Localities need to monitor bird flu virus spread and potency of vaccines, urged the National Steering Committee on Avian Flu Control at a meeting in Hanoi on March 18.

There remain 24 hotbeds of bird flu in 14 cities and provinces, namely Ca Mau, Can Tho, Soc Trang, Vinh Long, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ben Tre, Ha Giang, Quang Nam and Binh Thuan, reported the Department of Animal Health.

The total number of culled poultry has to date hit nearly 58,000, largely from southern localities with 1.1 and 2.3.2.1 virus strains. The rate of ducks positive for H5N1 virus in the south-western and south-eastern regions make up over 61 percent of sick ducks across the nation.

Deputy head of the Animal Health Department Dam Xuan Thanh said in addition to bird flu, the foot-and-mouth disease is emerging across the central province of Quang Tri and the northern mountainous province of Son La.

He called on localities to take more samples for tests, offer vaccination, set up quarantine areas while cracking down on the trading of sick or smuggled poultry and their products.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, preventive measures continue to prevent H7N9 entering the country as it has so far affected 390 people in 15 Chinese cities and provinces, of whom 121 were fatal.-VNA