Nation

Smuggled poultry risk spread of diseasesBy Thuy Dung A conference on the control of epidemics involving terrestrial animals in the northern region – PHOTO: THUY DUNG HANOI – Poultry and cattle smuggled into Vietnam can potentially trigger an outbreak of infectious diseases, such as H5N1 and H7N9 bird flu and African hog cholera, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien. At a conference today, February 15, on the prevention and control of epidemics involving terrestrial animals in the northern region, Tien said that bird flu has been reported in 31 countries and territories, while African hog cholera has been found in 21 countries. In neighboring China, up to 105 outbreaks in 25 provinces have been detected. Meanwhile, more than 10,000 people in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh Province travel daily between the two countries. They can bring home with them dangerous viruses that can spread diseases. According to the Department of Animal … [Read more...] about Smuggled poultry risk spread of diseases

Former top cop appeals jail sentenceThe Saigon Times Daily Bui Van Thanh, former deputy minister of public security, speaks in court in January 2019 while Phan Van Anh Vu (L) looks on – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Bui Van Thanh, former deputy minister of public security, has filed an appeal seeking probation, instead of a prison term of 2-1/2 years, for his role in the illegal sale of State-owned properties in Danang and HCMC. The Hanoi People’s Court received the appeal for the 60-year-old former lieutenant general about three weeks after the court issued its ruling on the case, reported the Vietnam News Agency. The case involves former property magnate and intelligence officer Phan Van Anh Vu, 44, alias Vu Nhom. In his appeal, Thanh proposed that the court of appeals consider the nature and extent of his offense, as well as the causes and circumstances surrounding the case. During his three-day trial in late January, Thanh admitted his guilt and took responsibility … [Read more...] about Former top cop appeals jail sentence

Many patients in critical condition due to H1N1 fluThe Saigon Times Daily A doctor checks up a male patient, 51, who is infected with the H1N1 influenza virus and receives medial treatment at Bach Mai Hospital - PHOTO: VNA HCMC - Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital recently admitted many patients infected with the H1N1 bird flu, who were all in critical condition. One week prior to the Tet holiday, a flu-infected pregnant woman succumbed to acute respiratory failure and pneumonia and died along with her twin fetuses in the hospital, Nguoi Lao Dong Online reported. The 31-year-old, who was 24 weeks pregnant, was earlier admitted to the hospital with common flu symptoms such as a running nose and sneezing. Her condition quickly deteriorated despite two weeks of intensive medical care, said Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co, head of the Intensive Care Department at Bach Mai Hospital. Two other male patients who tested positive for the H1N1 virus are reportedly in critical condition at … [Read more...] about Many patients in critical condition due to H1N1 flu

HCMC to inspect transport firmsThe Saigon Times Daily Traffic police officers check whether a bus driver has consumed alcohol. HCMC will set up a team to inspect all transport firms in the city - PHOTO: VNA HCMC – The HCMC government has assigned the municipal Traffic Safety Committee to establish an inspection team to look into compliance with regulations on traffic safety across all transport business operators in the city, the Government news website reported. This quarter, the team will inspect firms whose vehicles were involved in accidents last year. It will also coordinate with the municipal Department of Health to draw up a detailed plan on drivers’ health checks in the next quarter. Meanwhile, the municipal Department of Transport will team up with the governments of districts to require the management boards of coach stations and parking lots in the city to cooperate with the inspection team while it is on duty. The HCMC Traffic Safety Committee was … [Read more...] about HCMC to inspect transport firms

Expressway service refusal beyond mandate: officialThe Saigon Times Daily An aerial view of the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway in northern Vietnam – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – The decision of the Vietnam Expressway Services Engineering JSC (VECE) to permanently ban two cars from travelling on the expressways under its management and operation is beyond its authority, said Nguyen Van Huyen, head of the Vietnam Directorate for Roads. Huyen was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency as saying that neither VECE nor its holding company, Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC), has the mandate to impose this ban. “The ban on vehicle circulation and parking is under the authority of the Minister of Transport and the chairpersons of the provincial-level people’s committees. The Vietnam Directorate for Roads has asked VEC to report on the issue,” he said. He added that VEC only has the right to refuse its services to those vehicles committing transport safety violations and … [Read more...] about Expressway service refusal beyond mandate: official

H5N1 bird flu may recur in humansThe Saigon Times Daily Two veterinarians are injecting vaccine against bird flu into a flock of ducks – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Samples of two patients with pneumonia suspected of having contracted H5N1 bird flu at Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital are being analyzed, Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper reported. The analysis results by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, checking whether these patients are infected with the A/H5N1 virus, are expected to be out this week. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Department of Animal Health, there is no bird flu outbreak among poultry nationwide now. However, there is still a possibility of bird flu occurring in humans as the A/H5N1 virus has been detected in healthy poultry. Associate Professor Tran Dac Phu, head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, was quoted by the local newspaper as saying that the flu caused by the A/H5N1 virus is a … [Read more...] about H5N1 bird flu may recur in humans

Traffic accidents kill 183, injure 241 during TetThe Saigon Times Daily A seven-seat car is badly deformed due to a fatal crash that killed three people and injured five others in Thanh Hoa Province’s Hoang Hoa District on February 8 – PHOTO: VNA HCMC - The nation saw 276 traffic accidents during the nine-day Tet holiday, which left 183 people dead and 241 others injured, the local media reported, citing a report from the office of the Ministry of Public Security. Road traffic accidents accounted for 274 cases, killing 181 people and injuring 241, while the remaining two incidents were railway traffic accidents that killed two. Meanwhile, no waterway traffic accidents were recorded. Khuat Viet Hung, vice chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, told the local media on February 10 that 28 road traffic accidents had occurred that day, claiming 22 lives and injuring 19 people. Earlier, a serious crash between a car and a passenger coach occurred on the … [Read more...] about Traffic accidents kill 183, injure 241 during Tet

VECE rushes to explain source of cash after tollgate robberyThe Saigon Times Daily Tollgate robbery suspects Tran Tuan Anh and Nguyen Vu Hoang Nam - PHOTO: COURTESTY OF POLICE HCMC – After news reports said that VECE, which manages HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, lost VND2.22 billion in a recent armed tollgate robbery, social media has speculated that that amount came from a single shift, meaning the expressway is earning the company colossal revenues. But VECE has denied it. A Vietnam Expressway Services Engineering JSC (VECE) source was quoted by the local news website Zing.vn as saying that the VND2.22 billion robbed by two men who were later identified as former VECE employees was the revenue made from multiple days rather than a single shift. There is speculation on social media that the robbery at the Dau Giay toll station on the expressway which connects HCMC and neighboring Dong Nai Province had exposed how much the company earns each day. Social media said … [Read more...] about VECE rushes to explain source of cash after tollgate robbery

Traffic accidents kill 112 within six days of TetThe Saigon Times Daily The scene of a road accident - PHOTO: VNA HCMC – The country has seen 177 traffic accidents over the last six days as road traffic has surged during the Lunar New Year holiday, killing 112 people and injuring 150 others, VietnamPlus news site reported, citing Nguyen Trong Thai, chief of the National Traffic Safety Committee. A report from the Office of the Ministry of Public Security said that 32 road accidents occurred on the third day of the lunar new year, February 7, claiming 15 lives and injuring 40 people, while there was a railway accident, leaving one dead. The number of fatalities dropped by eight people against the figure seen on the sixth day of the last Tet, Thai said, adding that however, the injured rose by 3 people year-on-year. On February 7, traffic police officers in localities handled 2,034 violations, imposed fines of VND985 million, seized 424 vehicles and revoked 85 driving … [Read more...] about Traffic accidents kill 112 within six days of Tet

Two suspects in robbery on HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expy identified The Saigon Times Daily An image captured from video footage shows that two robbers are threatening a staff member of the toll station – PHOTO: VNA HCMC - The police of Dong Nai Province on February 7 said they have identified two suspected robbers who had stormed into a toll station in the province’s Thong Nhat District of the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, the local media reported. A suspected robber is N.T.A, 25, an ex-employee of Long Phuoc tollgate of the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, which is managed by Vietnam Expressway Services Engineering JSC (VECE). The other used to work for VECE as well. VECE deputy director Nguyen Thi Hoai Phuong confirmed the robbery to the local media, adding that the two robbers had got away with VND2.2 billion. According to witnesses at the toll station, the two robbers had used a knife and a gun to browbeat them and even attacked employees of the … [Read more...] about Two suspects in robbery on HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expy identified