March 27, 2014

Cambodia and Vietnam collaborate to fight bird flu

Cambodian and Vietnamese officials are preparing to take stronger measures against bird flu which include a close monitoring of the economic trade of fowl and better information sharing at border crossings.

Following two days of talks in Phnom Penh, Vietnam Agriculture Ministry Animal Health Department Deputy Director General Mai Van Hiep said: "We will set up an area, namely a zone around the border between the two countries. We will also set up information about the disease, put animal cross-border movement under control and engage public awareness."

Bird flu has killed 14 Cambodians and 63 Vietnamese since last year, making them the worst-hit countries in Southeast Asia.

Bird flu remains a concern at all levels, according to UN Food and Agriculture Organization Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases team leader Lotfi Allal.

Almost all cases of H5N1 infection in humans has been traced to direct contact with sick birds. The disease causes severe respiratory complications that can lead to death.