Nghe An issues urgent telegram to prevent and combat dangerous bird flu virus strain

Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has just issued an urgent dispatch on focusing on drastic and synchronous implementation of solutions to control, prevent and combat the disease.poultry broodingA/H5N8 and other highly pathogenic avian influenza virus strains are widespread.

Veterinary staff spray disinfectant to prevent epidemics. Photo courtesy of PV

According to information from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), since 2014, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus strain A/H5N8 has appeared, causing disease in poultry (in the early stages mainly occurring in wild birds), then spreading rapidly over a very wide area and causing epidemics in domestic poultry. As of June 2021, a total of 64 countries and territories have reported the detection of this virus strain; from the beginning of 2021 to now, there have been a total of 2,757 outbreaks caused by the HPAI virus strain A/H5N8 worldwide, accounting for nearly 70% of the total number of HPAI outbreaks caused by different virus strains (including countries bordering Vietnam). In February 2021, 07 people in the Russian Federation were confirmed to be infected with the A/H5N8 influenza virus with mild symptoms (according to the World Health Organization, to date there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the CGC A/H5N8 virus).

In Vietnam, according to the announcement of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, from the beginning of June 2021 to now, the CGC A/H5N8 virus strain has been detected in 3 provinces: Hoa Binh, Cao Bang, and Quang Ninh.

It is assessed that in the coming time, the risk of A/H5N8 bird flu occurring in Nghe An province is very high due to the following reasons: The total poultry flock in the province is large (over 28 million birds), mainly raised by small-scale households, free-range, the rate of A/H5N8 vaccination is very low; the source of poultry breeds is mostly purchased from the northern provinces, the volume of transportation, trade of poultry and poultry products is large, there are many markets selling poultry and poultry products in the province. Nghe An has a border with Laos, the activities of exchange, trade, vehicles, and people traveling between the two countries take place frequently; Wild birds can be infected with A/H5N8 bird flu virus, directly contacting and causing disease in farmed poultry; The weather has many complicated developments, prolonged heat affects the resistance of poultry.

To proactively prevent and minimize the spread of A/H5N8 bird flu and its impact on public health, and minimize damage to the poultry industry, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requests the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns; Directors of departments; Heads of relevant provincial-level sectors to strictly implement Urgent Dispatch No. 4154/CD-BNN-TY dated July 2, 2021 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on focusing on drastic and synchronous implementation of solutions to control, prevent and combat A/H5N8 bird flu and other highly pathogenic bird flu virus strains spreading widely, focusing on the following contents:

The People's Committees of districts, cities and towns direct the Department of Agriculture/Economy, the District Agricultural Service Center, and the Commune People's Committees to deploy solutions to prevent and control A/H5N8 bird flu and other bird flu virus strains according to the provisions of the Veterinary Law, Decision No. 1116/QD-UBND dated April 9, 2019 of the Provincial People's Committee promulgating the Plan for prevention and control of bird flu in Nghe An province for the period 2018 - 2025. Proactively monitor the epidemic, promptly conduct epidemiological investigations, take samples for testing of sick and dead poultry suspected of having bird flu; when the results are positive for the bird flu virus: immediately destroy the sick poultry, declare the epidemic and implement measures to prevent and control the epidemic; organize investigations to determine the cause and source of infection for timely and effective handling, and prevent the epidemic from spreading widely.

Review and organize vaccination of poultry against diseases, ensuring coverage of over 80% of the total flock; regularly provide supplementary vaccination for newly emerged poultry flocks, those that have not been vaccinated, and those that have expired their immunity. Use appropriate vaccinations for the virus strains that cause the disease according to the recommendations of the Department of Animal Health, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of the province.

Instruct poultry farmers to strengthen the strict application of biosafety farming measures; regularly clean and disinfect with lime powder and chemicals; organize two general cleaning and disinfection months to destroy pathogens according to Plan No. 1964/KH-SNN.CNTY dated June 7, 2021 of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Organize information, propaganda, and guidance for breeders to proactively monitor poultry showing signs of illness or suspected illness; promptly detect and report fully on the disease situation to the authorities and veterinary agencies; absolutely do not trade, slaughter, or consume diseased poultry, or dump poultry carcasses or untreated waste into the environment; strictly implement disease prevention and control measures...

Strengthen strict control over the transportation, trading, and slaughter of poultry and poultry products in the area. Strictly handle cases of poultry of unknown origin, without quarantine papers, smuggled across the border, and slaughter of poultry that does not ensure veterinary hygiene and food safety conditions.

Any locality that is subjective, negligent and not resolute in directing the implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures, allowing the epidemic to spread widely... the Chairman of the District People's Committee must be responsible to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee...