According to a report from the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of the end of September 2005, 28 out of 64 provinces and cities have implemented avian influenza vaccination, with approximately 35 million birds vaccinated against the virus.
The Department of Animal Health has stated that due to the delay in importing avian influenza vaccines, which is about three weeks behind schedule, the Avian Influenza Vaccination Steering Committee has requested provinces and cities planning to vaccinate in October to adjust their local mass vaccination plans, prioritizing vaccinations for poultry in high-risk areas.
In September, the Department of Animal Health imported and distributed 120 million doses of vaccine to various provinces and cities. The department has registered to continue importing an additional 260 million doses of vaccine to distribute to localities for the mass vaccination of poultry in October and November.
In addition to vaccination measures, the National Avian Influenza Prevention Steering Committee has required localities to strengthen other disease prevention measures, especially cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization in livestock and poultry breeding facilities, markets, and slaughterhouses; reorganizing poultry farming methods; planning for livestock and poultry slaughtering facilities in the region to ensure food safety and hygiene.
