US aids Vietnam to develop H5N1 flu vaccine

The Prime Minister has agreed to the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to receive nearly US $ 1 million from the US Department of Health to develop the H5N1 flu vaccine from monkey kidney cells.

Controlling influenza in poultry will prevent influenza A (H5N1) in humans. (Photo: VNN) According to VNA on September 6, in the first 8 months of 2006, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology took and tested more than 2,000 specimens of patients in 7 key provinces and in September. / 2006.

In addition, the Prime Minister also agreed to grant the US Department of Health a grant of nearly 1 million USD to implement a state-level scientific project on the development of H5N1 flu vaccine from kidney cells. monkey.

Until now, the topic has completed the production in the laboratory and tested on animals with good results. It is being submitted to the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Science and Technology and then submitted to the Science Association of the Ministry of Health for approval.

Meanwhile, at the regular meeting of the National Steering Committee for the prevention of acute respiratory infections caused by viruses held in the afternoon of September 6, 2006 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Health continues to warn of the risk of outbreaks. bird flu in Vietnam.

Facing this situation, the Ministry of Health directed the health forces at the grassroots level, the regional Pasteur institutes to coordinate with the forces of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to strengthen activities to prevent and control avian influenza. and influenza A (H5N1) in humans; coordinate with veterinary forces to well implement the peak of environmental sanitation and disinfection of breeding facilities (from September 9 to October 9, 2006).

Tu An