poultry culling

The Lao government has approved a compensation package worth $350,000 for bird flu-affected farmers and households, with the support of the World Bank. Authorities expect the compensation will be paid to all by mid-April, before the start of the Lao New Year.

Officials say they are actively gathering information about those affected so that compensation can be paid as soon as possible.

During the most recent outbreak two months ago, almost 340,000 poultry had to be culled and some 500,000 eggs had to be destroyed on the Vientiane area to prevent further outbreak, causing an estimated loss of six billion kips. That does not include the loss in Savannakhet and Champassack provinces, which is estimated at over three billion kips.

Listen to our Laos Today report for more details.