Resolutely prevent and fight avian influenza

The risk of CGC epidemic is very high

According to information from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), from 2014 to present, 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 range and causing epidemics in domestic poultry.

Nghe An Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine and related sectors strengthen inspection and prevention of avian influenza. Photo: Kim Dung

As of June 2021, there were a total of 2,757 outbreaks caused by the CGC A/H5N8 virus strain in 64 countries and territories worldwide, accounting for nearly 70% of the total number of CGC outbreaks caused by different virus strains. In February 2021, 7 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 Department of Animal Health, from the beginning of June 2021 to now, the CGC A/H5N8 virus strain has been detected in 05 provinces: Hoa Binh, Cao Bang, Quang Ninh, Ha Tinh, and Hanoi. In addition, the surveillance program of Thanh Hoa province at live poultry markets from July 12-16, 2021 detected 3/15 samples positive for influenza A/H5N8 virus.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Luong - Head of Disease Management Department, Nghe An Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine said: In the coming time, the risk of A/H5N8 Avian Influenza epidemic occurring in Nghe An province is very high, because the total poultry herd in the province is large (currently over 28 million birds) but mainly raised by households, raised on hills and in fields, while the rate of Avian Influenza vaccination is very low. Along with that, the complicated weather, prolonged heat affects the resistance of poultry; transportation and trading of poultry and poultry products are frequent, there are many markets selling live poultry; The transmission routes are diverse and difficult to control because wild birds can be infected with the CGC A/H5N8 virus from other localities moving into Nghe An, directly causing disease in farmed poultry... To proactively prevent and minimize the spread of CGC A/H5N8 and its impact on public health, and minimize damage to the livestock industry, the Provincial People's Committee and related levels and sectors have implemented timely and specific solutions to control, prevent and combat CGC A/H5N8 and highly pathogenic CGC virus strains.

Fully vaccinating poultry against diseases in Dien Trung commune (Dien Chau). Photo: Kim Dung

At the same time, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine also issued Instruction No. 604/HD-CNTY dated July 23, 2021, providing specific instructions on measures to prevent and control A/H5N8 bird flu and highly pathogenic bird flu virus strains.
In the work of preventing and fighting avian influenza, Nghe An focuses on propagating and mobilizing people to strictly implement the "5 no's": Do not hide the epidemic, when there is a phenomenon of sick or unusually dead poultry, immediately report to local authorities to take samples for testing; Do not sell sick poultry; Do not transport sick poultry and poultry products; Do not eat sick and dead poultry of unknown origin; Do not throw sick and dead poultry into the surrounding environment.

A current difficulty in preventing and minimizing the A/H5N8 bird flu epidemic is that the total poultry flock in the province is currently over 28 million, but the vaccination rate for bird flu vaccine is very low. Meanwhile, to effectively prevent and control bird flu epidemic, vaccination for bird flu vaccine is the most important and the leading solution to create active immunity for poultry flocks.

Therefore, in the coming time, we will focus on reviewing and organizing CGC vaccination, ensuring a rate of over 80% of the total flock and regularly vaccinating newly emerged poultry flocks, those that have not been vaccinated, and those that have expired their immunity. During the implementation process, we will use CGC vaccines that are currently allowed to circulate in Vietnam and are suitable for the virus strains circulating in the area according to the recommendations of the Veterinary Department.

Training on vaccination techniques for poultry. Photo: Kim Dung

At the same time, instruct poultry farmers to strictly apply biosafety farming measures, regularly clean and disinfect with lime powder, chemicals and organize the second round of general cleaning and disinfection to destroy pathogens; propagate people to monitor the health of poultry flocks; comply with vaccination according to regulations; proactively monitor, detect, combat, and not assist in the trading, transportation, and slaughter of smuggled poultry and poultry products; buy poultry breeds at reputable establishments with clear origins and quarantine; do not eat poultry blood pudding and use well-processed poultry products; take measures to prevent wild birds from coming into contact with poultry flocks...

Although there are many difficulties in implementing solutions to prevent and control A/H5N8 and other Avian Influenza virus strains, this work has always been of interest to all levels, sectors and people, supported and implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Veterinary Law and Decision No. 1116/QD-UBND dated April 9, 2019 of the Provincial People's Committee on promulgating the Plan for prevention and control of Avian Influenza in Nghe An province for the period 2019 - 2025, outbreaks have been contained and controlled in a small area. In the coming time, the Veterinary Department will continue to closely monitor and synthesize the situation of poultry diseases in the province to promptly report and advise on appropriate and effective disease prevention and control; at the same time, proactively provide adequate supplies, vaccines and chemicals to handle outbreaks. Based on the epidemiological nature of Avian Influenza outbreaks, appropriate vaccines will be selected to guide localities in effectively vaccinating poultry flocks. Strictly implement quarantine at the source, check veterinary hygiene and food safety conditions according to regulations to limit the spread of disease.

Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of Nghe An Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine

Organizations and individuals raising, trading and transporting poultry must apply biosafety farming, ensure the origin of the breed and be controlled by veterinary agencies. Fully vaccinate poultry according to Circular 07/2016/TT-BNNPTNT. Declare livestock activities and immediately report to local authorities when there are cases of sick or dead poultry suspected of having ASF. Do not organize, participate in or assist in trading and transporting poultry and poultry products of unknown origin or smuggled across the border. Organizations and individuals who do not comply with the declaration of livestock farming activities and vaccination against diseases as prescribed in Circular 07/2016/TT-BNNPTNT, when an epidemic occurs and are forced to destroy, will not enjoy the State's support policies prescribed in Decree 02/2017/ND-CP, and will be subject to administrative sanctions according to Decree 90/2017/ND-CP of the Government regulating sanctions for administrative violations in the veterinary field.