Vietnam continues to battle against AH1N1

 

 

The Ministry of Health yesterday confirmed that Vietnam would continue the fight against the AH1N1 flu virus despite allegations that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had deliberately faked news about pandemics.

 

Deputy Minister of Health Trinh Quan Huan said the country still received vaccines sponsored by WHO and was carrying out vaccinations as planned.

 

Nguyen Huy Nga, director of the Preventive Medicine and Environment Department, said that the report of "false pandemics" had not been officially established, so as far as Vietnam was concerned, nothing had changed.

 

Nga warned that the information was misleading and could lead people to ignore taking preventive steps.

 

"It is very dangerous because, although the flu epidemic in Vietnam has been contained, it can return in the cold weather," he said.

 

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan urged officials to maintain vigilance against poultry and cattle diseases and epidemics.

 

Tan met with relevant officials in Hanoi with messages to enhance the prevention of epidemics, as the Tet festival (Lunar New Year) was nearing and demand for poultry and cattle was increasing.

 

Hoang Van Nam, deputy director of the Animal Health Department, said that bird flu had occurred in some localities last year, but they had been wiped out on time.

 

This year, Nam said, there had been more outbreaks because of weak supervisions and bad husbandry plans in some localities.

 

Deputy Minister Tan also warned about a possible national outbreak due to increased trading of the product for Tet, as well as favourable weather conditions for the virus.

 

Officials were also asked to strengthen prevention activities against foot and mouth disease (FMD) in cattle, which happened in 29 cities and provinces last year on more than 8,000 cattle.

 

All 63 provinces and cities will be required to administer bird flu vaccines to poultry in two phases, the first from April to May, and the second from October to November, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

 

Half of the localities will administer the vaccines to all poultry, and the other half to fowl living in high-risk areas only.

 

In an earlier report, Wolfgang Wodarg, head of Health Committee at the European Council, accused the makers of flu drugs and vaccines of influencing the WHO's decision to declare a "false pandemic."