The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a warning about a possible bird flu risk during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday and urged preventive actions.

According to the ministry, bird flu occurrence, which has been reported in China, would affect Vietnam through transport, trading and smuggling of poultry before the Lunar New Year.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a warning about a possible bird flu risk during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday

The ministry cited the report from the World Health Organisation as saying that one person in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was infected with avian influenza A/H7N9 on January 12, raising the total number of patients in the country to 1,624, including 621 deaths.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation has also said that there were 36 samples of poultry and environment in China tested positive for avian influenza A/H7N9 in January.

In Vietnam, A/H5N1 and A/H5N6 viruses have been found in fowl and the environment.

The ministry has warned that the cold weather during Tet and increasing transport and trading of poultry has added to the risk of bird flu outbreaks in Vietnam, particularly in northern provinces which share a border with China and localities which see high demand for poultry.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong has requested localities to pay more attention to prevent bird flu risks, including avian influenza A/H7N9 virus. Localities have to ban the transport, trading, slaughtering and consumption of smuggled and poultry products of unclear-origin.

Authorities of cities and provinces, particularly market management board, border officers, police and health inspectors have been asked to work with veterinary force to timely detect violations.

Sterilisation at poultry trading and slaughtering areas also needs to be intensified./.

( VNF/DTnews )