Viet Nam issues new alert on bird flu
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-06-17 15:26

The Vietnamese government has issued an instruction, asking localities nationwide to keep on preventing the reoccurrence of bird flu, following the deaths of fowls in several areas, including some testing positive to avian influenza viruses.

Under the instruction issued by Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committees of localities must take four measures to prevent the return, and rehabilitate the local poultry industry, local newspaper Pioneer reported Thursday.

First, they have to actively supervise the usage of state moneyin recovering the industry and minimizing the risk of a relapse ofbird flu, and quickly lay a siege to any outbreaks detected to contain them immediately.

Second, strict controlling measures such as comprehensively disinfecting and detoxificating farms, residues and landfills mustbe maintained in areas once hit by bird flu or being vulnerable tothe disease. Dead fowls, if detected, must be incinerated or buried in a hygienic way.

Third, the ministry and the committees are to inspect the granting of state financial assistance to fowl raisers so that theright people receive the right amount of money, facilitating the recovery and development of the local poultry industry.  

In April, the government decided to allocate 245.3 billion Vietnamese dong (VND) (US$15.6 million) to 57 localities, helping them prevent bird flu reoccurrence and revive the poultry industry. Each farmer is to receive 5,000 VND ($0.32) for each fowl culled, and another 2,000 VND ($0.13) for each baby poultry to be raised in the post-epidemic period.

In late March 2004, Viet Nam declared an end to bird flu that killed 17 percent of its poultry population, and claimed 16 human lives since its broke out last December. A total of 43.2 million fowls in 57 out of 64 localities nationwide either died or were culled, causing the local poultry industry to suffer direct lossesof 1.3 trillion VND ($82.8 million).

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