October 4, 2012

Vietnam develops vaccine against bird flu strain

Vietnam has developed a vaccine to combat the new highly toxic strain of bird flu.

Pham Van Dong, head of the Department of Animal Health, said that health officials tested the newly developed vaccine on a flock of chickens and the test results were positive.

In future, they will conduct experimental tests on water-fowl and if test results are once again positive, the new vaccine will be used throughout the country.

The new bird flu strain, 2.3.2.1 C, has recently spread to Vietnam and is now present in affected areas in the northern and central provinces of Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang, Thai Binh, Ha Tinh and Quang Ngai.

Of these, Quang Ngai Province has reported the highest number of dead poultry with nearly 24,000 birds having died so far.

The Department of Animal Health said that the bird flu pandemic will develop unpredictably as illegal transportation and sale of poultry of unmarked origin is rampant.

The Mekong Delta provinces were hence quick to implement the campaign 'Month for disinfection at farms and prevention and control of bird flu' in October. During the campaign, farm owners will have to tidy their farms and disinfect their surroundings at least once a week as well as disinfect transportation and cages after use.

Slaughterhouses and poultry markets will have to be disinfected once a day, when the butchering is over.