# 449
In the somewhat arcane rules of the game, if a country can go 3 weeks without a reported incident of bird flu, they can declare themselves free of the disease. From the report below, obviously they aren't very confident that they've really eradicated the disease.
In any event, Vietnam is about to declare victory, at least temporarily, over bird flu. This from afxnews.com.
Vietnam bird flu contained but risk high over Tet holidays - official
Tue, Feb 13 2007, 11:12 GMT
http://www.afxnews.comHANOI (XFN-ASIA) - Vietnam declared that a winter spate of bird flu outbreaks among poultry in the country's south have been contained, but urged vigilance during upcoming Tet Lunar New Year celebrations.
Twenty-one days have passed since the last infected bird was detected in a spate of cases that from December to January spread across eight provinces in or near the Mekong Delta, the national animal health department said.
"Bird flu has been contained and procedures are being finalized for an announcement on the end of bird flu," the department said on its website, after Bac Lieu province was declared clear of outbreaks.
But, as Vietnam readied for its most important festival -- when travel peaks and poultry consumption spikes -- Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat issued an urgent national warning and told provinces to be on alert.
"The nationwide risk of a recurrence is still high because of the huge demand for poultry trading and the increase in transportation, especially during Tet," Phat said.
He warned that "the flu virus is still circulating among flocks of apparently healthy ducks", adding "the risk that the virus will be transmitted to humans is high."
