On November 10, the Chairman of the Hai Duong Provincial People’s Committee announced the outbreak of avian influenza in five communes across two districts, Chi Linh and Thanh Ha. Specifically, the affected communes are Thanh Thuy, Tan Viet, and Quyet Thang in Thanh Ha District, and Cong Hoa and Chi Minh in Chi Linh District.
The provincial chairman directed relevant agencies and departments to immediately implement disease prevention measures and to strengthen the control of the disease situation as well as the transportation of poultry in the outbreak areas…
In an interview with reporters, Nguyen Van Tinh, Deputy Director of the Hai Duong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, reported that since November 2, there have been mass deaths of poultry in the five communes, with test samples confirming that these flocks were infected with the H5N1 virus.
As of now (from October 1 to November 10), 17 communes across 13 districts in eight provinces throughout the northern, central, and southern regions have reported outbreaks. The total number of poultry deaths and culls has reached nearly 25,000.
DUC BINH
Ho Chi Minh City: Implementing “5 Yes, 3 No”
On the afternoon of November 10, the Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention held an urgent meeting with districts. At the meeting, Nguyen Thien Nhan, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and head of the avian influenza prevention steering committee, requested that all districts fully implement the “5 Yes, 3 No” criteria.
“5 Yes”: First, the Party committee must issue directives for grassroots Party organizations to encourage members to take the lead in disease prevention efforts. Second, the People’s Committees of districts must develop disease prevention programs and implement them at the ward and commune levels. Third, establish inter-agency inspection teams to monitor hot spots 24/7. Fourth, there must be widespread, timely, and appropriate communication efforts. Fifth, a hotline should be established for citizens to report violations.
“3 No”: First, no poultry farming is allowed within the city. Second, there should be no trading or consumption of poultry from unknown sources. Third, no household should be missed in receiving information about the avian influenza outbreak.
YEN TRINH
Ha Tinh: Transitioning Duck Farming to Aquaculture
Da Nang: Providing Land for Poultry Farmers
The People’s Committee of Ha Tinh Province is implementing a plan to encourage about 3,000 households across all districts and towns that are currently raising ducks to switch to aquaculture such as turtles, frogs, and fish. Accordingly, the province will provide financial support to poor households for this transition, while other households will also receive appropriate assistance. To carry out this plan, banks in the province will offer preferential loans totaling over 3 billion VND, while the aquaculture sector will supply more than 5 million fish fry.
Currently, the areas with the highest number of duck farming households are Cam Xuyen, Ky Anh, and Thach Ha districts, which will be prioritized for transitioning to aquaculture in the 2005 winter crop, with other districts gradually making the switch in the winter and spring seasons.
* On the afternoon of November 9, Tran Van Huy, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Deputy Head of the Avian Influenza Prevention Steering Committee of Da Nang City, announced that the city has decided to allocate 15 hectares of land in Nam Son – Hoa Tien and Hoa Nhon communes (Hoa Vang District) for concentrated poultry farming by households in the inner city districts. This land will be allocated based on the requests of each farming household. The land support for poultry farmers will commence from November 15.
According to Mr. Huy, Da Nang City is also developing a plan to support and provide loans for poultry farmers transitioning to other occupations. The expected loan and support amount will range from 1 to 5 million VND per household.
L.GIANG – K.EM
