Vietnam has so far recorded no infections of human A/H7N9 avian flu, however, the ministries of Viet Nam are promoting efforts to prevent the entry of virus, which caused a new outbreak in neighbouring China.
According to the Preventive Medicine Department under the Ministry of Public Health, the long borderline shared with China and busy cross-border trade activities between the two countries pose a high risk of H7N9 virus to be transmitted into Vietnam.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that China has reported 340 human A/H7N9 avian flu cases in 13 provinces and cities nationwide so far this year. Almost the infected cases had a history of exposure to live poultry in markets or areas polluted by infected poultry.The number of human A/H7N9 cases have continually increased in China since October last year, causing the fifth outbreak in the country since 2013, the WHO reported.
To proactively prevent the disease, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued an urgent notice requiring centrally-run cities and provinces, especially border localities, ministries and agencies to deploy strong measures to prevent avian influenza viruses including H7N9 from entering Vietnam.Accordingly, they were asked to ban the transport, trading, slaughter, and consumption of poultry and its products imported illegally across the border, including in the form of presenting as gifts between organizations, individuals and border residents. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development also asked localities to work closely with public security, customs and medical sectors to give timely response in case of any avian flu outbreak.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health recommended people to not use poultry or poultry products with unknown origins, and ensure food hygiene. They were told to immediately notify local authorities and veterinary units if they detected any sick or dead poultry. In order to promptly discover A/H7N9 virus and other virus strains, relevant agencies must regularly take samples from live poultry for testing.
Communications campaigns should be held to raise public awareness of the danger of avian flu and urge farming households to buy breeding poultry of clear origin from prestigious dealers.