Deputy Health Minister Trinh Quan Huan said June 7 that Vietnam has not received any official document from the World Health Organization pertaining to the swine flu; especifically whether or not the disease has become a pandemic or if earlier reports were exaggerations.
European health officials have launched an investigation into whether the seriousness of the swine flu outbreak was exaggerated as they blamed pharmaceutical giants for pressuring WHO to declare it a pandemic, Dr. Huan said, adding that if it is true, it presents a major problem.
Vietnam did ask WHO about influenza prevention in the upcoming winter at a meeting in May in Geneva, Switzerland, and WHO proposed nations to be ready to fight the pandemic and maintain the sixth level of alert.
Vietnam has not had any outbreaks in two past months; therefore, it should decrease the pandemic alert to phase two or three.
Drug companies have been accused of unnecessarily raising fears over the H1N1 swine flu virus, so as to increase profits by boosting sales of their new vaccines and have earned over US$7 billion from selling influenza medications. Meanwhile, Vietnam has spent around VND1 trillion on disinfecting chemicals, drugs and on medical equipment such as breathing machines and temperature taking machines, which have been placed at airports and border gates.
Vietnam has confirmed over 11,200 cases of H1N1, responsible for 58 fatalities.
