Approximately 8000 chickens were culled this week on a farm in southern Vietnam on bird flu fears.


The slaughter was initiated after scores of birds suddenly died, prompting fears that the new wave of bird flu which has swept through several Asian countries could have reared its head in Vietnam again.


The farm in Tien Giang province in the Mekong Delta reported the death of some 60 chickens on Tuesday, followed by a further 120 on Wednesday. The cause of death has not been established, but authorities are acting on the safe side as several minor outbreaks of bird flu were reported in the province earlier this month.