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Published on December 15, 2007

Bird flu hit Vietnam in 2003, with the first and the majority of the outbreaks occurring in and around Ho Chi Minh.

Health officials were unable to control the virus, lacking money to halt its spread. Six people were infected, three of whom died.

Le said Vietnam had spent three years striving to control the virus. It found education was the best way to prevent human infections.

Health officials have established community networks to watch for outbreaks in bird populations. These are especially effective in bigger cities where the virus is difficult to control.

"We want people to help us to control bird flu," he said.

Community networks immediately report any suspected infection to officials. A department rapid-response unit sends in an emergency team to control the outbreak, he explained.

"Health officials have to strengthen community knowledge so they are more aware of the virus by telling them the truth about how to prevent themselves from catching it," he said.

The first thing a community does is isolate a sufferer, get them to a clinic for treatment and test and monitor those living with or coming into contact with a carrier.

The government has established checkpoints across the country where poultry are examined for signs of the virus.

Farms are banned from inside city limits and all  flocks are coded, for easy checking.

Where poultry become infected they are destroyed immediately. Farmers are fined or punished if they fail to report or try to hide an outbreak.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation

HO CHI MINH CITY