The epidemic still threatened Vietnam and its neighboring countries and humans were highly susceptible to the type-A flu virus especially in winter, the ministry warned.

Under the plan the Vietnamese government has earmarked VND1 trillion (over US$62 million) for facilities to prevent and control the epidemic.

Besides equipping local health centers, the ministry has also assigned 14 hospitals in the national disease control and prevention system to keep continuous watch to tackle probable outbreaks.

If the epidemic broke out on a large scale, more provincial hospitals will be co-opted to treat H5N1-infected patients.

Bird flu has so far killed at least 141 people in 10 countries since December 2003.

Vietnam has registered 42 fatalities, second only after Indonesia where 47 have been killed.

Source: Sai Gon Giai Phong – Translated by Tuong Nhi