USAID joins fight against bird flu

Hanoi (VNA) - USAID hosted a seminar in southern Kien Giang province on February
19 to discuss a range of supportive solutions in the fight against bird flu.

The activity forms part of USAID's programme to mainstream the prevention and
control of avian influenza in human and poultry at a provincial level during 2009.

Kien Giang is the fifth locality to benefit from the USAID-backed programme, which
is specifically designed to enhance the capacity of both local veterinarians and
authorities to respond quickly to any reported outbreaks of bird flu.

The programme, under which USAID is coordinating with other agencies, also aims to
help poultry breeders improve their breeding methods.

Training courses will be organised as part of the programme, focusing on the
prevention of the disease, knowledge concerning epidemiology, and monitoring
operations.

These activities will be carried out at Kien Giang's seven districts, where as many
as 4 million birds are being raised, including An Bien, Chau Thanh, Giong Rieng, Go
Quao, Tan Hiep, Hon Dat, and Kien Luong.

During 2007 and 2008, two outbreaks of bird flu occurred in Kien Giang, however, the
disease was quickly brought under control.

Since 2005, USAID has doled out 27.5 million USD to help Vietnamese localities
nationwide to combat the spread of bird flu.-Enditem