Bio-safety talks in HCM City

One hundred and eighty international and Vietnamese bio-safety experts, professionals and practitioners are discussing bio-risk, bio-preparedness, and bio-terrorism at the 12th Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association (A-PBA) Conference that opened in HCM City on Thursday.

Dr Chua Teck-Mean, president of the Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association, speaks at the 12th A-PBA Conference that opened in HCM City on Thursday
Dr Chua Teck-Mean, president of the Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association, speaks at the 12th A-PBA Conference that opened in HCM City on Thursday

The four-day conference aims at generating discussions on the various current bio-safety and bio-security issues of concern at the global, regional, national and technical levels.

The discussions range from bio-terrorism, bio-risk management, challenges from bio-threat in a rapid changing world of science and technology, and laboratory bio-risk in the Asia-Pacific region.

“With the increasing threat of bio-terrorism around the world, concerns have been raised about how well we are managing and safeguarding infectious agents in our facilities,” Dr Chua Teck-Mean, president of the A-PBA, said.

“The progress of science and technology in the last decade has also posed new challenges in bio-safety and bio-security.”

It is with these concerns that A-PBA has chosen the theme of this year’s conference to be “Biosecurity & Biosafety - New Challenges of Bio Threat in a Rapidly Changing World of Science & Technology,” he said.

Prof Dang Duc Anh, director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, a co-organiser of the conference, said researching and testing dangerous infectious pathogens plays an important role in controlling communicable diseases and helps prevent, detect and respond to dangerous diseases.

“Ensuring bio-safety and bio-security in laboratories working with infectious pathogens is essential to protect laboratory workers and the community.

“Today with the changes in science and technology, bio-safety and bio-security are becoming more and more concerned.”

The World Health Organisation and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have issued detailed guidelines for bio-safety and bio-security, and based on these guidelines, countries have developed their own regulations and guidelines, he said.

Viet Nam is a leading country in Southeast Asia in developing a legal framework for bio-safety and bio-security, he said.

Thanks to that, its laboratories are safe, he added.

A-PBA, begun in 2005, represents more than 800 practising bio-safety professionals from more than 42 countries. 

VNS

Other News

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

The International Day of Older Persons 2026, themed “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” highlights the need to develop healthcare, social security, labour-market and social-service systems in response to increasing life expectancy. For Vietnam, rapid population ageing is not only a demographic issue but also a development challenge.

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Both sides agreed to keep educating officials, Party members, youth union groups and the broader public, especially young people in both provinces, on the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

The captain discovered water entering ballast tanks No. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side, causing the vessel to list slightly. Initial assessments indicated that the vessel may have struck an underwater rock formation while underway.

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright is entering an entirely new phase. As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating text, summarising books, mimicking writing styles and producing content at enormous speed, ensuring copyright protection is becoming more difficult.

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Prolonged heavy rains from September 13–17 have caused flooding and landslides, damaging homes, crops, roads and infrastructure in Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa provinces, with local authorities mobilising forces for emergency response.

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh city's Public Security Department warned individuals, agencies and businesses not to publicly disclose or provide personal information or bank account details on social media, and urged organisations and businesses to strictly comply with regulations on protecting customers’ personal data.

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

The continued recovery of martyrs’ remains provides valuable information and further evidence of those who fought and sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. It also encourages search teams to persist in locating fallen soldiers still lying on former battlefields, contributing to the effective implementation of the 500-day campaign and reflecting Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of gratitude.

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam will launch nationwide screening for five groups of school-related diseases and health conditions among students from preschool through high school from 2028, including overweight and obesity, refractive errors, spinal curvature, oral diseases and mental health disorders.