October 25, 2005

Vietnam ups bird flu control measures in cities, towns

Vietnam is planning to ban the sale of a popular local appetiser dish made from poultry's fresh blood, and the raising and trade of live fowls in its cities and towns.

As it is, the National Anti-bird flu Steering Committee is drafting a regulation on the breeding, trade and slaughtering of fowls. To prevent potential bird flu outbreaks, the draft prohibits the sale of not only the poultry-blood dish, but also other dishes using raw ingredients such as uncooked eggs.

The government had earlier warned the people not to eat the poultry-blood dish, but the warning was largely ignored.

The raising of fowls in densely populated areas such as city and town centres and in industrial buildings, would also be banned. Farmers would no longer be able to let their poultry, especially ducks, move freely in fields, canals or any open areas.

The committee has recently insisted poultry farms and live fowl markets be disinfected at least once a week. It also advised residents not to raise poultry near residential areas or let them roam freely.

Earlier this month, Vietnam detected two bird flu outbreaks, in southern Dong Thap province and in southern Bac Lieu province. Since the country's first bird flu outbreak in 2003, up to 91 Vietnamese were infected, of which 41 have died from the disease.