According to the Veterinary Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, floods in the central region and the Mekong Delta as well as cold weather in the North are favourable for the development of H5N1.

The outbreak of bird flu epidemic in other provinces, especially northern provinces is a high risk. At present, the epidemic has been reported in Cao Bang and Nam Dinh in the North and Quang Tri in the central region.

Experts worry that people’s lack of awareness may facilitate the spread of this disease in fowl, especially in Cao Bang where locals throw the dead birds into rivers and streams.

At a meeting of the National Steering Board for Bird Flu Control Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Ba Bong asked the Veterinary Agency and the Veterinary Institute to immediately send experts to high risk provinces and areas such as the northern border area and the provinces of Nam Dinh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh in the north, Quang Nam in the central region and Tra Vinh and Dong Thap in the south.

The Deputy Minister also requested the Veterinary Agency and Institute to quickly complete the vaccination plan for 2008.

A related disease, blue ear was detected in pigs in the northern province of Hai Duong which has since effectively controlled the epidemic. Meanwhile, it has just been reported in Hanoi and is spreading in Ca Mau province in the south and Khanh Hoa in the Central Highlands.