Thousands of poultry died of bird flu in the past two weeks in southern Vietnam, the government said today, in the country’s first reported outbreak in a year.

Bird flu outbreaks have continued to spread in Vietnam, while a man suspected of being infected with the virus fled a hospital quarantine unit, state-controlled media reported today.

Vietnam reported another human bird flu case today, while tour operators were ordered to keep foreigners away from areas infected by the disease.

A 10-year-old girl from southern Vietnam became the 12th person to die of bird flu in a month, health officials said today, as authorities took precautions to keep the disease from spreading during the upcoming Lunar New Year festivities.

Vietnam today reported two new suspected cases of bird flu in humans as outbreaks among poultry spread to all parts of the country.