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From 2004, poultry and humans in Viet Nam were heavily impacted by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks. In order to strengthen FAO’s ongoing response, FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) program joined the FAO Viet Nam country office in 2006. With the financial support from various organizations such as the United States Agency of International Development (USAID), Japanese Trust Funds, the European Commission, the World Bank and the UN-Government of Viet Nam Joint Programme on Avian Influenza, FAO ECTAD Viet Nam partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to support the detection, prevention and control of this deadly disease.
Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by the same Aedes mosquitoes that can spread Dengue and Yellow Fever. It is not only transmitted to people via mosquitos, but also can be transmitted from mother to child, through blood and through sexual activity (in rare cases). This virus has spread rapidly and has now been recorded in 31 countries around the world.
Infectious agents do not respect country boundaries, especially viruses that easily adapt to their surrounding environments and sometimes gain the ability to cause severe diseases in animals and humans. For these reasons, it is critical for neighboring countries such as Viet Nam and China to collaborate closely for effective prevention and control of potential transboundary and emerging animal diseases.
Over many years, the Government of Viet Nam has developed and sustained various infectious disease surveillance and early warning activities in human and animal populations, supported by domestic and international partners. These activities form a key component of national efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to new or potential pandemic influenza viruses and other emerging zoonotic diseases. The Government has taken a key role in the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), including as a lead country on the Zoonotic Diseases Action Package (ZDAP).
Following its successful launch at the beginning of March 2016, one of the key initial activities of the Viet Nam One Health Partnership for Zoonoses Secretariat is to support consultations with national and international partners to provide inputs to the development of a multi-sector Viet Nam Integrated One Health Action Plan for the period 2016-2020.
On March 1, 2016, the launching meeting and signing ceremony for the Partnership Framework of the Viet Nam One Health Partnership for Zoonoses (OHP) was successfully organized in Hanoi. The meeting was co-chaired by the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Vice Minister of Health, the UN Resident Coordinator and the United States Ambassador to Viet Nam, with the participation of 27 signatories and around one hundred representatives from national and international agencies.
Following a clear trend globally and in Viet Nam of moving towards a One Health approach to emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), also adopting the suggestion of the Partnership members and under the direction of the Government, extensive consultations have indicated consensus about re-launching the Partnership as the Viet Nam One Health Partnership for Zoonoses (OHP).
ECOMORE (standing for ECOnomic development, ECOsystem Modifications and emerging infectious diseases Risk Evaluation)
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