Detection of influenza A / H5N6 virus in animals in Lang Son and Ha Tinh

The Ministry of Health has just issued a written request to the provincial People's Committees to take measures to enhance surveillance and early detection of influenza A / H5N6 outbreaks in poultry and humans.

This requirement was given by the health sector when Vietnam first recorded A / H5N6 influenza virus appearing in animals in Lang Son and Ha Tinh provinces. This is a highly virulent strain of virus that has been fatal on humans in China.

According to information from the Ministry of Health, the announcement of the Department of Animal Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that, through active surveillance, some cases of positive for influenza A / H5N6 were detected in chickens raised at Trang Dinh district, Lang Son province and on ducks raised in Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh province. This is the first time A / H5N6 influenza virus has been recorded in Vietnam.

This strain has been detected in wild ducks and wild birds in Sweden, Germany, the US and Taiwan.

Sprinkle lime powder to prevent disease on poultry.(Photo: VNA)

Results of gene sequencing test of detected A / H5N6 influenza virus samples in Vietnam show 99% similarity with A / H5N6 influenza virus causing the first and human death in Sichuan province , China in April 2014.

The case in China is recorded as the only case of human influenza A / H5N6 to date. Previously, China did not report on influenza A / H5N6 infection in poultry.

In Laos, poultry samples positive for A / H5N6 influenza virus were detected but there was no clinical disease in poultry in Luang Prabang province in July 2014.

According to the World Veterinary Organization, this is a highly virulent virus strain and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Therefore, monitoring and monitoring of the evolution of this new strain should be done closely to respond promptly to outbreaks in poultry.

The Ministry of Health has just proposed the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to strengthen supervision and early detection of influenza outbreaks in poultry.

Units need to coordinate closely with relevant units to prevent smuggling and strictly control the transport and trading of poultry and poultry products; promptly notify bird flu situation to the health sector to coordinate the early detection of human cases of influenza A / H5N6.

Health departments should strengthen monitoring and sampling of specimens from cases of severe acute respiratory inflammation, severe viral pneumonia, especially in cases of history of exposure to infected poultry to detect early on highly virulent influenza virus strains; promptly implement quarantine and treatment measures and promptly implement quarantine, treatment and epidemic prevention measures.

To prevent disease, the Ministry of Health recommends that people should limit exposure to sick or dead poultry and poultry waste, often washing their hands with soap or antiseptic solution, not using poultry and products. Poultry products of unknown origin.