Vietnam reports outbreak near Chinese border
August 17th, 2007
Following a batch of tests carried out on dead birds in a Vietnamese province near the Chinese border, local authorities have confirmed that H5N1 avian influenza virus is responsible for 89 chickens and ducks that were found dead at a farm in Ban Loc Village. The confirmation came from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Wednesday. Vietnam experienced the peak period of bird flu outbreaks earlier this year, in June, as 18 cities and provinces had to cope with the virus.
There are now three provinces on the government’s watch list for any avian influenza outbreaks, while 15 other provinces have been declared free of the disease, after going for 21 days without reporting any outbreak. Vietnam death’s toll for bird flu stands at 46 people, out of the 100 confirmed infections.