2 H5N1 bird flu outbreaks in Vietnam

HANOI - Central Vietnam's province of Thanh Hoa and central highlands province of Kon Tum have reported bird flu outbreaks in poultry, local media reported Tuesday.

Vietnam's state-run radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV) said on Tuesday that 186 chickens died on February 8 with positive test results of H5N1 bird flu from samples collected in a farm in Tinh Gia district, Vietnam's central Thanh Hoa province.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thanh Hoa province have asked the district to cull and safely dispose of all chickens in the infected farm and neighboring families to prevent the disease from spreading.

Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA reported Tuesday that another outbreak of H5N1 bird flu on chicken has been announced in the country's central highlands province of Kon Tum.

About 600 chickens in Kon Tum province showed symptoms of suspected avian flu and 470 died on February 8

Some 130 chickens left have been culled on Tuesday after the official conclusion was reached that they were positive with avian influenza or H5N1 virus.

According to VNA, a chief veterinary was reported to be hospitalized with symptoms of fever, fatigue and loss of appetite after contacting with the above-mentioned outbreak in Kon Tum province.

The patient was now quarantined for follow-up treatment with the suspected H5N1 bird flu on human, said VNA.

Earlier in January 28, another avian bird flu outbreak was reported with nearly 1,000 chickens sick and dead in Kon Tum province, according to VNA.

These outbreaks raise alarm over the spread of H5N1 virus in Vietnam among both local people and international communities.

In a related development, the United States Agency for International Development announced on Tuesday a project worth $800, 000 for preventing bird flu in Vietnam.

The project aims at helping reducing risks to community health caused by bird flu, epidemic and other emerging infectious diseases in Vietnam from now till September, 2015, VNA reported.

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a contagious disease of animal origin caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. It can be fatal to humans.