# 2825
Two years ago Vietnam was looked upon as a bird flu success story.
Once known as the most bird-flu affected nation on earth, Vietnam went through all of 2006 and the first half of 2007 without reporting a human case. Even reports in poultry were rare.
It seemed, at least for a time, that through a combination of public education, disinfection of poultry farms, and a rigorous vaccination program that Vietnam had beaten back the virus.
But starting in the summer of 2007, the virus began to show up again. Poultry began dying, and people once again began to get infected. Eight people in 2007 and six in 2008. Ten of them did not survive.
Today, less than 60 days into 2009, Vietnam has reported two cases of H5N1 in humans, with one fatality. At least 10 provinces are battling outbreaks.
Vietnam is not back to the `bad old days' of 2005 - which saw 61 human infections - but they are seen as definitely moving in the wrong direction.
Today the WHO and the FAO have issued an appeal to Vietnam to renew their efforts to combat the virus.
This report from Reuters.
Vietnam needs to renew bird flu vigilance -UN bodies
Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:32am EST
HANOI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Two United Nations bodies warned that renewed vigilance was necessary to prevent the further spread of deadly bid flu in Vietnam, which has reported three new cases in as many months, with one person dying.
The H5N1 strain has infected poultry in 10 Vietnamese provinces, and at the weekend a 23-year-old woman died of the disease in the northern province of Quang Ninh.
"The animal and public health sectors need to work closely together to minimise the ever-present threats of avian influenza and other animal-based diseases passing to humans," said Andrew Speedy, Vietnam representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Jean-Marc Olive, representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said there was a "real possibility" of human-to-human transmission.
"If this occurs we could see the start of a new influenza pandemic," he said in a joint WHO-FAO statement.
Meanwhile, the WHO has released their latest Avian Flu update on Vietnam.
Avian influenza – situation in Viet Nam - update 3
24 February 2009 -- The Ministry of Health in Viet Nam has announced the death of a previously confirmed case of H5N1 infection. The 23 year old female from Dam Ha District, Quang Ninh Province died on 21 February.
Of the 109 cases confirmed to date in Viet Nam, 53 have been fatal.
