In an urgent dispatch, the PM asked the authorities of all provinces and cities to strengthen surveillance of poultry farms to early detect new outbreaks, promptly cull all affected poultry, and intensify disinfections and detoxification of farms in line with veterinary agencies' guidance to contain outbreaks.

Relevant agencies are required to conduct vaccination for all poultry in high-risk areas and tighten control of transport, trade and slaughtering of poultry and related products, the dispatch said. It added that border provinces must strictly punish cases of illegal import of poultry and poultry products.

Also on December 22, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung met with leaders of the southern provinces of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu where new outbreaks were reported and representatives from concerned ministries and agencies.

The Deputy PM criticised the two provinces for their failure to discover and report early the recurrence of bird flu. He ordered them to complete the culling of poultry on December 23.