The Ministry of Public Health on October 19 held an exercise as part of the country's efforts to ensure logistics for a potential human avian influenza outbreak.

The exercise was designed for ministries, branches, international and national organisations to share experiences in dealing with a large-scale pandemic.

According to Deputy Minister of Public Health Trinh Quan Huan, the results of the recent combat against SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and human influenza type-A (H5N1) epidemics showed that logistical work was very important.

In preparation for a possible pandemic, Vietnam has already purchased and stored a lot more of anti-virus drugs and medical equipment.

No new bird flu outbreaks were reported in the country over nearly twelve months.