August 30, 2005

Vietnamese capital Hanoi starts trial poultry vaccination programme

Vietnamese capital Hanoi has started a trial poultry vaccination programme against bird flu on Aug 29, and will begin a mass vaccination campaign Sept 15-30, said the capital's agriculture and rural development department.

The department has also proposed a total ban on the slaughtering of live poultry in the city's markets from July 2006.

It had earlier wanted to start vaccinating 80 percent of its 200 million chickens and ducks in October, but decided to start in September instead so as to complete the mass vaccinations before winter, believed to be when the virus most easily spreads.

Last year, bird flu hit all of Vietnam's 64 provinces and cities and caused 42 deaths in the nation since then. However, the number of areas with fresh outbreaks this year has gradually reduced.

A trial poultry vaccination programme was begun on Jul 30 in the southern province of Tien Giang, and in Nam Dinh province on Aug 4.