VietNamNet Bridge - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat on February 6 sent an urgent telegraph to provinces and cities across the country, asking them to take drastic measures against the recurrence of bird flu.

Since early January, the disease has recurred in four villages of four districts in Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri and Soc Trang provinces, leaving 1,683 poultry sick and dead. More than 4,000 ducks and chickens were culled subsequently.

In addition, some dead poultry in Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang and Hanoi were suspected of contracting the bird flu virus.

The Ministry of Health reported that two patients in Kien Giang and Soc Trang provinces died in January after testing positive for the A/H5N1 virus.

In the face of unfavourable weather, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) forecast that a new bird flu epidemic will likely spread on a large scale.

Minister Phat asked provinces, cities and relevant agencies to set up inspection teams in high-risk areas and help local veterinary departments to closely monitor the transport of poultry products.

The Quang Tri provincial Department of Animal Health on February 6 provided 1 million doses of vaccines and 1.5 tonnes of chemical to disinfect and deal with the complicated development of bird flu in the province.

PV