Vietnam rejects WHO criticism over handling of bird flu outbreak
HANOI- Vietnam rejected WHO criticism that Asian nations put economic concerns before public health in dealing with the bird flu outbreak here, insisting that protection of its citizens was the top priority.
"In the efforts against the bird flu epidemic, Vietnam always considers the protection of the health of its people and community as the top concern," foreign ministry spokesman Le Dung said in a statement.
The WHO's representative in Thailand, Bjorn Melgaard, warned Tuesday that "economics and agriculture are weighing too heavily in decisions taken by governments, and more concern should be given to the risk to human health" in the 10 Asian nations struggling with the bird flu epidemic.
Several countries including Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, where 14 people have died of bird flu, have been criticised for attempting to cover up outbreaks in a bid to protect agricultural sectors and tourism industries.
Asked by AFP about his reaction to WHO statement, Dung said the governement immediately asked all concerned bodies in the country to make sure the disease could be eradicated.
"To check the bird flu epidemic and stop the type A disease have become the top priority and urgent task of the government. We are mobilising the strength of the whole society in a bid to stop the epidemic in February," he added.
Vietnam has always denied any cover-up and claimed Friday to be transparent on the matter.
"Though the livestock breeding and poultry processing industry have to suffer heavy losses, we have been determined to cull nearly 33 million poultry and initially brought under control the epidemic as well as its possible impacts on the community health," Dung said.
"Until now, we've regularly provided update information and worked closely with international organisations amid the efforts to fight against the epidemic and we have received the valuable support from the international community."
In human terms, Vietnam is the worst hit of 10 Asian countries tackling bird flu, with 14 people dead from the virulent H5N1 strain.
Thailand had rejected WHO criticism on Wednesday.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who heads Thailand's bird flu task force, said the WHO's blunt assessment was misplaced, and that the kingdom was sparing no expense to protect its citizens, five of whom have already died of avian influenza.
"No, the WHO may have misunderstood," Somkid told reporters. "Thais are more concerned than any other country over human lives."
Agence France Presse - February 13, 2004.
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