The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment have called for close supervision to detect cases of avianinfluenza in humans and poultry throughout the country.
The warning has been made following recent outbreaks of A/H5N8 in Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
"Peoplewho have flu-like symptoms and have been in contact with poultry shouldvisit medical facilities to be examined and treated where necessary,"Director of the Preventive Medicine Department under the Health MinistryTran Dac Phu told Suc khoe va Doi song (Health and Life) newspaper.
TheEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention Control (ECDC) has reported thatso far, no human cases of avian influenza A/H5N8 had been reported.
However,Phu said the virus could spread from poultry to humans, and high riskgroups included people who had direct contact with sick poultry.
People have also been warned not to slaughter or eat sick poultry, and report such cases to local authorities.
DamXuan Thanh, Deputy Director of the Animal Health Department, alsowarned there was a high risk of A/H5N8 entering the country.
Thanhsaid the genetic structure of the A/H5N8 virus detected in the UK andthe Netherlands was similar to the virus found in China, Japan and theRepublic of Korea in January this year.
People, especially farmers, must be aware of the constant threat of avian influenza A/H5N8 in Vietnam, added Thanh.
TheHealth Ministry has also called for stronger community awareness on theprevention of seasonal diseases during the winter and spring. Peopleshould keep warm when the weather turns cold and minimise contact withothers suffering from the flu, respiratory diseases, measles, rubellaand diarrhoea.
The weather during winter and spring would createfavourable conditions for the development and transmission of manyair-borne and hygiene-related diseases, according to the PreventiveMedicine Department.-VNA
The warning has been made following recent outbreaks of A/H5N8 in Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
"Peoplewho have flu-like symptoms and have been in contact with poultry shouldvisit medical facilities to be examined and treated where necessary,"Director of the Preventive Medicine Department under the Health MinistryTran Dac Phu told Suc khoe va Doi song (Health and Life) newspaper.
TheEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention Control (ECDC) has reported thatso far, no human cases of avian influenza A/H5N8 had been reported.
However,Phu said the virus could spread from poultry to humans, and high riskgroups included people who had direct contact with sick poultry.
People have also been warned not to slaughter or eat sick poultry, and report such cases to local authorities.
DamXuan Thanh, Deputy Director of the Animal Health Department, alsowarned there was a high risk of A/H5N8 entering the country.
Thanhsaid the genetic structure of the A/H5N8 virus detected in the UK andthe Netherlands was similar to the virus found in China, Japan and theRepublic of Korea in January this year.
People, especially farmers, must be aware of the constant threat of avian influenza A/H5N8 in Vietnam, added Thanh.
TheHealth Ministry has also called for stronger community awareness on theprevention of seasonal diseases during the winter and spring. Peopleshould keep warm when the weather turns cold and minimise contact withothers suffering from the flu, respiratory diseases, measles, rubellaand diarrhoea.
The weather during winter and spring would createfavourable conditions for the development and transmission of manyair-borne and hygiene-related diseases, according to the PreventiveMedicine Department.-VNA
