Bird flu vaccine

China has announced plans to vaccinate 14 billion chickens, ducks and geese in an attempt to stop the spread of bird flu, and Vietnam is killing all poultry in its two main cities.

China's top veterinary official, Jia Youling, says the government will pay for the vaccinations. But he did not say how officials hope to ensure all Chinese poultry are actually vaccinated.

He spoke Tuesday as officials confirmed the 10th and 11th outbreaks of the disease in China over the past month.

In Vietnam, officials expect to soon finish killing all poultry in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. More than 40 people have died from the virus in Vietnam since 2003.

Earlier Tuesday, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection Markos Kyprianou said Indonesia needs international help to contain the spread of the disease.

And in Britain, officials say an outbreak of the most deadly strain of bird flu killed 53 birds from Taiwan at a quarantine center.