(VOV) - The Ministry of Health has worked with the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh city and Tan Son Nhat International Airport on measures to halt a new strain of avian flu A/H7N9 in the wake of an outbreak of the deadly disease in China.

At a meeting, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said Vietnam shares a land border with China and has seaports and airports near China, so there is an implicit possibility of being affected by the epidemic. Though no one has yet tested positive for the A/H7N9 virus, hospitals and Vietnam’s Preventative Health Center should be proactive in prevention of a bird flu epidemic. The Ministry asked the public to be vigilant and pay attention to food safety and hygiene and curb poultry of unclear origin.

Quang Ninh province, which borders China, has inspected areas potentially infected by the virus. Medical examinations, temperature scans and health status forms are being used at border gates. Vu Xuan Dien, Director of Quang Ninh province’s Department of Health, said: "The examination mainly focuses on poultry especially poultry trafficking in the border areas. Poultry trafficking is under control but we continue to advise localities to cooperate with functional sectors to prevent illegal importing of poultry across the border. We have established a steering board to inspect areas where illegal poultry import is possible to minimize the spread of the epidemic. Any bird suspected of being infected with the virus will be tested".

Meanwhile, 2 more H7N9 deaths have been reported in Anhui and Jiangsu province, China, raising the number of H7N9 bird flu deaths in China to 9.