HEALTH: Viet Nam gets tougher on disease prevention

Ha Noi (VNA) – The National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Prevention and Control has urged localities to hasten measures to prevent diseases on poultry and animals. The committee pointed to a severe lack of public awareness, subjectivity of local authorities and inefficient supervision and detection systems as the main reasons behind the complex development of several kinds of diseases. A number of localities have not taken appropriate measures quickly in order to prevent the further spreading of the diseases when they occur. In an attempt to better the prevention and control of diseases on animals and poultry in the last few months of the year, the committee also asked the chairmen of provincial and municipal People’s Committees nationwide to speed up awareness programmes and take preventive measures to mitigate the losses of farmers, ensure sustainable husbandry development and protect public health.