EU helps Vietnam against avian influenza

European Commission allocates EUR 1 million to fight avian influenza in Vietnam

The European Commission will provide € 1 million to help Vietnam fight avian influenza. The funds will be used to purchase urgently needed equipment. David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said: "Vietnam is at the forefront of global efforts to bring this epidemic, which is not only a threat to the region but to the world, under control. It is our duty To help Vietnam fight this epidemic. "

The EU contribution is in response to appeals from the WHO, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Office for Epizootics (OIE) for international aid. The funds are immediately available and are used to buy protective equipment for veterinarians and farmers who have to deal with infected poultry and for laboratory and hospital equipment. Over 15 people are involved in the ongoing culling measures in infected Vietnamese poultry populations, many of whom so far do not have adequate protective equipment. Since the epidemic began, 000 people have died of avian influenza in Vietnam.

Since the support measures of the various donor countries must be well coordinated, the protective equipment is provided through the WHO agency.

During his visit to Vietnam in mid-January, when bird flu was beginning to spread, Commissioner Byrne promised his Vietnamese interlocutors the support of the European Commission. Since then, the Commission has deployed three EU experts to Vietnam. A French animal health expert has been on site since late January to help the country eradicate the disease from its poultry flocks. This was followed in February by two public health experts from research institutes in Germany and the Netherlands, whose tasks include advising the Vietnamese authorities on preventing the transmission of pathogens between people. - Other EU experts ready for departure.

Source: Brussels [eu]