(VOVworld) – Vietnam and the World Health Organization on Thursday marked 10 years since the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus.

Exchange program to mark 10 years of successfully containing SARS epidemic (Photo: VOV)

Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan praised the development of the Vietnamese health sector in the fight against the deadly SARS virus. Ms. Doan said Vietnam always has a sense of responsibility to both domestic and international communities while asking the sector to improve epidemic prevention activities, especially for infectious diseases such as H5N1 and H7N9 influenza which is developing complexly at the moment. Ms. Doan asked the Ministry to draw lessons from the current development of the diseases to apply to future epidemic prevention and control. "To do this, the health sector should regularly improve its skills with regard to disease prevention, personnel training, and conduct regular supervisory and early-detection activities, as well as expand treatment facilities. We should be well prepared with stocks of medicine, provide adequate equipment and increase international cooperation", said Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan.

The first SARS victim was recorded a decade ago in China. In a short time, it had spread to 32 countries and territories claiming the lives of more than 916 people. The disease broke out in Vietnam in 2003 but 45 days later, Vietnam became the first country to successfully control the epidemic.