Vietnam’s Ministry of Health on April 5 sent an urgent dispatch to chairpersons in cities and provinces across the country for immediate implementation of preventive and precautionary measures against H7N9 virus, with reports of a more complicated development of the strain.
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| Vets vaccinating poultry in Mekong delta province of Ca Mau. |
Vietnam’s Ministry of Health on April 5 sent an urgent dispatch to chairpersons in cities and provinces across the country for immediate implementation of preventive and precautionary measures against H7N9 virus, with reports of a more complicated development of the strain.
The departments of agriculture and rural development, the departments of industry and trade and related agencies have been asked to step up supervision of imported poultry and products entering Vietnam via border crossings.
They have also been told to take strict action against illegal smuggling of poultry, tighten control of sale of poultry without clear origin in markets and inform the health sector of any case of infection.
The departments of health must enhance supervision of people with breathing problems as well as prepare equipment, material and personnel to work round-the-clock. Anyone seen suffering from respiratory disease should have mandatory medical checkup on entering the country across the borders.
Supervision teams should be set up to check on localities especially in border regions, and wholesale poultry markets and districts where residents report dead water-fowl from unknown reasons.
Latest reports on H7N9 by the World Health Organization (WHO) claims seven cases in Shanghai and the eastern province of Anhui in China, with two people succumbing to the virus. All victims initially seemed to be suffering from fever and cough, and later developed severe pneumonia and respiratory problems.
The Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission has confirmed that all victims tested positive for A/H7N9 virus, however, there is no evidence still if the virus was transmitted from person to person.
Till now, WHO has not issued a warning to limit travelling between the affected countries but has warned people to remain alert.
(Source:SGGP)
