The Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) reported today (November 15) that Bac Ninh, Quang Ngai, and Vinh Phuc are three provinces that have recently experienced a resurgence of avian influenza. Thus, at this time, there are 13 provinces and cities in Vietnam on the avian influenza outbreak map.
According to the Department of Animal Health, on November 14, the avian influenza outbreak occurred in four households raising poultry in three communes: Gia Dong, Lang Ngam, and Khac Niem in the districts of Thuan Thanh, Gia Binh, and Tien Du (Bac Ninh), resulting in the deaths of 254 chickens and 25 ducks. Samples tested positive for the H5 virus.
Destruction of poultry in Bac Giang – the first locality to announce an outbreak.
Vaccination Completed, Yet Outbreak Occurs
In an interview, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tan, Deputy Chief of the Bac Ninh Animal Health Department, stated that Bac Ninh is urgently conducting a containment operation for the outbreak, isolating the affected areas, and immediately culling the infected chickens. Checkpoints for poultry transportation have been quickly established to ensure that “no poultry enters or exits.”
Regarding the cause of death in poultry, Mr. Tan mentioned that authorities are currently monitoring the situation in the outbreak areas to reach a clear conclusion. It is likely that the outbreak originated from poultry that had not yet reached the age for vaccination.
During a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention yesterday, Mr. Truong Van Dung, Director of the Veterinary Institute, cited Bac Ninh as a typical example of effective vaccination and disinfection practices that prevented disease outbreaks in poultry. However, Bac Ninh’s subsequent declaration of an outbreak indicates that comprehensive vaccination for all poultry, regardless of age and breed, is an urgent issue that localities need to implement quickly.
According to reports from China, by November 20, 220 million doses of poultry vaccine will be transported to Vietnam. The Department of Animal Health has planned and distributed vaccines to most provinces and cities nationwide, except for localities in the northern mountainous provinces (Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Son La, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien). These localities will receive vaccines after November 15.
The provinces of Nam Dinh, Tien Giang, and Bac Ninh have completed the second round of vaccination, with nearly 16.2 million doses administered in total.
As of November 15, the remaining provinces have begun vaccinations in 52 provinces and cities, with 20 provinces having completed the first round, including: Hanoi, Ha Tay, Vinh Phuc, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Dong Nai, Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan, Long An, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, An Giang, Can Tho, Ca Mau, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, Vinh Long, Hau Giang, Dong Thap, and Soc Trang. The total number of poultry vaccinated is 109 million.
Outbreak Primarily Affects Ducks and Quails
In Quang Ngai, on November 6, an avian influenza outbreak occurred in a duck farming household in Binh Thanh Tay commune, Binh Son district, resulting in the death of 130 ducks. The Animal Health Department disposed of 450 ducks and 300 eggs. Following that, on November 12, another duck farm in Nghia Thuong commune, Tu Nghia district, reported 100 deaths. The Animal Health Department then culled 1,000 ducks and 500 eggs.
As of yesterday, the outbreak continued to spread to a flock of ducks in Binh Thanh Tay commune, Binh Son district, causing 30 more deaths. The Animal Health Department has culled 1,250 ducks.
In Vinh Phuc, on October 27, an avian influenza outbreak was reported in two households in An Hoa commune, Tam Duong district, with 40 chickens and 500 quails dead. The Animal Health Department disposed of 60 chickens and 4,200 quails. By November 10, the outbreak reoccurred in a chicken farm in Hung Dao commune, Tam Duong district, causing 152 chicken deaths. The Animal Health Department culled 770 chickens and 250 ducks.
It is evident that these localities have not effectively focused on avian influenza prevention. Although the National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention has requested localities to cease new duck and quail farming since last year, households continue to hatch new poultry. This may be one of the reasons for the continued spread of the pathogen.
136,000 Poultry Culled
In some provinces that previously experienced outbreaks, the number of poultry deaths is still rising. On November 14, avian influenza occurred in three farming households in Thach Thuy commune, Phat Lai town, Chi Linh district (Hai Duong), causing 380 chicken deaths. The Animal Health Department of Hai Duong disposed of 3,150 chickens.
1,505 ducks from five households in Le Loi commune, An Duong district (Hai Phong) also died on November 12. The Animal Health Department of Hai Phong culled 5,220 ducks. By November 13, an outbreak occurred in a household in Tien Hung commune, Tien Lang district, resulting in 60 dead ducks and ducks. Subsequently, 400 ducks from two households in Le Loi commune also succumbed to the disease. The Animal Health Department of Hai Phong culled 700 ducks.
Thus, in the first half of October, avian influenza occurred in 61 communes and wards across 39 districts and towns in 13 provinces and cities, including Bac Lieu, Dong Thap, Hanoi, Bac Giang, Quang Nam, Thanh Hoa, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh, Hai Phong, Quang Ngai, Vinh Phuc, and Bac Ninh. The total number of culled poultry exceeded 135,860, including 94,464 chickens; 37,115 ducks; and 4,284 quails and pigeons.
Ha Yen
