Focus on preventing and fighting avian influenza

(Baonghean) - Up to now, bird flu is spreading to many localities in the province. Especially some localities with large poultry populations such as Hoang Mai and Quynh Luu towns. The weather is erratic, the disease is complicated. Currently, localities are urgently implementing measures to prevent and control bird flu, not to let it spread.

Up to this point, the whole Quynh Luu district has had 7 outbreaks of avian influenza in 2 communes of Quynh Hau and Quynh Lam; the total number of dead and infected poultry that had to be destroyed is more than 3,000. After the avian influenza epidemic spread widely, local authorities from commune to hamlet are implementing drastic prevention and control measures. Some hamlets bordering the outbreak are proactively spraying disinfectants, sprinkling lime powder around each household's livestock area, and buying H5N1 vaccines to vaccinate their livestock to prevent the epidemic from spreading. Mr. Ho Duc Chinh - Veterinary officer of Quynh Lam commune said: "Up to now, the commune has not detected any new outbreaks of avian influenza. The Veterinary Department is closely following the outbreaks to monitor, prevent and control the epidemic from spreading widely, and at the same time vaccinating poultry in households".

Quynh Lam Commune Veterinary Department sprays disinfectant whenever vehicles pass through the area.

Quynh Giang commune has National Highway 1A running through the area, so it is very easy for epidemics to occur. In addition, there are two large rivers flowing through the area, River 13 and Thai River, which often have dead animals and poultry floating, posing a risk of spreading the epidemic. Currently, Quynh Giang is actively implementing measures to prevent and control the epidemic. Since before the Lunar New Year 2014 until now, the whole commune has received 6,000 doses of H5N1 vaccine and 24 liters of chemicals provided by the District Veterinary Station. The above amount of vaccines and chemicals have been vaccinated by the Commune Veterinary Board to cover the poultry flock in the area. In addition, the commune has proactively purchased lime powder to spread on main roads, adjacent to old epidemic areas. Inspection teams have been established on roads and rivers to promptly detect cases of transporting or indiscriminately dumping poultry carcasses into the river. Mr. Thai Dien's family in Hamlet 5, Quynh Giang Commune is one of the households raising the most poultry in the commune with 600 poultry, including 500 laying ducks and 100 geese. In 2012, Mr. Dien's family had a flock of livestock infected with H5N1 flu and had to destroy nearly 1,000 birds, causing a loss of nearly 100 million VND. Learning from the lessons of disease prevention and control, his family has always been highly aware of vaccination and protecting livestock. Thanks to that, the bird flu epidemic is now under control.

The family of Mrs. Kieu Thi Phuc in Hamlet 6, Quynh My Commune has the largest poultry flock in the commune with nearly 5,000 birds, including more than 2,500 laying ducks; 500 geese; and 100 chickens. Located adjacent to the avian influenza outbreak in Quynh Lam Commune, Mrs. Phuc's family pays great attention to disease prevention and control. Before the avian influenza outbreak in Quynh Lam Commune, her family vaccinated her livestock against H5N1 twice a year. In addition, the family also vaccinated against cholera, anthrax, etc. monthly. When she heard that avian influenza had occurred in the area, she continued to buy vaccines to vaccinate her livestock for the third time. Therefore, her family's poultry are currently growing healthily. "Hearing that there was a bird flu outbreak in the district, my family quickly sprayed disinfectant, sprinkled lime powder around the barn, and fully vaccinated the animals," said Ms. Phuc.

Currently, many livestock farming households in Quynh Luu district are also urgently taking measures to prevent and control poultry diseases. The frequent drizzle is a favorable condition for bird flu to arise and spread widely. Therefore, proactive prevention and control requires determination and high awareness of the people as well as local authorities. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu district said: "Immediately after the outbreaks in Quynh Hau and Quynh Lam communes, the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district focused on directing a number of urgent measures to prevent and combat the spread of H5N1 and H7N9 flu; focused on quickly and neatly destroying poultry flocks showing signs of illness and suspected illness, and at the same time directed the spraying of disinfectants in the livestock areas and neighboring areas. Continue to direct the communes to supply lime powder to sprinkle on the roads in and out of each region, install checkpoints to prevent the supply. The district has reorganized the steering committee, and at the same time assigned cadres together with veterinary officers and leaders of departments and offices to directly monitor the communes to urge, inspect, direct the work of prevention and control and promptly handle the epidemic when it appears".

In Hoang Mai Town, the work of preventing and combating avian influenza is also being vigorously implemented by the authorities to prevent the disease from spreading widely. Quynh Vinh Commune is the locality with the largest poultry population compared to other localities in the town with nearly 60,000 poultry raised in all hamlets. The family of Mr. Tran Van Tan in hamlet 7, Quynh Vinh Commune is one of the households with the largest poultry population; currently, his family has 600 poultry, including 400 laying ducks and 200 chickens of various types. Mr. Tan said that he has been raising poultry for more than 20 years, and his family always prevents diseases for livestock. “After learning that avian influenza was at risk of breaking out, my family took proactive measures to prevent it. Previously, we sprayed disinfectants every 10 to 15 days, but now we spray chemicals every 7 days. In addition, we regularly clean the barns, sprinkle lime powder, and observe the movements of the livestock to promptly report to the authorities when there is an epidemic,” said Mr. Tan.

In some communes and wards of the town such as Quynh Trang, Quynh Di, Mai Hung, local people and authorities are also urgently preventing and fighting avian influenza. Mr. Dau Minh Cong - Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Trang commune said that the commune currently has about more than 40 thousand poultry. After receiving a telegram from the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town on preventing and fighting avian influenza, the People's Committee of the commune directed the Veterinary Department of the commune to approach each household to check and grasp the situation. After that, buy lime powder and chemicals to distribute to each household to proactively prevent and fight the livestock.

According to records up to this point, in Hoang Mai Town, there have been no additional cases of H5N1 avian influenza after the outbreak of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy's family in Block 11, Quynh Xuan Ward. However, local people and authorities should not be complacent in disease prevention and control; what is necessary now is to regularly monitor livestock farms in the area to propagate and mobilize people... According to Mr. Pham Chi Dien - Head of the Economic Department of Hoang Mai Town, these days, the Department is coordinating with the Veterinary Station of Quynh Luu District and the Veterinary Boards of communes and wards to conduct investigations, review and re-assess the number of poultry in the area, from which to develop a vaccination plan. At the same time, arrange specialized staff to monitor and control animal transportation activities through the area, and promote disinfection.

Hong Dien - Viet Hung(Quynh Luu Radio)