Vietnam is accelerating the process of slaughtering poultry, and boosting international cooperation to deal with bird flu, which has killed and led to the forced culling of over 1.5 million fowls in its 35 cities and provinces since January.

　　The authorities of Ho Chi Minh City, which is considered most vigorous in the fight against bird flu among localities around the country, have just decided to kill all fowls, including chickens and waterfowls, being raised in its territory between Feb. 12 and Dec. 31.

　　Their earlier decision was to stop raising fowls, including fighting cocks, in Ho Chi Minh City's urban districts from Feb. 6,and to halt the raising of ducks city-wide for one year from Feb. 7 after turning live ducks into frozen meat and culling affected ones.

　　Now, Vietnam is seeking international assistance for its anti-bird flu efforts. Several experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) will arrive in the country next week to probe into the bird flu virus H5N1 and a vaccine against the disease for people, according to Vietnam's National Hygiene and Epidemiology Institute.

　　The institute said no new cases of H5N1 infections have been detected in the northern region for three weeks. Local media also reported that Vietnam has not experienced any new patients since late January.