After the Cambodian border province bordering Vietnam had a fatal case of influenza A/H5N1, experts recommended that localities in the country need to monitor outbreaks of avian influenza.
After Cambodia recorded one death due to avian flu (A/H5N1), the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City has sent an urgent dispatch to the health departments of 20 southern provinces and cities, proposing to strengthen surveillance for severe pneumonia related to highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1.
Previously, in mid-October, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology also reported a case positive for influenza A/H5 from a specimen of a 5-year-old female patient (in Phu Tho). This is the latest human case of avian influenza in Vietnam since February 2014. After this case, the locality did not record any new avian influenza infections.
Regarding the risk of recording a case of influenza A/H5N1 in Vietnam, an epidemiologist said the risk of infection is likely to be the same as with other infectious diseases. Moreover, in the past time, some localities still recorded scattered outbreaks in poultry. Therefore, localities need to actively monitor the change of influenza A/H5N1 virus, first of all, to monitor influenza in poultry.
“If there is an epidemic in poultry, it is necessary to quickly put an end to the epidemic, not to cause an outbreak. Because when the epidemic breaks out in poultry, the risk of the virus spreading to people is also easier, because poultry are raised close to where they live. of people” – this expert noted.
According to the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), influenza A/H5N1 is a subtype of influenza A virus, transmitted between birds, poultry and other animals, infecting humans and causing death.
Avian influenza infection is usually asymptomatic in wild birds but can cause very high mortality in domestic poultry. In humans, the mortality rate from infection with subtypes A/H5N1, A/H5N6 and A/H7N9 is much higher than from infection with seasonal influenza viruses A and B. The mortality rate from influenza A/H5N1 can be as high as 60 %.
Transmission of influenza A virus strains between species. Source: Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases
According to Dr. Phan Van Manh, Emergency Department, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the symptoms of avian flu are similar to seasonal flu; however, severity and mortality tend to be higher, although it depends on the strain of the virus.
People infected with avian influenza can be asymptomatic to mildly flu-like symptoms (eg, fever, cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, conjunctivitis). Less common signs include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or seizures. More severe manifestations may be encountered such as difficulty breathing or pneumonia, progressive respiratory failure and death if not treated promptly.
In order to prevent influenza from spreading from poultry to humans, the Department of Preventive Health recommends that people do not eat poultry, poultry products that are sick, dead and of unknown origin; Make sure to eat cooked, drink boiling. Do not slaughter, transport, trade in poultry and poultry products of unknown origin. Do not kill, slaughter or use poultry that are sick or die of unknown causes.
If flu symptoms related to contact with poultry appear, it is necessary to isolate to avoid contact with relatives, wear a medical mask and go to a medical facility for timely diagnosis.