Dong Thap contains bird flu outbreak, no human infections reported
VOV.VN - Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap have successfully contained an H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, with no additional infections detected in nearby poultry flocks or any human cases reported, local agricultural officials said on June 27.
According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, the outbreak in Tan Thoi commune has been brought under control following the culling of infected poultry and the implementation of disease control measures.
A total of 405 birds were culled, including 190 75-day-old Muscovy ducks, 210 13-day-old Muscovy ducks, three chickens and two geese. Officials said the flock had been raised without vaccination against avian influenza and therefore was not eligible for compensation under current regulations.
Veterinary authorities also carried out disinfection and sanitation measures at the affected farm and surrounding areas to prevent the virus from spreading.
The outbreak was first detected after a flock owned by a household in Tan Hoa village, Tan Thoi commune, experienced unusual illness and deaths in early June. Laboratory testing conducted by the National Centre for Veterinary Diagnosis and Testing No. II confirmed the presence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus using RT-PCR on June 11.
Epidemiological investigations found that the flock originally consisted of 420 birds, of which 230 had died before disease control measures were implemented.
Following confirmation of the outbreak, local veterinary authorities established quarantine measures, supervised the safe disposal of infected poultry and distributed 500 litres of disinfectant to sanitise the affected area and surrounding locations.
Officials also reviewed poultry populations in the affected commune and neighbouring areas while providing free avian influenza vaccinations for eligible poultry. Farmers were encouraged to vaccinate their flocks to strengthen disease prevention. Vaccination coverage has exceeded 90% in the outbreak area and over 80% across the district.
Dong Thap is home to more than 28 million poultry, the largest poultry population in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, including over 8.2 million ducks. Given the province's large-scale poultry industry, agricultural authorities have urged farmers to continue implementing strict biosecurity measures and maintain routine vaccination programmes, describing vaccination as the most effective way to prevent future H5N1 outbreaks.
Dong Thap detects H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, culls infected ducks
VOV.VN - Veterinarians in Vietnam’s southern Dong Thap province have culled ducks infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus after detecting an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry locally.
