Avian influenza A/H5N6 can be transmitted to humans.

PV:Could you share an update on the current H5N6 avian influenza situation in the province?
Mr. Dang Van Minh:Since the beginning of January 2020, avian influenza outbreaks have occurred in 11 countries. In Vietnam, there are currently active outbreaks of avian influenza A/H5N6 (less than 21 days old) in Quang Ninh, Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An.
In Nghe An province, in 2019, the disease occurred in two districts, Yen Thanh and Quynh Luu, resulting in the culling of 6,765 poultry. This year, from February 5th to 11th, the disease occurred in four communes of Quynh Luu district, and all 621 poultry belonging to affected households were culled.

Veterinary officers in Quynh Luu district are vaccinating poultry in the area. Photo: Phu Huong.

PV:It is known that avian influenza A/H5N6 can be transmitted to humans. Could you elaborate on the dangers of this disease?

Avian influenza A/H5N6 spreads very quickly, causing mass deaths of poultry of various species such as chickens, ducks, geese, quail, etc. Photo: Quang An

In particular, this year is a leap year with two April months, so the forecast predicts prolonged periods of drizzling rain and humidity, creating favorable conditions for the development and rapid spread of avian influenza. In China, in 2018, there was a recorded case of a person dying from avian influenza A/H5N6, and before becoming infected, this person had slaughtered poultry.

At that time, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that although transmission of the H5N6 avian influenza virus to humans was rare, it was precisely because of this rarity that the human body's immunity to H5N6 was very low, or even nonexistent. Therefore, if the avian influenza virus could adapt to or acquire certain genes from the human virus, it could easily be transmitted from person to person, leading to a flu pandemic and a very high level of severity in humans.
In fact, world veterinary organizations are very concerned about avian influenza, because if a variant spreads from poultry to humans, or from human to human, it would be extremely dangerous, with a mortality rate of up to 30-40% in infected cases.
PV:Given the potentially dangerous situation, what measures have we implemented, sir?
Mr. Dang Van Minh:Nghe An province has destroyed all infected and dead poultry in accordance with regulations; samples have been taken to monitor poultry farms adjacent to the outbreak. Simultaneously, 2 million doses of avian influenza vaccine have been provided to localities for vaccination in former outbreak areas and high-risk areas; with particular urgent supplies for Quynh Luu district to organize disease control efforts. Regarding disinfectants, in addition to the amount used in the first disinfection campaign of 2020, the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine has provided an additional 120 liters to Quynh Luu district. Furthermore, farmers have been encouraged to purchase lime powder and organize disinfection and sterilization.

Disinfection spraying is one of the important solutions in epidemic prevention and control. Photo: Phu Huong

However, currently, the situation regarding animal diseases worldwide and in the region is very complex and unpredictable; many dangerous diseases occur and spread from animal to animal, from animal to human and vice versa, such as avian influenza, rabies, etc. Nghe An has a large poultry population of 25 million birds. However, small-scale farming accounts for over 85% of the total livestock population; the high density of livestock makes it difficult to implement biosecurity measures and prevent the spread of pathogens.

In the coming period, the changing weather during the transitional seasons will weaken the resistance of poultry flocks, creating favorable conditions for pathogens to survive and spread widely. Meanwhile, the vaccination rate remains too low. In 2019, apart from a few farms linked with large corporations such as CP and Gorden Star, the entire province only administered 1.6 million doses of avian influenza vaccine. Along with other risks, the likelihood of disease outbreaks and harm is very high, especially the possibility of transmission from animals to humans.
PV:So, what solutions need to be implemented in the coming period, sir?
Mr. Dang Van Minh:When an outbreak occurs, local authorities need to coordinate with veterinary agencies to thoroughly handle the outbreak, implement disinfection measures; strengthen surveillance and sample collection for avian influenza virus in high-risk areas, especially at collection points, trading centers, and concentrated breeding farms, to detect and handle outbreaks promptly and prevent transmission from poultry to humans.

Local authorities are strengthening control over hatcheries in their areas to ensure the supply of disease-free, traceable breeding stock. Farmers must register with local authorities to ensure they meet the necessary conditions for farming and to facilitate disease control. Farming practices should adhere to biosecurity measures, with full vaccination being a crucial step, particularly the mandatory avian influenza vaccine. The "all in - all out" farming method is encouraged, leaving barns empty for 21-30 days for disinfection before restocking. Raising multiple batches or species of animals simultaneously in the same barn should be avoided to prevent the spread of pathogens. Poultry slaughter must be carried out at centralized slaughterhouses that meet veterinary and epidemiological hygiene standards.

Two more outbreaks of H5N6 avian influenza have been reported in Nghe An province.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of February 11th, two more outbreaks of H5N6 avian influenza were detected in Quynh Luu district, specifically in Quynh Hau and Quynh Ba communes.