Avian influenza - MBDS region (69): Viet Nam (Ca Mau, Nghe An)

Date: Thu 4 Dec 2008
Source: VietNamNet Bridge [edited]
<http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2008/12/816833/>


Bird flu reappears in poultry, no human cases yet
-------------------------------------------------
Bird flu has appeared in the southernmost province of Ca Mau and in
the central Nghe An Province, but no new cases of humans contracting
avian influenza A (H5N1) have so far been reported.

Dr Nguyen Huy Nga, Head of the Department for Preventive Medicine and
Environment, made this announcement during a meeting of the National
Steering Board on the Control of Flu Pandemics in Humans in Hanoi on
[3 Dec 2008].

The medical official warned that, due to the conducive weather
conditions and the unpredictable development of the bird flu epidemic
in poultry, there is a high risk of humans becoming infected by avian
influenza A (H5N1).

The Health Ministry is working alongside the 4 Pasteur Institutes
nationwide and Preventive Medical Centres in all provinces to monitor
the progression of the disease, particularly in the affected
localities and those with a history of epidemic outbreaks.

The ministry also organised 8 training courses for the country's 3
regions and provided communication equipment and protective clothing
to a number of cities and provinces to help them effectively prepare
to tackle an epidemic.

The ministry also plans to hold more epidemic prevention training
courses in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, and Dak Lak, and
organise additional courses for preventive medical workers in 8
cities and provinces, namely Ha Noi, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Quang
Binh, Lang Son, Dac Lac, Dong Thap, and Thua Thien-Hue.

So far this year [2008], Viet Nam has suffered 5 human H5N1
fatalities in Tuyen Quang, Hai Duong, Phu Tho, Ha Nam, and Ninh Binh.
The most recent case of human avian influenza A (H5N1) infection was
on [4 Mar 2008].

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>

[The southern province of Ca Mau and the central province of Nghe An
have detected new outbreaks of H5N1 infection in poultry. No human
infection associated with these outbreaks is reported.

The most recent H5N1 outbreaks reported in the MBDS region occurred
in Sukhothai and Uthai Thani provinces of Thailand (see prior
PRO/MBDS posting Avian influenza - MBDS Region (68): Thailand (SO
OIE, UT) 20081115.3607). The confirmation report on these outbreaks
from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is available at
<http://www.oie.int/wahis/reports/en_fup_0000007514_20081117_133117.pdf>.

The previous H5N1 outbreak in Viet Nam was reported from Dien Hong
commune of Nghe An province in November 2008 (see prior PRO/MBDS
posting Avian influenza - MBDS region (65): Viet Nam (Nghe An) 20081112.3557).

For maps of Viet Nam with provinces, see
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/vietnam_admin01.jpg>
and <http://www.angelfire.com/co/hongnam/vnmap.html>.

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Viet Nam can be accessed
at <http://healthmap.org/promed?v=14.9,108.5,5>. This map shows other
outbreaks in Viet Nam and surrounding countries that have been
reported on ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS. The postings can be directly
accessed through this map. - Mod.YMA]