Highly virulent H7N9 influenza virus has the potential to cause a pandemic

For the first time, scientists discovered that highly pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza virus is transmitted among ferrets and kills them.

According to the National Focal Point for International Health Regulations, Department of Preventive Medicine, the Ministry of Health, scientists have not previously released the H7N9 avian influenza virus that causes disease and dies in poultry or other animals. However, the most recent study by a Japanese scientist has demonstrated that this strain of influenza virus can be transmitted and killed in animals.

Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan and his colleagues studied samples isolated from a patient who died of influenza A / H7N9 in early 2017. Initial research results for found that a gene segment that can transmit and cause death on ferrets (a type of animal that can point infection to humans).

Accordingly, highly pathogenic strains of A / H7N9 influenza virus can multiply effectively in rats, mink and some primates. All viruses infected among ferrets through saliva droplets to sensitive neuraminidase variants killed some infected animals and had close contact. This phenomenon occurs both in the first infectious animal and other healthy animals that have close contact with the infected animal.

Highly virulent A / H7N9 strains of influenza viruses can multiply effectively in mice, mink and some primates.

Experts insist that this is the first case of highly virulent H7N9 virus strains transmitted between ferrets and causing them to die. The results of this study suggest that this strain of virus could potentially cause a pandemic and should be closely monitored.

The transition from low virulence to highly virulent strains increases the risk of spreading the A / H7N9 influenza virus from poultry to humans due to the fact that the removal of viruses from poultry into the environment is tens to hundreds of times higher. with low virulence virus strains. On October 25, China discovered 54 samples of highly pathogenic H7N9 in the environment or poultry and 25 samples on humans.

The case of H7N9 was first detected in humans in February 2013 in China. The results of the survey since the beginning of this year have not detected cases of H7N9 avian influenza virus causing disease and death in poultry or other animals. Poultry is infected with virus but does not show symptoms, so it is classified as low virulence virus strain. However, from January 10 until now, samples of H7N9 influenza virus causing disease in poultry have been classified as highly virulent influenza virus strains.

China has recorded more than 1,600 cases of H7N9, including 619 deaths (death rate of about 38%). Cases often increase in the winter-spring months due to favorable weather conditions and high demand for poultry.

Until now, Vietnam has not detected H7N9 influenza virus in poultry as well as in humans. The Ministry of Health continues to closely coordinate to closely monitor the evolution of influenza A / H7N9 and timely implement disease prevention measures.

To proactively prevent H7N9 influenza in humans, the Preventive Health Department, the Ministry of Health recommends that people implement the following measures well:

1. Wash your hands often with soap; good personal hygiene, well-ventilated place, limited contact with patients.
2. Do not use poultry, poultry products of unknown origin; Ensure food safety.
3. When detected sick or dead poultry, they must immediately report to local authorities and veterinary units in the locality.
4. Persons returning home from epidemic areas must apply preventive measures and report health status to local health agencies for health monitoring.
5. When there are flu symptoms such as fever, cough, chest pain, and dyspnea, it is necessary to immediately seek medical advice, examination and treatment right away.