Avian flu spreads to humans, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issues urgent dispatch
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just issued an urgent dispatch to localities to focus on implementing drastic and synchronous solutions to prevent and control avian influenza to limit its spread to humans.
The dispatch cited information from the Ministry of Health that on October 5, there was 1 case of a person infected with the virus.avian flu, strain A/H5 in Phu Tho province, after more than 8 years Vietnam has had no cases of death or infection with A/H5 flu virus.
Accordingly, the total number of people infected with the A/H5 avian influenza virus in Vietnam has increased to 128 cases. Of these, 64 cases have died from the A/H5N1 avian influenza virus from 2003 to October 2022.
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The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued an urgent dispatch on the prevention and control of avian influenza. Photo: Manh Hung |
According to reports from veterinary management agencies, from the beginning of 2022 to now, there have been 34 outbreaks of avian influenza in 19 provinces and cities nationwide, forcing the destruction of over 77,000 poultry. The risk of avian influenza spreading and occurring on a large scale is very high.
Faced with the complicated developments of the A/H5 avian influenza epidemic, and at the same time, to proactively prevent outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry, minimize the spread and death of avian influenza viruses to humans, affect public health, and minimize damage to the livestock industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recommends that localities focus on implementing drastic and synchronous solutions to prevent and control avian influenza A/H5N1, A/H5N6, A/H5N8 and other strains of avian influenza viruses according to regulations.
For localities with avian influenza outbreaks that have not passed 21 days, or localities that detect poultry with positive results for avian influenza A/H5 virus, sick poultry, or poultry suspected of being sick due to influenza A/H5 virus strains, it is necessary to destroy poultry, declare an epidemic and implement disease prevention and control measures.
In addition, the investigation organization determines the cause and source of infection for timely and effective handling, preventing the disease from spreading widely; organize vaccination to surround the epidemic area, vaccinate all poultry flocks in villages, communes with epidemics and high-risk localities.
Veterinary and health agencies coordinate closely in investigating, taking samples for testing, determining the cause of outbreaks in poultry and humans, and handling outbreaks.
For other localities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed to organize new and supplementary vaccinations.Vaccineavian influenza prevention for poultry flocks, ensuring a rate of over 80% of the total flock at the time of vaccination. At the same time, regularly review and provide additional vaccination for newly emerged poultry flocks that have not been vaccinated against avian influenza.
Organize the development and implementation of a proactive surveillance plan, take samples of poultry showing signs of illness, suspected illness of avian influenza, poultry in high-risk areas (border localities, points, establishments trading, gathering poultry, slaughterhouses, poultry destruction facilities, etc.) and send them to the laboratory of the Department of Animal Health for testing to determine the cause of the disease in order to promptly warn, handle, and destroy sick poultry, suspected illness, and poultry positive for avian influenza A/H5 virus.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requires strict implementation of quarantine at the source; strictly control the transportation and trade of poultry and poultry products in the area. Strengthen communication so that people do not participate in illegal trading and transportation of poultry across the border; strictly handle violations; strictly prohibit the trading and transportation of poultry and poultry products into Vietnam.
Absolutely do not trade, slaughter, or consume diseased poultry, or throw poultry carcasses or untreated waste into the environment; strictly implement disease prevention and control measures, report diseases according to regulations; daily clean up, spray disinfectants, or use lime powder to disinfect the breeding area.
Localities inform, propagate and guide people to proactively monitor poultry showing signs of illness or suspected illness, promptly detect, report to authorities and veterinary agencies and deploy measures to prevent and control epidemics.