Bird flu has recently hit Vietnam's southern Long An province, raising the total number of localities currently affected by the disease to five, according to local newspaper Pioneer Monday.

Specimens from 290 died ducks out of a flock of over 2,000 fowls raised by two households in the two districts of Tan Thanh and Thanh Hoa were tested positive to bird flu virus strain H5N1, the paper quoted the provincial veterinary agency as reporting.

However, the country's Department of Animal Health has yet to confirm the outbreaks in Long An. Now, bird flu is hitting Son La, provinces of Vinh Long and Tra Vinh, and Can Tho City in the southern region, the department said Sunday.

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 May 12, 2008)