Since early 2021, the illegal trade and transportation of poultry and poultry products across the border has been on the rise.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked ministries, agencies and provinces to focus on preventing and strictly handling illegal imports of poultry into Vietnam.

According to the ministry, since early 2021, the illegal trade and transportation of poultry and poultry products across the border has been on the rise. Over 120,000 breeding poultry heads and tens of tons of illegally imported poultry products have been culled and destroyed so far this year.

Avian flu epidemics have been reported in many locations, particularly northern border provinces such as Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh. In January-July 2021, over 350,000 infected poultry heads were culled.

In June 2021, the CGC virus strain A/H5N8 was detected for the first time in the northern border provinces of Cao Bang and Quang Ninh, which has spread to nine provinces, resulting in the destruction of over 22,000 poultry heads.

According to local veterinary agencies, testing results of samples collected from poultry markets in northern border provinces showed that the positive rate for avian influenza A/H5 virus (which can be transmitted to humans) is 4%, of which Influenza A/H5N6 virus strains account for 77%.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development says that the risk of avian influenza and other dangerous diseases entering Vietnam through the border is huge. To protect Vietnam’s poultry herd of 500 million herds, it has asked the Border Guard force to coordinate with ministries, agencies and local authorities to prevent illegal import of poultry and poultry products via the border.

The Ministry has also asked border provinces, particularly Quang Ninh, to strengthen inspection, supervision and control to promptly detect and strictly handle cases of illegal trading, slaughter and transportation of poultry and poultry products into Vietnam.

T.A

A/H5N8 bird flu outbreak hits Vietnam for first time

An outbreak of the A/H5N8 bird flu has been detected in Quang Ninh province, marking the first time that the virus has appeared in the nation, according to Quang Ninh province’s Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary.