February 1, 2007

Vietnam government helps lower avian flu threat

Bird flu is showing signs of waning in Vietnam as provinces in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta failed to report any new outbreak over the past week, the Animal Health Department said in Jan 31.

Department director Bui Quang Anh said the provinces of Soc Trang and Hau Giang have also been taken off the list of bird flu-affected provinces in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

Anh attributed the remarkable result to drastic measures undertaken by the Government and localities, but pointed out that the threat remained in 13 communities in nine districts of Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Vinh Long provinces and Can Tho City.

The Department said they had found bird flu virus on healthy ducks in the southern provinces of Vinh Long, Tra Vinh and Tien Giang.

The agency, which tested 1,260 duck samples from 58 flocks in localities, has sent samples to Australia for further confirmation and is cooperating with China over the issue.

Animal health officials, meanwhile, were getting more samples from 12 provinces in three regions, and have strengthened serum supervision on post-vaccinated poultry.

Two working teams from the department have also been dispatched to Can Tho City and Ho Chi Minh City to guide the fight against bird flu, Anh said, expressing hopes that bird flu will be contained before Tet.