US backs VN in bird flu prevention
VGP – The US yesterday pledged to help Việt Nam carry out two projects worth US $7.3 million to fight against bird flu disease.
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H5N1-infected chickens are culled by veterinary workers. Illustration photo |
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Việt Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) were entrusted to implement the projects.
The first project will help to improve readiness in urgent cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) while the another collects data for a new vaccination strategy against H5N1 in Việt Nam.
US Ambassador in Việt Nam Michael W. Michalak assessed that measures taken by the Vietnamese Government to curb the outbreak of bird flu set an example for other countries to follow. Nevertheless, Việt Nam was advised to design a long-term strategy and focus on advanced management of poultry.
Statistics show that, since 2003, Việt Nam has been hit by five bird flu outbreaks which caused severe impacts on the national economy.
Since the beginning of 2009, three people were reported to die from bird flu disease.
The Vietnamese Government has so far spent over US $130 million in bird flu prevention and treatment.
By Kim Anh
