March 24, 2008

Bird flu spreads to Viengphoukha district of Laos
 

The bird flu has spread out of Laos' Luang Namtha province and struck Viengmay village in Viengphoukha district last week.
 

The latest sample tests have verified that poultry deaths in Viengphoukha were caused by the virulent H5N1. This is the fourth district that has been infected following outbreaks in Long, Luang Namtha and Sing districts.

In early February, hundreds of poultry were killed by bird flu in Luang Namtha province and after sample tests, Laos' Department of Livestock and Fisheries confirmed an outbreak of H5N1.

The Committees for Bird Flu Prevention and Control at district and provincial levels are cooperating with the technical officials of the District Agriculture and Health authorities to cull poultry and to destroy eggs at Viengmay village. They culled 332 poultry and destroyed 70 eggs on Wednesday (March 19, 2008), at a cost of LAK 9 million (US$1 million).

The villagers will be compensated for their culled poultry at about 60 percent of poultry prices.

Laotian authorities are currently watching the affected area; all vehicles entering the district are disinfected and all sales and transportation of poultry and poultry products have been banned.

A campaign is launched in Viengphoukha to train concerning officials to solve a sudden outbreak of bird flu, and to spread the information of prevention to locals.