The northern province of Lao Cai has reported 37 cases of flu infection among students of a senior high school for ethnic minority in Quang Kim Commune in Bat Xat District.
Yen Bai and Thanh Bai Provinces in the North also reported more cases of flu, with two people succumbing to the virus.
The Central Tropical Disease Hospital received five patients with flu virus, with test results showing positive for A/H1N1 virus. Further investigation showed that relatives of these patients were also suffering from flu.
Despite fears of a complicated development of the disease, illegal sale of poultry in Ho Chi Minh City in Districts such as 12, Tan Phu, Go Vap, Binh Chanh, still occur. Live water fowl is being sold rampantly in flea markets along Binh Long Street in Tan Phu District, Tham Luong Bridge in District 12, Nguyen Oanh Street and An Loc Bridge between District 12 and Go Vap District.
The People’s Committee in HCMC has now issued a ban on breeding poultry in residential areas. People’s committees in districts have been asked to deal with illegal slaughter, transport and sale of chickens and take action accordingly.
Le Hai Dang, head of the Market Management Board in Lao Cai, said on May 2, 10,000 eggs smuggled in from China were destroyed. Earlier also, 9,600 eggs without a certificate of origin had been seized. In the northern province of Quang Ninh, authorities destroyed 3,000 smuggled chickens in last three days.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched a month long safe hygiene and disinfection program across the country. Disinfectants will be sprayed at locations where poultry is bred, at least once a week.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has asked authorities in border provinces to tighten management to prevent illegal smuggling of poultry and poultry products in view of the threat of Avian Flu infection. |
