On a quarterly basis, the 2nd scientific committee workshop was held on August 8, 2009 at IMPE-Quy Nhon to update information on special fields of malariology, parasitology and entomology for the staff of the Institute.
Accordingly, the content of the workshop was concentrated on two main themes on dengue fever (DF) by M.Sc Huynh Xuan Loc, Depatrment of Entomology and on drug-resistant malaria parasites in Vietnam and on over the world by M.Sc Huynh Hong Quang, Department of Malaria Research.
Paticipated in the workshop were the members of Scientific Commitee and the technical staff of the Institute.
On DF/DHF control
At present, DF/DHF becomes a "hot spot" and major concern for community next to influenza A/H1N1; especially in Southern Vietnam. In the first half of 2009 of Central Vietnam, DF/DHF surged drastically in Phu Yen province, then spread to areas of Binh Dinh and other provinces.
The report presented the updated DF/DHF information and DF/DHF control measures as a tool to wipe out the DF epidemics in the areas. In addition, necessary information was also given to the technical staff such as the standards of announcing epidemics; the difference between dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF); and the evaluating process by Ministry of Health on DF/DHF patients (morbidity, mortality), vector indicators (Breteau index) or serological parameter (isolation of viruses), dengue larval collection methods and indexes for investigation and evaluation.
From 2009, the National DF/DHF control programme was integrated into the National Control Programme on dangerous and infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS for the period of 2006-2010 with the supplementary investment by the Government. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health established the central and regional DF/DHF Control Management Units with the participation of the IMPEs. The IMPE-QN joined two regional PMUs (one in the Central Coastal Region with the Director of the Nhatrang Pasteur Institute as head of the PMU, and another in the West Highlands region with the Director of the Tay Nguyen Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology as head of the PMU), and carried out investigation on epidemic points in Phu Yen and Binh Dinh provinces, and frequently updated the DF/DHF situation on the Institute's website.
On malaria resistance and resistant parasites
The report updated the epidemic situation in 104 malaria-endemic countries; especially those in the tropical and subtropical areas with highest infection rates, eg. 300-500 malaria cases, 4 billion cases of intestinal parasite infection, 200 infected cases of schistosomiasis, 50 million cases of fluke worms, 100 million of infected cestode. In Vietnam, the morbidity of parasite infection has made up 70-90%, of which Opisthorchiasis appeared in 24/64 provinces; Fascioliasis was found in 47/64 provinces, especially at highest rates in Central Vietnam. In addition, there were four outbreaks of Trichinella spiralis, and thousands cases of Gnathostoma stercoralis, Strongiloides stercoralis, Toxocara canis/ascaris, which considerably affect the health as well as the productivity of the people.
Perhaps the most outstanding information was about P.falciparum resistance to Artemisinine in Thailand-Campuchia border area and the risk of its spread to neibouring countries. The WHO spent $22.5 million from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation fund for controlling the spread of P.falciparum resistance to Artemisinine, and warning on using Artemininin-based combination therapies (ACT) in spite of the single Artemisinin doses, and for carrying out research on novel but highly effective anti-malaria drugs.
The reports presented at the workshop attracted a great deal of interests from the technical staff. From the contributing opinions and suggestions, the Director of IMPE Quy Nhon-Chairman of Scientific Council provided supportive ideas to clarify more on technical considerations.