July 28, 2004

Vietnam Faces High-Risk Of Bird Flu Spread

Vietnam is facing high risk of bird flu spreading to the country's Ho Chi Minh City and some other southern localities.

Nearly 7,000 ducks of 15 farms in the city's Nha Be district and 55 samples taken from baby fowls of 28 farms in the southwestern region were tested positive to avian influenza virus subtype H5.

The great possibility of the relapse of the disease in the localities is partly attributed to the increasing situation of slaughtering and trading of no-quarantined live fowls, meat and eggs, as well as the use of young poultry which have unclear origins and do not undergo quarantine.

To deal with the situation, local relevant authorities will closely control the raise, transport, slaughter, and distribution of fowls, in addition to ensuring a hygienic environment.

Earlier this month, director of the country's Department of Animal Health Bui Quang Anh said that Vietnam has faced no new outbreaks of bird flu, but were merely echo of previous outbreaks.

However, as of July 26, bird flu recurred in 11 southern localities of Vietnam, including the city of Can Tho and the provinces of Long An, Bac Lieu, Hau Giang, Tra Vinh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, TienGiang, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Kien Giang and Ben Tre, killing or leading to the forced culling of more than 51,000 poultry. All the new outbreaks are detected in small-scale farms which have not taken full preventive measures.

Bird flu has killed 17 percent of its poultry population, and claimed 16 human lives since its outbreak in December 2003. A total of 43.2 million fowls nationwide either died or were culled, causing the local poultry industry to suffer direct losses of 1.3 trillion Vietnamese dong (82.8 million US dollars).