January 2, 2006

Vietnam's poultry supplies enough for festive season

Vietnam would have enough chicken supplies to meet demand during Tet, the Lunar New Year festival that falls in late January, said head of the Veterinary Department Bui Quang Anh.

Anh said the nationwide vaccination against bird flu for about 240 million poultry would be completed soon. Chickens would be due for a second vaccination 14 days before they are sold.

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has assigned the trade ministry to purchase healthy poultry for slaughtering and processing, and to cooperate with other relevant sectors in opening more outlets to sell them. This is to ensure enough supplies of healthy chicken for Tet.

Meanwhile, 15 communes in six bird flu-hit provinces were still under quarantine, the Veterinary Department said. For the quarantine to be lifted, the communes first have to remain free of the disease for 21 days, which is the longest incubation period for the H5N1 virus.