Vietnam Ministry Urges to Prevent Recurrence of Deadly Avian Flu Viruses

Provinces and cities across Vietnam are striving hard to contain a potentially complicated recurrence of deadly avian influenza viruses, according to the Preventive Medicine Department under the Health Ministry. According to initial reports, flocks of water birds and poultry in the south central province of Ninh Thuan have died of epidemic diseases. Earlier, a four-year child in Dong Thap province died of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Vietnam is facing high threat of three fatal avian viruses of H5N1, H1N1 and H7N9 as cases of poultry smuggling from neighboring countries, especially China, continue rising. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has asked border authorities to tighten their management and to raise people’s awareness of bird flu. To prevent and minimize the impacts of all avian influenza strains, especially A/H7N9, the northern province of Quang Ninh has decided to halt the import and trade of poultry and poultry products through Vietnam-China border gates. Vietnam’s neighboring China has so far confirmed 100 human infection cases of avian flu with 24 deaths caused by the H7N9 virus. H1N1 has infected more than 11,200 people in Vietnam since it broke out here in 2009 and it had claimed 70 lives by end-2011. Meanwhile, the country has recorded 62 human deaths out of total 123 infections of H5N1 since 2003 and no A/H7N9 flu patients so far. (Tin Tuc – News May 3, vov.vn May 2)