# 1232
Just a month ago, reports of bird flu outbreaks in poultry had dropped to on occurring in 1 province. Since then, we've seen a steady increase in the spread.
For the past two years Vietnam has been heralded as being the success story in how to control and eradicate this disease. The last eight months have seen setbacks. During its height this summer, 18 provinces were reporting outbreaks, and 5 people reportedly contracted the disease in that country, resulting in 4 fatalities.
A testament, perhaps, to just how insidious this disease is once it becomes entrenched in a country's environment.
Bird flu hits one more Vietnamese province
HANOI, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Bird flu outbreaks have recently occurred in Vietnam's northern Ha Nam province, raising the total number of localities currently affected by the disease to five, according to a local veterinary agency on Thursday.
The disease has killed 590 out of a flock of 700 two-month old ducks raised by a household in Ly Nhan district, the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said, noting that their specimens were tested positive to bird flu virus strain H5N1.
Now, bird flu is hitting Ha Nam, the northern provinces of Nam Dinh and Cao Bang, central Quang Tri province, and southern Tra Vinh province, the department said, noting that cities and provinces nationwide are keeping on vaccinating poultry against bird flu viruses.
Bird flu outbreaks in Vietnam, starting in December 2003, have killed and led to the forced culling of dozens of millions of fowls in the country.
