March 29, 2010

Vietnam's illegal poultry trade thrives despite bird flu scare

Despite the recurrence of bird flu that claimed two deaths in Vietnam this year, the sale of live chicken and other fowls that have not been quarantined and tested is still rampant in Ho Chi Minh City, especially in outlying districts like Go Vap, Hoc Mon, and District 12.

Nearly 20 hotspots were found along Tan Son Street where live and untested chicken were being sold for VND80,000-VND90,000 (US$4-4.70) per kilogramme. Ducks were cheaper, costing VND45,000-VND60,000 (US$2.36-3.15) per kg.

Other major illegal poultry trading sites include the Cho Cau, Thanh Loc, and Truong Dai bridges in Go Vap District, and Le Van Khuong Street in Hoc Mon District.

The traders said they bought poultry from Mekong Delta provinces and transported them to Ho Chi Minh City by motorbike or car.

Nguyen Thi Huong, head of District 12's Animal Heath Station, said it was difficult to control illegal poultry trade because of the close connections between traders. They inform one another when poultry inspection occurs at one trading site.

She called on the local police to improve coordination in the fight against illegal poultry trade.

From January 1 to March 10, District 12's Animal Heath Station exterminated nearly 1,300 chickens, 250 kg of chicken meat and 4,000 eggs following inspections, according to Huong.

The two H5N1-related deaths this year have escalated Vietnam's avian flu fatalities to 59 since 2003.