Vietnam needs an estimated more than $120 million for preventive activities of a new strain of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in both humans and poultry, according to the Ministries of Agriculture and Health. The figure was released at a conference in Hanoi on May 6 to mobilize resources from the international communities to help the country cope with the risk of a possible disease outbreak amid the rising number of human infections in China. Of the sum, $115 million will be channeled to the health sector to enhance disease monitoring and prevention, and the remaining $5.5 million will be earmarked for the agriculture sector to supervise poultry markets and control cross-border transportation. So far, Vietnam has recorded no infection cases of A/H7N9 in humans and poultry. However, the risk of infection is high as Vietnam shares a long borderline with China, which has reported 27 deaths out of 128 infections, said Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long. At the conference, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations agreed to assist Vietnam in preventing and controlling the deadly avian influenza virus. (Thanh Nien – Young People May 7 p1, Tuoi Tre – Youth May 7 p1, vietnamplus.vn May 6)
