In a dispatch sent on February 28, Mr Phat, who also heads the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, asked provincial authorities to timely detect and wipe out bird flu hot spots and strictly supervise poultry flocks and hatcheries.

He also urged ministries, sectors and localities to focus on vaccinating poultry in the coming month.

Localities are required to sterilize poultry farms, strictly monitor the trading, transport and slaughter of poultry and limit the contacts between domestic fowls and migrating birds.

They are also requested to enhance the dissemination of information on the bird flu situation and measures against the epidemic.