A total of 177 chickens in Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh have tested positive for H5N1 strain of avian influenza, Vietnam News Agency ( VNA ) reported.

The Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said the chickens were in Phong Thanh commune, Cau Ke district.

Tra Vinh People’s Committee has instructed all relevant agencies to step up prevention measures including vaccinating livestock and poultry against flu strains, sterilising farms and abattoirs and alerting residents about the outbreak.

Agencies have been told to set up checkpoints along waterways and roads traversing flu-hit communes, and localities near other provinces such as Cang Long, Cau Quan, Thong Hoa and Dinh An.

Quarantine staff members have been dispatched to markets, wharfs and bus stations to monitor livestock and fowl trade and transport.

In the first quarter of this year, Tra Vinh recorded 25 cases of avian influenza in 12 communes which killed 16,500 chickens.

- Bernama