The central province of Nghe An has just spotted bird flu outbreaks, bringing the total number of affected localities in Vietnam to 19, according to the Department of Animal Health on Saturday.

The department under Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said 56 chickens by four households in Long Thanh commune of the province's Yen Thanh district died on Nov. 17.Tests have shown that the poultry were infected with bird flu virus strain H5.

A total of 22 localities nationwide have detected poultry deaths since Oct. 1. Recent tests have showed that fowls in southern Dong Thap province are not infected with bird flu viruses.

Capital Hanoi and southern Bac Lieu province have met criteria for announcing an end to bird flu outbreaks (detecting no new affected spot for at least three weeks). Therefore, the current number of bird flu-hit localities, is only 19, the department said.

Since early last month, Vietnam has culled nearly 1.3 million poultry. The fowls were not only infected ones but also healthy ones, because Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and central Da Nang city have decided to stop raising poultry in their inner areas this month.

Vietnam is actively vaccinating fowls nationwide against bird flu viruses. Over 156 million poultry turns (each dose for a fowl being considered one turn, two doses for the same fowl regarded astwo turns) have been vaccinated so far, the department said.

Vietnam's Health Ministry on Nov. 24 announced that the country has detected 66 human cases of H5N1 infections, including 22 fatalities, in 25 cities and provinces since December 2004, bring the total respective numbers since December 2003 to 93 and 42.

The latest case is a 15-year-old boy named Vu Van Hoa from northern Hai Phong city, who is recovering.