>> Netherlands: Contributes 1 million euros to support Vietnam in combating avian influenza.
>> Hanoi: Establishes task force for pandemic flu prevention
In light of the complex developments of the avian influenza outbreak, on October 27 and 28, 2005, in Hanoi, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborated to hold a workshop titled “National Influenza Surveillance,” with the participation of numerous epidemiology experts from Vietnam, WHO, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States.
Many opinions at the workshop agreed that the urgent need is to establish and expand the national influenza surveillance program to detect new human cases, prevent and control the risk of outbreak, along with scientific research to develop the most effective influenza pandemic prevention strategies.
In Vietnam, following the emergence of avian influenza cases in humans, the Ministry of Health mandated that all suspected avian influenza cases must be reported immediately via telephone or fax to higher authorities. Since February 2005, the national influenza surveillance program has begun to be established.
* The Netherlands has agreed to contribute 1 million euros (approximately 1.2 million USD) to support the emergency avian influenza prevention program in Vietnam. This assistance is part of a program led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
* The People’s Committee of Hanoi has recently issued a decision to establish an emergency steering committee and a task force for human influenza pandemic prevention. These two committees will be responsible for directing departments, sectors, districts, and towns to collaborate with specialized agencies to implement surveillance, detection, isolation, and timely treatment measures for influenza cases.
TTXVN – C.HÀ – K.HƯNG
