March 31, 2009
Lao province at risk of bird flu
Many areas of Phongsaly province of Laos are at risk of infection from the H5N1 bird flu virus as local people are still illegally bringing in poultry and eggs from neighboring countries, the Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported Monday (Mar 30).
Provincial Livestock and Fisheries deputy head Somnith Keoboun-ngune said that authorities find it hard to identify when and where there is a virus outbreak as people can walk or drive across and engage in casual trade of poultry easily at border areas without checkpoints.
Somnith said there was an outbreak of the virus in Khua district, Phongsaly province, last month, but the outbreak is over and district was declared bird-flu free.
He also said that to prevent the spread of the virus to other districts, the provincial bird flu control committee together with district and village committees culled about 2,600 poultry in 11 villages and set up checkpoints.
He added that the provincial livestock and fisheries sector will work with the sectors concerned in leading a public campaign about bird flu.
