About 4,000 birds were recently culled in Vietnam to contain the spread of avian influenza A H5N1, according to the Vietnam New Agency. The outbreaks occurred in two separate provinces, one in the far south and one in north-central Vietnam. Authorities said that most of the affected birds had not been vaccinated but that they are working to vaccinate other flocks.
The current migration of wild birds could worsen the situation, said Diep Kinh Tan, deputy minister of agriculture and rural development.
A duck farmer tested positive for H5N1 and other poultry farmers with culled flocks are under medical observation, a hospital official said. The affected provinces have established checkpoints to prevent the movement and slaughter-for-sale of contaminated poultry, according to the news agency.
