A communication campaign publicising the awareness on the threats of avian influenza strands A/H7N9 and H5N1 has been launched in the northern border province of Lang Son by the Ministry of Health and Lang Son province.

Addressing the event launch, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Long called for more local measures to prevent A/H7N9 infiltration and A/H5N1 transmission.

He said that border provinces, including Lang Son, should closely coordinate with agencies and departments to stop illegal cross-border poultry trading, while keeping an eye on the disease to prevent it from spreading among poultry. He added that potential carriers must be quarantined and information about tell-tale signs of the disease spread.

Various activities marking the publicity campaign were held. Deputy Minister Long and Lang Son authorities inspected anti-disease work and the quarantine zone at the Huu Nghi international border gate.

According to the World Health Organisation, the A/H7N9 virus has grown in complexity and been reported in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong and Malaysia, and is likely to spread further in the region, including to Vietnam.

As many as 395 cases of the virus have been recorded, and caused 121 deaths.

In Vietnam, no A/H7N9 case in either humans or poultry has been reported yet. However, many provinces and cities have detected H5N1 outbreaks among poultry.

Lang Son is among the localities particularly vulnerable to the viruses.-VNA