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You are watching UNICEF Television.

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With kernels of corn, Nguyen Thi Tham fills out a questionnaire

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in a government survey of poultry-raising practices.

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Tham's entire farm of 200 chickens was culled in 2004

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when an outbreak of avian flu struck Ha Thay province,

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outside the capital, Hanoi.

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She has struggled to start again with another 200 chickens,

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but she worries about the future.

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We believe the threat of avian flu is grave

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and we are concerned about how we raise our poultry.

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If our poultry is infected with avian flu,

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it will be a huge economic loss for the family.

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Vietnam was one of the countries hardest hit by the virus.

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Ninety-three people were infected.

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Of those, 42 died.

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Millions of chickens were culled to contain the illness,

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handing farmers tens of millions of U.S. dollars in losses.

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A rapid response by the Vietnamese government,

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with backing from the international community,

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has helped bring the outbreak under control.

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There have been no cases of human infection since November 2005,

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but the risk of a return of the virus

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and a potential human pandemic remains high.

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We haven't seen the end yet, I believe.

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I think it is very incumbent on us to not be complacent

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and help the Vietnamese build their own capacity

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to be able to respond in the most effective way possible.

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A $16 million U.S. dollar joint program

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between the government and the United Nations

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coordinates an integrated response by government

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and international agencies to control avian flu.

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UNICEF is part of that effort.

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It works with Vietnam's Ministry of Health

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to raise community awareness and promote better hygiene,

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with funds provided by the Japanese government.

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With that support, the Vietnamese government

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says it's better prepared for any potential outbreak.

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Now we have experience to tackle with the outbreaks.

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So from now and later on,

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if any outbreaks on poultry and on humans,

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we think that we have better knowledge and practice to control.

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A welcome message for poultry farmers across the country,

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as they will be among the first to suffer if avian flu returns.

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In Da Yen Commune, Vietnam,

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this is Steve Nettleton reporting for UNICEF Television.

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Unite for Children.