Border checks to supervise illegal poultry trading in Đồng Tháp Province, which borders Prey Veng Province, Cambodia. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has ordered border localities to step up supervision at border gates, opening roads, sea ports and border-crossing rivers to prevent illegal trading, slaughter and transport of poultry and poultry products into Việt Nam.

The order was made in the context of reports from media and the Việt Nam Poultry Association on increasing cases, especially in the central and southern regions.

This poses a high risk of avian influenza virus and other dangerous infectious diseases from overseas.

PM Chính asked authorities of centrally-run localities, ministers and heads of national steering committees against smuggling, counterfeit goods and trade fraud (National Steering Committee 389) to take drastic measures.

Local authorities have been asked to return or destroy the poultry once the illegal ones are detected and impose sanctions on violating individuals and organisations.

Police, border soldiers, customs officers and the National Steering Committee 389 are responsible for working with local authorities to detect and impose fines on illegal imports and strengthen public communication campaigns so that people living in the border areas are aware of the dangers of avian influenza and adverse impacts of illegal poultry trading.

Localities must focus on building areas and facilities that are safe from animal diseases following the regulations of Việt Nam and the World Organisation for Animal Health to promote exports.

The PM also requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to strengthen quarantine procedures and step up surveillance to early detect avian influenza outbreaks.

The ministry has also asked to quickly identify avian influenza virus strains and evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines.

The PM also assigned tasks to the ministries of national defence, public security, industry and trade, finance, information and communications, health and big media agencies to coordinate and take measures against illegal trading, slaughter and transport of poultry and poultry products into Việt Nam.

Việt Nam recorded a human case of bird flu caused by the A/H5N1 virus in northern Phú Thọ Province last October, the first human bird flu infection after eight years without such cases across the country.

Since the first bird flu outbreak in 2003, the total number of A/H5N1 avian flu patients in Việt Nam has reached 128. Of those, 64 patients, accounting for 50 per cent, died. VNS