Vietnam: Vaccine Developed for Strain 2.3.2.1 #H5N1 Avian Influenza in Poultry

October 5, 2012 At a meeting of the Steering Board for Bird Flu Prevention on October 2 in Hanoi, it was announced that Vietnam has now developed a vaccine that can control the new highly toxic strain of bird flu virus. Pham Van Dong, head of the Department of Animal Health, said that health officials tested the newly developed vaccine on a flock of chickens and the test results were positive. In future, they will conduct experimental tests on water-fowl and if test results are once again positive, the new vaccine will be used throughout the country. The new bird flu strain, 2.3.2.1 C, has recently spread to Vietnam and is now present in affected areas in the northern and central provinces of Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang, Thai Binh, Ha Tinh and Quang Ngai. Of these, Quang Ngai Province has reported the highest number of dead poultry with nearly 24,000 birds having died so far.