More than 2000 fowl were destroyed in Trieu Son District, Thanh Hoa Province as authorities battle to contain H5N1 influenza.

Authorities trying to contain the outbreak 

The discovery of the virus came after the mass death of poultry flocks in Do Xa and Phuc Hai villages, Dan Luc Commune on January 20. Over 800 fowls were destroyed after samples test results confirmed a return of the H5N1 virus.

An additional 100 farms in Do Xa were found to have poultry flocks infected with H5N1 on February 2. This time the local authorities destroyed more than 2,000 infected birds.

Facing a risk of a widespread epidemic, the Department of Animal Health provided 145,000 bird flu vaccine doses. Thanh Hoa Veterinary Department allocated the vaccines to Dan Luc Commune and neighbouring areas along with 140 litres of disinfectant.

After the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) announced the return of H5N1, Trieu Son District promptly vaccinated its poultry flocks, sterilised the area and established checkpoints to prevent illegal poultry trade.

Farmer awareness over the bird flu danger was raised and authorities in Trieu Son also advised people in Do Xa and Phuc Hai villages to stop rearing poultry.

Tran Binh Quan, Chairman of Trieu Son People's Committee, said that preventive measures such as vaccination and sterilisation had been successfully carried so far. Local authorities, the municipal Veterinary Department, 150 officers from DARD and concerned departments are working together to prevent and contain the outbreak.

H5N1 influenza has reoccurred in a more virulent strain, killing two people in the first month of the new outbreak. Both victims had direct contact with infected fowls.

Affected areas being sterilised

Hundreds of officers dispatched to stop the spread H5N1

Sterilisation of affected areas almost complete

Source: Dtinews