Though the avian flu has shown signs of waning and no new cases have been reported so far, the country should remain vigilant, especially since it will hold the 10^th National Party Congress next month and several international conferences this year, said Mr Khiem at a conference in Hanoi.

He stressed the need to increase public awareness and intensify inspections over the increased smuggling of poultry across the border, and asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to work out strict measures to control poultry breeding, transport and slaughtering and promote industrial scale processing of poultry.

Mr Khiem also urged ministries and agencies to carry out disease prevention activities and reminded provinces, especially in border areas, to continue implementing bird flu prevention work and strictly punish violators.

The Ministry of Health reported that it is co-ordinating with relevant ministries to take drastic measures to prevent avian influenza among humans, although no new human cases of H5N1 have been reported in Vietnam since November 25, 2005. It has completed the purchase of equipment and chemicals to serve localities' epidemic prevention drives and is working with relevant agencies to produce respirators and Tamiflu.