Bird flu is plaguing in eight provinces of Vietnam nationwide with a newly-reported Mekong Delta province Bac Lieu of the virus infection, according to Department of Animal Health under Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Wednesday.

In Bac Lieu province, bird flu has killed 30 ducks of an infected flock of 607 ducks of 30 days old, raised at a local farm, said the department, Vietnam watchdog of bird flu.

Samples of dead ducks found in the province tested positive to the H5N1 virus, said the department.

So far this year, eight provinces of Vietnam nationwide have been hit by avian flu, including four provinces in Mekong Delta, namely Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Hau Giang and the newly-confirmed Bac Lieu, two northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Quang Ninh, and two central provinces of Nghe An and Quang Tri, said the department.

In fear of bird flu outbreaks in more provinces, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan on Tuesday ordered relevant agencies and localities to take urgent measures to control further developments of bird flu epidemic.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2009)