June 17, 2004

Vietnam Issues New Alert On Bird Flu

The Vietnamese government has issued an instruction, asking localities nationwide to prevent the reoccurrence of bird flu. This move follows the deaths of fowls in several areas, including some testing positive for avian influenza viruses.

Under the instruction issued by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as the People's Committees of localities must take four measures to prevent the return, and rehabilitate the local poultry industry.

They have to actively supervise the usage of state money in recovering the industry and minimizing the risk of a relapse of bird flu. They should also quickly lay a siege to any outbreaks detected to contain them immediately.

Strict controlling measures such as thoroughly disinfecting and detoxifying farms, residues and landfills must be maintained in areas previously hit by bird flu or were vulnerable to the disease. Dead fowls, if detected, must be incinerated or buried in a hygienic way.

The ministry and the committees are to inspect the granting of state financial assistance to fowl raisers so that the relevant people receive the right amount of money. This is to facilitate the recovery and development of the local poultry industry.

Finally, quarantine activities towards the transport, slaughter and trading of fowls and their eggs must be conducted in accordance to veterinary regulations.

In April, the government decided to allocate 245.3 billion Vietnamese dong (VND) (15.6 million US dollars) to 57 localities, helping them prevent bird flu reoccurrence and revive the poultry industry. Each farmer is to receive 5,000 VND (0.32 dollars) for each fowl culled, and another 2,000 VND (0.13 dollars) for each young fowl to be raised in the post-epidemic period.

In late March 2004, Vietnam declared an end to the bird flu outbreak that killed 17 percent of its poultry population, and claimed 16 human lives since last December. A total of 43.2 million fowls in 57 out of 64 localities nationwide either died or were culled, causing the local poultry industry to suffer direct losses of 1.3 trillion VND (82.8 million dollars).