Proactively prevent and control A/H5N6 flu

(Baonghean) - For the first time, the A/H5N6 influenza virus that has caused death in humans has been recorded in Vietnam. As a locality with a large poultry population and frequent trading activities, while Ha Tinh - a "neighboring" locality - is one of two provinces that has detected this virus in livestock, Nghe An needs to have timely and drastic prevention and control measures.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chuong's duck farm (Block 5, Hung Nguyen Town) currently has more than 1,000 native ducks, located right next to Vinh bypass road. Recently, Mr. Chuong's family's ducks have been fully vaccinated periodically, however, he is quite worried about the information about the appearance of a new virus in Ha Tinh. "Vehicles transporting chickens and ducks often pass through this Vinh bypass road, and the farm is located close to the road, so we are very worried about the spread of disease. Currently, we only focus on disease prevention by keeping them in captivity, cleaning the barns and buying lime to spread at the entrances and exits," said Mr. Chuong.

Being located next to Vinh City (Nghe An) and Ha Tinh Province, and having Vinh bypass running through, Hung Nguyen is considered one of the "sensitive" localities to the A/H5N6 flu epidemic. Mr. Nghiem Xuan Bao - Head of the Hung Nguyen District Veterinary Station said: The whole district has over 600 thousand poultry. Therefore, to ensure safety, we have determined that taking precautions to have timely responses is extremely necessary, especially at the present time. The station has coordinated with the district and commune to increase the time of propaganda about the nature and harm of the A/H5N6 flu virus strain and other virus strains on mass media so that people understand; recommending farmers to pay attention to poultry flocks, detect and immediately report cases of sick poultry for timely handling measures".

Drill on prevention and control of dangerous human diseases in Hung Nguyen district. Photo: TT

Nghe An currently has a total poultry population of over 16 million. In the face of the A/H5N6 flu epidemic that first appeared in Vietnam and caused disease in ducks raised in the neighboring locality of Ha Tinh, it is extremely necessary to focus on implementing disease prevention and control measures to ensure disease safety for poultry. According to Mr. Dang Van Minh - Deputy Head of the Veterinary Department, because it is adjacent to Ha Tinh, the transportation and trade of poultry is very likely to directly affect Nghe An. This is a very dangerous virus, while there is currently only a vaccine to prevent the H5N1 virus strain but not yet a vaccine for new virus strains, so prevention is currently considered the leading and most feasible measure in the current situation. “We have directed the Southern Nghe An Quarantine Station to strengthen the inspection and control of poultry and poultry products brought into Vinh City for consumption; strictly handle violations of the transportation of animals and animal products according to the provisions of law. The province has issued Official Dispatch No. 22 on strengthening measures to prevent avian influenza, and decided to allocate 102 million VND for competent agencies to conduct surveillance sampling on poultry and the environment at poultry trading locations in Vinh City, Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu and Hung Nguyen to promptly detect the A/H5N6 influenza virus and other strains of influenza virus in poultry for timely handling. Currently, we are carrying out the necessary procedures, implementing early sampling and testing for proactive monitoring. At the same time, we focus on directing veterinary stations to strengthen coordination with local authorities to closely monitor the transportation and trading of poultry, and seriously implement quarantine at the source. When detecting a virus "If influenza A/H5N6 appears in poultry or in the environment, it is necessary to organize and implement thorough and timely treatment measures to prevent the virus from spreading widely," said Mr. Minh.

Thus, to proactively prevent the A/H5N6 influenza virus and other strains of avian influenza virus from spreading into the province, minimize damage in livestock farming, and protect public health, localities need to direct relevant forces such as: Veterinary, Market Management, Police... to regularly inspect and monitor poultry trading, slaughtering and business locations; strengthen management to prevent the transportation of poultry and poultry products from epidemic areas, of unknown origin, and not yet quarantined into the area. Timely detect and strictly handle violations according to the provisions of law. Communes, wards and towns strengthen monitoring and quickly detect cases of poultry disease to handle small-scale outbreaks. In particular, localities bordering Ha Tinh province such as Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, Thanh Chuong and Vinh city must immediately develop a plan to proactively monitor avian influenza virus and the environment at live poultry markets and high-risk areas to detect outbreaks early. Thoroughly handle and destroy poultry and poultry flocks positive for A/H5N6 influenza virus according to the instructions of veterinary agencies when detected. At the same time, step up information and propaganda work on district, city and town radio and television stations and loudspeaker systems of communes, wards and towns about the risk of infection with A/H5N6 influenza virus to humans and poultry. Request people to report the epidemic immediately when detecting sick or unusually dead poultry; strictly prohibit the concealment and sale of sick poultry that spreads the disease; do not trade poultry and poultry products of unknown origin that have not been quarantined. In addition, it is necessary to do a good job of sanitation and disinfection in livestock farming, focusing on areas at high risk of avian influenza outbreaks such as poultry farming areas, trading markets, poultry collection points, hatcheries, poultry slaughterhouses, etc.

Huong Thanh