Dien Bien Phu declares bird flu outbreak
The northern province of Dien Bien has declared an epidemic of the H5N1 avian flu in Nam Thanh ward, Dien Bien Phu City.
Since May 21, bird flu has been detected in Thanh Yen and Noong Luong villages in Dien Bien district and Nam Thanh ward in Dien Bien Phu City.
Local authorities in Nam Thanh ward have killed nearly 7,000 birds and implemented a series of measures to prevent the disease from spreading, including a ban on the transportation, processing, selling and handling of sick poultry. Strict control on the slaughtering, trading and transporting of poultry products has also been introduced.
Since the beginning of the year, farmers in Dien Bien Phu City have suffered from a number of difficulties caused by consecutive outbreaks of epidemics.
The province has directed its Department of Finance in coordination with the agriculture and rural development sector to support those farmers whose poultry have been killed.
Blue-ear pig disease outbreak in Dong Nai
The southern province of Dong Nai announced on June 15 that blue-ear pig disease has broken out in Hieu Liem village and Vinh An town in Vinh Cuu district.
Hoang Son Hai, head of the provincial Department of Animal Health said that over the past week more than 600 pigs have been infected with the disease, which has resulted in the death of over 200 pigs. The remaining pigs have been isolated, vaccinated and are under strict controls.
The department is coordinating with local authorities to carry out preventive measures, including sterilising farms and the surrounding areas, and setting up check points to monitor the transportation of livestock.
Hai added that the vaccination on the pigs in the area will be completed in the next three days.
Kon Tum teachers benefit from US-funded project
More than 250 teachers in the Central Highland province of Kon Tum have completed an intensive training programme focused on the special needs of disabled and ethnic students as part of a US-funded project.
At a ceremony held on June 14 in Kon Tum, the teachers received certificates in recognition of their improved skills in art, linguistics, mathematics, nutrition, and crafting teaching aids.
The US$4.2 million project, which is implemented in three years, has refurbished 25 kindergartens, completed age-appropriate furnishings and developed materials for local education authorities in Kon Tum. It will benefit more than 1,800 children aged between three and five.
"This has been a joint effort with the provincial government and people of Kon Tum to help improve education and care for disadvantaged children, especially those with disabilities," said USAID mission director Francis Donovan.
More than 1,000 women in 25 communes have been equipped with knowledge and skills related to early childhood care, which has also enabled them to earn enough money to keep their own children in school.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/23717/society-in-brief-17-6.html
