The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has directed the veterinary sector to closely monitor diseases in herds of pigs in case a quick response is needed in the event of swine flu breaking out in the country.

The World Organisation for Animal Health has announced that there have been no outbreaks of swine flu in Vietnam caused by the type A virus (H1/N1) in pigs, according to Head of the Veterinary Department Bui Quang Anh at a meeting on April 28.

However, he said, the department is ready to put into action pro-active measures to prevent the virus being transmitted to Vietnam from imports  and at the same time closely monitor any complex changes in the virus in people that are infected overseas.

Minister Phat also ordered a stricter supervision of imports though it is not yet necessary to halt pork imports at the current time./.