Nhan Dan - A high risk of bird flu outbreaks has been warned by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

At a meeting of the National Steering Board on Avian Influenza in Hanoi on May 13, Bui Ba Bong, deputy minister of agriculture and rural development, stressed on a possibly high risk of bird flu, especially in the Mekong delta.

This followed outbreaks of bird flu on ducks in five communes in five districts of Long An and Tra Vinh provinces and Can Tho city.

Therefore, localities have been asked to stand ready for any outbreaks of bird flu.

Regarding blue ear disease (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome), the number of infected pigs has fallen, but the epidemic remained available in 24 communes in nine provinces, including Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Lam Dong, Thua Thien-Hue, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh.

Due to complicated developments of the epidemic, Mr Bong asked localities and the Veterinary Department to follow the epidemic, preventing it from spreading to the south.