The recurrence of bird flu has been detected at a duck farm in Dong Hiep commune, Co Do district in Can Tho city. Around 100 ducks died and test results showed that they were infected with the deadly virus H5N1. The municipal veterinary department has coordinated with localities to cull all the infected ducks.

Regarding the recent bird flu outbreak in Hanoi’s Dong Anh district, Deputy head of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dao Duy Tam said head of the veterinary station in Dong Anh district, Hoang Gia Tuc, has been temporarily suspended from work for further investigation and the district is taking drastic measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, the foot-and-mouth disease has also recurred and tends to increase sharply in many localities in the central and central highlands regions. Outbreaks are mostly related to the illegal transport,  trading, and slaughtering of animals. In addition, local residents who bought animals from other places have not kept them in quarantine for vaccination. The foot-and-mouth disease has existed for less than 21 days so far in nine provinces such as Phu Yen, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Khanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Dak Lak, Thua Thien Hue and Lai Chau.

Earlier, the Head of the National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Control requested localities and relevant agencies to simultaneously take preventive measures against bird flu due to a high risk of recurrence nationwide.

Cao Duc Phat, who also heads the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, sent an instructional message nationwide after the virus reportedly re-hit northern Vietnam, first in Hai Duong province on February 14, and then Ha Tay and Hanoi.

He warned that many provinces have so far concentrated only on vaccinating their fowl flocks against the disease but have neglected other preventive measures.

In the message, Mr Phat said "vaccination is only one of many essential measures to combat bird flu."

Comprehensive measures were outlined, including monitoring all poultry-raising households, especially egg-hatching farms, and minimizing the contact of poultry with migrating birds.

Farmers were asked not to raise chickens with waterfowl and other farm animals and to isolate live poultry bought in markets from their existing flocks.
The Committee Head also asked for regular disinfection of poultry farms, slaughterhouses, poultry processing establishments, live birds markets, high-risk areas and former bird flu-affected spots.

Quarantine officials were told to intensify their control over the transport, slaughtering, and trading of poultry and poultry products.