VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam has reported no more swallows (salanganes) have been found infected with avian flu H5N1 virus in the past three weeks.

Viet Nam has reported no more swallows (salanganes) have been found infected with avian flu H5N1 virus in the past three weeks.— Illustrative image

 

According to health officials, this indicates the nation's initial success in containing the outbreak on the birds.

The end of the salangine bird-flu epidemic is expected to be declared officially on Friday following 21 days with no new infections, the period determined by the agriculture ministry's Animal Health Department.

A total of 14,000 salanganes were culled after the outbreak was announced on April 21. The remaining birds tested negative to the lethal H5N1 virus, Dong said.

The department also said 15 incidents of avian flu had been reported in domestic fowls and birds in four different provinces since earlier this year, forcing the killing of more than 28,000 chickens and ducks.

H5N1 can be transmitted to humans in close contact with sick poultry. The virus has claimed 62 lives from 125 infected victims in the country since 2003.

The department also announced that the country has basically controlled a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and blue-ear disease on pigs.

Source: VNS