November 21, 2005

France will help Vietnam against bird flu
 

France's Minister of Health and Solidarity Xavier Bertrand said the country would supply respirators and protective clothing to help Vietnam fight against bird flu.

Vietnam would also receive French help in developing a pandemic surveillance network.

Bertrand expressed confidence in deciding to provide Vietnam help after seeing firsthand the country's efforts towards curbing bird flu, during his recent visit there. He also noted that Vietnam was "fully aware" of the threat of a bird flu pandemic and has "mobilised all forces and sources" against the disease.

He added that the Vietnamese Government would provide France a list of detailed requests for help against the disease soon.

France has pledged EUR10 million to the global emergency fund against the virus during the recent Geneva conference on bird flu.

In addition, France would send 10 experts to the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, to help raise their technical capability in bird flu-hit regions.