Sunday, January 31, 2010
Vietnam: Quang Tri - 1,000 Ducks Die Unknown Cause
http://pandemicinformationnews.blogspot.com/2010/01/vietnam-quang-tri-1000-ducks-die.html
February, 03 2010 10:50:00
Ha Noi — Bird flu and foot-and-mouth disease have recurred in Quang Tri and Gia Lai provinces after less than a year since the last animal epidemics broke out, according to local authorities.
Bird flu was found to have infected a flock of ducks, belonging to Phan Vinh in Giao Lien Village, Trieu Do Commune of Trieu Phong District in the central province of Quang Tri. Vinh's ducks displayed symptoms of the disease including having watery manure and a lack of appetite.
According to Le Thi Nga, head of the Animal Health Office of Quang Tri, the local resident did not report the symptoms early enough, and the disease spread, infecting over 1,000 ducks. Dead ducks were then carelessly disposed of which had a detrimental effect on the environment.
After hearing the report, local authorities acted quickly, setting up an investigation at the village, Nga said.
"The district animal health staff destroyed over 1,000 ducks and vaccinated a total of 8,300. We also sprayed chemicals and disinfected the whole area. Trading was banned to limit the spread of the disease. Until now, no new cases have been reported," said Nguyen Huu Thanh, deputy head of the People's Committee of Trieu Phong district.
In a similar situation, Le Van Thanh from H'Bong Commune of Chu Se said he became very worried when his cattle and buffalo started developing red spots in their mouths. He reported it immediately to local authorities but the disease still spread. "Out of the 74 cattle that I own, 25 of them were infected with foot and mouth disease," said Thanh.
Most families in H'Bong commune make a living from raising cattle and buffaloes with a total number of 7,000. In the first inspection of 430 animals, 65 had symptoms of foot and mouth disease.
"An inspection group was immediately set up and the infected animals destroyed while the others were vaccinated," said Nguyen Can, head of the commune.
Buffalo trading is also prohibited in the commune and until now, only three households are still under surveillance, according to Can.
Duong Ngoc Thach, deputy head of the Animal Health Office of Central Highland Gia Lai Province, said the last time a case of foot-and mouth disease was found in the province was in April, 2009. In Trieu Phong district of Quang Tri province, the last time a bird flu case was discovered was last February, according to Thanh.
Foot-and mouth disease first hit Viet Nam in 2003.
Bird flu was also first identified in Viet Nam in 2003, and has recurred occasionally. Last month, over 2,000 ducks in Ca Mau and Ha Tinh provinces were found to be infected. — VNS
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