September 2, 2004

Vietnam Takes New Steps To Stop Spread of Bird Flu Virus

Authorities are telling Vietnam farmers to separate poultry from pigs to help keep the bird flu virus from spreading between species, an official said Wednesday.
 
The measure follows last month's disclosure that two strains of bird flu - including the dangerous H5N1 strain - were found earlier this year in pigs in China.
 
Hogs are genetically similar to humans and have a history of passing viruses to people, raising concerns of an outbreak among humans in Asia.
 
Bui Quang Anh, director of the Vietnamese Agriculture Ministry's Veterinary Department, said 188 pig samples sent to Hong Kong labs for testing earlier this year all came back negative for H5N1. More pig samples are being tested from a more recent outbreak, he added.
 
In late March, Vietnam declared itself free of bird flu despite international organizations' warnings that the decision was premature.
 
Anh defended the government's decision, saying the country made a significant achievement at the time by stopping a massive outbreak that killed 43 million poultry and 16 people in Vietnam.
 
However, following more recent flare-ups, Anh said Vietnam would not make a similar declaration, and has instead projected it will take up to five years to completely eradicate the virus.
 
The outbreaks earlier this year swept across 10 Asian countries, killing or forcing the culling of more than 100 million poultry.
 
The disease resurfaced in Vietnam in June.