Influenza A virus (H7N9) in China has been highly virulent

The World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization announced that there has been a record of changes in influenza A (H7N9) from low virulence to highly virulent when analyzing human and poultry influenza virus genes. in China.

Influenza A (H7N9) began to be recorded in China from 3/2013 with 5 outbreaks, in which the fifth outbreak took place from October 2016 to now is the biggest epidemic ever tissue, number of infections and spread rate constitute the fifth outbreak with 541 cases. The epidemic peaked in February 2017 with about 50-60 new cases / week, then from March until now there has been a gradual decrease with about 18-34 new cases / week. From 3/2017 until now, there have been 3 more localities in Gansu, Tibet and Shaanxi areas with new cases. Thus, the fifth outbreak recorded cases of influenza A (H7N9) in 17 provinces in China.

Recently, the epidemic has tended to be strong in some southern and southeastern provinces of China, including two provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi bordering with our country. In Quang Tay province, during the week from February 8 to March 9, 2017, there was a sudden increase in cases of influenza A (H7N9) on people with 14 cases while in 2015 -1016 this province did not record receive case. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this increase may be due to poultry being transported from Guangdong Province to Guangxi after Guangdong Province Dad closed the poultry market. Experts recommend the risk of avian influenza epidemic entering Vietnam in this period is the highest since 2013 due to concerns that Guangxi will also apply measures to close poultry markets so poultry will be transported. entering Vietnam without strict border control measures.

A case of influenza A (H7N9) infection was reported in Beijing, China.(Photo: Chinadaily).

According to the WHO, FAO, has recorded the change of influenza A (H7N9) virus from low virulence to highly virulent when analyzing the influenza virus gene in humans as well as in poultry. In humans, highly virulent genes were detected in 2 patients with influenza A (H7N9) in Guangdong and one patient with influenza A (H7N9) in Taiwan (according to WHO's February 25, 2017 Notice). In poultry, FAO also recorded 41 samples of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry and environment (30 samples in chickens, 1 in ducks and 10 in environmental samples) taken from 23 live poultry markets and 3 farms of 3 provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi and Ha Nam.

The study results show that highly virulent A (H7N9) virus is capable of killing 100% of infected chickens (in the experiment) and is capable of spreading about 100-1000 times faster than low virulence virus. . This continuous change is a natural feature of influenza virus due to recombination. Currently, there is no evidence of a change in influenza A virus (H7N9) that is easily transmitted from person to person and WHO has not recommended clinical management changes for cases of influenza A infection ( H7N9) in humans.

Given the complicated development of influenza A (H7N9) in China and the virulence changes of the virus, the Ministry of Health assesses the very high risk of influenza A virus (H7N9) that can enter our country. The Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have had electricity and official letters to focus on preventing smuggling of poultry and poultry products from the border into our country at the same time. Strictly control, prohibit the transportation, trading and poultry products of unknown origin, not quarantined on the market. Monitoring of early detection of epidemics has also been strongly implemented in high-risk areas, live poultry trading areas, medical facilities and at border gates. The Ministry of Health has updated professional guidance documents and organized training courses for health workers in border provinces on surveillance, testing and treatment of outbreaks. Coordinated rehearsals between the two sectors of agriculture and health have also been implemented in localities, especially in key provinces such as Lang Son, Hanoi, Quang Ninh .

The Ministry of Health has also established 5 working groups to directly inspect the implementation of epidemic prevention activities in localities. Continue to coordinate with WHO, FAO and international organizations to closely monitor the evolution of influenza A (H7N9) in China, closely monitor the epidemic situation in the country and promptly inform people to apply appropriate preventive measures.

To proactively prevent the transmission of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus into our country, the Department of Preventive Medicine - Ministry of Health recommends that people implement the following contents well:

1. Do not eat poultry, poultry products that are sick, dead and of unknown origin; make sure to eat cooked, drink well; Wash your hands with soap before eating.
2. No slaughtering, transporting, buying and selling poultry and poultry products of unknown origin.
3. When detecting sick or dead poultry, it is absolutely forbidden to slaughter and use but must immediately notify local authorities and veterinary units in the area.
4. When there are flu symptoms such as fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath related to poultry, they must go immediately to a health facility for timely advice, examination and treatment.