VietNamNet Bridge – Avian influenza and cattle foot-and-mouth diseases are returning and spreading across the country, a ministerial official has warned.

A veterinarian injects a vaccine against foot and mouth disease into a cow in Tien Giang Province's Dang Hung Phuoc Commune -- Photo: VNA/VNS

General director of the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Pham Van Dong, issued this warning at a meeting of the national steering committee for cattle and poultry epidemic prevention held in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

The committee has ordered localities nation-wide to take measures against the spread of such diseases and prevent them from being transmitted to humans.

While the H5N6 avian influenza in northern mountainous Lao Cai Province and central Quang Ngai Province has lasted for 21 days, veterinary authorities have discovered three new hotbeds of H5N1 flu in southern Vinh Long and Ninh Thuan provinces.

In Vinh Long, H5N1 flu virus has killed more than 1,000 chickens in My Loc commune and nearly 1,500 ducks in My Thuan Commune within three days. It has also been detected in a flock of 1,000 fowl in nearby Luong Son commune, Ninh Thuan Province.

Along with the avian influenza virus, foot-and-mouth disease type O has also been detected in a large amount of livestock in Nghe An, Binh Duong and Dak Lak provinces.

In Nghe An, the disease out broke in 10 farms in Thanh Chi Commune, Thanh Chuong District and Trung Son Commune, Do Luong District. In Dak Lak Province, disease hotbeds have been detected in 22 farms in Thong Nhat ward and CWE Bur of Buon Ma Thuot City.

It is rainy season in both the south and the centre of Viet Nam so there is a high risk of disease outbreak and spread. The steering committee for cattle and poultry disease prevention needed localities to wipe out H5N1, H5N6 and H7N9 flu diseases, prevent them from infecting people, and tackle poultry smuggling, Dong said.

The MARD is collecting samples from 32 provinces and cities to detect the H5N1, H5N6 viruses, monitor the H7N9 virus and keep track of the diseases.

VNS