Viet Nam
As human cases of influenza A(H7N9) in China have been on a rise, the Government of Viet Nam has undertaken a proactive and timely response to prevent the influenza A(H7N9) virus from being transmitted to Viet Nam.
These are some initial tentative events to be updated by OHCN members at the quarterly meeting dated 17 March 2017 in Ha Noi.
In the context of increasing globalization, the risks coming from emerging diseases have posed significant challenges to the economy, society and public health of a nation. Some emerging diseases with the potential for large outbreaks have included SARS, Influenza A (H5N1), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Ebola, Yellow Fever and Zika. In 2016, the emergence of disease caused by Zika virus in America and Asia, including in countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region with complicated situation, is a public health event of national and international interests.
Continuing the ongoing technical and financial support of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (US CDC) for Viet Nam’s health sector in improving capacity to detect and respond to global health threats, the second Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Viet Nam was officially inaugurated at National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) on 20 October 2016.
In the context of global ecosystems change leading to increased risks of human diseases , a project on "Economic development, Ecosystem Modifications and Emerging Infectious Disease Risk Evaluation (ECOMORE)" funded by Institut Pasteur and the Agence Francaise de Développement (AFD) was implemented in four countries in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam) from 2013 to 2016.
Being implemented from December 2013 till June 2016, one of the important results of the project “Strengthening Capacity for implementation of One Health in Viet Nam” funded by USAID through UNDP has been support and small grants provided for key research and other priority studies as identified by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) in One Health field. Within the scope of the project, seven studies were conducted by national and international experts, who were mobilized by the Viet Nam One Health Partnership for Zoonoses (OHP) Secretariat, which is the focal point for implementing SCOH. The finalized study reports were sent to technical agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) for appraisal before official dissemination.
In July 2016, the USAID-funded PREDICT worked with Viet Nam’s Department of Animal Health to release the final results from PREDICT-1 surveillance of wildlife farms in Viet Nam. The information represents the first set of PREDICT data on viruses circulating in farmed wildlife in Viet Nam. The findings support concerns that wildlife farms are associated with factors that increase the risk of pandemic emergence. Viruses from viral families of public health concern (Corona viruses and Rhabdoviruses) were detected in wildlife on 62% (18/29) of the farms screened. More than one virus was detected on some farms and viruses were detected in multiple species. The viruses detected included both known viruses and novel viruses, with evidence of cross species transmission. These viruses will be further characterized under PREDICT-2.
Rabies is a dangerous acute infectious viral disease which is spread to people from infected animals, in particular dogs. According to statistics from WHO, 50,000 people die of rabies and more than 10 million people have rabies vaccination every year. In Viet Nam, rabies disease has been circulating in the country for many years.
In order to mobilize and effectively utilise support from the international community and to affirm Viet Nam's commitment to the prevention and control of infectious diseases in humans and animals, the Government of Viet Nam (GoVN) through the Viet Nam One Health Partnership for Zoonoses (OHP) Secretariat has actively facilitated the development of the Viet Nam One Health Strategic Plan, 2016-2020.
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