Concerns arise that the avian influenza virus is mutating into a highly virulent strain.

The Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, has just issued a warning that the H7N9 avian influenza virus, which is causing an outbreak in China, has mutated from a low-virulence to a high-virulence strain.

Accordingly, the epidemic tends to spread rapidly in some southern and southeastern provinces of China, including Yunnan and Guangxi provinces bordering Vietnam.

In Guangxi province, 14 cases of avian influenza transmitted to humans were recorded in the first month of 2017, compared to none in the two years of 2015-2016.

Illustrative image.

The Department of Preventive Medicine also cited the World Health Organization and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, suggesting that this increase may be due to increased transport of poultry from Guangdong to Guangxi, following Guangdong's announcement of the closure of its poultry markets.

Experts warn that this is the time of year when the H7N9 flu virus is most likely to enter Vietnam since 2013, as Guangxi may close its poultry markets and smuggled poultry will enter Vietnam in greater quantities if strict control measures are not implemented.

The Department of Preventive Medicine also reported that in China, two people have been infected with the highly pathogenic strain of influenza A/H7N9, and 41 samples of chickens, ducks, and breeding environments have been found to contain the highly pathogenic H7N9 influenza virus.

In the laboratory, this highly virulent strain of influenza killed 100% of chickens and spread much faster than the less virulent strain.

To proactively prevent outbreaks as described above, the Department of Preventive Medicine recommends that people avoid eating poultry of unknown origin, ensure food is cooked thoroughly, water is boiled, hands are washed properly, and that people refrain from slaughtering, buying, selling, or transporting poultry. If sick or dead poultry are found, they should absolutely not be slaughtered or used, but should be reported immediately to the local authorities.

According to TTO