February 19, 2008

Vietnam intensifies campaigns against bird flu

State agencies and localities in Vietnam are currently urged by the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen their fight against bird flu, amidst recent outbreaks, People said Monday.

Cao Duc Phat, minister of Agriculture, instructed local news on February 17 to raise public awareness about the danger of bird flu, advising residents not to eat dead, sick or non-quarantined fowls.

Phat asked localities and authorities to keep close surveillance on poultry-related areas to detect bird flu and prevent it from spreading.

Vietnam officials are also requiring for the strict control of ducks freely raised infields, vaccination of new flocks of fowls and preparedness for potential outbreaks.

The minister also asked bird flu-hit provinces to immediately establish working teams and coordinate with grassroots levels in preventing further spread of the disease.

This year, Vietnam has reported four human cases of bird flu infections, including three fatalities since the beginning of this year. The total number of cases was up to 105, including 50 deaths, since the disease was discovered in the country in December 2003.

Currently, there are four localities in Vietname struggling with bird flu infections: northern Thai Nguyen, central Quang Binh province, northern Quang Ninh province and southern Long An province.