Bird flu under temporary control: steering committee

The spread of avian bird flu has been temporarily contained, with no new outbreaks of the disease detected in Viet Nam during the past two weeks, according to the National Steering Committee on Avian Flu Control.

Viet Nam reported only 13 sources of bird flu in five localities, including Khanh Hoa, Vinh Long, Ha Giang, Binh Thuan and Ben Tre, affecting nearly 15,000 poultry, said the committee on Tuesday.


The figure has been reduced by one third from 16 provinces recording bird flu outbreaks in February this year.

The committee noted that the majority of cases – around 70 per cent - of bird flu were found in poultry in southern provinces and have been culled since early this year. Meanwhile avian influenza had evolved developing new virus strains.

The committee said that a programme to monitor the H7N9 virus, funded by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), should continue, adding that it was vital to helping local animal agencies conduct virus strain tests.

Deputy Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Animal Health Department, Dam Xuan Thanh, warned that there was still a high risk of bird flu, asking localities to continue the disinfection to halt the spread of the virus.

Viet Nam has reported no human H7N9 cases to date, confirmed by a representative from the Ministry of Health. The ministry also said that preventive measures would continue to prevent the strain from entering the country.