Vietnam has vaccinated over nearly 6 million poultry against bird flu viruses in 10 northern and southern localities since early this month, according to a local animal health department.

Vaccination has been conducted among 3.1 million poultry in northern Nam Dinh province, and nearly 3 million ones in the northern provinces of Ha Nam, Phu Tho, Ha Tay, Bac Giang and Hai Duong, and the southern provinces of Tien Giang, Hau Giang, Dong Thap and An Giang.

In the first batch lasting until next month, the country is expected to vaccinate 100 million fowls nationwide.

Vietnam is facing high risk of bird flu reoccurrence, mainly because of the existence of bird flu viruses in the environment and the loosen control over poultry smuggling, said the department.

In 2005, bird flu hit 44 cities and provinces of Vietnam, killing and leading to the forced culling of nearly 4.8 million poultry, accounting for over 2 percent of the country's fowl population. It has detected no bird flu outbreak for over three months.

The Southeast Asian country, home to 8 million poultry-raising households, now has a total poultry population of nearly 220 million.

Source: Xinhua