HCMC to inspect poultry traders to tackle bird flu

In an effort to prevent the H5N1 avian flu from spreading to the city, the Ho Chi Minh City authorities have set up a steering board to curb the H5N1 bird flu spread and will crack down on unlicensed poultry traders, an official said.

 At a meeting yesterday to discuss measures to cope with the epidemic that has spread to 12 provinces and cities, Le Minh Tri, deputy chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, asked district authorities to urgently implement the city-issued measures, including disinfection in many areas in the city, to keep the disease in check.

Although not yet affected by the disease, the city’s authorities have set up a steering board for bird flu prevention and control and asked all local authorities to do the same, Tri said.

The first thing these boards need to do is shutting down all unlicensed establishments trading in poultry in the city, the official said.

“All districts are required to inspect and close 135 points that are trading in live poultry in 46 markets across the city.”

Poultry-supplying markets are the main sources from which the H5N1 flu virus originates and then spreads, so strict examinations must be carried out there, he said.

“In addition, checkpoints must be set up to prevent illegal transport of poultry from and to these markets.”

Veterinary workers are destroying ducks infected with bird flu virus in Hai Lang District in central Quang Tri Province (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

As there is no specific vaccine against new clade 2.3.2 H5N1 flu viruses, which have affected many countries including Vietnam, health experts warned that the disease could spread on a wide scale this year.

In the absence of an effective vaccine, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked the Finance Ministry to facilitate the import of 50 million doses of H5N1-Re 5 vaccine, which have been used in Vietnam for the past several years, to vaccinate poultry.

According to the National Steering Board for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control, the H5N1 bird flu has spread to 36 communes in 12 provinces and cities nationwide, including Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Soc Trang and Kien Giang.

The disease has killed two people in southern Kien Giang and Soc Trang provinces and has affected more than 52,000 heads of poultry nationwide that have been culled.

Veterinary workers burn poultry with H5N1 flu virus in Quang Ninh Province on February 17, 2012 (Photo: Tuoi Tre)