Two A/H1N1 avian influenza cases have been confirmed in the centralprovince of Thanh Hoa, according to a local health official.

The patients were Vu Thi Lan (1988) and her daughter Le Vu Lan Anh(2009) from Quang Tien hamlet, Quang Trung commune, Ngoc Lac district,said Director of the local Preventive Medical Centre Ha Dinh Ngu onMarch 18.

Lan’s family raised a flock ofpoultry which were sick and dead over the last two weeks, thenslaughtered the living for food.

The patientswere hospitalised on March 15 with symptoms including high fever,coughing and respiratory difficulties. They tested positive for theH1N1 virus on March 17.

The province has yet to detect any A/H7N9 bird flu cases.

The A/H5N1 virus earlier found in poultry in Tan Truong commune ofTinh Gia district has been promptly stamped out, said Ngu.

Local authorities are taking all necessary measures such asintensifying around-the-clock inspections, especially at internationalborder gates like Na Meo and Ten Tan in Quan Son and Muong Lat districtsrespectively, and ensuring medical equipment to contain the spread ofthe disease.

The bird flu outbreak has struck 24localities nationwide, according to the latest statistics from theAnimal Health Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment.-VNA