Bird flu continues plaguing in ten provinces of Vietnam nationwide with a newly-reported northern province Ninh Binh of the virus infection, according to Department of Animal Health under Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Monday.

In Ninh Binh province, bird flu has killed 70 fowls raised at three local farms, 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, ten provinces of Vietnam nationwide have been hit by avian flu, including four provinces in Mekong Delta, namely Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Hau Giang and Bac Lieu, three northern provinces of Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh and the newly-confirmed Ninh Binh, two central provinces of Nghe An and Quang Tri, and southern province Khanh Hoa, said the department.

In northern infected Quang Ninh province, bird flu killed a Vietnamese 23-year-old woman Ly Tai Mui, the first human case died of bird flu in Vietnam this year. The woman was confirmed of being infected with the H5N1 virus on late January.

Meanwhile, foot-and-mouth disease spreads seven Vietnamese provinces including four northern provinces of Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, and Bac Kan, two central provinces of Quang Binh and Quang Nam and the central highland province of Kon Tum, said the department.

Green-ear epidemic in pigs is developing in northern province Quang Ninh and central province Quang Nam, leading nearly 200 pigs being infected with the green-ear virus, said the department.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2009)