Risk of Introduction in Northern Vietnam of HPAI Viruses from China: Description, Patterns and Drivers of Illegal Poultry Trade

摘要

Poultry movement is known to contribute to the dissemination of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. In Northern Vietnam, the illegal trade ofpoultry from China is a source of concern and is considered as responsible for theregular introduction of new H5N1 viruses. The general objective of this study wasto get a better understanding of this illegal trade (organization, volume, actorsinvolved and drivers) to propose adequate preventive and control options. Theinformation was also used to qualitatively evaluate the risk of exposure of susceptible poultry to HPAI H5N1 virus introduced from China by illegally traded poultry. We found that the main products imported from China are spent hens,day-old chicks (DOCs) and ducklings; spent hens being introduced in very largenumber. The drivers of this trade are multiple: economic (especially for spenthens) but also technical (demand for improved genetic potential for DOC andducklings). Furthermore, these introductions also meet a high consumer demandat certain periods of the year. We also found that spatial dispersion of a batch ofpoultry illegally introduced from China is extensive and rapid, making any prediction of possible new outbreaks very hazardous. Finally, a risk mitigation planshould include measures to tackle the drivers of this trade or to legally organize it,to limit the threat to the local poultry sector. It is also essential for traders to beprogressively better organized and biosecure and for hygienic practices to beenforced, as our study confirmed that at-risk behaviours are still very commonamong this profession.