Thus, about 100,000 swallows raised at Thanh Binh Theater in Phan Rang-Thap Cham City will be culled in the coming days.

The ministry requests swallow breeders to constantly monitor the health status of their birds and immediately report to local authorities and veterinary offices if any unusual case occurs. They also have to collect samples for periodical test of the H5N1 bird flu.

Edible swallow’s nests harvested from the localities that have announced epidemic must be heat-treated to exterminate pathogens. These products must also be supervised closely by veterinary agencies.

Dang Pham Minh Loan, general director of Yen Viet JSC, manager of the swallow flock at Thanh Binh Theater, said her company had got prepared for the worst-case scenario, in which the H5N1-infected birds would be culled for the sake of the community.

Thanh Binh is valued at US$3-5 million for its edible swallow’s nest output. It is known as a swallow conservation center of Ninh Thuan and one of the largest and oldest bird sanctuaries in Southeast Asia, said Loan.

In related news, no case of swallows infected with avian influenza has been reported in Tien Giang, one of the localities with the biggest swallow flocks in the Mekong Delta.

Nguyen Thanh Can, director of Tien Giang’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the Veterinary Office for Zone 6 had asked the province to take measures against the disease.

There are currently 300 swallow raising facilities in Tien Giang, mostly in Go Cong Town, My Tho City and the districts of Go Cong Dong and Go Cong Tay.

Vietnamnet