Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Vietnam: Two Provinces Reporting Bird Flu Outbreaks

 


# 2367

 

 

Earlier in the year there were many warnings that Vietnam faced another chaotic summer dealing with the bird flu virus.   By March of 2008, Vietnam had recorded 5 human infections for the year, with all 5 proving fatal. 

 

Luckily the much fear resurgence of the H5N1 virus that many predicted for last summer never occurred.  

 

Why, exactly?    No one really knows.  

 

Certainly the government's efforts to educate the public, and vaccinate poultry and waterfowl, were factors.

 

 

Vietnam has reported a low-level of activity, rarely exceeding 3 provinces at any given time, over the past few months.   Today, they are reporting outbreaks in just two provinces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird flu hits another province in Vietnam

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-07 10:57

 

HANOI -- Bird flu has stricken Vietnam's central Nghe An province, killing about 300 ducks, said an official with the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Tuesday.The ducks raised by a household in the province started to die recently. The specimens collected from the dead ducks have been tested positive to bird flu virus strain H5N1, said the unnamed official.

 

Local health department have slaughtered all the fowls in the affected spot and disinfected this area to guard against any further outbreaks of bird flu.

 

Now, bird flu is hitting two Vietnamese province, including Ca Mau and Nghe An.

 

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.