Dead poultry raises bird flu alarm in Vietnam

Dead poultry have been found in rivers and streams in northern Vietnam, a sign of a possible new bird flu outbreak during a prolonged cold spell, officials said on Tuesday.

The Agriculture Ministry said in a report that callers to an animal health department hotline reported large numbers of dead birds in five provinces, but was not specific.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu killed three men in northern Vietnam between January 18 and February 14 during a record-long cold spell. The H5N1 virus seems to thrive best in cool temperatures.