Bird flu experts inspect "bio-secure" Vietnam poultry farm
AFP
May 6, 2006

Asia-Pacific health ministers and officials went to the frontline in the global war on bird flu -- a Vietnamese poultry farm with 7,000 chickens.

The delegates, wearing protective suits, face masks and goggles, inspected the farm, where the egg-laying hens had been freshly vaccinated, wire mesh kept out wild birds, and disinfectant lime was scattered in the sand.

"I'm no expert on Vietnamese agricultural practices, but I do find this to be impressive," said John Lange, the US State Department's top official on avian influeza, at the farm outside the central city of Danang. The health experts were on a field trip following an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC) meeting here on the threat of a bird flu pandemic, which recommended steps including a shift toward modern, biosecure farms.