The H5N1 virus spreads to several Vietnamese provinces, perhaps because of continued cold weather. Another outbreak confirmed in China, possibly due to migratory birds.

Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Bird flu has struck Vietnam again, affecting five provinces. Another outbreak has been reported in central China.

Since May 16, the bird flu killed nearly 1,900 out of approximately 5,900 unvaccinated ducklings in the provinces of Quang Ninh, Son La, Nam Dinh, and in the city of Can Tho, this according to the Department of Animal Health of Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Early this month, bird flu was reported in Vietnam’s central Nghe An province. Now, it is in the province’s four districts of Hung Nguyen, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh and Nghi Loc. As a result of this, the Veterinary Bureau has culled 20,000 fowls and destroyed 2,000 poultry eggs and local veterinary agencies have established quarantine checkpoints.

To prevent the disease spreading, Vietnam this year vaccinated 116.6 million fowls in 60 cities and provinces.

The situation is being closely monitored because the spread of the virus in May at the beginning of summer is unusual. But experts noted that the whether this May was still cold and humid.

China. China’s Agriculture Ministry confirmed an outbreak on Saturday of the H5N1 bird flu virus among poultry in the village of Shijiping, near the town of Yiyang in the central province of Hunan. The site of the outbreak lies next to Lake Dongting.

The outbreak killed 11,172 birds and the authorities have had to take steps to contain it, culling close to 53,000 other birds and quarantine the area.

Worldwide, the virus has killed 185 people since 2003, according to the World Health Organisation.

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