The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has recently handed over an assistance package of over 20,000 personal protective suits to help Vietnam in the prevention of epidemic outbreaks.

The aid from the US government, valued at approximately US$200,000, comes at the request of Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

It includes 50,000 masks, 80,000 gloves, and about 30,000 protective gowns that are all to be sent to localities throughout the country most at risk of pandemics.

“Strategic and efficient use of this equipment by the Vietnamese authorities will not only protect animal health workers but also those involved in detection and response to diseases outbreaks,” said USAID director Joakim Parker. “Our bilateral cooperation extends beyond bird flu to reach prevention, control and surveillance of known and unknown diseases that start in animals but that can potentially be passed to humans.”

The equipment is intended to prevent human exposure to the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, as well as limit the risk of animal-to-human and human-to-human infections.

“Thanks to protective equipment such as this, none of our staff members working in the animal health sector from the central to the local levels has contracted avian flu. This is the best news for all of us,” said Dr. Pham Van Dong, director of the MARD’s Department of Animal Health.

Since 2005, USAID has supported Vietnam with more than $48 million to combat avian influenza, including 60,000 complete sets of personal protective equipment.

The agency is also helping Vietnam develop capacities to mitigate the harmful effects of HIV/AIDS, improve access to quality higher education and services among vulnerable groups, and address war legacy issues.