Prevention of toxic bird flu H5N6

Although there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, the newly discovered A / H5N6 influenza virus strain in Vietnam is warned to have very high virulence.

The list of dangerous avian influenza viruses was expanded again when Vietnam recently discovered A / H5N6 influenza virus in chickens and ducks in Lang Son and Ha Tinh. This strain is similar to the deadly strain in China in April 2014.

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The Ministry of Health said that cases of influenza A / H5N6 infection as a 49-year-old patient in Sichuan province - China died were discovered in April 2014. This is also the first and only patient in the world infected with influenza A / H5N6 recorded so far.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Dac Phu, Director of Preventive Medicine Department of the Ministry of Health, Vietnam has not recorded cases of human influenza A / H5N6 infection. However, according to the Department of Animal Health - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's announcement, the latest active surveillance results have found a number of cases positive for influenza A / H5N6 in chickens in Trang Dinh district. , Lang Son province and on flocks of ducks raised in Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh province. This is the first time A / H5N6 influenza virus has been recorded in Vietnam.

Earlier, the strain was found in wild ducks and wild birds in Sweden, Germany, the US and Taiwan. It is worrisome that the results of genetic sequencing of detected A / H5N6 influenza virus samples in Vietnam show 99% similarity with the first A / H5N6 influenza virus causing death on humans. Sichuan.

'According to the World Animal Health Organization, this is a highly virulent strain of virus, although there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, but its detection in poultry also increases the risk of spreading bird flu to humans. - Dr. Phu said.

Mr. Dam Xuan Thanh, Deputy Director of Animal Health Department, said the authorities have carried out the destruction of all poultry infected with influenza A / H5N6 to prevent the virus from spreading to the environment and other poultry. ; and at the same time intensify sampling of poultry in Ha Tinh and Lang Son for testing. According to Mr. Thanh, monitoring of wild birds and ducks is also being carried out. Initial epidemiological investigations showed that wild birds and mallards have appeared in this area before the disease outbreak.

Dangerous equivalent to H5N1

Prof. Dr. Trinh Quan Huan, senior expert of the Ministry of Health, said that the emergence of influenza A / H5N6 virus in poultry in our country is extending the list of influenza virus strains causing human diseases. Meanwhile, the identification and differentiation of current influenza strains must be based on testing. Most influenza virus strains when causing illness for people have the same clinical manifestations such as fever, cough, fatigue, so it is not excluded that people can be subjective to the signs of the disease.

'The danger level of influenza A / H5N6 is assessed as equivalent to A / H5N1. The return of influenza A / H5N1, the existence of influenza A / H1N1, the risk of invading influenza A / H7N9 and the emergence of the new strain A / H5N6 is really worrying because of the unpredictable changes of influenza virus. They are especially dangerous because the human body has no antibodies against new viruses, while the characteristics of the flu virus are constantly changing to adapt ' - Professor Huan worries.

Poultry slaughter of unknown origin is at risk of catching bird flu

According to Prof. Dr. Trinh Quan Huan, more worrisome is the situation of poultry, waterfowl carrying pathogens without manifesting disease but still a source of infection for humans. This makes it difficult to control the disease.

Experts suggest that it is difficult to distinguish the original influenza strains, so if you suspect flu, you should use Tamiflu. Professor Trinh Quan Huan emphasized the same as influenza A / H5N1, the disease caused by influenza A / H5N6 virus has developed quickly; If detected early, timely treatment can save patients' lives. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention when in areas where dead poultry occur, people with signs of coughing, high fever, headache, aches and pains .

Epidemiological experts also noted that the influenza A / H7N9 virus strain causing outbreaks in China and Southeast Asian countries has caused hundreds of deaths and deaths, although Vietnam has not recorded cases but the risk is also great, especially when Vietnam has detected A / H5N6 influenza virus in poultry similar to the virus strain in China. It is very likely that influenza A / H5N6 virus infiltrates according to convoys of smuggled poultry.

Meanwhile, with influenza A / H5N1, although many months have not been recognized on humans, but the last time continue to appear outbreaks in poultry. At the same time, pandemic flu has been constantly changing genes, new strains of influenza appear.

Control of cross-border poultry trade

According to epidemiologists, the most important problem to prevent influenza A / H5N6 as well as other influenza viruses at this time is to properly control the situation of trafficking and transporting smuggled poultry . The Ministry of Health has recommended measures to prevent bird flu infection from not trading, transporting, slaughtering and using unqualified poultry; cover your mouth, nose when coughing, sneezing; use protective equipment, wash your hands with soap when handling poultry; avoid close contact with people with acute respiratory disease .