Prevention and control of livestock and poultry diseases (influenza A H7N9, H5N1)

(Dispatch No. 11/CD-UBND, dated April 18, 2013 of the Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee)

Influenza A(H7N9) is occurring in China. From the end of February 2013 to April 14, 2013, there have been more than 60 people infected with influenza A(H7N9) in 2 cities (Shanghai, Beijing) and 4 provinces (Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui and Henan), of which 13 people have died (mortality rate 20%).

In Vietnam, although the H7N9 avian influenza virus strain has not been detected, there have recently been outbreaks of H5N1 influenza in farmed swiftlets in Phan Rang - Thap Cham City of Ninh Thuan Province, in pheasant flocks in Tien Giang Province and in poultry flocks in some localities. The cause of the flu is the infection of avian influenza A(H7N9) and A(H5N1) viruses, in which the transportation and trading of poultry and illegally imported poultry products are the biggest risk of infection.

The World Health Organization said that to date there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of avian influenza A(H7N9) and does not recommend special controls related to influenza A(H7N9) at border gates.

According to the announcement of the Department of Animal Health, currently foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) type A is occurring in 3 districts: Nghi Xuan, Hong Linh and Can Loc, Ha Tinh province, causing 342 cattle to be infected. This is a dangerous virus type that has not appeared in the country for a long time. In addition, the blue ear disease is also developing complicatedly in some localities.

Faced with the complicated developments of avian influenza, FMD in livestock, and blue ear disease in some localities in the country and the increasingly sophisticated illegal transportation of poultry across the border, on April 2, 2013, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Official Dispatch No. 08/CD-BNN-TY on strengthening control of the transportation of poultry and poultry products across the northern border; Official Dispatch No. 09/CD-BNN-TY, dated April 12, 2013 on applying drastic measures to suppress outbreaks of FMD in livestock and blue ear disease in pigs. The Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 487/CD-TTg, dated April 4, 2013 on continuing to drastically implement the Project on prevention, suppression of transportation and trading of illegally imported poultry and poultry products; Telegram No. 528/CD-TTg, dated April 15, 2013 on prevention and control of avian influenza A(H7N9) and A(H5N1).

In order to proactively prevent the infiltration of influenza A(H7N9), prevent and limit the spread of disease in livestock and poultry, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requests the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns; Directors of relevant departments, branches and sectors to strictly implement the contents of the above-mentioned telegrams and Telegram No. 10/CD-UBND.NN, dated April 9, 2013 of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on strengthening the control of the transportation of poultry and poultry products, paying special attention to the following contents:

1. People's Committees of districts, cities and towns:

- Assign the Chairmen of the People's Committees of communes, wards and towns to direct the blocks, hamlets, villages, grassroots veterinary and local mass organizations to strengthen inspection and monitoring to detect early outbreaks of avian influenza (including domestic and wild birds), FMD and blue ear disease in livestock, especially focusing on high-risk areas where there are old outbreaks. Report epidemics in accordance with regulations.

- Strengthen information and propaganda work on the epidemic situation in livestock and poultry, especially avian influenza A(H7N9), A(H5N1) in the world and in the country, the dangers of avian influenza, FMD in livestock, the harmful effects of smuggling, transporting and consuming poultry and poultry products on the health of individuals and the community, creating a social atmosphere of strong condemnation and boycott of those who smuggle poultry and transport and consume smuggled poultry for high profits while simultaneously importing and spreading avian influenza to tens of millions of people and millions of poultry in the country.

- Assign the Chairman of the People's Committee of communes, wards and towns, especially those bordering Ha Tinh province, to direct the Party secretaries, hamlet chiefs, local mass organizations and all people to be responsible for detecting and reporting to the Chairman of the People's Committee and the police of communes and wards about people in communes and wards who participate in smuggling, transporting and consuming smuggled poultry and poultry products; transporting livestock and poultry of unknown origin without quarantine certificates. The Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level is directly responsible to the People's Committee at the district level for citizens living in their area participating in smuggling, transporting and consuming smuggled poultry.

- Proactively develop plans for human resources, funding, means, tools, and chemicals to promptly prevent and control epidemics when outbreaks occur.

2. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:

- Actively coordinate with relevant units to establish working groups to direct and urge the work of preventing and controlling livestock and poultry diseases in localities and key livestock farming areas.

- Take the lead in coordinating with the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to strengthen the direction of livestock and poultry disease prevention in the province.

- Direct the Veterinary Department to strengthen disease inspection and monitoring, prepare human resources, vaccines, chemicals, materials, etc. to proactively prevent epidemics; strictly implement quarantine, strictly control the transportation of livestock, poultry and livestock and poultry products of unknown origin from epidemic areas into the province.

- Advise on setting up necessary control points for livestock and poultry transportation to prevent epidemics.

3. Department of Health:Guidance on proactive and effective preventive measures against influenza A(H7N9) and A(H5N1) in humans.

4. Department of Information and Communications, Provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper; District Radio and Television Station:Closely coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Health to properly, fully and promptly disseminate information on the epidemic situation in livestock and poultry, especially avian influenza A(H7N9) and A(H5N1) in the world and in the country, the situation of poultry smuggling, and forms of handling violations of the law according to current regulations so that people know and proactively deal with avian influenza in humans and poultry, and at the same time detect and report cases of smuggling, transportation and consumption of smuggled poultry and poultry products to competent authorities for handling.

5. Department of Finance:Proactively advise the Provincial People's Committee to arrange funding sources for epidemic prevention work, ensure adequate means of preventing avian influenza for all employees and responsible forces who have to regularly contact poultry, not allowing anyone to be at risk of avian influenza infection without preventive means; support livestock farmers whose livestock and poultry are sick and must be destroyed promptly and in accordance with regulations.

6. Provincial Police:Coordinate with relevant sectors and localities to strengthen inspection and thoroughly prevent the import of livestock, poultry and livestock products of unknown origin, without quarantine, and livestock and poultry from epidemic areas into the province.

7. Department of Industry and Trade:Preside over and direct the Market Management Department, anti-smuggling and trade fraud forces, coordinate with relevant departments and branches, especially the Veterinary Department to strengthen inspection and control of illegal transportation of livestock, poultry and livestock and poultry products, and strictly handle violations.

8. Steering committees for epidemic prevention at all levels:Strengthen inspection, supervision and implementation of comprehensive epidemic prevention measures.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns; Directors of departments, heads of provincial-level branches and sectors to urgently and synchronously and effectively implement epidemic prevention measures. During the implementation process, if there are any problems or difficulties, the units should report to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for synthesis and submission to the Provincial People's Committee for timely solutions.

KT. CHAIRMAN
Vice President: Dinh Viet Hong