Vietnam takes intense response to spreading avian flu

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai dispatched a public notice on Thursday requiring localities nationwide to take drastic preventive measures to stem the spread of avian flu, local media reported Friday. As of Feb. 21, poultry infected with the H5N1 virus have been discovered in 17 provinces across Vietnam, with over 61,000 fowls infected and 85,000 others culled, the state-run Vietnam Television reported. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development' s Department of Animal Health, two latest affected localities having epidemic outbreaks are southern Can Tho City and central Thanh Hoa province. The deputy prime minister urged localities to issue detailed local action plans that specify the responsibilities of relevant units and individuals in dealing with the epidemic, based on the National Committee for Avian Flu Prevention's action plan against avian flu types that might infect humans. According to Hua Ngoc Thuan, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the city has asked districts to shut down illegal poultry markets and increase inspections of quarantine stations at the city's gateways to prevent poultry from epidemic- hit localities from entering the city. Relevant agencies of the city have regularly inspected slaughter houses, trading areas and poultry farms, with samples taken for testing. In central Quang Ngai province, where four sites in Duc Pho district were discovered with avian flu outbreaks, a total of 10, 383 fowls had been culled, while nearly 300,000 doses of vaccines were vaccinated and 900 liters of chemicals sprayed to prevent the epidemic spread. In Phong Dien district of southern Can Tho City, 2,800 fowls were culled in the latest four outbreaks this month. Some farmers said they already took vaccination for their fowls, but the poultry still died, and results of sample tests showed positive to H5N1. Local agencies said it might be attributed to the inappropriate, or not fully-dosed vaccines given to the poultry. Kien Giang province's agriculture sector planned to spend 4 billion VND (189,573 U.S. dollars) on preventive vaccination for poultry raised in the province. Since last week, more than 4,700 fowls have been culled right after an avian flu outbreak was discovered in the Hon Dat district. Strict measures have been taken to prevent poultry transported through Ha Tien and Giang Thanh border gates from Cambodia. In the central Ha Tinh province, authorities have sterilized affected areas, set up quarantine stations and checked poultry farms in order to detect and prevent any new outbreaks. They have provided guidance on prevention and control measures to every household. Over 1,300 fowls in the province have tested positive for H5N1, and nearly 800 have been culled. The northern mountainous province of Lai Chau on Thursday ordered its health department and relevant agencies to increase food safety and hygiene supervision to prevent bird flu outbreaks. The measures of the provincial people's committee include setting up mobile inspection teams and preparing enough medicine and human resources to cope with H5N1 in humans in case of an outbreak. The provincial animal health department has been asked to work with border guards, customs and police to tighten control over the transport of poultry and poultry products in border areas. Authorities in northern Quang Ninh province also held an urgent meeting on Thursday to discuss measures to prevent the epidemic, focusing on tightening the management of poultry markets and slaughter houses. Vietnam has reported two human deaths from the H5N1 virus so far this year.