Over recent days, A/H5N6 bird flu outbreaks have been recorded in some Vietnamese localities.  Amongst them is Quang Ngai Province which is the main supplier of poultry for Da Nang.  In this province at least 20,000 poultry have been destroyed within the past 10 days. 

Spraying disinfectant at a local poultry farm

The Head of the Da Nang Veterinary Department, Mr Cao Xuan Thai, said “The city now has a total of only 381,000 chickens, ducks, and geese.  In attempting to meet local residents’ high demand for poultry products, thousands of these animals are being transported to the city every day from other localities nationwide, including some with avian flu outbreaks.  As a result, the city is now facing a high risk of an avian flu epidemic”.

In attempting to prevent avian flu spreading to the city, various proactive and drastic measures are being taken in the city.

The focus is on tightening quarantine checks on poultry and poultry products brought in from other localities.  Importance is also being attached to providing the local poultry population with a flu vaccine, and spraying disinfectant at local poultry farms. 

To date, a total of 200,000 birds have been vaccinated, whilst 1,200 litres of the disinfectant, Benkocid, have been given to local poultry farms. 

It was reported that, since last week, staff at the Hoa Phuoc Quarantine Station have stopped all vehicles carrying poultry through it to carry out quarantine checks on the poultry and spray disinfectant over the vehicles.

The Head of the Station, Mr Thieu Sau, remarked, “The majority of poultry transported to Da Nang is from southern and south central localities, especially Quang Ngai Province.  Over recent days, the over 5,000 live chickens and ducks transported daily through my station have been given quarantine checks, and those from avian flu outbreak areas have been returned to their place of origin”.

Various measures have also been taken at large-scale poultry breeding establishments across the city.  In particular, at Mr Nguyen Van Lieu’s poultry farm in Cam Le District’s Hoa Tho Tay Ward, strangers are not allowed to enter, whilst those who are entering to check disease prevention work have to strictly comply with the city's regulations on sterilisation.