An integrated package of anti-bird flu activities funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was launched in Ha Nam Province Tuesday.

District authorities will gain new skills in epidemiology and active surveillance while provincial health officers will receive training in pandemic preparedness and planning. USAID and partners will also launch communication activities to increase public awareness of the disease.

Vietnam has suffered millions of dollars in economic losses due to the H5N1 bird flu virus outbreaks since 2005.

The US government, through USAID, has provided US$27.5 million for bird flu prevention and control in Vietnam since 2005.

On Monday, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments Animal Health Department Bui Quang Anh blamed lax prevention efforts by local authorities for the recent spread of bird flu and foot-and-mouth diseases.

They focused too much on fighting the diseases instead of preventing future outbreaks, Anh said.

He said that each time an outbreak had been curbed, insufficient measures were implemented to prevent further attacks.

He said vaccination and decontamination programs as well as better management of animal husbandry, slaughter and animal transportation would be needed to prevent more outbreaks.

Communal authorities didnt fight the diseases in line with government instructions, he said.

He said some provinces had ignored animal health agency warnings when granting cattle to residents via poverty and hunger eradication projects.

source : http://www.thanhniennews.com/healthy/?catid=8&newsid=46035