Earlier, the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development (MARD)’s Animal Health Department saidinfluenza virus strain A type H5N1 was recorded on a flock of poultryin three communes of the Mekong Delta provinces of Tra Vinh and VinhLong. Meanwhile, virus A/H5N6 affected quails in Tinh Ha commune, SonTinh district, the central province of Quang Ngai.
Avian flu virus A/H7N9 has been raging in China since 2013, especially in winter-spring months.
Surgein food purchasing power will occur in preparations for the Lunar NewYear holiday, which will fall in late February next year, and will thetrade, transport, and slaughter of unsafe poultry. Additionally,respiratory and digestive diseases are also likely to mushroom duringthe time due to the humid weather, the MARD warned.
The Ministryof Health, therefore, asked localities to pay special attention torural and remote areas as well as the localities affected by influenzaviruses in the past.
Local health departments must tightensupervision at communities and border gates and gear up for fluprevention and patient treatment.
They were also required to stepup food safety inspection and strictly punish markets, food stores,restaurants, and collective kitchens which violate relevantregulations.-VNA