April 10, 2008

Bird flu, blue ear disease spread further in Vietnam

Bird flu continues its mayhem as it has spread in the southern province of Tien Giang and the central province of Quang Nam, according to a government official.

Bui Quang Anh, head of the Veterinary Agency said the disease was found in a flock of 1,500 ducks in in Phuoc Lap commune, Tan Phuoc district despite receiving vaccination on March 1.

In Quang Nam, bird flu hit poultry in Nui Thanh and Tien Phuoc district, where 428 unvaccinated ducks died.

According to Anh, bird flu could appear slightly in provinces where poultry is not vaccinated.

Apart from bird flu, blue ear disease is quickly spreading which prompted the Veterinary Agency on April 8 to tighten control and transport of livestock trade nationwide.

By far, nearly 70,000 pigs in the central region have been stricken with the disease and a record high number of nearly 54,000 pigs have been culled, which largely affected the livestock industry of the four provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Nam.

Anh said the while the total number of sick pigs is approximately at 70,000, equivalent to the figure of last July when blue ear boomed, the loss this time is three times more than last year because only 20,000 pigs were culled last July compared to the present 54,000 pigs that were slaughtered.