October 3, 2005

Vietnam has no bird flu victims since July
 

There have been no new victims to the pathogenic bird flu virus H5N1 in Vietnam since Jul 25, announced the country's Deputy Health Minister Trinh Quan Huan on Sep 28.

However, he warned that the flu could recur in the coming winter months and that health workers should continue to monitor high-risk areas.

Huan also revealed that the Health Ministry has set aside VND775 million (US$49,000) to organise training courses, monitor human cases tested positive for the flu in high-risk localities, and to vaccinate poultry flocks in these areas.

The ministry has also designed a plan of action to prevent a widespread epidemic of human infections. A H5N1 vaccine which has been successfully tested on animals, will be used to treat humans on a trial basis once permitted.

Since the first case of H5N1 infection detected in late 2003, Vietnam has had 91 victims of the disease, including 41 fatal cases. All the bird flu victims had had direct contact with infected fowls.