4 recommendations and 3 shortcomings in preventing and fighting avian influenza

(Baonghean) - The bird flu epidemic is evolving unpredictably, but it is worth noting that while authorities are really worried, local people are still very subjective in disease prevention for livestock.

Mr. Dang Van Minh - Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Nghe An province gave recommendations and warnings about problems of concern.

* Four recommendations:

The most important thing in preventing and fighting avian influenza today is:

Mr. Dang Van Minh - Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Nghe An province. Photo: Phu Huong

1.When buying poultry for breeding, the origin must be clear and there must be a quarantine certificate issued by the Veterinary Authority.

2.When bringing poultry back to raise, raising new ones, or re-flocking, it is necessary to fully vaccinate them against avian influenza according to regulations. Avian influenza viruses frequently mutate genes, so to effectively vaccinate poultry flocks, farmers need to comply with the recommendations of the provincial veterinary agency. In Nghe An province, two types of avian influenza vaccines are currently being used: the H5N1-Re6 vaccine strain produced by China and the attenuated Navet-vifluvac vaccine produced by the Vietnamese company Navetco to prevent influenza virus strains A/H5N1 and A/H5N6 that cause disease in poultry.

3.Regularly clean the barn, use disinfectants and lime powder to treat the environment and destroy pathogens.

4.Enhance good care and nutrition, use food and water that ensure veterinary hygiene.

* Three existences

Veterinary staff of Dien Trung commune (Dien Chau) prepare influenza vaccine to vaccinate poultry. Photo: Phu Huong

Current shortcomings in the prevention and control of avian influenza that need to be quickly overcome include:

1. Many local authorities at the commune level have not paid attention to directing the review and management of poultry farms in the area, and have not directed the vaccination against avian influenza in accordance with the provisions of the Veterinary Law. They have not regularly disseminated information on the commune's loudspeaker system about measures to prevent and control avian influenza, the dangers of avian influenza that can be transmitted to humans, the benefits of influenza vaccination, as well as policies for poultry farmers to know and voluntarily implement.

2. The awareness of poultry farmers is still limited, especially poultry farm owners... most of them do not comply with vaccination for poultry flocks; sanitation of the barn environment is not carried out regularly, so pathogens always remain in the barn environment; transportation, trading, and slaughtering of poultry take place on a small scale in many places... making it difficult to control the spread of avian influenza.

3. Most consumers prefer to buy live poultry at the market, then hire a slaughterer or bring it home to slaughter themselves; they do not pay much attention to the origin of the poultry... the risk of food safety and hygiene, as well as the risk of infection with influenza virus strains that can be transmitted to humans is very high, especially the A/H7N9 influenza virus strain that does not cause disease in poultry, but when humans come into contact with poultry carrying the A/H7N9 influenza virus, they are susceptible to illness, which is life-threatening.

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