Pham Van Dong, head of the Animal Health Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said three cases of H7N9 had been detected in Guangzhou.
Officials from the agriculture ministry held an emergency meeting yesterday to monitor the situation.
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Dong said H7N9 was easily transmitted from fowls to humans and was deadly. He added that it was usually detected in smuggled poultry.
The ministry will co-ordinate with relevant departments of the trade and defence ministries and the police to try and prevent the virus entering the country.
Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat said the number of infections of H7N9 could rise fast. Poultry infected usually did not show any clear symptoms and could spread easily the virus, he added.
He has asked all localities to step up preventative measures and to increase the awareness of residents, especially those in the northern border area.
