December 3, 2010

Vietnam joins APEC effort to improve bird flu measures

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members, including Vietnam, have agreed Wednesday (Dec 1) to boost cooperation in preventing and fighting bird flu.

The participants exchanged their experience in the model and policy of bird flu prevention and control, particularly in the effective use of vaccine. They also analysed previous campaigns of bird flu prevention and control, as well as the world economies' response to the problem.

International experts made theories for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccination in APEC and Asean, as well as further cooperation among APEC and Asean in prevention and control of the disease.

They shared experience in HPAI vaccination in Indonesia, the advantages and disadvantages of vaccination to poultry and human health in Thailand, and effective use of vaccine for bird flu infection in China. They aim to conclude the HPAI vaccination campaign in the region.

The event's result will be submitted to the health section of APEC on February 2011.

Sixty-two outbreaks have been found in Vietnam's 23 provinces this year, forcing the cull of 112,000 birds. The disease is remaining in two central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.