Press Release

Public Affairs Office
Embassy of the United States of America
Rue Bartholonie, P.O. Box. 114
Vientiane, Laos.

Tel:  (856-21) 267229
Fax: (856-21) 267160
Website: http://laos.usembassy.gov
February 26, 2007
2007/01

US CDC turns over Personal Protective Equipment and other equipment to the Ministry of Health

On February 27, 2007 Dr. Andrew Corwin of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will donate personal protective equipment and other equipment to combat Avian Influenza and other diseases to the Government of Lao PDR on behalf of the U.S. Embassy. Vice Minister of Health Dr. Bounkouang Phichith, Chief of the Cabinet Mrs. Chanthanom Manotham, and Director of National Center of Laboratory and Epidemiology Dr. Phengta Vongprachanh will receive the equipment on behalf of the Lao PDR..

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in cooperation with the WHO Lao PDR is providing 2,000 packages of personal protective equipment to medical facilities in Lao PDR. Additionally, new equipment is being provided to the Lao National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology to provide the necessary “freezing” environment to support laboratory detection of Avian and Human Influenza Viruses. This equipment give the Laboratory the improved capacity to collect and isolate viruses such as influenza and dengue for the first time, which is critical to identifying and controlling outbreaks of these and other diseases.