Ministry of Health warns: There is a risk of H5N1 mutation

Deputy Minister of Health Trinh Quan Huan has just quoted the World Health Organization (WHO) warning, the risk of strain of influenza A / H5N1 virus can spread from person to person and the possibility of high outbreaks in winter spring this year.

According to this announcement, WHO said that bird flu continues to be complicated in 3 Southeast Asian countries including Laos, Thailand and Indonesia.

Small poultry slaughter is one of the risk of influenza outbreaks.
(Photo: Bao Tran)

So far, 10 countries have been infected and died of H5N1 bird flu, since the beginning of 2006 until now, Vietnam is the only country among these 10 countries without new human H5N1.

To prevent cross-contamination among influenza strains, the National Institute of Vaccine and Medical Biology (Ministry of Health) has just issued a license for inactivated influenza vaccines to prevent influenza A (H3N2 , H1N1) and influenza B named Fluarix produced by GlaxoSmithKline Company.

Fluarix is ​​used for flu prevention in adults and children over 6 months of age.At dosages: adults and children over 3 years 0.5ml / dose;children 6-36 months of age 0.25ml / dose.A second dose should be given after at least 4 weeks for children who have never had a flu shot before.The vaccine has been widely used at vaccination sites nationwide.

Although no new cases of influenza A / H5N1 have been detected, but in Vietnam there has been a phenomenon of sporadic dead poultry in some localities, but has not been paid attention by authorities, authorities and livestock owners. report, handle outbreaks.

The situation of import, purchase and sale of poultry and poultry products at border gates has not been strictly controlled, the purchase and sale and poultry slaughtering does not guarantee the regulations are still ongoing at In some localities, pathogens are easily spread, the risk of new outbreaks in poultry and spread to humans is very high.

The Ministry of Health also said that it is cooperating with the United Nations Children's Fund to organize anti-H5N1 communication at commune and district levels. A training course to update knowledge for 50 provinces and cities about H5N1 is also about to be conducted.

Also related to avian influenza prevention and control, Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Hien, Director of the Central Institute of Clinical Medicine for Tropical Diseases warned: "Before the situation of bird flu appears in some Southeastern countries. Asia, although the common human flu vaccine does not prevent bird flu in humans, it will help reduce the possibility of coordination between human and bird flu viruses.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Hien also recommends: '' Health workers often interact with patients and those who are in contact with poultry who need to be vaccinated against influenza ''.

Le Ha