VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will urgently import 50 million doses of H5N1-Re 5 vaccine to contain bird flu which has spread to 11 provinces and cities.

The ministry has made a proposal on the import of the vaccine to the Prime Minister.

According to the Department of Animal Health under the MARD the 11 affected localities are Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Thai Nguyen, Ha Nam, Bac Giang, Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam, Soc Trang and Kien Giang.

Nearly 35,000 sick fowl have been culled.

Although the epidemic is showing signs of waning it is likely to spread widely at any time in spring, warned experts. In some northern, central and central highland provinces, the avian flu virus has genetically mutated into a form Vietnam has no vaccine to prevent.

In southern provinces, the virus has not changed so H5N1 Re-5 vaccines imported from China can still be used successfully.

The MARD said that 327 million doses of the H5N1 Re-5 vaccine will be needed in 2012 while the national reserve has only six million doses. As Vietnam is getting short of the vaccine, the ministry has proposed buying 50 million doses for the first inoculation campaign.

*** Over the past two days, several new outbreaks of bird flu have been reported in Yen Dinh and Cam Thuy districts, Thanh Hoa province. The provincial Department of Animal Health (DAH) has culled 11,500 birds.

The provincial People’s Committee has asked local authorities to closely monitor the disease and devise measures to prevent its spreading.

Le Van Hien, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said its DAH has vaccinated 1 million birds at localities that have reported the disease and the surrounding areas.

VietNamNet/VOV