Fifteen provinces reported a
resumption in foot-and-mouth cases yesterday, Jan 5, only six months after they
announced having the disease under control, the Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development’s Department of Animal Health has said.

The
infected provinces include Son La, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Phu Yen, Yen Bai, Quang
Ninh, Lang Son, Bac Kan, Lai Chau, Cao Bang, Thanh Hoa, Phu Tho, Dien Bien, Thai
Nguyen and Ha Giang, all of which are located in northern and central Viet Nam.

Director
of the Zone 1 Animal Health Office Le Minh Son said that the disease had
recurred because vaccines had not been properly used in these areas.

Health
officials have been sent to the affected provinces to help with relief plans.

In
northern Thai Nguyen Province, five sick buffaloes and 54 sick pigs were
slaughtered. The province’s Pho Yen District set up five temporary quarantine
stations and set up an inspection team to prevent sick livestock from being sold
to other provinces.

The
provincial Department of Animal Health has held four training courses to provide
epidemic prevention measures to local residents.

The
department also established four teams of medical workers to sterilise cages and
affected areas.

Meanwhile in northern Lang Son Province, 166 poultry were culled while 351
others recovered from the disease.

A number
of measures have been also taken in the province, including sterilising the
animals and ensuring environmental hygiene.

In the
south, Ca Mau Department of Animal Health warned that the risk of disease
occurring was high because of the cold weather which would weaken livestock
disease resistance.

If the
epidemic spreads to more than 20 cities and provinces, the epidemic will be
categorised as a national outbreak.

However
Son said if the necessary action was taken immediately, there would be fewer
concerns about the country’s livestock and poultry supplies prior to the coming
Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

Meanwhile, outbreaks of bird flu and blue ear pig disease have been successfully
quarantined, according to the department.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News