Vietnam has reported two more confirmed cases of H5N1 infections, bringing the total number of bird flu infections to 22, the country's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday afternoon.

One of the ceases was from southern Dong Nai province, and the other from central highlands Lam Dong province, the ministry said.

The latest H5N1 case in Lam Dong has increased the total number of bird flu infections there to four, including three fatalities. The new death in Lam Dong has brought the total fatalities caused by bird flu in Vietnam to 15.

The ministry said the newly-hospitalized case in Dong Nai was confirmed to have contracted H5N1.

Between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon, two H5N1 infections, one from northern Bac Ninh province and one from Ho Chi Minh City, were discharged from hospitals, raising the total number of fully-recovered bird flu patients to three, it noted.

Meanwhile, the country detected an addition of 11 flu type A infections and suspects, increasing the total number to 259 so far,of whom 126 recovered, 38 died and 95 remained hospitalized.

Over the past 24 hours, Vietnam detected only one new affected commune, and destroyed over 201,000 fowls.

As of Wednesday, 2,569 communes of 57 local cities and provinces were hit by bird flu which killed and led to the forced culling of 38 million poultry.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2004)