Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) can spread very rapidly threatening not just local areas but whole countries and regions, presenting a potentially explosive problem globally to poultry and human health. FAO uses an integrated programme approach to disease control not only providing sound technical advice but also applying multidisciplinary expertise; such expertise considers the social, economic and environmental context and provides political advocacy.
A holistic approach to disease control requires an understanding of farming systems and their economics along with trade patterns both within the country and across borders and so can determine risk factors for infection transmission and opportunities for disease control. To meet the challenges of avian influenza, FAO and the OIE have been working together within the framework of a global strategy, the Global Framework for the Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases. This global framework sets the context for national and regional strategies, policies, programmes and projects designed to control and prevent the disease.
FAO has worked closely with the Government of Viet Nam to develop robust, coherent disease control strategies with the necessary supporting processes. Technical expertise has reviewed many areas of the control programme including providing training in disease surveillance, outbreak response, improving current animal health legislation, sustainable approaches to compensation and improved industry biosecurity. Good Practices and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been developed to provide support of control strategies.
Much of the work carried out by FAO is implemented in pilot provinces in Viet Nam providing the opportunity to learn lessons and evolve policy into operational guidelines. A risk-based approach to disease control has been developed and programme activities are being strengthened and developed recognising this approach. FAO is advocating and building capacity with partners for a progressive shift from the mass application of disease control measures to smarter control based on risk analysis and the optimal utilization of resources.
Overall, FAO has identified four main strategic objectives for Viet Nam.
1. To improve veterinary service capacity in disease surveillance, epidemiology and outbreak containment at national, provincial and district levels.
2. To support field activities for HPAI surveillance, prevention and outbreak containment.
3. To improve HPAI preventative measures in poultry production and marketing and in international border control.
4. To monitor the impact of HPAI, actions taken for HPAI prevention and control, and FAO’s activities, and modify approaches accordingly.
This Strategy and Work plan is part of a dynamic process which will be continuously reviewed and updated.
Ongoing Projects
Currently, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is supporting Viet Nam in its efforts to control HPAI through two active projects: (1) Immediate Technical Assistance to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) to Viet Nam (OSRO/RAS/604/USA) and (2) Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza Joint Government/ United Nations System Programme Phase II (OSRO/VIE/701/UNJ) as an FAO component. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is also providing support for the project entitled “Gathering Evidence for the Transitional Strategy (GETS) for HPAI H5N1 vaccination in Viet Nam” (OSRO/VIE/801/USA). In addition to the direct funding for FAO implementation, FAO provides technical advice and some logistical support to the World Bank-financed project entitled “Viet Nam Avian and Human Influenza Control and Preparedness Project (VAHIP)” managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).Inter-Ministerial Conference on Animal and Pandemic Influenza (IMCAPI) April 2010.
In coordination with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations System Influenza Coordinator (UNSIC), FAO has provided significant support to the Government of Viet Nam for the Hanoi pre-technical meeting and Inter-Ministerial Conference on Animal and Pandemic Influenza (IMCAPI) in April 2010.
Green Book Review
In mid 2009 FAO also contributed to the review of the national strategic plan, “Integrated Operational Program for Avian and Human Influenza”, the Green Book. The FAO discussion document was a key resource in proposing strategic priorities for the next five years. The discussion document provides 11 main recommendations with clear achievable milestones for consideration and suggests how they might be reached by 2016. Overall, it was proposed that by 2016 Viet Nam should aim to eliminate H5N1 viruses from specific production sectors (compartments) and from some zones, particularly the central provinces.
FAO Regional Strategy 2010-2015
The new FAO Regional Strategy 2010-2015 for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and other Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) of Animals in Asia and the Pacific builds on the experience from HPAI in the region and an increased knowledge on how to control the disease. The strategy also reflects the international recognition of the regular emergence of new infectious diseases that threaten food security, food safety and human health, including surveillance and preparedness capabilities for EIDs in a broader context. More specifically, for Viet Nam, this involves an expansion of attention from HPAI to other EIDs by: continuing to support the national emergency preparedness plan; supporting capacity building of national veterinary services; and contributing to the development of policy for improved control of other important animal diseases. The lessons learned are numerous and represent considerable capacity development, not just for HPAI control but in animal and emerging zoonotic disease surveillance and control. Valuable experience has been gained in multiagency collaboration and the skills required to achieve this. This includes the necessity for clearly identified roles, both between government departments and for civil society and the private sector.
Contributing to ‘One World, One Health ’
The ‘One World, One Health’ concept is a trademark of the Wildlife Conservation Society. The new FAO Regional Strategy 2010-2015 for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and other Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) of Animals in Asia and the Pacific builds on the experience from HPAI in the region and an increased knowledge on how to control the disease. The strategy also reflects the international recognition of the regular emergence of new infectious diseases that threaten food security, food safety and human health, including surveillance and preparedness capabilities for EIDs in a broader context. More specifically, for Viet Nam, this involves an expansion of attention from HPAI to other EIDs by: continuing to support the national emergency preparedness plan; supporting capacity building of national veterinary services; and contributing to the development of policy for improved control of other important animal diseases. The lessons learned are numerous and represent considerable capacity development, not just for HPAI control but in animal and emerging zoonotic disease surveillance and control. Valuable experience has been gained in multiagency collaboration and the skills required to achieve this. This includes the necessity for clearly identified roles, both between government departments and for civil society and the private sector.
Animal Health National Medium Term Priority Plan
The FAO Plan of Action is linked to the National Medium Term Priority Framework which builds on a programme instead of a project approach. In the near future, FAO Viet Nam will work closely with the Government to develop a five-year Animal Health National Medium Term Priority Plan (one chapter of the Plan) which will formulate a strategy for improving animal health including HPAI, foot and mouth disease, PRRS disease and rabies, among others. The avian influenza response has placed considerable strain on government departments in terms of expansion of the operational capacity required to deliver the control programme. The Agriculture component has strived to build capacity horizontally and at the same time maintain vertical progress in addressing the specific disease threat of HPAI. The Plan will be developed in close collaboration with the Government to determine priorities for animal health. It is expected that the Plan will facilitate fund raising efforts to continue the fight against HPAI and other emerging infections of animals in Viet Nam.
Private-Public Partnership
Viet Nam is among the fastest growing economies of the world today with an increased demand for animal protein in the urban areas and among the rural population. The poultry production system in Viet Nam is poised for a transition from low-input commercial production to an industrial scale production whilst ensuring public health and food safety, economics of production as well as livelihood opportunities of small-scale poultry operators. This calls for efficient veterinary services, strong regulatory elements in the value chain and the participation of the private sector in facilitating this transition. In line with the “One World, One Health” principles, FAO Viet Nam is well aware of the importance of developing and maintaining Public-Private Partnerships for the prevention and control of HPAI H5N1 and other transboundary animal diseases and emerging infectious diseases. There is a gradual increase in the balance of control measures which are implemented by private sector stakeholders within the poultry sector, rather than directly by the state veterinary services. FAO will continue to pursue stakeholder processes which bring government services, producers, poultry supply chain intermediaries and consumer groups together in partnership for the development of future control initiatives.
Emerging Pandemic Threats Programme (EPT)
One of the new challenge ahead is to pre-empt, at the earliest stages possible, zoonotic diseases that pose a significant threat to public health such as H5N1 avian influenza, the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus and others. The current influenza pandemic (H1N1) with possible links to the agriculture sector has highlighted the need for a strong animal health policy development mechanism in Viet Nam, as well as an effective capacity to respond at the field level to known and emerging infectious disease challenges, especially zoonoses.
In close collaboration with key national agencies, FAO is endeavouring to consolidate the gains made in the control of HPAI in Viet Nam through active participation of both the private sector engaged in the poultry value chain, including small and large commercial poultry producers and the public sector engaged in the development of poultry for livelihood opportunities, food security and food safety. Once the platform for such a partnership is established, the transition to safe poultry production will lead to public health security, food safety and nutritional security, while ensuring that the socio-economic impact of such transition is positive.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has developed an Emerging Pandemic Threat (EPT) Programme articulated in five components PREDICT, RESPOND, IDENTIFY, PREVENT and PREPARE which bring together international agencies to efficiently and harmoniously respond to newly emerging diseases of animal origin that could threaten human health. The EPT programme builds on the successes of the USAID long-standing programmes in disease surveillance, training, and outbreak response, particularly those addressing avian and pandemic influenza, and is technically supported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Department of Agriculture.
The IDENTIFY component of the programme will be a joint collaboration between FAO, WHO and OIE and will focus on the development of laboratory networks and strengthened diagnostic capacities in the geographic hot spots areas for new emergent diseases. Southeast Asia is one of the priority areas selected, along with the Congo Basin in Africa. Activities proposed include mapping and identifying gaps of laboratory capacity and existing laboratory platforms across animal, food and human health sectors in hot spot areas; development of cross sectoral approach for laboratories; creation and strengthening of national inter-sectoral and inter-ministerial coordination committees to supervise veterinary and human labs collaborations at countries level; promote national laboratory policy and development of joint international guidelines/standards for labs; provision of laboratory equipment and supplies with a focus on regional laboratories and regional laboratory networks; organizing regional network to test for and identify new pathogens in wildlife, domestic animals and humans; and laboratory networking - FAO/OIE/WHO laboratory twinning initiatives and partnerships.