Identify highly pathogenic avian influenza virus strains in Vietnam

According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son, Chairman of the Vietnam Poultry Association, from 2003 to 2004, avian influenza H5N1 had appeared in Vietnam, even spread to humans. There was no specific vaccine at that time, so the disease had caused serious consequences to the domestic livestock industry. It was after many years that the poultry industry of Vietnam could thrive thanks to the appearance of effective vaccines.

With the rapid change and creation of new combinations and strains, avian influenza is still a threat to poultry production. Each time a new virus strain appears, it causes tremendous damage, since the research and preparation of vaccines usually take years to complete.

And at the beginning of July 2021, the Department of Animal Health has informed that a new strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N8 appeared in Vietnam.

Avian influenza A/H5N8 has been studied and recorded worldwide to be mainly in clade 2.3.4.4b, but there are further studies in Vietnam to clarify the characteristics and damage level of this new strain of influenza.

However, as Covid-19 is progressing complicatedly, making the sharing of husbandry techniques and direct disease prevention unavailable, the Vietnam Poultry Association considers online conference as an effective answer to provide technical solutions to members and poultry farmers in Vietnam.

At the conference, experts and representatives of the farms also made their comments about effective methods of using vaccines in the avian influenza prevention on new strains. In particular, the role, use method, vaccination schedule, and application of the Medivac AI vaccine in the control of avian influenza are highly appreciated in the current situation.

Dr. Budi Purwanto, Technical Director of Medion from Indonesia, an international expert on avian diseases in general and influenza in particular, has specifically shared about the characteristics of avian influenza and updated the latest information on pathogenic strains and disease situations in Vietnam and around the world.

The conference was really heated when there were many questions from the attendees about the current situation of avian influenza in Vietnam, which showed great interest from the farms in the prevention and control of avian influenza. Dr. Budi Purwanto, along with other experts, has enthusiastically given enterprises and farms answers that are detailed and suitable for each specific situation.