H7N9 is spreading across southern China bordering Vietnam and has caused dozens of human deaths.
MARD reported H7N9 has yet to cause a clinical disease in poultry, and it has only been detected through sample. Live poultry markets and poultry assembling points are considered potential virus spreading places.
To prevent the deadly strain entering Vietnam, MARD has banned the transportation and trading of poultry and related products illegally imported into Vietnam across the border.
It asked border provinces to enhance communications to raise the public’s awareness and encourage them not to aid and abet opportunists, while adopting strict punitive measures against violators.
MARD’s Animal Health Department was assigned to take samples at live poultry markets in Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen provinces, and Hanoi capital.
Vietnam is facing a high risk of bird flu virus attack as large numbers of poultry and related products of unknown origin are still traded and transported from China.
The avian flu virus A/H7N9 was found in both poultry and humans in Guangxi province which borders four Northern provinces of Vietnam.
Meanwhile, the deadly bird flu A/H5N1 epidemic has broken out or recurred in 10 provinces nationwide, including Lao Cai and Nam Dinh in the north, Dak Lak, Kon Tum, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, and Khanh Hoa in the central and Central Highlands regions, and Long An, Tay Ninh, Ca Mau in the south.
The Animal Health Department has dispatched 15 working missions to localities to monitor and help with epidemic prevention.
MARD Deputy Minister Vu Van Tam will inspect epidemic prevention in the northern border provinces of Quang Ninh and Lang Son, and chair a bird flu response meeting this week.
