H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak Confirmed in Vientiane Market

VIENTIANE – An outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu has been reported in a market in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, sparking concerns over public health and the safety of poultry products.

According to Philippines News Agency, the detection was made after the Lao Centre for Animal Disease Research analyzed 65 poultry samples from the Danxang market in Saythani district. Out of these, 30 samples tested positive for the H5N1 virus. Following this initial discovery, an additional 11 samples were collected for further testing, resulting in five samples positive for H5N1 and five for H9N2, another strain of bird flu.

In response to the outbreak, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry of Vientiane has instructed the livestock sector to collaborate with competent agencies to conduct thorough investigations to identify the sources of the infection. Measures include collecting information, isolating the affected location, destroying infected poultry, zoning off high-risk areas, and advising farmers on how to prevent the spread of the disease.