Health experts from 54 countries and international organisations gathered at a conference in the central coastal city of Da Nang on August 29 to strengthen cooperation and share approaches to prevent animal-to-human transmission diseases, including bird flu, Ebola and rabies.
Diseases that cross over from animals to humans can have massive, rapid and far-reaching consequences on human health
The event was chaired by Vietnam’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and representatives from Indonesia and Senegal’s governments.
Vietnam has stepped up the prevention of animal-to-human transmission diseases with the engagement of 27 ministries, departments, and international organisations and sponsors.
The MoH is coordinating with ministries and agencies to continue building a national master plan to implement the International Health Regulations in 2018-2023.
Diseases that cross over from animals to humans, including Ebola and avian influenza, can have massive, rapid and far-reaching consequences on human health, livelihoods, food safety and economic development.
A public health emergency operations centre opened in Vietnam in 2013 with the participation of the MoH, MARD, and international organisations such as the WHO, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, and the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to coordinate and respond to new diseases, most of which come from animals.
VNA