Australia furthers fight against Avian Influenza in Vietnam

Australia will provide $3 million to Vietnam to help the country combat Avian Influenza and other infectious diseases, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Bruce Billson, announced in Hanoi.

'Like many countries in the Asia Pacific, Vietnam is at risk of emerging diseases such as SARS and Avian Influenza and health authorities fear it could be at the centre of a major pandemic,' Mr Billson said.

'This new funding, through AusAID, the Australian Government's overseas aid agency, will help Vietnam strengthen its ability to manage public health emergencies, with a particular focus on Avian Influenza.

'Part of Australia's support will be delivered through a joint program managed by three UN agencies - the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the UN Development Program (UNDP) - in partnership with the National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Prevention,' Mr Billson said.

'The program will support the preparation and implementation of a national human epidemic preparedness plan, build Vietnam's capacity to detect, diagnose, monitor and control outbreaks of diseases and strengthen surveillance for early detection and control of recurrent outbreaks in animals.

'Vietnam's response to the threat of Avian Influenza to date has been proactive and has built on the experience gained in 2003 when authorities worked effectively to control the SARS outbreak,' Mr Billson said.

'Australia's contribution aims to build local skills in disease surveillance and outbreak control at the provincial and district level by helping to establish a combined field epidemiology and laboratory training course within a Vietnamese learning or research institute.

'The funding will also support the Australian Department of Health and Ageing, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and the CSIRO to work closely with Vietnamese counterpart agencies to improve information exchange across laboratory and communicable disease networks.

'Australia is taking a lead role in helping the region prepare for and respond to pandemic threats and we have now committed more than $33 million to the Asia Pacific since 2003 to combat Avian Influenza and other zoonotic diseases, which includes the placement of an Australian epidemiologist with the WHO in Vietnam,' Mr Billson said.

Vietnam has the highest rate of Avian Influenza infection and the largest number of transmissions to humans so far with the WHO confirming 91 human cases as of 24 October 2005.