Ministry of Health warns of risk of H5N1 avian influenza entering Vietnam
VOV.VN - The Ministry of Health sent a telegram on March 1 to various chairman of People's Committees at municipal and provincial levels regarding drastic measures aimed at preventing the H5N1 avian influenza from potentially spreading from poultry to humans.
The move comes after Cambodia recorded two human cases of H5N1 avian influenza in one family in Prey Veng province, with one of the infected subsequently dying of the virus on February 22. These are the latest human cases of H5N1 avian influenza in Cambodia since 2014.
According to details given by the Ministry of Health, amid the increasingly trade exchanges between Vietnam and other countries around the world, there represents a high risk of avian influenza entering the nation, especially in provinces that share borders with epidemic-affected places.
In Vietnam, the changing of seasons makes it favourable for the development of avian influenza viruses. Furthermore, there are numerous festivals typically held after the Lunar New Year holiday, which also poses a potential risk of transmission of avian influenza to humans.
In late 2022, the nation also reported the first human case of A/H5N1 avian flu in the northern province of Phu Tho.
In order to actively prevent H5N1 avian influenza from entering the country, the Ministry of Health has suggested that localities and cities take urgent steps by strengthening close supervision of people entering the country, especially people who slaughter, trade live poultry and poultry products, and those coming from an epidemic area to timely detect infected cases.
Hospitals are therefore urged to prepare medical supplies and chemicals to provide timely support for localities seeking to implement measures to handle any potential outbreaks moving forward.
