Vietnam's Preventive Medicine Department Thursday confirmed that 52 local people from 21 cities and provinces were infected with bird flu virus strain H5N1 between mid-December 2004 and late May 2005, of whom 18 died.

Now, two bird flu patients, both from Hanoi, the capital city, are under treatment at the Institute of Tropical Diseases, the department told Xinhua, noting that their epidemiological signs indicate a strong link to sick poultry.

Since bird flu started to hit Vietnam in December 2003, the country has detected a total of 79 human cases of infections in 28 cities and provinces, including 38 fatalities, the department said.

Vietnam reported 23 human cases of bird flu infections and 43.9 million fowls killed or culled in the first outbreak lasting from December 2003 to March 2004. The respective figures were 4 and 84,000 in the second outbreak lasting from July 2004 to August 2004, and 52 and 44.5 million in the third outbreak starting from mid-December 2004.

To prevent potential new outbreaks, Vietnam will start vaccinating poultry, especially waterfowls in high-risk areas, against bird flu viruses, including the H5N1 strain, in August 2005. The country will offer raisers financial assistance of some 600 Vietnamese dong (nearly 4 US cents) for each fowl vaccinated.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2005)