The Ministry of Public Security in coordination with Quang Ninh province’s market management team has seized 2,000 pigeons that entered Vietnam over the border area in Mong Cai city.
Vu Van Thien, a driver from the northern province of Hai Duong, was caught on March 5 transporting the pigeons, weighing 1,200 kilograms. The birds were purchased from China for domestic consumption, he admitted.
The appropriate authorities are planning to cull the seized birds.
The illegal cross-border import of poultry is banned due to the rising threat of avian influenza to northern border provinces following China reporting more than 120 human H7N9 cases this year, including at least 27 deaths.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinates with relevant departments of the trade and defence ministries and the police to try and prevent the virus entering the country.
Two H5N1 deaths were reported in January in Vietnam, but no H7N9 cases have come to light so far, according to the Health Ministry.-VNA
Vu Van Thien, a driver from the northern province of Hai Duong, was caught on March 5 transporting the pigeons, weighing 1,200 kilograms. The birds were purchased from China for domestic consumption, he admitted.
The appropriate authorities are planning to cull the seized birds.
The illegal cross-border import of poultry is banned due to the rising threat of avian influenza to northern border provinces following China reporting more than 120 human H7N9 cases this year, including at least 27 deaths.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinates with relevant departments of the trade and defence ministries and the police to try and prevent the virus entering the country.
Two H5N1 deaths were reported in January in Vietnam, but no H7N9 cases have come to light so far, according to the Health Ministry.-VNA
