Bird flu is over across Viet Nam
(03/30/2004 -- 21:11GMT+7)
Ha Noi, March 30 (VNA)- From March 30, bird flu was over across Viet Nam, thus bringing to normal all operations regarding to poultry raising, transportation, processing and circulation, announced Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Le Huy Ngo on Tuesday.
The Minister told reporters that it was a big success for Viet Nam and that the country, however, will not neglect the preventive work in the future, considering it a big task to protect the country from the relapse of the epidemic.
He also unveiled the ministry's plan to improve the veterinary sector's capacity so as to detect pandemic outbreaks at the early stage and take immediate measures to curb diseases of poultry in particular and livestocks in general.
The Minister said measures taken by Viet Nam in the recent past were evaluated as comprehensive and in line with the international ruling on epidemiology.
These measures showed the Party and the Government's resolution as well as close coordination of action among responsible agencies in the fight against the epidemic, he said.
Communication campaigns through mass media and international assistance, especially from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), have contributed to the success, Minister Ngo said in expression of thanks to these agencies.
The first bird flu outbreak in Viet Nam was discovered at a chicken farm in Ha Tay province, just west of Ha Noi, in late December of 2003. The pandemic then fast spread to 57 of the 64 provinces and cities, leading the slaughter of 43.2 million of poultry heads. Damages are estimated at 1.3 trillion VND (83 million USD).
The disease has also caused a surge in food prices and pollution to the environment, especially in the places where huge amounts of birds were culled.
To solve the problem, MARD has set out programmes for disinfection work and re-organisation of animal processing process.
These moves call for the expansion of animal slaughter houses and sales of poultry products through supermarkets and food shops, the MARD chief said.
