Vietnam's northern Bac Can province has been stricken by bird flu, raising the total number of affected localities to 22 since early October, Vietnam News Agency reported Wednesday.

Samples from two out of three dead fowls in Bach Thong district were tested positive to bird flu virus strain H5, prompting the provincial Veterinary Bureau to cull over 740 poultry in the district.

Since Oct. 1, a total of 22 cities and provinces of Vietnam have been hit by bird flu. In the period, nearly 3.6 million fowlshave died and been culled. Of the affected localities, six have reported no new outbreaks for at least three weeks, meeting criteria to announce an end to the disease.