The cross-border import of poultry in all forms will be banned in thecontext of rising threat of avian influenza to northern border provincesfollowing the detection of three cases of H7N9 bird flu infection inChina’s Guangxi province.

At an emergency meeting onFebruary 13 hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development(MARD), Pham Van Dong, head of MARD’s Animal Health Department, saidwhile no H7N9 infection has been detected so far in the country, therisk of transmission across the border is high.

The officialstressed that the deadly H7N9 virus is easily transmitted from fowls tohumans and was deadly. He added that it is usually detected in poultrytrading areas with poor hygiene and insufficient disinfectingprocedures.

The ministry will coordinate with relevantdepartments of the trade and defence ministries and the police to tryand prevent the virus entering the country.

AgricultureMinister Cao Duc Phat has asked all localities to step up preventativemeasures and to increase the awareness of residents, especially those inthe northern border area.

Two H5N1 deaths were reported in January, but no H7N9 cases have come to light so far, according to the Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, a patient suspected of contracting H5N1 has beendischarged from hospital after four days under special care at theprovincial Kon Tum General Hospital. Luong Thi Hien, a37-year-old veterinarian, who is eight-week pregnant, was hospitalizeddue to a high fever (38.5 degree C) after inspecting a new H5N1 outbreakon February 9th. However, later tests showed she only had theseasonal influenza (H3N2). She was allowed to go home on February 13.-VNA