[health-vn] Vietnam joins regional efforts to combat influenza A/H1N1

[Vern Weitzel]

http://vietnamplus.vn/xahoi-en/200905071620246597

Vietnam joins regional efforts to combat influenza A/H1N1
07-05-2009 | 20:20:00


WHO đã nâng báo động dịch cúm A/H1N1 lên mức 5/6 báo động về sức khỏe thế giới.
Vietnam is willing to work with other ASEAN countries by sharing information and 
contributing to stocks of medicines to prevent and if necessary combat a 
possible outbreak of A/H1N1 flu in the region, said a health official.

Director of the Health Ministry’s Preventive Medicine and Environment Department 
Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga stated this on the sidelines of an ASEAN health ministers 
meeting, with China , Japan and the Republic of Korea also taking part, which 
opened in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 7.

Nga said that Vietnam has taken a number of measures in case the disease reaches 
the country, including buying in more medical equipment to detect the virus at 
the earliest opportunity and stockpiling reserves of medicines.

The country has also activated its warning system and stepped up the monitoring 
of travellers, particularly those at border gates, the official added.

Participants at the meeting will share their experience, access the effect the 
disease could have on the region, and look at more efficient ways of handling a 
potential widespread outbreak of the disease.

Senior officials and experts from the 10 member countries of the Association of 
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their three partners at the talks also met 
with the representatives of a number of international organisations in Bangkok .

Permanent Secretary of the Thai Health Ministry Prat Boonyawongvirot said the 
health officials are due to consider a proposal for more joint working in this 
field, including stepping up research to find a flu vaccine and subsequent mass 
production as well as a plan to expand the region’s reserves of medicine.

The latest statistics show that more than 1,900 cases of influenza A/H1N1 flu 
have been confirmed in 24 countries and territories worldwide and 44 people have 
died from the disease./.