Nhan Dan - Bird flu outbreaks have been controlled throughout the country after the last affected locality of Phuoc Hung commune, Tra Cu district, Tra Vinh province saw no new outbreaks after 21 days, said the Veterinary Department.

However, the National Steering Committee for Disease Prevention and Control said the risk that bird flu breaks out is still high, particularly from now till the end of the year because of the winter weather and illegal cross-border bird trading.

In order to prevent the disease from re-emerging, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has urged localities to speed up preventive measures, particularly by ratcheting up poultry vaccinations.

All provinces have been asked to closely supervise breeding centres and the transport of poultry and poultry products.

Minister Phat, who is also Head of the steering committee, has assigned examination work to ministries. Accordingly, each ministry will be responsible for examining bird flu prevention work in three localities from October 10 to November 31.