Two people from Vietnam´s northern region have just been detected to have contracted bird flu virus strain H5N1, raising the total number of infections in the country to 64 since late 2004, according to local newspaper Saigon Liberation Monday.

    The two patients and three suspected cases were admitted to the Institute of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi capital city from June 18-19. Currently, the institute is treating 28 people with bird flu symptoms, of whom 13 have been tested positive to H5N1.

    Recently, Vietnam´s Preventive Medicine Department confirmed 55 infection cases, including 18 fatality ones, between mid-December 2004 and early June 2005.

    Since then, 9 more local people have been detected to have contracted the disease.

    To prevent potential new outbreaks, Vietnam will start vaccinating poultry, especially waterfowls in high-risk areas, against bird flu viruses, including the H5N1 strain, in the next few months.