Bird Flu Center

Media reports state that more ducks and geese infected with a strain of bird flu were found in the South of Vietnam. An important health official says the tests carried out on waterfowl in Tien Gian, Long An and Ben Tre provinces have revealed the virus belongs to the H5 subtype. Apparently authorities do not consider this to be an outbreak of the virus yet, but measures have been taken to cull the birds in the area and monitor the situation in the following days. Although new cases of infection have not been discovered in Vietnam for months, government authorities fear the population might have become complacent in its anti bird flu measures. An urgent directive sent on Thursday by the Prime Minister urged officials to focus strongly on the education and deployment of the forces needed to carry out preventive measures against the deadly virus. It seems a better control of waterfowl, avian influenza’s main host, is needed to ensure the country will not become yet again vulnerable to new outbreaks.