The National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control issued a statement on Thursday warning that proactive measures are needed to thwart bird flu outbreaks in localities across the country.

All local authorities must strengthen the supervision of rural farms and farming households in order to get a jump on possible bird flu and flu type A (H5N1) outbreaks and transmissions.

Vet administers vaccination at a small farm

Municipal and provincial people’s committees have been ordered to prepare and supply facilities with the necessary to fight against the disease and prevent transmissions to humans.

Medical workers, especially those at border gates, have been advised to keep a close watch on those patients suspected of having contracted the H5N1 strain of the virus by placing them in quarantine and isolation wards at hospitals.

Instructions have also been given for the workers to respond rapidly when dealing with any new outbreaks in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

Ho Chi Minh City people’s Committee has instructed district leaders to tighten their surveillance on vaccination and poultry smuggling in all areas connecting to the provinces.

Inspection teams have been ordered to seize and immediately cull any fowl that they discover being raised in the city, even on small suburban farms. Harsh punishments will be imposed on all those who violate these new rues.

District authorities have also been called upon to oversee poultry sales in markets and slaughter in restaurants.

Any violation of the District’s chicken breeding, sales and slaughter rules would result in the district chairperson being held accountable.

On Thursday, the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry’s Department of Animal Health announced that the central province of Quang Nam became the thirteenth plagued by avian flu.

The outbreak occurred in an unvaccinated 400-strong flock at a farm in Duy Xuyen District of Quang Nam. Tests carried out showed that the ducklings were positive for the H5N1 strain of the virus.

Vets subsequently slaughtered all poultry on the farm and carried out sterilization procedures.

The development of the disease is becoming more complicated and further outbreaks are occurring in areas already suffering from the disease, as with the northern province of Quang Ninh and the southern city of Can Tho.

A large number of ducks have been dying in Northern provinces of Thanh Hoa and Thai Nguyen; however, an official from the Animal Health Department stated that they all tested negative for the H5N1 strain of the virus.