Bird Flu Outbreak in Southern Vietnam

Health officials in Vietnam say bird flu has been detected in ducks in the country's south, one day after authorities there lifted a ban on hatching ducks and other waterfowl. Authorities say tests showed 800 ducks in the Mekong delta province of Vinh Long were infected with bird flu, but it is not immediately clear if they had the H5N1 strain of the virus. All the birds have been slaughtered.

Earlier this week Vienamese authorities announced am outbreak of bird flu in the country's north. Vietnam plans to begin a massive new poultry vaccination campaign in the coming week. Earlier bird flu outbreaks in the country have been controlled through culling and vaccinations. More than 160 people have died from bird flu worldwide since the outbreak began in 2003.

越南卫生官员说，在越南南部鸭子身上发现了禽流感病毒。一天前，有关当局刚刚解除了对孵化鸭子和其它水禽的禁令。有关当局说，检测结果显示，湄公河三角洲地区的永隆省有800只鸭子感染了禽流感病毒，但是目前还不清楚，它们感染的是不是H5N1型病毒。这些鸭子已经全部被宰杀。

越南当局本周早些时候宣布，北部地区爆发了禽流感。越南计划在下周展开新的大规模家禽疫苗活动。越南以前爆发禽流感疫情后都是通过宰杀家禽和注射疫苗加以控制。自从2003年禽流感爆发以来，世界各地已经有160多人死于禽流感。