Risk of new flu outbreaks

(Source: Reuters)

(ANTD) - Experts said that epidemiology, influenza A/H5N1 virus in the country is changing so fast and increasingly dangerous. Meanwhile, the risk of this disease outbreak back on the people in our country is also visible when the sense of prevention of the people remain poor.

Hanoi is the first patient

Following four cases were identified positive for influenza A/H5N1 in the southern provinces, where a patient died, in turn Hanoi patients first recorded influenza A/H5N1 infected in 2010. According to report from the Department of Preventive Health and Environment - Ministry of Health on 12-3, just one new patients were confirmed positive for influenza A/H5N1 female, age 25, in the Phu Ninh commune (district of Soc Son , Hanoi).

Patients with this disease onset 5-3 days with symptoms of high fever 38 C, with cough, sore throat, headache, difficulty breathing. 7-3 days, the patient visit at BV North Thang Long and pneumonia was diagnosed by the virus, treated with antiviral drugs, antibiotics do not help but support. On 10-3, disease progression and worse patient is brought to BV Bach Mai, is still in mechanical ventilation, treatment of BV positive at this.

After receiving reports of cases, the preventive health center Hanoi held chemical spray sterilizing the area around the patient, and conduct epidemiological investigations, sampling and seven people have close contact with patients taking preventive medications. Public sector patients is independent between the neighbors, near which there are 2 small chicken farms, households in the hamlet were also breeding poultry. From early March until now, the area around the patient is sick birds, dead scattered. In a patient also has adopted seven chickens, one week before a child has died decomposition ...

About a month now, many countries around the world also noted the morbidity and mortality due to influenza A/H5N1 in some countries such as Indonesia and Egypt. Therefore, people need to seriously comply with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health prevention: implementation cooked food drink boiling; not use, contact with infected poultry; cleaning their hands after contact with poultry ...

Prof Nguyen Huy Nga - Director of Department of Preventive Health and Environment to receive, translate influenza A/H5N1 in humans at risk of outbreak back to the consciousness of people is not prevention, especially in some local areas remote, is still status slaughter and eat meat poultry. Through epidemiological investigation, most patients (about 95%) had a history of exposure to sick poultry.

Virus Signs of "oily" drug

Day 12-3, in National Conference on prevention activities pandemic of 2009, implementation took place in 2010 in Hanoi, Dr Le Quynh Mai - Virus Dean, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology Central said that the influenza A/H5N1 virus evolved in our country are too fast and are of highly pathogenic strains.

From 2001-2007, there were nine types of the virus genes circulating in our country, including five new gene phenotype was discovered in 2007 and expression of the exchange, integration between the antigens of each gene. Dr. Mai also expressed concern because the H5N1 virus has made the change of antigens reduces the sensitivity of influenza treatment.

This is a very dangerous issue for public health by the forecast of experts, not soon, then later, a new virus may appear from recombinant strains of old and triggers a pandemic with unpredictable levels.

Also at the conference, several experts said that the existence of the time influenza A/H1N1, influenza A/H5N1 avian influenza in humans and, with winter weather - spring is a favorable condition for virus influenza developed and translated into many local spread.

Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga warning, the existence of H1N1 and H5N1 virus at the same time, requires monitoring the situation closely and conduct epidemiological studies for risk combination of two virus formed other pathogenic virus more dangerous is high.