“The warning signs regarding the flu epidemic are concerning enough that no country can afford to be indifferent to it. However, currently, no country is adequately prepared to deal with a pandemic” – U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt stated to reporters on the morning of October 14 as he began his visit to Vietnam.
– How do you assess the current risk of the H5N1 flu virus?
– The world has now become a biologically dangerous place. H5N1 is present in many countries, and if it mutates and spreads easily from person to person, it could claim millions of lives and severely affect billions more. We do not yet know for certain whether a pandemic will occur in the near future, but the warning signs are indeed alarming.
– In your opinion, what is the most important thing to do to counter a pandemic?
– We must immediately establish a global flu surveillance network. Last week, representatives from 70 countries, including Vietnam, met in the U.S. to discuss the establishment of this network. In addition to stockpiling medications and upgrading equipment, countries need to set up rapid response teams and a monitoring system down to the village level. When an outbreak occurs, it must be reported immediately, and this information needs to be made public. I want to emphasize the importance of sharing information quickly and accurately among countries for timely responses to a pandemic. Of course, having to publicly disclose information about an epidemic can put pressure on authorities, but it is essential for responding rapidly to a dangerous disease like avian flu. In my opinion, up until now, no country has been adequately prepared to combat a flu pandemic, so there is much work to be done. The U.S. will support Southeast Asian countries in this effort.
– Why has the U.S. decided to support Southeast Asian countries in combating avian flu when the disease has not appeared in the U.S.?
– Even if an outbreak occurs far away, other countries cannot afford to be indifferent. Imagine the world as a large forest; just one spark igniting somewhere can threaten the entire forest. That fire can be easily extinguished when it first starts, but if it grows large, it becomes difficult to control. The same applies to the flu; detecting and extinguishing the initial outbreak will save the rest of the world from devastation. Thus, the U.S. President has initiated partnerships to combat flu pandemics. During this visit to Vietnam, we want to observe the situation, learn about Vietnam’s experiences in flu prevention, and support you in these efforts.
– Specifically, how will the U.S. assist Vietnam?
– The U.S. government has decided to allocate $25 million to help Southeast Asian countries combat the flu. Specifically for Vietnam, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide $2.4 million, and the U.S. Agency for International Development will contribute an additional $3.4 million. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will also offer separate assistance. This funding will be used to purchase equipment, upgrade laboratories, enhance the capabilities of healthcare personnel, and communicate with the community, establish rapid response teams, and create a disease surveillance network at the grassroots level. Furthermore, in our meeting with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health this morning, we also proposed to assist Vietnam in testing the A flu vaccine on humans that you are currently researching.
Thanh Nhàn