Huan told a meeting in Hanoi of the National Steering Board on Bird Flu Prevention in Humans, that the disease has hit 48 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide – including twenty in the South; 15 in the North, 10 in the central region; and 3 in the Central Highlands.

He praised of a number of cities and provinces, including the port city of Hai Phong, in pro-actively controlling the spread of the disease in the community.

However, he added, ministries and relevant agencies, should take the initiative to cope with the spread of the disease and be ready to establish field hospitals in the coming winter, a time during which the pandemic is estimated to reach its peak.

At the meeting, the Ministry of Education and Training said that in a bid to ensure the safety of students starting the new academic year, all schools nationwide have set up anti-pandemic steering boards, drawn up anti-A/H1N1 influenza plans and taken disinfection and sanitary measures.

Vietnam confirmed 138 more cases positive for the A/H1N1 influenza on September 1, raising the total number in the country to 2,931 with two deaths.

The new cases include one hundred and ten in the South, 22 in the North and 6in the central region.

Of the total, 1,382 patients have been released from hospital after treatment. The remaining 1,547 are in quarantine and for treatment. All are in a stable condition.