Prime Minister's instructions on fighting avian flu - VIETNAM - The Prime Minister has instructed all provincial and city People's Committees and relevant ministries and sectors to mobilise all resources and take drastic measures to isolate and extinguish outbreaks of avian flu at the first signs.

The ministries of agriculture and rural development, health, and culture and information should closely cooperate with provincial and city People's Committees to disseminate information on this serious disease and on how to prevent and control the epidemic.

Control over poultry transporting and slaughtering must be tightened and drastic measures have to be taken against the disease. In the meantime, illegal importing of poultry and poultry products through land and sea routes must be stopped while quarantine for imported animals at bordergates must be strengthened.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Veterinary Department on Friday reported 10 new outbreaks of avian flu in four provinces on Thursday, bringing the number of infected provinces and cities to 13, including Ha Noi and northern Ha Nam province.

At a duck and a chicken farm in Long Bien district of Ha Noi, 200 geese and 400 chickens died from suspected bird flu. Relevant agencies are waiting for results of test from poultry samples.

The H5 virus was detected in samples of more than 100 geese in Ly Nhan district of Ha Nam province

Source: Vietnam News Agency - 11th January 2005
© Vietnam News Agency