The Centre of Health Protection is liaising with Vietnam health authorities on recent reports that several people died of bird flu in that country, Director of Health Dr Lam Ping-yan says.

Speaking to the media today, Dr Lam said more details are being sought from Vietnam to confirm whether there are such cases, the test results, and the route of transmission.

Hong Kong will take relevant measures if there is an outbreak in Vietnam, he added.

Dr Lam stressed the key to preventing avian flu outbreak is close monitoring, and Hong Kong has taken measures, such as vaccinating live chickens and having market rest days to curb the disease.

He believed the existing surveillance programme can help keep the risk of having a bird flu outbreak here to the minimum.