State: Avian flu has been caged

January 16, 2006 | 17:40

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The Health Ministry announced bird flu has been contained in Vietnam but the country will remain vigilant over the possible comeback of the deadly virus, which has killed 78 people globally.

The WHO is warning Vietnam to be vigilant despite claims Avian flu has been contained

“The bird flu has been contained totally in Vietnam,” Health Minister Tran Thi Trung Chien announced last week.
The ministry said there have been no new bird flu cases since November 14, 2005. Bird flu broke out in 25 provinces and cities, claiming 22 lives last year and bringing the country’s death toll caused by the H5N1 virus to 42 people over the last two years.
Hans Troedsson, representative of World Health Organisation in Vietnam, said the Vietnamese government should be congratulated for their efforts in containing bird flu and added that other countries are looking at Vietnam as an example.
“The Vietnamese government has made impressive efforts in fighting bird flu and we see a positive trend when there have no human cases since November,” he said.
Troedsson told Vietnam Investment Review that Vietnam has overcome a sensitive time; December and January usually see an increasing number of bird flu cases but this year there has been a downward trend
However, he cautioned the risk is not over. “Vietnam should not be complacent as Tet is a high-risk time,” he said.
Minister Chien agreed, saying the possibility of bird flu coming back and spreading to humans remains high during the spring and the Lunar New Year.
She said as bird flu was complicated in the world, the country would remain on high alert and adopt measures to prevent its comeback.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai recently agreed to spend another $10 million to ensure there is a budget for fighting bird flu this year.
Bird flu has killed 78 out of 147 people who contracted the H5N1 virus in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, China, Vietnam and Turkey.

No. 744/January 16-22, 2006

By Son Thuy

vir.com.vn

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