Vinh City destroys 2,500 poultry infected with H5N1.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong's chicken farm in Kim Nghia hamlet, Nghi An commune, recently experienced a mass die-off of 500 laying hens, showing signs of H5N1 avian influenza. The Nghi An commune People's Committee reported the incident to the Vinh City Agricultural Services Center, which dispatched technical staff to inspect the farm and collect samples for testing at the Nghe An Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine and the Regional Veterinary Department III.

The chickens were immediately taken away for disposal on the night of April 1st. Photo: Phu Huong

The test results from the Regional Veterinary Department III indicated that the chicken samples from Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong's family tested positive for H5N1. The Nghi An Commune People's Committee coordinated the destruction of the entire flock of 2,500 chickens belonging to the family (including 900 laying hens and 1,600 one-month-old chicks, with a total weight of 1,830 kg, resulting in a loss of approximately 200 million VND). None of the family's poultry had been vaccinated against H5N1.

A checkpoint has been set up at the household where the outbreak occurred. Photo: Phu Huong

Currently, Nghi An commune has also coordinated the implementation of disinfection and sterilization procedures as prescribed; declared an outbreak and posted signs in the affected area within the commune. At the same time, urgent announcements have been broadcast through the commune's public address system, and village heads have been instructed to focus on disseminating information so that people understand the situation and proactively prevent and control the disease; and poultry farmers have been guided to spray disinfectant, spread lime powder, and clean their poultry farms.

Checkpoint in the epidemic zone. Photo: Phu Huong

In the area where the disease outbreak occurred, the People's Committee of the commune organized the placement of warning signs, spread lime powder, and sprayed disinfectants in the affected area. The commune's health station also issued a notice to raise awareness about the risk of avian influenza transmission from poultry to humans.

Mr. Chu Van Mai, Chairman of the Nghi An Commune People's Committee, said: "Currently, there are about 55 households raising chickens on family farms in the commune, with over 200,000 chickens, and many small-scale farmers. Of concern is that, while some farms have proactively vaccinated against H5N1, some have not, posing a very high risk of disease transmission; and especially, there is a high possibility of it spreading to neighboring communes such as Nghi Duc, Nghi Lien, Nghi Kim, Nghi Phu, and Hung Loc."

A checkpoint protecting the green zone in Nghi An commune. Photo: Phu Huong

Currently, the commune is proposing that the Agricultural Services Center, the Economic Department, and the People's Committee of Vinh City consider providing support mechanisms for the destruction and prevention of disease outbreaks in the commune, supporting livestock farmers with H5N1 vaccination, and providing assistance to affected households.