~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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Vietnam bird flu contained but risk high over Tet

HANOI - Vietnam has declared a winter spate of bird flu outbreaks among poultry in the country's south had been contained, but urged vigilance during upcoming Tet Lunar New Year celebrations. Twenty-one days had passed since the last infected bird was detected in a spate of cases that from December to January spread across eight provinces in or near the Mekong Delta, the national animal health department said Tuesday. "Bird flu has been contained and procedures are being finalised for an announcement on the end of bird flu," the department said on its website, after Bac Lieu province was declared clear of outbreaks.

But, as Vietnam readied for its most important festival -- when travel peaks and poultry consumption spikes -- Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat issued an urgent national warning and told provinces to be on alert. "The nationwide risk of a recurrence is still high because of the huge demand for poultry trading and the increase in transportation, especially during Tet," Phat said. He warned that "the flu virus is still circulating among flocks of apparently healthy ducks", adding "the risk that the virus will be transmitted to humans is high."

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's chief technical adviser on avian influenza in Vietnam, Jeff Gilbert, agreed "the risk of an outbreak because of the movement of poultry still remains high". "The kind of frenzy of buying, and the movement, and farmers trying to meet the demand ... all lends itself to a situation of movement that is more difficult to control than normal."

Agence France Presse - February 13, 2007.