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With the Tet Doan Ngo festival next week, authorities are worried that the recent spread of the H5N1 virus in poultry and waterfowl could spark more human cases. Yesterday's announcement that a 17th province has been affected can't be seen as encouraging news.
Bird flu hits one more Vietnamese province
Bird flu has hit Vietnam's central Ha Tinh province, raising the total number of affected localities nationwide to 17, according to a local veterinary agency on Thursday.
The disease on June 11 killed 350 out of a flock of 2,500 ducks raised by a household in the province's Loc Ha district, said the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The provincial veterinary bureau has culled all fowls in the affected flock, and disinfected affected areas.
Bird flu, starting to strike Vietnam in December 2003, has hit 17 Vietnamese cities and provinces nationwide since early May, said the department.
Source: Xinhua
