Resolution No. 15/2005/NQ-CP On urgent measures to prevent and control avian influenza (H5N1) and human influenza A (H5N1) pandemic

RESOLUTION

On Urgent Measures to Prevent and Control Avian Influenza (H5N1) Epidemic

and human influenza A (H5N1) pandemic

I- ASSESSMENT OF THE AVIAN INFLUENZA SITUATION

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a dangerous infectious disease. Historically, avian influenza viruses have caused pandemics in many countries around the world, such as the 1918-1919 pandemic, which resulted in nearly 40 million deaths within a short period of time.

From late 2003 to the present, avian influenza H5N1 has appeared in many countries and regions, including Vietnam. According to warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the world is facing the risk of an avian influenza epidemic and a human influenza A (H5N1) pandemic.

In our country, avian influenza H5N1 and human influenza A (H5N1) have occurred in three major outbreaks, resulting in the destruction of nearly 50 million poultry and 91 people infected, of whom 41 died. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific drug to prevent human influenza A (H5N1); the antiviral drug Tamiflu for treatment and prevention of human influenza A (H5N1) has not been clearly defined, must be used according to medical prescription, is not produced domestically, is expensive, has high demand, and its supply faces many difficulties. A pandemic could occur if people do not strictly comply with the regulations on prevention and control of the disease issued by the health and veterinary sectors.

II- SOME URGENT MEASURES

1. Approve the Emergency Action Plan when an avian influenza epidemic and a human influenza A (H5N1) pandemic occur. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Health shall cooperate with relevant ministries and sectors, take into account the opinions of government members, supplement and complete the plan, paying particular attention to issues such as funding, equipment reserves, drugs, materials, chemicals... specifying responsibilities and coordination among ministries, sectors, localities for implementation.

2. Based on this emergency action plan, all ministries, sectors, People's Committees at all levels, agencies, and units must urgently develop their own detailed action plans for implementation.

The development and implementation of emergency action plans by ministries, sectors, localities, agencies, and units must be considered an urgent and critical task for all levels of party committees and governments, the responsibility of every citizen, and require the mobilization of the entire political system to participate in implementation.

3. Proactively prepare all necessary conditions and mobilize all forces to prevent and control human influenza A (H5N1). The Ministry of Health, relevant ministries and sectors, and localities must direct all units and healthcare facilities from central level (including military and police forces) to provincial cities, districts, and communes to proactively prepare professional personnel and equipment, and implement specific preventive measures. For provincial hospitals, all infectious departments must prepare beds, treatment facilities for influenza, machines, equipment, and drugs. For the preventive healthcare system, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Pasteur Institute must prepare drills, stockpile influenza drugs, materials, and chemicals for disease prevention, organize mobile teams, and prepare for a pandemic. Provincial preventive healthcare centers must promptly detect, isolate, and thoroughly handle outbreaks, and have plans to manage activities upon the first detection of cases from healthcare facilities.

4. Resolutely eliminate sources of infection and control the spread of the disease among poultry. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, and related ministries and sectors must concentrate all resources, direct, and promptly implement the following measures:

a) Strictly implement preventive and control measures according to the requirements of health and veterinary authorities and Directive No. 53/CT-TW dated October 28, 2005 of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat on implementing urgent measures to prevent and control avian influenza (H5N1) and a human influenza pandemic; focus on directing and synchronizing biological safety measures, disinfection and sterilization, vaccination, and other measures prescribed by animal health laws; closely monitor the use of vaccines and the situation of avian influenza at household, village, commune, ward, group, and community levels. If infected poultry or dead poultry of unknown cause are found, immediate measures such as destroying poultry, disinfecting and sterilizing, isolating and surrounding the outbreak, prohibiting the transport of poultry out of the outbreak area, and other preventive and control measures prescribed by animal health laws must be applied to prevent the spread of the disease.

b) Plan and reorganize concentrated livestock breeding facilities towards industrialization and slaughterhouses and trading places for poultry to ensure food safety and environmental protection. Prohibit raising poultry in urban areas of cities, towns, and townships, especially in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, new urban areas, and industrial zones; limit raising poultry in areas with high risk of disease; support policies for small-scale poultry breeders, traders, and butchers to switch to other professions or move breeding facilities to designated locations. Guide small-scale breeders to implement preventive measures to ensure that the disease does not occur, maintain environmental hygiene, and public health. There must be strict measures to protect original poultry breeds and rare poultry breeds in localities and central breeding facilities.

Strengthen quarantine, slaughter inspection, and veterinary hygiene inspection of livestock and poultry to ensure food safety. Do not slaughter diseased poultry or sell, trade diseased poultry or poultry products without quarantine approval. In urban areas, only slaughtered or processed poultry may be sold, and it is strictly prohibited to sell live poultry or slaughter poultry at markets or unauthorized locations as prescribed by animal health laws.

Strictly prohibit the preparation and sale of raw blood from livestock and poultry; severely punish violations according to food safety laws.

d) Temporarily suspend the importation of poultry (including ornamental birds), fresh live poultry products, and untreated feathers. If smuggled poultry and poultry products are discovered, they shall be confiscated, destroyed, and the goods owner shall be strictly dealt with.

5. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and localities shall cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, political social organizations, and mass media to disseminate information, mobilize, educate, and raise awareness about disease prevention measures down to village, commune, community, agency, unit, school, and household levels so that all citizens have a full understanding of the dangers of the disease and the risk of disease transmission, take self-protection measures for their health and the community, and actively participate in disease prevention and control measures.

6. Regularly update information on the evolution of avian influenza and human influenza A (H5N1) worldwide. Cooperate and seek assistance from other countries, international organizations, and foreign scientists to prevent the occurrence of the disease and effectively contain it if it occurs.

III- IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Health shall be responsible for:

a) Coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to prepare all types of equipment, materials, specific drugs, chemicals, etc., as required for disease prevention and control.

b) Providing detailed guidance on specialized technical measures for preventing and controlling avian influenza and human influenza.

2. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall be responsible for budget allocation to implement these measures.

3. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial People's Committees under the central government shall be responsible for implementing disease prevention and control within their respective jurisdictions according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and their own approved emergency action plans.

4. The National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control, the National Steering Committee for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Human Influenza Prevention and Control shall regularly inspect the implementation of resolutions by ministries, sectors, and localities, and periodically report to the Prime Minister./.