Proactively prevent and combat avian influenza

Although there has not been any avian influenza (AI) outbreak in Thai Binh province, the disease has been reported sporadically in several provinces and cities across the country and is developing complicatedly. To proactively prevent and control AAI, the professional sector, districts and cities have strengthened many measures, and at the same time, recommended that livestock households actively prevent and control AAI to limit the spread of AAI into the area, affecting public health, and minimizing damage to the livestock industry.

The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of Quynh Hoang commune (Quynh Phu) disinfects the traditional market.

According to statistics, Quynh Phu district has a total poultry herd of 1.49 million, with 81 poultry farms with 1,000 or more poultry. In recent days, Quynh Phu has strengthened the direction of localities to implement recommendations to farmers to focus on preventing and fighting CGC. Including checking poultry transportation and slaughter points, propagating to farmers to implement disinfection and sterilization of livestock areas...

Mr. Nguyen Van Duy, Head of the District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station, said: To prevent and control ASF in the area, the professional sector of Quynh Phu district has coordinated with localities to closely monitor the gathering and trading of poultry and poultry products; strictly handle cases of transporting and trading poultry and poultry products of unknown origin. Strengthen inspection of food hygiene and safety, especially at poultry processing, consumption and transportation facilities. People are advised to cook poultry meat, not eat blood pudding, ... and implement measures to prevent and control ASF.

Mrs. Bui Thi La's family farm in Quynh Hoang commune (Quynh Phu) has a total flock of 3,000 chickens, which will be sold in just over 2 months. Therefore, the family pays attention to the care, ensuring that the chickens are healthy, disease-free and have good quality meat.

Mrs. La shared: The current weather is very cold, very favorable for the CGC virus to develop. If we do a good job of preventing and controlling the epidemic, we will ensure that livestock grow healthily, the economy will also be guaranteed, and more importantly, we will protect the health of my family and everyone around me. Every week, I clean, disinfect, and sterilize the barn, and at the same time follow the care and feeding regimen to increase the resistance of the chicken flock.

Not only the people of Quynh Phu district focus on preventing and fighting CGC, but localities in the province also pay attention to ensuring stable development of livestock. Nguyen Van Hng's farm in Tay Son commune (Kien Xuong) regularly maintains a flock of 4,000 chickens. The chickens are in the egg-laying stage, so his family strictly implements CGC prevention and control.

Mr. Hung said: With more than 10 years of experience in poultry farming, I am always aware of and strictly implement the prevention and control of ASF to ensure that livestock grow healthily and do not affect people's health. During the farming process, I also fully vaccinate poultry, spray disinfectants, and sprinkle lime powder around the barn according to the recommendations and instructions of the relevant authorities.

Mr. Pham Van Ly, Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, said: According to the professional sector, there have been 6 outbreaks of A/H5N1 bird flu in 4 provinces of Tuyen Quang, Nghe An, Tien Giang and Long An with the number of sick, dead and forcedly destroyed poultry being 17,245 (an increase of more than 6 times compared to the same period in 2024). In 2024, A/H5N1 bird flu was transmitted to humans, causing 1 person to be infected and die from A/H5N1 flu in Khanh Hoa province; 1 person suspected of being infected with A/H5 flu in Long An province, in addition, 1 person was detected with A/H9N2 bird flu in Tien Giang province and 1 case of H1N1 swine flu in Son La province. In our province, in 2024 and the first 2 months of 2025, there were no reports from localities recording cases of sick or dead poultry suspected of being infected with ASF, however, the risk of ASF arising and spreading in the province in the coming time is very high, due to the total poultry herd of more than 14.5 million, mainly small-scale farming, not ensuring veterinary hygiene and disease safety requirements. The trading, transportation and slaughter of animals has increased sharply, the number of small-scale animal slaughterhouses is still quite large. In order to proactively prevent and control ASF effectively, especially to avoid cases of people being infected or dying from ASF, the specialized sector has advised the Provincial People's Committee to request localities to review, organize new vaccinations, and supplementary vaccinations against ASF for poultry flocks, ensuring at least 80% of the total flock at the time of vaccination. Organize proactive monitoring, sample testing, early detection, timely warning and thorough handling of cases testing positive for CGC virus, new outbreaks, prevent widespread spread and promptly notify specialized sectors when CGC outbreaks are detected. Guide poultry farming households to strictly apply biosecurity measures, proactive disease prevention measures, and vaccinate poultry flocks with CGC vaccine. Organize close supervision of the gathering and trading of poultry and poultry products. Strictly handle cases of transporting and trading poultry and poultry products of unknown origin. Strengthen inspection of food hygiene and safety, especially at poultry processing, consumption and transportation facilities. Organize information, propaganda, and guidance for people to proactively monitor poultry showing signs of illness or suspected illness, promptly detect, report to authorities and veterinary agencies, and implement disease prevention and control measures. Absolutely do not trade, slaughter, or consume diseased poultry, dump poultry carcasses and untreated waste into the environment, and strictly implement disease prevention and control measures.