Surveillance, early detection of H5N1 avian flu promoted

Provincial Department of Health (DoH) has just issued the Circular Letter No. 520/SYTNVY on proactive prevention and control of H5N1 avian flu. Accordingly, in order to be proactive to prevent and control avian influenza H5N1 in the province, provincial DoH has required the local medical examination and treatment facilities to focus on monitoring and detecting severe cases of pneumonia caused by the virus.

For cases of illness, revelant units should pay attention to making their epidemiological investigation. When detecting suspected cases, it is necessary for medical facilities to report to the local preventive health agency for monitoring, taking samples and send them to Ho Chi Minh city-based Pasteur Institute for confirmation. Provincial Center for Disease Control will cooperate with provincial Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine to share intersectoral information and early detect H5N1 avian flu outbreaks.

The health centers of districts, towns and cities will strengthen surveillance and early detection of H5N1 avian flu cases, outbreaks, respiratory infections with unknown cause in the community and at medical facilities in order to take samples for testing, identifying causative agents and limit the spread of the disease. They also need to promote dissemination of information about measures to detect and prevent H5N1 avian flu...among people.

Reported by Hoang Linh-Translated by Kim Tin