According to the Veterinary Department, bird flu has recurred in some communes in southern Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces. These are the first outbreaks since the country’s successful containment of the epidemic disease over the past one year.

To cope up with the situation, on December 19, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and head of National Steering Committee for Avian Flu Prevention and Control Cao Duc Phat sent a telegram to the people’s committees and organizations in all cities and provinces to implement comprehensive measures to prevent bird flu from recurring. Accordingly, the relevant units have to strengthen observation work for early detection of the epidemic disease and prevention of its spreading. The ministry authorized epidemics observation to local authorities and veterinarians who will have responsibility for the control of the disease.

Poultry transport, trading and slaughtering practices should be strictly controlled and water-bird hatches should be temporarily stopped.