VietNamNet Bridge – The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - Mr. Cao Duc Phat has approved an emergency response plan against dangerous viruses capable of infecting humans.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development noted that H7N9 virus has been detected in some testing samples. Poultry markets are considered the points of storage and spreading the dangerous virus. Poultry and poultry products are safe for people if they are slaughtered and processed in the right ways.

In order to promptly stop the dangerous virus, the Ministry prohibits the sale and transport of smuggled poultry and poultry products across the border.

The entire border line between Vietnam and China will be disinfected.

The Department of Veterinary will collect samples at poultry markets in the nine provinces of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Ha Noi and Hung Yen for testing.

In the afternoon of February 16, the Veterinary Department said that the H5N1 bird flu had appeared in 10 provinces of Vietnam, including Dak Lak, Long An, Kon Tum, Tay Ninh, Ca Mau, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, Nam Dinh, Phu Yen and Lao Cai.

This week, a mission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, led by Deputy Minister Vu Van Tam will supervise epidemic prevention in Quang Ninh and Lang Son province.

Poultry smuggling through the Vietnam-China border has not been completely controlled. Therefore, the risk of type A/H7N9 flu virus entering Vietnam is very high.

In January 2014, the type A/H5N1 flu epidemic appeared in poultry in some areas and two people died from A/H5N1 flu in Binh Phuoc and Dong Thap provinces.

Vietnam has stopped imports of poultry and poultry products from China from February 14.

P. Linh