Bird flu has recently stricken poultry in central Quang Tri province, raising the total number of affected localities nationwide to nine, local newspaper Pioneer reported Monday.

The disease outbreak started on March 4 in Gio Linh district, killing 90 out of 600 unvaccinated ducks raised by a household. The whole flock of poultry has been culled to prevent further spread.

Vietnam currently has nine localities being hit by bird flu: Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Tuyen Quang, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Ha Nam and Hanoi in the northern region, Quang Tri, and southern Vinh Long province, according to the Department of Animal Health under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Bird flu outbreaks in Vietnam, starting in December 2003, have killed and led to the forced culling of dozens of millions of fowls in the country. 　

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2008)