At the regular briefing meeting on March 15, the National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control issued a warning about the risk of a resurgence of H5N1 avian influenza from poultry of unknown origin circulating in the market.
According to experts, the transportation and consumption of poultry from unknown sources is quite prevalent, and without decisive measures to curb this situation, the risk of the A (H5N1) flu re-emerging in both poultry and humans is very high.
Although there have been no reported cases of avian influenza in humans or poultry across the country for over four months, experts advise the public to exercise caution when coming into contact with poultry of unknown origin, especially in the northern provinces. To prevent the disease from returning, localities need to enhance communication about the use of traceable poultry and ensure food safety, while also intensifying the monitoring of the transportation, consumption, and utilization of poultry to prevent the resurgence of the disease.
From now until the end of March 2006, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Health will strengthen environmental sanitation efforts, including hygiene in poultry farms and concentrated slaughterhouses. On March 21 in Tien Giang, the Ministry will officially launch a campaign for comprehensive environmental sanitation and farm hygiene.
The Ministry of Health also confirmed that it has sufficient reserves of Tamiflu in case of an outbreak, and local health departments do not need to stockpile Tamiflu for epidemic prevention efforts.
