The Vietnam-United Nations Joint Programme on avian influenza has madean important contribution to controlling the virus and reducing risks tohuman health in Vietnam , a meeting heard on Oct.7.
The 25 million USD project, which began in 2005, has provided aneffective mechanism for emergency response to avian influenza andreduced the number of both human cases and disease outbreaks in poultry.
Specifically, the programme has provided technicalsupport to the national poultry vaccination programme andpost-vaccination surveillance; strengthened the legal framework forresponding to avian influenza and similar threats; and improved thecapacity of medical doctors, health officials and veterinarians.
The programme also targeted efforts to help poultry farmers and tradersreduce the risk of infection among humans and bring the virus undercontrol in birds.
Eamonn Murphy, acting UN ResidentCo-ordinator said that the programme provided a model for UN andnational agencies to discuss disease threats from animals to humans andother complex issues.
Bui Ba Bong, Vice Minister ofAgriculture and Rural Development strongly affirmed Vietnam 'scommitment to respond to avian influenza and address the risks ofdisease.
He expressed his wish to continue working withthe UN to ensure the health of the Vietnamese people and contribute toregional and global efforts.
Co-operation betweenVietnam and the UN on the threat of avian influenza and other diseasesfrom animals to humans is expected to continue during the 2012-16period.
Vietnam is the second most hit country in the world from the bird flu virus with over 100 human infections and 53 deaths.
Vietnam 's first outbreak of avian influenza occurred in late 2003.In April 2004, the disease quickly spread through 57 out of 63 provincesand 24 percent of all communes reported outbreaks of the disease.
The outbreaks resulted in 52 million birds culled, which stagnatedpoultry production, disrupted trade, and seriously affected the tourismsector and the livelihoods of many rural poor households. /.
The 25 million USD project, which began in 2005, has provided aneffective mechanism for emergency response to avian influenza andreduced the number of both human cases and disease outbreaks in poultry.
Specifically, the programme has provided technicalsupport to the national poultry vaccination programme andpost-vaccination surveillance; strengthened the legal framework forresponding to avian influenza and similar threats; and improved thecapacity of medical doctors, health officials and veterinarians.
The programme also targeted efforts to help poultry farmers and tradersreduce the risk of infection among humans and bring the virus undercontrol in birds.
Eamonn Murphy, acting UN ResidentCo-ordinator said that the programme provided a model for UN andnational agencies to discuss disease threats from animals to humans andother complex issues.
Bui Ba Bong, Vice Minister ofAgriculture and Rural Development strongly affirmed Vietnam 'scommitment to respond to avian influenza and address the risks ofdisease.
He expressed his wish to continue working withthe UN to ensure the health of the Vietnamese people and contribute toregional and global efforts.
Co-operation betweenVietnam and the UN on the threat of avian influenza and other diseasesfrom animals to humans is expected to continue during the 2012-16period.
Vietnam is the second most hit country in the world from the bird flu virus with over 100 human infections and 53 deaths.
Vietnam 's first outbreak of avian influenza occurred in late 2003.In April 2004, the disease quickly spread through 57 out of 63 provincesand 24 percent of all communes reported outbreaks of the disease.
The outbreaks resulted in 52 million birds culled, which stagnatedpoultry production, disrupted trade, and seriously affected the tourismsector and the livelihoods of many rural poor households. /.
