Concerns about avian influenza virus mutating into a highly pathogenic strain

The Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health has just issued a warning that the H7N9 bird flu virus causing an epidemic in China has changed from a low pathogenic strain to a highly pathogenic strain.

Accordingly, the epidemic tends to break out strongly in some southern and southeastern provinces of China, including the two provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi bordering Vietnam.

In Guangxi province, in the first month of 2017, 14 cases of avian influenza were recorded, while in 2015-2016 there were no cases.

Illustration photo.

The Department of Preventive Medicine also cited the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, saying that this increase could be due to increased poultry transportation from Guangdong to Guangxi, after Guangdong announced the closure of poultry markets.

Experts warn that this is the time when the H7N9 flu is most likely to enter Vietnam since 2013, because Guangxi may also close its poultry market and more smuggled poultry will enter Vietnam if there are no strict control measures.

The Department of Preventive Medicine also said that in China, there have been two people infected with the highly pathogenic A/H7N9 flu strain, in addition, 41 samples of chickens, ducks and livestock environments recorded to have the highly pathogenic H7N9 flu virus strain.

In the laboratory, this highly pathogenic strain of influenza kills 100% of chickens and is much more contagious than the low pathogenic strain.

To proactively prevent the risk of an outbreak as mentioned above, the Department of Preventive Medicine recommends that people do not eat poultry of unknown origin, ensure food is cooked, drink boiled water, wash hands, do not slaughter, buy, sell, or transport poultry. When discovering sick or dead poultry, absolutely do not slaughter or use it, but must immediately report to local authorities.

According to TTO