# 945
The game of whack-a-mole with the H5N1 virus continues in Vietnam, with provinces having outbreaks, apparently containing them and then declaring `victory', only to have it resurface again a few weeks later.
Bird flu made a deadly return to northern Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province as 70 dead ducks tested positive for the H5N1 virus on Wednesday.
The province was hit by the disease last month but had announced “successful eradication” early this month.
The provincial animal health agency said the recurrence of bird flu took place in Dong Trieu district. The seventy dead birds were part of a 200-duck flock.
Vietnam now has 11 provinces, down from 18 last week, battling bird flu epidemics, including Nghe An, Hai Phong, Bac Giang, Can Tho, Ninh Binh, Vinh Phuc, Quang Nam, Thai Binh, Ha Tinh, Cao Bang, and Quang Ninh.
The northern provinces of Hung Yen and Ha Nam announced they were clean of virus this week after no new cases has appeared in the last 21 days.
Based on governmental regulations, an area can claim itself H5N1-free if no new case has been recognized for 21 days.
