Can Tho was the fourth locality after Ha Noi, Thua Thien-Hue province and Ho Chi Minh City to have held such an exercise.

The exercise aimed at looking at what the city's Steering Committee on Diseases Prevention do to reinforce safeguards to prevent an epidemic and how well the city's Health Department and emergency services would cope with the disease in order to minimize human losses. 

As many as 200 people took part in the exercise, coming from the health service, police, army and local militia forces. 

The exercise was broadcast live on television with the aim of enhancing local people's awareness about the threat by avian influenza./.