The U.S. Agency for International Cooperation (USAID) has decided to fund Vietnam with US$800,000 to help the country deal with risks of epidemics by September 2015.

>> Health agency warns about bird flu in humans >> Avian flu spreads in six provinces in Vietnam>> Ministry warns about risk of H7N9 virus spread>> First human death from H5N1 flu in VN this year Vietnam is positioned in the region which is highly vulnerable to newly-emerging infectious diseases, said USAID Mission Director Joakim Parker.  A new strain of flu, influenza A (H7N9), which emerged in China recently, has caused severe impacts on human health as well as social and economic development. The USAID official also suggested regular policy dialogues to be held at the national level to share knowledge and raise image of Vietnam as a model that can deal with epidemic threats successfully. In addition, it is essential to boost cooperation between organizations and sectors in taking effective measures to cope with epidemics in order to mitigate their impacts on people’s health, food safety, trade and economic growth, he said. Currently, the H5N1 bird flu has spread to at least six provinces in Vietnam, including Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Thanh Hoa, Kon Tum, and Dak Lak, affecting tens of thousands of poultry, many of which have been incinerated. Meanwhile, two people have died of H5N1 bird flu in southern Binh Phuoc and Dong Thap provinces and a 30-year-old man has been infected with the H1N1 virus and is in a critical condition in south-central Khanh Hoa Province's Nha Trang city. In face of the situation, Vietnamese health authorities have warned of the transmission of bird flu to humans and called on concerned agencies to take measures to cope with it.