Bird flu hits new province in Vietnam

HANOI (AFP) - Deadly bird flu has spread to another province in Vietnam, the government said Friday, bringing to at least 13 the number affected by the resurgent disease.

Some 400 fowls died Wednesday at a farm in Duy Xuyen district of the central province of Quang Nam, according to the latest report released by the national animal health department here.

Three new outbreaks were found in the Mekong Delta province of Can Tho, where early this week 115 dead ducks tested positive to the H5N1 virus which can kill humans.

According to the official Lao Dong newspaper, large numbers of unvaccinated poultry had also died in the two northern provinces of Thai Nguyen and Thanh Hoa and in the central province of Quang Ngai.
If the outbreaks are confirmed it will bring the number of affected provinces to 16 out of a total of 64.