Workshop on H5N1 via videoconference

Yesterday morning (February 28), at Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi), Vietnamese experts exchanged videoconferences about the diagnosis and treatment of H5N1 flu with Japanese and Australian scientists. This is the first time a teleconference about influenza A has been organized.

In this workshop, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuong Van, Deputy Head of the Emergency Department of the Institute of Tropical Medicine and Clinical Medicine presented the experience of treating H5N1 patients, typically in the case of Thai Nguyen Nguyen Tuan, okay rescued after nearly 3 months of hospitalization with many serious complications. This patient has recently recovered his health and weight.

Ms. Tuong Van said that influenza A is still a concern of the world when bird flu still occurs in many places. Therefore, countries want to learn about the treatment experience of Vietnam, where there are most patients and many people have been saved.

One patient had acute respiratory infection due to H5N1 influenza virus
treated at Tropical Diseases Hospital in early 2005 (Photo: TTO)

"The exchange this morning showed a big difference in the viewpoint of treating influenza A between Vietnam and the world," said Dr. Van. According to international experts, in the treatment of H5N1 patients, the most important factor is to use Tamiflu to inhibit the development of the virus, while the use of high-dose antibiotics and corticosteroids is not appreciated.

However, practical experience in Vietnam shows that in influenza A as well as previous SARS, the fatal is not the virus but the complications such as superinfection, multi-organ failure, pulmonary edema . Therefore, to save patients' lives, it is necessary to apply a combination therapy, in addition to taking antiviral drugs, it is necessary to specify antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and other therapies depending on the specific case. With this approach, the Institute of Clinical Medicine for Tropical Diseases has saved many patients' lives during SARS and influenza A outbreaks.

At the teleconference, Japanese experts also released some images of lung damage of H5N1 patients to discuss the diagnosis. And Australia (where no patients are) shared about their plan for pandemic influenza prevention.

Ms. Tuong Van said that in the coming time, international exchange via videoconference on diagnosis and treatment of respiratory infections will be organized more frequently.

Professor Nguyen Thu Van, Director of Vaccine and Biological Products Company No. 1, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said that with the current progress, it is estimated that the research process to produce influenza A vaccine H5N1 vaccine will be conducted in the application. This position will be completed by the end of 2006. In the short term, the institute can produce 2-3 million doses per year, enough for about 1 million people.

Vietnam 's H5N1 vaccine has now gone through pre - clinical testing with good results. This preparation will be clinically tested (on the person) after being assessed by the World Health Organization, the assessment is eligible. The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology has installed this vaccine production line to be able to operate as soon as permitted.