# 1572
Vietnam has testing centers set up where farmers can take sick or dead birds to be tested for the H5N1 virus. When birds are dropped off, officials ask for a name and address so that if the tests come back positive, cullers can be sent in to eradicate the problem.
This is one of those programs that sounds like it ought to work.
Unfortunately, many people are afraid to give their name or address, for fear of losing their entire flock.
This from the Vietnam News Agency.
Jittery farmers impede rural bird flu containment efforts
(30-01-2008)
HA NOI — Health officials are being hampered in their efforts to contain the bird-flu outbreak because farmers are afraid to report suspected H5N1 infections, the National Veterinary Diagnosis Centre said yesterday.
"More and more farmers are coming to our centre to test their dead poultry but most of them are afraid when we ask for their address," said the centre’s director Nguyen Van Cam at the weekly bird-flu meeting organised by the Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control.
Cam cited the recent example of a man who brought five or six chickens and ducks to the centre for testing on Monday.
"When we asked him to show us his identity card he said he did not have it with him. When we suggested he show us his driving licence as an alternative, he said he had to get it from his motorbike and never returned," said Cam.
The centre’s director said it was accepted practice to ask farmers for identification. Even if they refused, the poultry was still tested Cam said.
Even when names and addresses were given, Cam said they were often false.
"Most of them give us wrong addresses. When the test results show the poultry is positive for the H5N1 virus, we contact local animal health departments immediately in order for them to take action but when they go to the address of the farmer involved it is often fictitious," said Cam, adding that farmers were afraid of the financial costs if their poultry was diagnosed as positive for bird flu.
Other vets said the Government’s compensation policy, which pays farmers just VND12,000 to VND15,000 (US$1) for each slaughtered bird, was inadequate.
Viet Nam Animal Health Department deputy director Hoang Van Nam said tests had revealed that bird-flu extended beyond the Government-acknowledged provinces of Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh and Tra Vinh. — VNS
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