Vietnam discovers human bird flu case after 8 years of absence

At the online conference on strengthening epidemic prevention and Covid-19 vaccination on October 20, Dr. Nguyen Luong Tam - Deputy Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health informed about the case of influenza A (H5). Specifically, on October 17, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology reported positive test results for influenza A (H5) from the sample of a 5-year-old female patient (in Phu Tho).

This is the latest human case of influenza A (H5) in Vietnam since February 2014. According to the Ministry of Health, from 2003 to now, the country has recorded 128 cases of influenza A (H5).

A representative of the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said that immediately after identifying the case, the Institute sent a mobile prevention team to Phu Tho, to the patient's residence, to coordinate with the Department of Animal Health - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the locality to investigate the epidemic.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong requested the local health sector to strengthen monitoring, early detection, and investigation of suspected cases of people infected with avian influenza strains, and promptly and thoroughly handle outbreaks in localities. Photo: Tran Minh

The team took 65 samples from people who had contact with the patient (both close and distant contacts), and the test results showed that all were negative for influenza A(H5). Currently, the health status of those who had contact with the patient is completely normal.

Chairing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong requested local health sectors to strengthen monitoring, early detection, and investigation of suspected cases of people infected with avian influenza strains, and promptly and thoroughly handle outbreaks in localities.

At the same time, the health sector needs to review professional guidelines on monitoring and prevention.avian influenzaon humans; develop disease prevention and control plans, coordinate with local veterinary agencies to closely monitor the situation of avian influenza epidemics to have measures to prevent transmission to humans and prepare response measures.

In addition, the health sector is also asked to strengthen propaganda on measures to prevent avian influenza from spreading to humans in areas with sick or dead poultry and high-risk areas...

To prevent the spread of avian influenza to humans, the Ministry of Health recommends that people: Do not kill, slaughter, or use sick or dead poultry of unknown cause; Do not trade or use meat, eggs, or poultry products of unknown origin; Do not eat raw blood pudding, or undercooked poultry meat or eggs.

In addition, when detecting sick or dead poultry, it must be promptly reported to local authorities. At the same time, if flu symptoms related to contact with poultry appear, the patient must immediately go to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment.