The authorities of southern Tay Ninh province have requested border districts to reinforce surveillance over the bird flu, which is developing in a complicated manner in its neighbouring Cambodian districts.

Relevant agencies and forces workings at Tay Ninh province’s border gates were asked to intensify inspections to put an end to the illegal import of poultry, poultry products and pet birds without origin certificates.

Meanwhile, authorities and healthcare officials of border districts were required to regularly disinfect the environment and take samples at bird flu- prone locations, like open air markets and slaughterhouses, for testing for the virus.

The border district of Ben Cau and Tay Ninh town, which were hit by the bird flu early this year, were ordered to continuing with preventive measures to prevent the reoccurrence of the disease outbreak.

To date, no cases of avian influenza H7N9 have been recorded in humans or poultry in Vietnam, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said at the Epidemic Prevention Steering Board’s meeting in Hanoi last week.

He also affirmed that Vietnam has devised precautionary measures to promptly handle any outbreaks.

Since the beginning of this year, Vietnam has recorded two cases of H5N1 in southern Dong Thap and Long An provinces, including one fatality in Dong Thap. -VNA