December 29, 2004

Vietnam Bans Transportation Of Sick Poultry

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has ordered a ban on the transportation of sick poultry from affected areas to stamp out an avian flu outbreak, which has killed 20 people in Vietnam since 2003, state media said on Tuesday.

Under an order sent to authorities on Monday, violators will be punished, the official Vietnam News Agency said, adding that Phan had urged prompt action to prevent a possible spread of the disease.

A fresh avian flu outbreak in seven communes and wards in six southern provinces during the first 20 days of December forced the culling of 11,000 birds.

The agency quoted Phan as saying the re-emergence of the avian flu virus in several Mekong Delta provinces earlier this month had posed a grave risk.

The latest outbreaks were reported at a number of farms in the southern provinces of Bac Lieu, Long An, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, An Giang and Can Tho.

Vietnam said in October that it had brought avian influenza under control.

It had made a similar announcement on March 30 but had to admit later that the declaration had been premature after three people, including two children, died after being infected in August with the H5N1 strain of the virus.

Experts said avian influenza has entrenched itself in much of Asia and is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

United Nations health agencies and the Vietnamese government will set up a permanent taskforce in January to coordinate efforts against bird flu, including immediate reactions to further outbreaks and long-term surveillance.