Bird flu outbreak at farm in Thanh Hoa

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said there are multiple cases at the farm, but insists the risk to public health is "very low" and there is no risk to the food chain.

Officials from the department have banned the transport of chickens and ducks from the farm and have initiated measures to sterilize the infected areas and supervise local residents on procedures to prevent the outbreak from spreading.

The outbreak was discovered March 12 on a flock of 293 poultry raised by Le Dang Nhat, a resident living in Hai Linh commune in Tinh Gia District.

Samples taken from all of the animals tested were positive for the bird flu strain A/H5N6, the first outbreak of the flu in the province.