There is a high risk of the A(H7N9) influenza virus entering our country.

The Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) stated: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of February 6th, 2014, 161 new cases of influenza A(H7N9) had been recorded worldwide, including 16 deaths. This is higher than the cumulative number for the entire year of 2013 (147 cases and 57 deaths were recorded in 2013).

A case of influenza A (H5N1) infection being treated at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo: DUONG NGOC

From March 2013 to the present, China has recorded 308 cases, including 63 deaths. The mortality rate is 20.5%, and 65% of cases have a history of contact with poultry. However, there is currently no evidence of easy human-to-human transmission. Most recently, Chinese authorities confirmed two cases of influenza A(H10N8) in Jiangxi province, both with a history of contact with poultry.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese (China) authorities announced the first case of human infection with avian influenza A(H6N1). However, the WHO has not yet issued recommendations to restrict travel and trade, but has advised travelers to areas with outbreaks to avoid contact with poultry and to avoid markets selling live poultry. In addition, the WHO is continuing to monitor the mutation of the avian influenza virus that can spread to humans and the risk of human-to-human transmission.

In Vietnam, no cases of influenza A(H7N9), influenza A(H10N8), or influenza A(H6N1) have been detected in poultry or humans at this time. However, since the beginning of 2014, Vietnam has recorded two cases of influenza A(H5N1) in humans in Binh Phuoc and Dong Thap provinces, both of whom died. Test results showed that both cases had a history of contact with and consumption of sick or dead poultry.

Regarding the disease situation, especially influenza A(H7N9), Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dac Phu, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), stated that influenza A(H7N9) has a high mortality rate, extremely complex developments, and poses a significant risk of entering Vietnam due to a sudden surge in cases in the first month of 2014, with the number of cases exceeding the cumulative total for the entire year of 2013. Particularly concerning is the recording of many new cases in Guangdong province (China), a region with a large number of Vietnamese tourists, traders, and goods exchangeers. Worryingly, the influenza A(H7N9) virus circulates in poultry flocks without showing symptoms, making it difficult to detect the source of the disease and control outbreaks in poultry.

However, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has just announced positive test results for influenza A(H7N9) from poultry samples taken in Guangxi Province (China), a province bordering Vietnam, where two cases were reported in January 2014. This provides further evidence of the virus's presence in poultry and the risk of transmission from poultry to humans. In addition, the trade and transportation of poultry between Vietnam and China is difficult to control. Furthermore, the practice of small-scale poultry farming, poor economic conditions, and low hygiene standards in some segments of the population make disease control challenging. The lack of attention to food safety and hygiene in slaughterhouses increases the risk of outbreaks, and the transitional weather between winter and spring, favorable for influenza virus development, further increases the risk of disease.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dac Phu stated: Given the extremely complex and rapidly escalating situation of the A(H7N9) influenza epidemic in China, posing a significant risk of entering Vietnam, and the potential resurgence of A(H5N1) influenza, the Department of Preventive Medicine requests that competent authorities focus on monitoring the circulation of influenza virus strains in poultry, especially A(H7N9), A(H10N8), A(H6N1), and A(H5N1) strains, and promptly notify the Ministry of Health when outbreaks occur to implement measures to prevent transmission to humans. Coordination with relevant agencies in the area is also crucial to vigorously implement market management measures to prevent and apprehend smuggled poultry crossing the border. Strictly handle cases of circulation and trading of poultry and poultry products that have not been quarantined or whose origin is unknown on the market, especially at wholesale markets...

At the same time, strengthen propaganda efforts to encourage people to proactively prevent and control influenza A(H7N9) and influenza A(H5N1), avoiding panic that could affect the supply and consumption of poultry and poultry products; advise people not to use unhygienic or unidentifiable food; not to eat raw blood dishes or use products that have not been hygienically processed; strengthen propaganda on the prevention and control of influenza A(H7N9) and influenza A(H5N1) during the 2014 festival season...

According to NDĐT