Risk of infection with H5N1 bird flu from bird nest

Ninh Thuan took samples of bird's nest, feces and bird's nest for testing, the results were 3 times positive for H5N1 virus. According to Professor Trinh Quan Huan, a senior expert of the Ministry of Health 'risk of infection from bird nest to human is existing'.

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According to Professor Huan, this is the first time Vietnam has detected the H5N1 influenza virus in bird nest. Previously, mainly discovered on poultry, waterfowl and quail.

From 2005 up to now, almost every year, the veterinary industry has detected outbreaks in poultry and waterfowl. The biggest danger is poultry, aquatic birds carry the virus but no signs of disease. So the disease is easily spread among poultry flocks, waterfowl, even birds, including oats.

This is the first time Vietnam has detected H5N1 influenza virus in bird nest. (Artwork)

In humid, low temperature conditions, the H5N1 influenza virus lasts for many days but when it comes to the outside environment, it usually dies quite quickly. If you burn more than 60 degrees C, the virus will die within an hour. Therefore, the existence of this virus will depend on each type of product processed from bird nest. If using products stored in cold, low humidity conditions, the risk of infection may be higher, Professor Huan said.

'In my opinion, people can still use bird's nest products but pay attention to their origin and shelf life. It is best to use only heat-treated products carefully. When processing, it is necessary to have a means of protection, ' Professor Huan said.

According to him, the veterinary sector should strengthen supervision, wherever dead birds need to implement preventive measures. Veterinary medicine also coordinated with the health sector to strengthen supervision and propaganda for people to raise awareness of disease prevention and limit the transmission of H5N1 virus to humans. Those who raise bird's nest need to apply measures to prevent this virus infection for themselves and their families, when taking care of bird's nest, it is necessary to wear gloves, masks . When seeing unusual signs from birds like sick, dead, need to report immediately to the veterinary.

In contact with and processing poultry infected with H5N1, humans can be infected directly in case of scratched limbs. Especially if the blood and secretions of poultry are infected in the eyes, the risk of infection is very high, such as the case of 4-year-old baby who died of H5N1 flu in Dong Thap. Before that, she was watching her make chicken, Professor Huan said.

People well implement preventive measures such as sick, dead poultry and bird nest are absolutely not slaughtered and used but must immediately notify local authorities for timely treatment. Be sure to eat cooked, boiled, wash your hands with soap before eating and after going to the toilet .

Currently, H5N1 influenza does not yet have a vaccine to prevent disease, and there is no specific treatment. This is a dangerous, highly virulent type of flu, with a death rate of up to 50%, even up to 100%. Therefore, when high fever, shortness of breath, live in the area of ​​H5N1 flu, people need to visit medical facilities to avoid complications, the risk of death is unfortunate.