The southern province of Hau Giang recently detected the first outbreak of bird flu in a household raising 450 chickens in Long My district.

When ten out of their chickens died, the household informed local veterinarians to help prevent a new outbreak spreading. The provincial department of animal health has culled the dead chickens and disinfected the affected area.

Truong Ngoc Trung, head of the Provincial Department of Animal Health, said that after receiving the samples that tested positive for the H5N1 virus, the department culled all the infected chickens and quarantined the infected areas.

The department warned poultry households in the province to be vigilant and immediately report any indications of the disease to the veterinary agency to avoid a possible epidemic and associated economic losses.

Mr Trung said this is the season when chickens and ducks are easily infected with bird flu therefore, breeders should take special care of their poultry and take preventive measures according to veterinary warnings.

The provincial animal health department has vaccinated more than 3 out of 3.5 million ducks and chickens in the province against bird flu. It has provided localities with an additional 2 million vaccines in the early months of the year.