November 11, 2005

Vietnam calls on army, police to help fight bird flu
 

Vietnam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has called on the army and police to mobilise in the fight against bird flu, as outbreaks continued to spread around the country, state-controlled media reported Friday

In a telegram sent to ministries and provincial governments Thursday, Khai urged local governments at all levels to "mobilise the armed forces, militiamen and university students" to engage in the fight against bird flu and not allow outbreaks to re-emerge, the Pioneer newspaper said.

It was unclear exactly how they would be deployed.

The prime minister also called for closer surveillance, down to the village level, and instructed local governments to be open and transparent when outbreaks occurred in their area. They should announce the outbreaks and publish the information in state media, he said.

Worst hit Vietnam has reported two-thirds of the 64 human deaths attributed to the H5N1 strain of bird flu in Asia since it appeared in late 2003.

Bird flu outbreaks among poultry have been reported in at least six provinces around the country in the past month.