Warning of bird flu risks intensified

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has asked northern cities and provinces to strengthen bird flu control because of the possible high-risk period of the disease from now until the lunar new year (Tet) festival.

At the conference on bird flu control in Hanoi on Dec. 3, Deputy MARD Minister Diep Kinh Tan asked local agriculture and rural development departments to give advice or recommendations to authorities in order to reinforce disease control networks and thoroughly tackle outbreaks if they detected signs of the disease.

According to the deputy minister, inattentiveness of local authorities and people in disease prevention and control, unplanned vaccination and small-scaled husbandry habits are major reasons behind the lurking bird flu disease.

Nguyen Van Son, Director of the Veterinary Company Zone 1, said that bird flu was under control and would not impact on domestic fowls until Tet festival.

According to the Veterinary Department, bird flu outbreaks were reported in 63 communes and wards of 23 cities and provinces, forcing the culling of 75,770 fowls so far this year.

Localities have been conducting vaccination for poultry in the second phase of this year from November. The vaccination is expected to be completed this month./.

Related Articles

• Poverty reduction efforts continue in hills
• Ukrainian parliament chief en route to VN
• UK rock band primed for tour
• PM launches news channel
• Market drops below 450 points

Regional congress discusses poison control measures

HA NOI — More than 300 local and international toxicologists discussed poison control and preven-tion at the Asia-Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology's 9th annual Scientific Congress that opened yesterday in Ha Noi.

"The congress provides a joint platform for scientists to compare methodologies and discuss poison prevention and control," said Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen during her opening remarks at the event.

The three-day symposium, Collaboration against poisoning: from regional experience to global vision, was co-organised by Bach Mai General Hospital and the Asia-Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology (APAMT).

"Clinical toxicology has increasingly played a vital role in the management of poison control and prevention globally," said President of APAMT Winai Wananukul. "The congress hopes to create a multi-professional education course that will provide supplemental instruction to young inspectors, physicians, pharmacists and nurses within the region."

According to Bach Mai Hospital's Poison Control Centre (PCC), the facility has treated between 1,700-1,800 patients each year. Fatality rates have been reduced from 8.5 per cent in 1998 to 1.7 per cent in 2009. The centre has trained more than 1,000 staff members and managed several campaigns to raise community awareness about poison prevention.

"Acute poisoning is a common problem in Viet Nam and about one-fourth to one-third of the patients admitted to emergency rooms are suffering from some types of poisoning," said former PCC Director Nguyen Thi Du.

"Common poisoning cases in Viet Nam include snakebites, pesticides and drug overdose," said Du, "Early diagnosis will help decrease their mortality rates." — VNS

Related Articles

• Prime Minister discusses relations, co-operation with Lao counterpart
• City promotes prepaid bus cards
• Viet Nam and China sign pack on human trafficking
• ASEAN role sought to resolve temple conflict
• HCMC urges efforts to save Dong Nai River

Many activities during HIV/AIDS action month

The national action month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control will take place from Nov. 10-Dec. 10 under the theme of accessing information and human rights.

The Health Ministry will hold numerous activities to attract the participation of the community in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Meetings and parades will be held at wards and communes nationwide at 7.30 am on Nov. 28.

During the month, exhibitions on the 20-year fight against HIV/AIDS and contests of information dissemination on HIV/AIDS will be held across the country.

“The Vietnam Creative Day on HIV/AIDS Prevention 2010” will be held in early December to call on individuals and organisations to present their proposals on HIV/AIDS control.

A conference to review 20 years of Vietnam coping with the disease and the fourth scientific conference on the theme will also be organised at national level.

By September 2010, the total number of people infected with HIV in Vietnam has exceeded 180,300, including more than 42,000 developed to full-blown AIDS. More than 48,000 people have died of the disease.

The Vietnamese government has carried out many measures and programmes on HIV/AIDS control and made some gains – 2010 is the third consecutive year when the number of people affected with the disease decreased and the year that the number of deaths from HIV/AIDS dropped./.

Related Articles

• October auto sales continue downtrend
• Industry, retail recover, but currency woes remain
• HCMC to relay grand sale program to November
• Sugar exchange grinds to a halt on commodity shortage
• Manufacturing, exports set to surpass targets