Catbird
Senior Moderator
Fear of bird flu pandemic in Mekong Delta
"Mar 05, 2013
Recurrence of bird flu pandemic is currently feared in the Mekong Delta provinces of Hau Giang and Kien Giang, particularly with the area in the midst of harvesting the winter-spring rice crop.
At this time, famers usually let their ducks roam freely in open harvested fields, which can lead to further spread of bird flu.
In Kien Giang Province, bird flu has been reported in a farm in Hon Dat District which is home to 559 chickens. The province has already reported one death from the H5N1 virus in Giong Rieng District early this year.
Bird flu has also hit 1,070 chickens in Phung Hiep District in Hau Giang Province, 600 of which have died so far. Authorized organs have destroyed the infected chickens and sterilized the surrounding area.
Most worrisome is a shortage of bird flu vaccine. Breeder Vo Van Buol said that he had asked authorities to vaccinate his chicken flock but they said there was no vaccine.
Hau Giang Province admits the shortage of bird flue vaccine since November last year.
...Luu Phuoc Hau, deputy head of the Department of Animal Health in Can Tho City said that the City now has 1.5 million ducks but has run out of vaccine.
Earlier, vaccination was carried out under a government project that provided free vaccines. Now Can Tho City and other localities in the Mekong Delta have to manage by themselves."
"Mar 05, 2013
Recurrence of bird flu pandemic is currently feared in the Mekong Delta provinces of Hau Giang and Kien Giang, particularly with the area in the midst of harvesting the winter-spring rice crop.
At this time, famers usually let their ducks roam freely in open harvested fields, which can lead to further spread of bird flu.
In Kien Giang Province, bird flu has been reported in a farm in Hon Dat District which is home to 559 chickens. The province has already reported one death from the H5N1 virus in Giong Rieng District early this year.
Bird flu has also hit 1,070 chickens in Phung Hiep District in Hau Giang Province, 600 of which have died so far. Authorized organs have destroyed the infected chickens and sterilized the surrounding area.
Most worrisome is a shortage of bird flu vaccine. Breeder Vo Van Buol said that he had asked authorities to vaccinate his chicken flock but they said there was no vaccine.
Hau Giang Province admits the shortage of bird flue vaccine since November last year.
...Luu Phuoc Hau, deputy head of the Department of Animal Health in Can Tho City said that the City now has 1.5 million ducks but has run out of vaccine.
Earlier, vaccination was carried out under a government project that provided free vaccines. Now Can Tho City and other localities in the Mekong Delta have to manage by themselves."