As there are outbreaks of flu A/H7N9 in China and a series of other flu strains, the diseases tend to be on the rise and approach Vietnamese borders, so to ensure food safety during the lunar New Year, localities are carrying out drastic measures to prevent any possible outbreaks of flu A diseases. The southern province of Long An has issued an official dispatch asking relevant agencies to increase dissemination of biological safety models and vaccination among breeders; inspect the avian flu situation in the province; strictly control trade and transport of poultry; and manage ducks at fields. The province has also asked to restrict people and vehicle entrance to breeding grounds, not allowing poultry to feed in uncontrolled areas; and increased sanitation campaigns in breeding grounds. The northern province of Lao Cai has also asked departments, sectors and authorized agencies to carry out increased measures against avian flu. Accordingly, authorized agencies are responsible for strictly inspecting trade and transport of poultry, especially trade and transport of non-origin poultry through border areas. The northern province of Bac Giang has encouraged breeders to focus on some preventive measures, including breeding grounds far from residential areas, building concentrated slaughtering houses to inspect the origin and situation of diseases, applying automatic slaughtering line and package before bringing products into consumption; and not trading live poultry at markets and populous residential areas. In addition, breeders were asked to vaccinate the poultry, provide them sufficient diet to prevent them from contracting diseases, preventing raised poultry from having contact with wild poultry. The southern province of Kien Giang has requested localities to increase inspections for possible outbreaks on poultry and animals to control a spread of diseases, while strictly checking the transport of animals and poultry through quarantine stations. (www.dangcongsan.vn [1] Jan 17)
