Country Overview on food safety: Lao People's Democratic Republic

摘要

In the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), health is a major component of the government's approach to achieve economic growth and sustainability of its social progress. However, the country's state of health services at this time is severelychallenged with the burden of diseases as reflected in high infant and maternal mortality rates, as well as high prevalence of diarrhoea diseases, particularly in many areas where potable water supply and environmental sanitation conditions remain a problem. In the year 2000, 12 440 cases of severe diarrhoea were reported and 1 449 cases for dysentery, food poisoning, typhoid fever and hepatitis A. Helminthes infection is also a major health problem such as Opisthorchis, which is transmitted via consumption of contaminated raw fish.