He added that no cases of type A H5N1 in humans have been reported in Vietnam over the past 13 months since November 14 2005.

At a meeting on January 3, the National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Control said that the type A bird flu virus has been developing complicatedly. Bird flu has recently recurred in 25 communes of 11 districts in the three southern provinces of Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Hau Giang and is likely to spread to nearby areas.

To prevent bird-to-human transmission, the National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Control asked all localities, relevant ministries and sectors to quickly implement measures to early detect, control and stamp out any outbreaks.

In addition, the health sector will organise workshops on treating patients infected with the type A H5N1 virus throughout the country.