The US will provide 229 vaccine refrigerators, 10 global positioning systems and vehicles to the northern province of Nam Dinh to aid its fight against the avian flu, according to the local veterinary sub-department.

This is part of US assistance to aid Nam Dinh in its project on transforming its vaccination strategy against the highly pathogenic avian influenza towards more concentration on developing safe livestock farming practices and improving the capacity of the veterinary sector.

Until completion of the project in March 2011, the US will organise 10 training courses for all veterinary officers at the ward and communal levels in Nam Dinh on how to use modern technology in information management and influenza control.

Ninh Van Hieu, Head of the provincial Veterinary Sub-department, said the virus is under control in Nam Dinh. So far this year, the province has only discovered one infected site. Yet, vaccination has continued in the province to reduce the risk of transmission.

From now until mid-May, the province plans to use more than 2 million doses of vaccine for over 1.1 million ducks./.