(KPL) An avian influenza outbreak was confirmed last week in Muang Koua District, Phongsaly Province. This is the first province this year where the disease is detected and where previously avian influenza was not found.
According to the source from FAO Lao office, two red zones, meaning the 1 km zones around a place where avian influenza was detected, have been declared. One red zone is located directly in the district capital city and the center of the other is located approximately three kilometers away on the road to Oudomxay. A joint Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DLF) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) team has been on field mission since February 14th to directly advise the local authorities on adequate control measures and enabled good coordination.
Dr. Bounlom Douangngeun, Director of the National Animal Health Center (NAHC), who is on site within the FAO mission, explained “Intense active surveillance is still ongoing in the villages of the 5km yellow zone surrounding the two red zones to ensure that the disease is not spreading further. The number of samples per village flock being taken is such that it will detect, with 95% confidence, a positive bird at 5% of prevalence. Movement control check posts have been set up and the market in Muang Koua has been closed for poultry and poultry products. Mainly chicken eggs and poultry meat originating from China was confiscated. Outbreak investigation has determined onset of the disease at the end of January, which was simultaneous with the Chinese New Year and Tet festivals. The outbreaks are located at only 1.5 hours road from Vietnam, though origin of poultry products usually available on the market is estimated to be 80% from China passing through Oudomxay province, and only 20% directly from Vietnam. Exact origin of the disease could however so far not be determined. Mortality of infected birds was found to be extremely rapid.”
The villagers from the red zone were informed about the necessary actions, which had to be put in place to control the disease and this included movement control, culling and disinfection, and ban on poultry selling. The main culling operation was finalized yesterday with more than 2500 poultry culled, but a few small scavenging chicken which could not be caught still remain and will be culled within the next days. Compensation is expected to be provided shortly to the poultry farmers at sixty percent of the market value.
Dr. Ricarda Mondry, Chief Technical Adviser for the FAO Avian Influenza Programme pointed out that “Rapid laboratory testing of suspect samples and immediate declaration of avian influenza outbreaks is essential to avoid further spread to other provinces. Furthermore farmers should be well informed on the exact amount and procedures of compensation paid for culled poultry, so that they collaborate with the authorities during the control operations. This will also encourage reporting of suspect poultry mortalities in other villages. Finally it is crucial that adequate funds for implementation of control measures on district level are available immediately.”
The DLF and the Avian Influenza Programme managed by the FAO have been working intensively with all the provinces since 2006 to strengthen the veterinary services in preventing and controlling avian influenza, financed by the governments of Germany, Japan, and the United States.
Dr. Ricarda Mondry mentioned that “the outbreak investigation training for provincial and district livestock staff conducted by FAO and NAHC in Phongsaly seems to have built sufficient local capacity to determine the extent of the outbreak and adjust the culling zone accordingly. Livestock staff from Phongsaly province had also attended the simulation exercise supported by FAO in Oudomxay in June 2008. FAO had furthermore trained 80 VVW in Muang Koua District beginning of 2008, who were responsible for reporting poultry mortality occurring in their village. Since August 2007, FAO has provided continuous support to 10 provinces to follow up any disease reported, be it through the provincial and district livestock offices or through the 166 hotline. The livestock staff have rapidly conducted adequate disease investigation measures and sent in the samples to the AI laboratory.”“The first report of poultry mortality in the district, later confirmed to be avian influenza, was given by a Village Veterinary Worker (VVW) trained by DLF staff with support through FAO in April 2008. This clearly indicates the impact the joint AI programme has on early detection of the disease and that continuous support to train VVW would be beneficial” adds Dr. Mondry.
During an outbreak, coordination among staff at different levels and among involved sectors is an essential factor to contain rapidly the disease. FAO in collaboration with the NAHC of the DLF took the lead in the animal disease investigation and control measures. Information on the diagnosis was shared with the office of the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE) to ensure rapid response action from the human health side.
“Efficient coordination and implementation of emergency measures by the staff from different sectors from the central, provincial to district level as well as the international partners involved in the rapid detection and control of avian influenza outbreaks is very important, in order to avoid further
spread of the disease which would take a high toll on the livelihood of poor farmers’’, said Dr. Bounkhouang Khambounheuang, Director General of the Department of Livestock and Fisheries.
At present, the ongoing surveillance is being conducted not only in Phongsaly but also in the other neighboring provinces as well in order to ensure the rapid detection of new HPAI cases in the poultry population.
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