Vietnam to Consult Int’l Experts about Strange Skin Disease Causes

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health’s Health Examination and Treatment Department has proposed to invite foreign health experts to define the cause of strange skin disease in the central province of Quang Ngai. The province has recorded 106 people suffering from this strange disease with unknown reasons causing ulcerates on their hands, feet, mouth, back and abdomen. Tests found that they have high liver enzyme, anemia, kidney failure. Perhaps patients contacted dermatis caused by pesticides, but official conclusion has not been made, doctors said. Earlier, local authorities asked the ministry to send another working group to the mountainous district of Ba To, to conduct research and define the reason as well as suggest solutions to prevent the widespread disease. Last Oct, the ministry’s experts came Ba Dien to survey and give examination to local residents but they could not find out the reason. Six strange diseases have been found in Vietnam in 2011, raising the public concerns over the possibility of polluted living environment, experts said. Vietnam’s environment is being polluted severely, experts said, adding that up to 80% of diseases in humans are caused by environment pollution, especially contaminated water resources. The World Bank said that Vietnam is estimated to spend $780 million on annual healthcare services related to environment pollution. (Tuoi Tre –Youth Feb 9 p9)