The Veterinary Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has reported on the action mechanism of clade 2.3.2 avian influenza virus (H5N1) in northern provinces.

The experiments with the new virus clade showed that 100 percent of tested chickens died in three days and 20 percent of tested ducks died within seven days. Considering the severe impacts that the virus has on chickens, the Government agreed to postpone vaccination against the avian influenza H5N1 due to the fact that the vaccine does not work against the new type of virus.

The Veterinary Department is seeking the suitable vaccine against the virus and will issue detailed instruction to northern provinces ./.