The Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development last Saturday announced a fresh bird flu outbreak in the Red River delta province of Thai Binh.

Map shows bird flu-hit provinces in Viet Nam

The outbreak occurred among a 770-strong flock of poultry at a farm in the Thai Thuy District of Thai Binh province. Ten ducklings died and 80 ill ducklings tested positive the H5N1 virus.

The number of provinces hit by bird flu has now reached 15.

On the same day, further bird flu outbreaks occurred in the central province of Quang Nam and the northern provinces of Hung Yen and Ninh Binh.

The outbreak occurred on a farm in the Hoi An District, whose authority have already issued a ban of poultry sale, slaughter and transportation. Vets culled all poultry in the infected areas and conducted sterilization procedures.

Regarding recent human cases, Health Minister Tran Thi Trung Chien went to Ha Noi-based Bach Mai to see Phung Minh Phuc from the northern province of Vinh Phuc; the first patient to have been diagnosed with the H5N1 bird flu strain in the past 17 months.

Vet carries out sterilization in Quang Nam province

Mr. Phuc is presently out of danger as he recently tested negative for the H5N1 virus. Dr Nguyen Duc Hien, Director of the National Institute for Tropical Diseases reported a second confirmed H5N1 case to the Ministry of Health.

The male patient, a worker at a poultry slaughterhouse in Ha Noi, has tested positive for the H5N1 virus. He initially showed symptoms of flu and breathing difficulties; however, he has now passed the critical period and is no longer in danger of dying from the disease.

Bach Mai hospital’s acting Director Dr. Tran Thuy Hanh informed the media that two further patients were recently admitted to hospital on May 31 and June 1 having been suspected of contracting the virus.

The first, Phung Tien Dong is a 29-year-old police officer who used to take part in the culling of dead poultry. The second died on June 1, his condition was already critical when he was admitted to hospital and was unable to be saved. These cases are yet to be confirmed as the H5N1 virus.

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Bird Flu Patient out of Woods