DIRECTIVE OF THE MINISTER OF HEALTH

ON STRENGTHENING EFFORTS TO PREVENT AND CONTROL VIRAL PNEUMONIA DISEASE  

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According to the World Health Organization's announcement, in late 2003 and January 2004, the Influenza outbreak increased in many countries around the world, particularly the Avian Influenza caused by the H5N1 subtype of the Influenza A virus.

In Asia, from December 2003 to date, the Avian Influenza has been recorded in countries such as South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, China, Indonesia, Taiwan... To date, Thailand has recorded four cases of Influenza A, H5N1 subtype, all four cases have died.

In Vietnam, according to the announcement of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Avian Influenza has occurred in 56 out of 64 provinces/cities with millions of poultry dead. The disease has occurred in humans and the H5N1 virus has been identified in 11 provinces/cities.

To urgently implement measures to prevent and control viral pneumonia disease, the Ministry of Health requests:

I.  Directors of Health Departments of provinces/cities to urgently implement the following contents:

1. Direct the Preventive Health Centers and subordinate health units to implement epidemiological surveillance in areas where the disease has occurred in poultry, strictly implementing  the Prime Minister's Directive at Circular No. 17/TB-VPCP dated February 1, 2004 on strengthening efforts to prevent and control viral pneumonia disease and other directives of the Ministry of Health on preventing and controlling viral pneumonia disease.

2. Submit to the People's Committee of the province/city to supplement funds for purchasing medicines, chemicals, specialized materials, and protective equipment for disease prevention and control work as well as to protect the health of medical staff directly investigating and handling outbreaks and treating patients.

3. Direct healthcare facilities to mobilize all available forces and means to be ready to admit and treat patients, especially in case of widespread and prolonged outbreaks.

4. Closely coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in activities to prevent and control diseases in poultry and livestock, especially in the destruction of diseased poultry and livestock. Strict preventive measures must be taken for people who come into direct contact with the source of infection: poultry farmers, people handling dead chickens... to prevent the spread of Avian Influenza to humans. Unify guidance for the public to implement preventive measures against diseases in poultry and humans.

Organize extensive education and publicity among the public about hygiene measures to prevent disease.

6. Strictly implement the information and reporting regulations for infectious diseases causing epidemics issued together with Decision No. 4880/2002/QĐ-BYT dated 06/12/2002 of the Minister of Health. Report the situation of the epidemic in the locality to the Preventive Health Department and HIV/AIDS Prevention Department - Ministry of Health before 4 PM daily.

II. Directors of the Hygiene and Epidemiology Institutes, Pasteur Institutes, Central Hospital Directors, and other subordinate units are requested to urgently implement the following contents:

1. Direct and support Preventive Health Centers under their assigned regions in implementing disease prevention activities.

2. Prepare material resources, medicines, equipment, etc., to promptly support localities in diagnosing, admitting, and treating cases of viral pneumonia.

3. Urgently research and determine the causes and modes of transmission of the disease from poultry to humans and from human to human to develop appropriate preventive measures.

Upon receipt of this Directive, it is required that the Directors of Health Departments of provinces/cities and subordinate units organize its implementation urgently and report the results to the Ministry of Health./.