flu hits 11 provinces of Vietnam

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-26 11:41

HANOI -- Bird flu continues to spread wide in Vietnam with another newly-infected northern Dien Bien province, raising the number of Vietnamese provinces hit by the virus to 11, according to Vietnam's Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday.

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In Dien Bien province, bird flu has broken out in two communes of the province, leading to the culling of about 1,460 ducks and more than 1,000 their eggs, said the deparment, Vietnam watchdog of bird flu.

Samples of dead ducks found in the province tested positive to the H5N1 virus, said the department.

It is likely that Vietnam will see more bird flu outbreaks in more provinces in coming days, said the department.

So far this year, 11 provinces of Vietnam nationwide have been hit by avian flu, including four provinces in Mekong Delta, namely Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Hau Giang and Bac Lieu, four northern provinces of Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh and the newly-confirmed Dien Bien, two central provinces of Nghe An and Quang Tri, and southern province Khanh Hoa, said the department.