A fresh outbreak of the A/H5N6 avian influenza has been reported in Tan Khang commune of Nong Cong district in the northern province of Thanh Hoa.

Reports on the outbreak of the A/H5N6 bird flu had been initially detected at 10 poultry farms across four hamlets as of February 10, with farmers in the districts of Nong Cong and Quang Xuong forced to cull 23,000 infected poultry.

According to the Animal Health Department of Thanh Hoa province, cases of the A/H5N6 avian influenza first began occurring from February 3, with nine households in the communes of Tan Khang and Tan Tho in Nong Cong district of Thanh Hoa province being hit by outbreaks.

Following these reports, the province's sub-department of Animal Health and Husbandry began to take samples from the contaminated poultry farms with the results eventually testing positive for the A/H5N6 avian influenza. This outbreak has forced local authorities to destroy some 19,000 poultry.

The move comes following a bird flu outbreak which was discovered on February 4 in a poultry farm of a local resident in Quang Truong commune of Quang Xuong district, with 3,280 poultry being culled as a result.