There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for avian influenza in humans. Meanwhile, the risk of avian influenza spreading to humans may continue to occur in the future.
Binh Thuan has no bird flu in humans
In the 4th week of March 2024, a 21-year-old male patient in Khanh Hoa contracted A/H5N1 influenza and died. Regarding epidemiology, there was no record of contact, slaughter, or consumption of sick or dead poultry, and there was no case of sick or dead poultry in the area where the patient's family lived. The patient went bird trapping before and after Tet and raised birds. Since 2003, the country has had 129 people infected with A/H5N1 influenza, of which 65 people died. That is information from the Ministry of Health .
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said: In the first 3 months of 2024, there were 6 outbreaks of avian influenza A/H5N1 in 6 provinces nationwide. Specifically, Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh, Khanh Hoa, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Long An and Tien Giang , forcing the destruction of 8,924 poultry, an increase of 25% over the same period in 2023. There are currently no outbreaks of avian influenza in the country.
In Binh Thuan, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: In 2023 and the first months of 2024, the avian influenza epidemic situation was well controlled, with no outbreaks recorded in the province. In 2023, 8,386,931 doses of avian influenza vaccine were administered. Of which, the number of vaccines supported by the State for free vaccination for livestock households was 1,645,000 doses, reaching 97.9% of the vaccination plan according to the province's plan. In the first 3 months of 2024, 1,198,666 doses of avian influenza vaccine were administered. According to the provincial Center for Disease Control, the highlight from 2020 to present is that Binh Thuan has not recorded any cases of avian influenza spreading to humans.
Still latent… to infect humans
Currently, it is the transitional season, the weather is changing erratically, creating favorable conditions for pathogens to develop. In addition, there is environmental pollution, climate change, natural disasters, floods and storms; urbanization, increased migration; livestock farming practices, living habits, personal habits, and food hygiene and safety are not guaranteed. Along with that, daily trading activities of transporting and trading poultry are taking place between countries and provinces in the country. On the other hand, the potential for the A/H5N1 influenza virus strain in healthy poultry flocks, or in flocks of birds in nature (wild) is inevitable.
Therefore, the Ministry of Health believes that in the coming time, there is still a potential risk of animal-to-human disease outbreaks continuing to occur, including avian influenza. Because the spread of avian influenza in all regions of the world has been recorded. Avian influenza outbreaks can still occur in poultry flocks across the country, originating from trade. Moreover, there is currently no specific treatment for avian influenza in humans, nor is there a vaccine to prevent the disease. The A/H5N1 virus is a highly pathogenic influenza strain, infected people often have severe progression and a mortality rate of nearly 50%.
How to prevent diseases for humans and poultry
To prevent avian influenza, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Thuan province coordinates with local authorities to guide farmers on proactive measures to prevent the disease and vaccinate poultry against avian influenza. Localities in the province are currently implementing a plan to purchase avian influenza vaccines to vaccinate poultry farmers in the province for free. Special attention should be paid to poultry in high-risk areas, poultry that have been vaccinated but have run out of or are about to run out of immunity, ensuring that the rate reaches over 80% of the total poultry flock at the time of vaccination. Strengthen inspection and control of the gathering and trading of poultry and poultry products; check the origin of poultry and poultry products imported into the area; check veterinary hygiene conditions, food hygiene and safety of poultry processing, consumption and transportation facilities.
Regarding the prevention of avian influenza from spreading to humans, Dr. Vo Van Hanh - Director of the Center for Disease Control of Binh Thuan province recommends that people do not eat poultry, poultry products that are sick, dead, and of unknown origin; ensure that food is cooked and water is boiled; wash hands with soap before eating. Do not slaughter, transport, buy or sell poultry and poultry products of unknown origin. When detecting sick or dead poultry, absolutely do not slaughter and use them, but immediately notify the local authorities and veterinary units in the area. Limit contact, slaughter, and eating wild animals, especially birds.
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