The National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Prevention and Control has asked all local authorities and relevant agencies to take strong measures to combat the H5N1 bird flu virus that has spread to nearly two dozen provinces and cities.
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Bird flu cases have been reported in 22 provinces and cities throughout the country from February 26 to March 4, the Veterinary Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said in its latest statistics.
These localities include Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Can Tho, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.
More than 110,000 poultry infected with the H5N1 avian flu virus have been incinerated in these localities.
Dam Xuan Thanh, deputy head of the Veterinary Department, said the epidemic situation has been increasingly complicated and showed no sign of slowing down despite the country’s control methods.
“If local authorities do not implement effective preventive measures, the epidemic will continue spreading in coming days, especially to Khanh Hoa and Tra Vinh, where more poultry have contracted the disease than in other localities,” Thanh warned.
Urgent tasks
The most important thing to do now in order to curb the spread is mobilize all possible resources to put existing breakouts under control and prevent new infections, said Vu Van Tam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Local governments should closely coordinate with competent agencies to detect and prevent the cross-border smuggling of poultry, especially in northern provinces bordering China.
Meanwhile, veterinary forces must boost poultry vaccination and take samples of livestock with and without signs of bird flu for testing.
In addition, anti-toxicity and disinfection processes must be carried out properly in epidemic-affected areas, the bird flu prevention committee said.
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has recently asked all localities to launch a “Month of Anti-Toxicity and Disinfection” campaign on all poultry farms and in areas influenced by the bird flu virus.
The event, which was kicked off on February 22, will last until March 21.
The Veterinary Department also reported it had completed the necessary procedures to import 60 million doses of vaccines against the H5N1 avian flu virus.
Đăng ký: VietNam News