February 11, 2009
Hanoi ends motorbike livestock transport ban
Barely a week after it was implemented, Vietnam's capital Hanoi has lifted a ban on the livestock transportation by motorbike and bicycle, a media report said Tuesday (February 10).
Local news source VNExpress quoted the Justice Ministry as saying that the ban--in an effort to prevent diseases such as bird flu--was groundless and did not ensure the rights of citizens.
The capital however ignored the ban as poultry, pigs and even dogs destined for slaughter continued to be transported in the city on motorbikes.
The H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus has now been reported in poultry in five provinces across Vietnam, while cattle in five other provinces have been hit by foot-and-mouth disease, the national animal health department said.
The country has recorded two human cases of bird flu infection since the beginning of the year.
