Intensifying bird flu prevention measures
A senior agricultural official has called on provinces nationwide to intensify measures to prevent the spread of bird flu viruses, especially the transmission of H7N9 into Vietnam as the new strain is spreading in neighbouring China.
At a meeting of the national Steering Committee for Bird Flu Prevention and Control in Hanoi on May 7, Vu Van Tam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, warned of the high risk of the epidemic on poultry despite measures taken to control any outbreak.
Authorities in southern provinces are taking comprehensive and drastic measures to prevent avian flu.
Tra Vinh is vaccinating poultry and cattle and disinfecting vulnerable spots.
Vinh Long is isolating H5N1 outbreaks and containing them from spreading further.
A batch of 500,000 vaccines was handed over to local veterinary stations to vaccinate poultry raised in the province.
Meanwhile, Dong Thap province is carrying out a hygiene and disinfection month in all localities.
Public places, poultry markets, abattoirs and egg incubators are on the list to be disinfected.
According to the provincial Animal Health Department, there has been no newly-detected outbreak in the province so far.
As of April 20, samples taken from salaganes in Ninh Thuan province tested negative for the H5N1 virus, easing public worries about a possible outbreak of the deadly disease in the province.