Bird flu hits two more Vietnamese provinces

HANOI, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Bird flu has recently stricken poultry in Vietnam's southern Soc Trang province and central QuangBinh province, raising the total number of affected localities nationwide to 10, local newspaper Pioneer reported Friday.

The newspaper quoted the Vietnamese Department of Animal Healthas saying that the disease has killed 900 out of 1,300 unvaccinated ducks raised by a household in Nga Nam district of Soc Trang since March 7. The whole flock of poultry has been culled to prevent further spread.

In Quang Binh, the Provincial Veterinary Bureau said that bird flu has killed some out of 300 ducks raised by a household in Le Thuy district.

Vietnam currently has 10 localities having poultry being hit bybird flu including Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Ha Nam, Tuyen Quang and Hanoi in the northern region, Quang Tri and Quang Binh in the central region, and Soc Trang and Vinh Long in the southern one, according to the newspaper. However, the department, on Thursday, confirmed nine bird flu-hit localities, not yet to list Quang Binh as an affected province.