Delegates at a conference on avoiding a possible human influenza type-A (H5N1) epidemic and the national preventive healthcare strategy held in Hanoi on February 7 agreed that the lethal disease must be rapidly put under control in order to keep Vietnam off any major outbreaks.

According to the delegates, infectious diseases are abound in Vietnam, as well as in the region and the world.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said some infectious diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis and leprosy, are likely to return. In addition, a number of newly occurring diseases like the mad cow disease and human influenza type-A (H5N1) is threatening to break out again.

In particular, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and other diseases relating to environmental pollution, traffic accidents, food poisoning and chemical contamination, are on the rise.

Bird flu outbreaks have recently re-occurred in a number of Vietnam’s localities, posing challenges for the healthcare service. With concerted efforts, Vietnam has successfully contained human influenza type-A (H5N1) since November 2003 . (VNA)