Lesson 1: Raising awareness among livestock farmers in disease vaccination

(Baonghean) -Currently, the H7N9 avian influenza epidemic from China is developing complicatedly, with the risk of spreading to our country in general and our province in particular. Meanwhile, looking back at the epidemic prevention work over the past 10 years, there are still many shortcomings, because there has not been a year in our province where the H5N1 avian influenza epidemic has not occurred.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thuan (Hamlet 3, Dien Cat Commune - Dien Chau) raises nearly 20 ducks. While herding the ducks to the field, he said: "Not only my family, but almost no one here has vaccinated against bird flu. The commune has also announced and propagated, but because they only raise a few dozen ducks in cages, no one has vaccinated them."

This is a worrying situation in most localities in the province, especially in the current period, when the avian influenza epidemic is becoming increasingly complicated and dangerous. Every year, our province organizes two main vaccination campaigns in the spring and autumn crops, in addition to the policy of regular supplementary vaccination, but according to the statistics compiled by the Provincial Veterinary Department, the rate of vaccinated poultry is always very low. In recent years, thanks to the drastic direction of the province, local authorities at all levels have had quite a clear change in the issue of vaccination for livestock in general and poultry in particular.

However, although the propaganda work has been promoted to every citizen, the reality is that most people still do not consider vaccination as the most important measure in preventing avian influenza in their own chickens and ducks, and almost do not voluntarily declare when they have new poultry to be vaccinated. According to Mr. Dang Van Minh (Deputy Head of the Provincial Veterinary Department), in the current conditions of mainly small-scale and fragmented livestock farming, vaccination is considered one of the main and most important measures in preventing avian influenza outbreaks. However, except for large farms, most people do not have the habit of vaccination and poultry are usually only vaccinated when an epidemic has occurred, so it is very easy for the situation to not be vaccinated enough times, with the right dosage and at the right time, and when an epidemic appears, it is very easy to spread widely and quickly.

Duck farm of veteran Tran Van Dan, Dien Thang commune, Dien Chau.
Photo: ST - Canh Yen

With over 17 million poultry, Nghe An is considered one of the localities with the largest flocks in the country. Beginning to appear in 2003, avian influenza had periods of raging, causing heavy damage in many localities in the province. With support from the national program, from 2005 to 2010, Nghe An annually injected 12-15 million doses of H5N1 R5 vaccine, almost all poultry in the vaccination area were vaccinated with avian influenza vaccine. Thanks to that, the epidemic has decreased significantly.

However, since 2011, due to the change of the avian influenza virus, the Central Government has stopped the mass vaccination of avian influenza, and only provides vaccines against epidemics when an epidemic occurs. With the policy of prioritizing vaccination for native duck flocks, in 2012, 2.8 million doses of vaccine were provided. In addition to vaccinating the epidemic area and surrounding areas, we also vaccinated native duck flocks. However, for the remaining poultry, people have not been conscious of spending money to buy vaccines for vaccination, while the price of a dose of avian influenza vaccine is only 400 VND, plus the cost of vaccination is only 600 VND. In 2010, due to subjective refusal to vaccinate, 2,500 Egyptian laying hens and 2,000 broiler chickens of Mr. Ho Viet Linh (Nam Anh - Nam Dan) were destroyed due to the epidemic. Such examples are not rare but have not really contributed to raising public awareness of bird flu vaccination.

Vaccination is an important measure in preventing avian influenza.

Every year, right from the beginning of the year, the Veterinary Department has issued a document advising the district authorities to review the number of farms and households in the area, assigning the responsibility to register to buy vaccines for bird flu vaccination, but almost no people have registered to buy vaccines for vaccination. Meanwhile, although the local authorities have made quite positive changes in disease prevention and control in recent years, they have not been really drastic.

Although currently, avian influenza vaccines are not required, according to Decree 40/CP, if poultry are not vaccinated, there is a risk of spreading avian influenza. If samples are tested for avian influenza virus, they will be severely punished when sold. According to regulations, before selling poultry, they must go through a quarantine process by veterinary officers. In case of violation, the commune-level authorities can detain and impose fines. However, in reality, when people buy and sell poultry, the commune-level authorities are almost unable to grasp it, unless large farms sell cars, which are forced to carry out mandatory quarantine procedures.

Along with vaccination, in disease prevention and control, we still have many shortcomings. Small-scale, difficult-to-control livestock farming is also an important factor in the outbreak and spread of avian influenza, especially when farmers are still not aware of safe livestock farming and still raise livestock manually, do not apply necessary measures such as environmental disinfection, regular vaccination, purchase of breeds with clear origins, and care and rearing are not paid attention to. In addition, the current widespread situation of transporting and slaughtering poultry without declaration is still uncontrolled. This is also a risk of spreading pathogens widely.

According to regulations, when raising poultry, farms and households raising 500 or more poultry must register with the commune-level authorities, from which they can monitor and manage vaccination work, when importing or selling, however, in reality, the commune-level authorities have almost no control, people do not report, and the authorities do not really care.

Phu Huong