May 09, 2008 (BBC Monitoring via COMTEX) -- Bird flu has now spread to some central and southern provinces. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the distribution of information to improve local people's awareness of preventive measures.

The Veterinary Department reported on May 8 that after southern Can Tho province, the bird flu virus has spread to southern Tra Vinh province. The disease has killed 500 out of 1,000 chickens at a farm in Tieu Can district even though they were vaccinated on May 3. The Provincial Department of Veterinary has now culled all the chickens and sterilised the surrounding areas.

The Veterinary Department warned that bird flu is likely to spread rapidly, especially in the Mekong Delta region. Currently, the four provinces of Son La, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Tra Vinh with outbreaks of bird flu have not passed the 21-day period.

Blue-ear disease has continued to spread to four communes and one district in the provinces of Thai Binh, Nghe An, Thua-Thien Hue and Lam Dong with 1,527 pigs being infected. Among the 10 provinces hit by the blue-ear disease, only central Quang Nam province has not detected new cases over the last 20 days.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed the relevant agencies to step up the vaccination campaign and supervise the transportation, slaughter and trading of poultry and cattle products.

Source: Voice of Vietnam text website, Hanoi, in English 9 May 08

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KEYWORD: VIETNAM INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HEALTH