U.S. HHS SECRETARY SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAMESE MINISTER OF HEALTH

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt and Vietnamese Minister of Health Tran Thi Trung Chien have signed an agreement promising continued cooperation on health issues, including emerging diseases, avian and pandemic influenza and HIV/AIDS.

The agreement includes areas of mutual interest, exchanges of technical expertise and development of rapid response plans for Vietnam. The agreement will also encourage and facilitate the development of direct contacts and cooperation among government agencies, universities, research centers, institutions, private-sector companies and other entities. This agreement is a follow-up to the letter of intent of cooperation that both parties signed in October 2005.

Leavitt and Chien also discussed the current situation of avian influenza in Vietnam. To date, the World Health Organization has confirmed 93 human cases and 42 human deaths from H5N1 avian influenza in Vietnam. Last year, Vietnam initiated a mass poultry culling and vaccination effort combined with a public education campaign.