March 12, 2007

Vietnam reinforces fight against bird flu
 

The National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Control in Vietnam has requested localities and relevant branches to simultaneously take preventive measures against bird flu as there is a high risk of recurrence nationwide.

Committee head, Cao Duc Phat, who is also Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has warned that many provinces have only focused on vaccinating their fowl flocks against the disease but neglected to take other preventive measures.

The virus reportedly to re-occurred in the north, firstly in Hai Duong province on February 14, and then Ha Tay and Hanoi.

In the message, Phat said "vaccination is only one of many essential measures to combat bird flu."

Accordingly, he required combined measures including monitoring all poultry raising households, especially egg hatching farms and minimising the contact of poultry with migrating birds.

Farmers were asked not to raise chicken with waterfowl and other farm poultry animals and not to keep live poultry bought from markets with their poultry flock.

The Committee Head also asked for regular disinfection of poultry farms, slaughterhouses, poultry processing establishments, live birds markets, high-risk areas and former bird flu-hit spots.

Quarantine officials were told to intensify their control over the transport, slaughtering, and trade of poultry and poultry products.