Bird flu has stricken one more Vietnamese province, raising the total number of affected localities nationwide to 13, according to a local veterinary agency on Thursday.

The disease on May 30 hit 370 out of a total flock of 400 ducklings raised by a household in Duy Xuyen district, central Quang Nam province, the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said, noting that specimens from the affected poultry have been tested positive to bird flu virus strain H5N1.

The provincial veterinary bureau has culled all fowls in the affected flock, disinfected affected areas, and established quarantine checkpoints around the area.

Bird flu, starting to strike Vietnam in December 2003, has hit 13 Vietnamese cities and provinces, namely Quang Ninh, Son La, Nam Dinh, Hai Phong, Bac Giang, Ninh Binh, Bac Ninh, Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc in the northern region, Nghe An and Quang Nam in the central region, and Can Tho and Dong Thap in the southern one, since early this month, the department said.

Source: Xinhua