Strengthening the prevention and control of avian influenza in quail

(Baonghean) -On August 14, 2013, on behalf of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong signed Urgent Telegram No. 18/CD-UBND. The content of the Telegram is as follows:

In April 2013, H5N1 avian influenza broke out in swiftlets raised in Phan Rang - Thap Cham city of Ninh Thuan province, and in pheasants in Tien Giang province. Since the beginning of July, avian influenza has continued to break out in some quail farms in Tien Giang province, with more than 26,000 quails infected and destroyed. The risk of the disease breaking out and spreading in poultry and quail flocks is very high.

According to the announcement of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), since the beginning of the year, Cambodia has had 14 people infected with H5N1 bird flu and 9 people have died, Vietnam has had 2 people infected with the disease and 1 person has died.

To proactively monitor, detect, control and quickly extinguish outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry and quail, 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 Urgent Dispatch No. 11/CD-BNN-TY dated August 2, 2013 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on strengthening the prevention and control of avian influenza in quail, focusing on 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 and communes to strengthen the inspection and monitoring work to detect early outbreaks of avian influenza (including domesticated and wild birds), especially focusing on high-risk areas where there are old outbreaks. Report the epidemic according to regulations.

- Review and count the total poultry herd raised by the people and on farms; the number of quail farms and the number of quails in the area for monitoring and management.

- Strengthen information and propaganda work on the dangers of avian influenza; encourage farmers to apply disease-safe livestock farming measures, regularly clean and disinfect, reduce stocking density in barns, and report to local authorities and veterinary agencies when poultry and quail are found to be sick or dying abnormally.

- Prepare adequate supplies, equipment, human resources and make a specific plan to organize vaccination well in the fall of 2013, starting from August 15 to September 15, 2013. Encourage farmers to proactively purchase vaccines for poultry such as: Avian influenza, Newcastle, duck cholera,...

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

- Direct the local veterinary system and functional forces to strengthen inspection and strict control of poultry and poultry products transported domestically and across borders, and strictly handle violations according to the provisions of law.

2. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:

- Take the lead in coordinating with the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to strengthen the direction of avian influenza prevention and control in the province.

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

3. Departments, branches and sectors in the Provincial Steering Committee for Animal and Poultry Disease Prevention and Control:

Based on functions and tasks, direct relevant units to coordinate with localities to deploy epidemic prevention and control measures according to regulations.

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 departments and branches to urgently and effectively implement epidemic prevention and control 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.