Launching the Emerging Pandemic Threats 2 Programme in Viet Nam
The global EPT-2 program builds on cooperation and partnerships over the past decade among USAID and its partners, including successful cooperation on Avian Influenza, to prevent and combat newly emerging diseases at their source, including those of animal origin. EPT-2 will help more than 20 focus countries in Africa and Asia detect viruses with pandemic potential, improve laboratory capacity to support surveillance, strengthen national and local capacities to respond in an appropriate and timely manner, and provide education on ways to prevent exposure to these dangerous pathogens.
In Viet Nam over the past 5 years, the first phase of the EPT program has worked with and supported several national partners such as the Department of Animal Health, the Viet Nam University of Agriculture, and the Department of Livestock Production, within the agriculture and rural development sector, as well as the General Department of Preventive Medicine, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, the Hanoi Medical University, the Hanoi School of Public Health and other counterparts within the health sector, to carry out a range of important initiatives for prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases.
“This cooperation represents a consolidation and extension of our earlier efforts and cooperation, building, reinforcing and taking progressive further steps in our capacity building efforts on surveillance, laboratories, research, communications and other areas”, said Mr. Tran Kim Long at the conference.
The USAID’s EPT-2 program is being implemented in Vietnam with technical collaboration from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and with partners in three new project areas: Predict 2, One Health Workforce, and Preparedness and Response.
Since 2005, USAID has provided more than $60 million to support Vietnam's programs to combat avian influenza and other pandemic threats.
