Avian influenza in Vietnam: current status and complementary of surveillance protocols and epidemiological studies (2007–2011)

Abstract

Since 2003, H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemic has been emphasizing the need for effective animal health surveillance systems to prevent an influenza pandemic. In some countries ad hoc surveillance initiatives funded by international donors have been implemented but without an appropriate link with the situation in the field and with the public institutions responsible for health monitoring. On the other hand other projects have strengthened the structures already in place. The aim of this study was to make an inven­tory of HPAI surveillance activities in poultry in Vietnam to assess the complementarity of national systems (funded by the Vietnamese Government) and programs implemented by international donors. Results showed that the various surveil­lance setups, epidemiological studies and research projects have been generally complementary and covered the country homogeneously. However, the new government policies have been mostly redefined without assessing previous activities because of insufficient data to assess the implemented pro­jects, including their impacts. There was also a malfunction of the passive surveillance systems as there was limited informa­tion feedback to field actors. It is therefore essential to set up effective surveillance activities combined with passive surveil­lance to manage HPAI risk in Vietnam.