Since the risk influenza A (H7N9) introduction to Viet Nam increased when the new highly pathogenic strains was detected in China late 2016, FAO Viet Nam, in collaboration with the Government of Viet Nam, have been swiftly rolling out actions to prevent the H7N9 virus from entering into the country. Although this relatively new strain of avian influenza of Chinese origin has not yet entered into Viet Nam, it is crucial to strengthen preventive measures as it could bring a substantial threat for public health and poultry production in the country.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, FAO’s global and regional senior management (Dominque Burgeon, the Director of FAO Emergency and Rehabilitation Division, Juan Lubroth, FAO Chief Veterinary Officer, and Wantanee Kalpravidh, FAO Regional Manager for the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases - ECTAD) visited Viet Nam to assess the country and regional preparedness for H7N9 influenza virus introduction and to clarify the country needs and discuss how FAO can further assist Viet Nam in the preparedness and response to the possible incursion of H7N9 virus.

The mission team visited with Vu Van Tam, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Nguyen Thu Thuy, Deputy Director General of the Department of Animal Health (DAH) to advocate for emergency preparedness and response activities in Viet Nam and discussed additional assistance that FAO could provide in keeping the country safe from the potential H7N9 invasion and the impact of climate change.

Discussions with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the main financial supporter for the avian influenza prevention program, and World Health Organization (WHO), FAO’s key One Health implementation partner, were held to review preparedness and response actions including rapid detection using handheld mobile PCR and RNA extraction (Pockit/iiPCR), and mechanisms for rapid and seamless response (contingency culling and compensation of all poultry at markets, stockpiles access, and mobilization of human resources).

“From the visit of FAO’s global and regional senior level management, we are confident that the government of Viet Nam together with technical support from FAO and financial support from USAID can minimize the risk of introduction and spread of H7N9 virus in Viet Nam.” said Pawin Padungtod, the Senior Technical Coordinator of FAO Viet Nam.

Following this mission, an FAO Crisis Management Center (CMC) preparedness mission to Viet Nam is planned to be deployed to review and validate H7N9-related contingency plan including the development of modalities for culling and compensation payments. Additionally, the report on the impact of disasters on agriculture and food security will be prepared for the upcoming Regional Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Ha Noi on 15 and 16 March 2018.