Spraying chemical at a bird flu outbreak (Photo: VNA)Hanoi, (VNA) – Vietnam has to date detected nonew avian flu virus strains despite its location in the Southeast Asianregion’s hotspot of the diseases.
According to the Department of Preventative Medicine,Vietnam is at high risks of being inflicted with new virus strains via regionaltrade and traveling activities. However, the country has yet to detect bird fluviruses A/H7N9, A/H5N2 and A/H5N8 on both human and poultry, and A/H5N8 onhuman.
To monitor developments of the diseases, the Health Ministryhas established a national avian flu virus monitoring system and two nationalcentres for avian flu virus control at the National Institute of Hygiene andEpidemiology and Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute. Both centres are capableof detecting a wide range of flu virus strains.
The Health Ministry has also worked with the Ministry ofAgricultural and Rural Development and international organisations to collectsamples in disease-prone areas. The ministry has also implemented its diseasecontrol and prevention plan for 2018.
Vietnam first detected the bird flu virus A/H5N1 in December2003 on both human and poultry. Several new strains of the virus, such asA/H7N9, A/H5N2 and A/H5N8, could enter the country through transportation,business and consumption of illegally imported poultry products of unclearorigin, especially in the northern border provinces.-VNA
VNA
