District People's Committee Chairman criticized if locality allows rabies and bird flu to spread, causing deaths

Given the complex developments regarding animal rabies and avian influenza, the People's Committee of Nghe An province has issued Directive 06/CT-UBND, directing concentrated measures for prevention and control.

Increase vaccination rates.

Currently, avian influenza and rabies outbreaks are complex across the country, with rabies, in particular, showing an increasing trend. Between January 1st and February 20th, 2024 alone, 17 outbreaks of animal rabies occurred in 12 provinces and cities, resulting in 18 human deaths (an increase of 9 compared to the same period in 2023). Nearly 70,000 people were bitten by animals and required prophylactic treatment for rabies.

Nghe An province has a large livestock population with over 34 million poultry and nearly 40,000 dogs. In 2023, there were 4 outbreaks of avian influenza and 11 outbreaks of rabies, resulting in 7 deaths. In February 2024 alone, two rabies outbreaks occurred in Quy Chau district and Thai Hoa town.

To proactively and effectively prevent rabies and avian influenza, and minimize human deaths, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requests the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns; and the Directors of relevant provincial departments and agencies to promptly implement the directives and official letters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the strict implementation of measures to prevent rabies in animals and avian influenza.

People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns: Urgently implement solutions for the prevention and control of rabies and avian influenza according to the approved plan, prioritizing the allocation of resources and funds for implementation. Direct units to effectively monitor and detect suspected cases early; promptly warn, share information, and coordinate investigations to thoroughly handle outbreaks when they first occur.

Establish inspection teams to guide disease prevention and control, livestock management, and vaccination; inspect the origin and veterinary hygiene conditions at facilities for gathering, trading, processing, consuming, and transporting poultry and poultry products, and strictly handle violations. Simultaneously, ensure sufficient veterinary staff at the commune level and provide training for grassroots veterinary teams.

Veterinary officers in Dien Chau district are vaccinating poultry flocks in the area. (Photo: Phu Huong)

Implement the construction of disease-free zones and facilities. Initially, successfully establish a rabies-free zone at the district level in Vinh City; at the commune level in Do Luong, Yen Thanh, and Thanh Chuong districts; and establish avian influenza-free zones in Nghi Loc and Dien Chau districts… Organize awareness campaigns to improve disease prevention and control.

In addition, the People's Committees at the commune level are directed to strengthen the management of livestock; guide and require household owners to declare and keep dogs and cats confined; vaccinate livestock, and strictly handle cases of non-compliance with regulations. For poultry, organize vaccination against avian influenza to achieve a vaccination rate of over 80% of the total flock.

Instruct livestock farmers to strengthen the application of biosecurity measures in livestock farming, proactively prevent and control diseases, and encourage people not to use poultry meat of unknown origin, poultry and poultry meat that have not been quarantined or slaughtered...

Localities experiencing outbreaks must concentrate all resources to completely eradicate the disease, preventing its spread, prolongation, and the emergence of new outbreaks. Any locality that is complacent, negligent, or not decisive in directing the implementation of prevention and control measures, allowing the disease to occur and spread, resulting in deaths from rabies caused by dog ​​bites or deaths from avian influenza virus infection in unvaccinated livestock, will have its district-level People's Committee Chairman criticized before the provincial People's Committee Chairman.

Timely and thorough handling of the epidemic.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to establish a team to inspect, guide, and supervise disease prevention and control work; and to build safe livestock farming facilities and areas.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Health cooperate and share information to monitor disease outbreaks and conduct epidemiological investigations in order to promptly and thoroughly address disease outbreaks.

The Department of Information and Communications directed an increase in the airtime for disseminating information on disease prevention and control, and legal regulations on livestock farming; and to educate people in border areas not to participate in or abet the illegal transportation and trading of imported animals and animal products into the province.

The provincial police directed coordination and intensified inspections, arrests, and strict handling of cases involving illegal trading, transportation, and consumption of goods of unknown origin, without quarantine certificates, or those evading quarantine.

Relevant provincial departments and agencies, based on their functions and responsibilities, should coordinate to effectively implement disease prevention and control measures.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/chu-tich-ubnd-cap-huyen-bi-phe-binh-neu-dia-phuong-de-dich-benh-dai-va-cum-gia-cam-lay-lan-co-nguoi-tu-vong-post286483.html