Some veterinarians have over-reported the number of livestock and poultry they have vaccinated, casting doubt on official immunization figures, an animal health official said Tuesday.

Nam said some veterinarians over stated the number of immunizations to claim vaccination fees.

According to Bui Quang Anh, head of the ministry’s Bureau of Animal Health, in 2008 the ministry imported 250 million vaccine shots to distribute to provinces but 100 million of them are still left in storage.

Anh said most provinces still have very low percentages of cattle and poultry vaccinated against diseases. In central Ha Tinh Province, 60 percent of cattle have been reported to be vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease, and 30 percent of pigs vaccinated against cholera.

In Thanh Hoa, the number of vaccinated cattle is estimated at around 50 percent.

According to Anh, at least 80 percent of flocks of poultry and cattle need to be vaccinated to effectively prevent diseases.

Many locals don’t understand the importance of vaccinating the animals, he said.

Problems related to animal diseases are more complex in the northern region than in southern Mekong Delta because of weather conditions and the practice of keeping free-range cattle.

To prevent the spread of animal diseases, local relevant agencies should intensify vaccinations, raise public awareness, isolate and eliminate outbreaks of the diseases, and encourage people to keep their livestock fenced, Nam said.

Since early this year, bird flu has hit 31 communes of 16 districts in the nine provinces of Thanh Hoa, Thai Nguyen, Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Nghe An, Hau Giang, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh and Quang Tri, affecting over 30,000 fowl, including about 11,500 chickens and 21,000 ducks, according to the department.

In Bac Lieu, bird flu has infected 600 ducks, its Department of Animal Health said Tuesday. On Sunday, the province’s Phuoc Long District Bureau of Animal Health destroyed all 600 ducks owned by Tran Sa Na in Vinh Loc Village, Vinh Phu Dong Commune, the provincial department’s Director Lam Chi Thong said.

The department collected samples which later tested positive for the A H5N1 bird flu virus, Thong said.

As the avian influenza virus has already spread in the neighboring provinces of Ca Mau, Soc Trang and Hau Giang, Bac Lieu Province will take urgent measures against the epidemic, he said.

Meanwhile, foot-and-mouth disease has hit 1,027 cattle in 38 communes of

11 districts in the five provinces of Long An, Kon Tum, Hoa Binh, Son La, Quang Binh and Quang Nam.

Reported by Bao Van