As Influenza becomes an increasingly worrisome problem in Vietnam, they are working together with the U.S. and neighbors to find ways to prevent and control the disease.
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| A dicussion on preventing and controlling Influenza disease in Vietnam. |
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Influenza Program in Vietnam participated in a “Capacity Building Workshop on Vaccination against Avian Influenza”.
Other countries and member economies attending the meeting included Vietnam, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, and Chile. International organizations included APEC, ASEAN, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organization for Animal Health.
Presenting the USG guidance during the meeting was Dr. James C. Kile, a veterinary medical epidemiologist, and chief of the Animal-Human Interface Initiative of the CDC Influenza Program in Vietnam. Dr. Kile’s presentation focused on a “One Health” approach to each country’s own considerations for poultry vaccination against avian influenza, to include public health, animal health, and economic factors. During the meeting, Dr. Kile also chaired the session on vaccination strategies.
“A number of countries are reviewing their avian influenza control strategies, including poultry vaccination. The disease situation of Avian Influenza H5N1 poultry outbreaks and human cases has changed over the last few years, and it is important to evaluate and, if needed, adjust control and prevention strategies using the most up-to-date scientific information and risk assessments,” shared Dr. Kile.
As part of the CDC Influenza Program in Vietnam, the AHI initiative includes the collaboration of a U.S. physician and U.S. veterinarian working with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development professionals. To date, the CDC Influenza Program in Vietnam has provided over US $11 million in total funding support to the Government of Vietnam.
The CDC Influenza Program in Vietnam provides USG funding support and technical assistance for surveillance and research of influenza viruses and other zoonotic diseases, including at the animal-human interface (AHI). AHI projects and programs attempt to address gaps in knowledge of zoonotic diseases, those that transmit between other animal species and humans, such as influenza viruses.
