HANOI, Jan 18 (AFP) - Vietnam has banned all imports of poultry as the epidemic of bird flu, which has killed at least four people since the beginning of the month, spread to the whole country, state media said Tuesday.
"Imports of poultry and poultry products from neighbouring countries have to be temporarily suspended," the state-controlled Vietnam News Agency (VNA) said, quoting an order from Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.
"Imported poultry and poultry products must be seized and destroyed under the guidance of specialised agencies and the owners will receive no compensation and have to pay fees for poultry killing," it added.
In the past fortnight four people, two women aged 16 and 18 and two boys aged six and nine, have died of the virus.
Two other women, aged 35 and 18, remained in hospital Tuesday after testing positive for the virus.
Several suspected cases were also reported.
According to VNA, over 250,000 birds have been culled since last month. Eighteen of the country's 64 provinces and cities, including the capital Hanoi, have been hit by outbreaks.
Khai called Monday on authorities to prevent the transport of poultry in and out of infected areas, and to tighten control over poultry slaughtering, processing and transporting even in non-affected areas.
The latest outbreak came ahead of next month's Lunar New Year holidays, when demand for poultry is expected to boom.
World Health Organisation director in Vietnam, Hans Troedsson, said last week that officials had promised they would carry out necessary culls despite the surge in demand for poultry over the holiday period.
"The good news is that so far, the virus does not seem to have mutated and become stronger than last year," Troedsson said.
Since late 2003, at least 24 people in Vietnam have died after contracting the H5N1 strain. The real figure is thought to be higher as tests were not carried out on some suspected cases.
01/18/2005 04:25 GMT - AFP