Prevention of bird flu spreads to humans

Avian influenza (influenza A / H5N1) caused by influenza A / H5N1 virus, is a highly contagious disease, easy to recur, no specific treatment drugs can cause death and death in poultry series, so we need to be very careful against the recurrence of influenza A / H5N1 in our country.

Road to spread influenza A / H5N1 to humans

A / H5N1 influenza virus can be transmitted from poultry to humans by contact with infected poultry or any part of infected poultry (including feces and feathers). Infection can occur through the following lines:

- Through direct contact such as slaughtering, transporting, trading or holding, touching infected poultry.

- Through eating and drinking:

1. Meat and poultry products are infected.
2. Meat and poultry products are not cooked as well as eggs, broths .

Signs of influenza A / H5N1 in humans: People with influenza A / H5N1 often have the following signs:

1. Sudden high fever (above 38 ^O C).
2. Headache.
3. Muscle aches.
4. Dry cough.
5. Sore throat.
6. Fatigue.
7. Diarrhea.

The disease often happens very quickly causing difficulty breathing, respiratory failure and leading to death if not treated promptly.

Each of us needs to be aware: H5N1 flu is very dangerous for humans and poultry to prevent the prevention of human disease.

People need to actively prevent influenza A / H5N1 infection by implementing four basic measures:

1. Personal hygiene, eating and drinking

- Wash hands with soap and clean water before eating, before processing and cooking, after handling poultry and after using the toilet.

- Cover your mouth with a tissue or with your hands when coughing and sneezing. Then wash your hands with soap.

- Wear a mask when handling live poultry and poultry slaughter.

- Do not use infected meat or poultry products or dead poultry.

- Only eat quarantined and trusted sources of meat and poultry products.

- Use a knife, separate cutting board when slicing raw meat and cooked meat.

- Cook poultry and poultry products thoroughly. Do not eat undercooked meat, raw eggs, peach eggs and soup.

- Wash the eggshell with soapy water before cooking and then wash your hands with soap.

2. Minimize exposure to poultry when raising livestock at households

The greatest risk of infection is through contact and slaughter of infected live poultry, so when raising livestock in households it is necessary to:

- Do not keep poultry in the house.

- Limit the number of family members exposed to poultry, especially children.

- Do not allow children to play with poultry.

- Isolate children, pregnant women and sick people from poultry and birds. Do not let them collect eggs.

- Wash your hands with soap after handling poultry.

- When working in poultry breeding areas, use masks to cover the nose and mouth.

- Wear a mask when cleaning the yard and garden.

- Destroy poultry waste safely away from breeding and living areas. Burn or bury bird waste deep in the ground so that chickens, dogs and cats cannot dig up.

- Put shoes, sandals outside the door and regularly wash shoes and sandals with water and soap daily.

- Early detection and notification to veterinarians when poultry is sick and dead. Try not to slaughter poultry at home. If slaughtering of poultry at home is required, safe poultry slaughter steps must be taken as follows:

- Wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth.

- Wear gloves.

Wear a mask when handling live poultry and poultry slaughter (Photo: dhs.ca.gov)

- Be careful to avoid maximum exposure to waste, feathers, blood and lumen, poultry intestines.

- Wash hands with soap thoroughly after poultry slaughter.

- Brush, wash poultry slaughter areas with soapy water.

- Wash your hands with soap.

3. Strengthen health and preventive ability

1. Implement a nutritious diet.
2. Have a reasonable relaxation and rest regime.
3. Strengthening the exercise and sports, exercising the body, keeping the body warm.

4. Immediately go to the nearest medical facility for examination and treatment when there is a high fever such as 38 ^O C, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headache and fatigue after contact hold.

Households and livestock facilities should fully comply with the regulations on livestock, barn management, transport, trade and slaughter of poultry. (See the next section: Measures to prevent bird flu in livestock).

Dr. LE XUAN THUY (Center for Central Health Education and Communication)