VietNamNet Bridge – The capital will be used to promote communication, anti-flu exercises, capacity building of laboratories, building isolated zones for flu patients, etc.

 

The information was released at the conference to mobilize resources for the prevention of H7N9 flu in Vietnam, held in Hanoi on May 6. The amount is expected to come from the Government (about $36 million) and international donors.

Deputy Minister of Health -- Nguyen Thanh Long, said the investigation is still continuing to determine the source of infection and mode of transmission of the H7N9 flu virus. To date there is no evidence of A/H7N9 virus spreading from person to person. In Vietnam there is no swine flu cases reported in both humans and poultry.

Before the complicated flu situation in some places in China, Mr. Long expressed concern about the ability of penetration and the outbreaks of this flu in Vietnam. The reason is that Vietnam has a long border with China, the exchange of people as well as the large exchange of goods, particularly poultry, through the border.

In early May, a monitoring program has been implemented in the Northern provinces to monitor the H7N9 influenza virus in poultry. In 60 major markets, 18,000 samples will be collected from poultry for testing.

According to Dr. Takeshi Kasai, reprehensive of the World Health Organization in Vietnam, H7N9 is recombinant virus from three sources: domestic ducks in China, wild birds and poultry in the region. The virus pathogens in poultry are low so it is difficult to detect since the bird does not die. But when it spreads to humans, it can cause serious complications and death.

H7N9 has infected 130 people in 10 provinces of China, in which 31 people died.

Mai Lan