Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Vietnam: H5N1 flu spread through the air?

Google Translation:

Wednesday, 06/27/2012 23:51

Research by scientists Netherlands and the U.S. found the H5N1 bird flu virus has been genetically modified and can easily spread from person to person through the air. This has raised concerns about the global H5N1 flu pandemic

According to reports published in scientific journals, a virologist at the Medical Center Erasmus University - Netherlands has done research on influenza A/H5N1 virus. Accordingly, the H5N1 bird flu virus has mutated and become a dangerous new strain, not only among poultry, it is also capable of spreading among mammals (including humans) through air gas. With this research, scientists fear the virus strain changes may occur in the natural environment.

A patient being treated for influenza A/H5N1

New flu strains, more dangerous

Together, another study on avian flu was announced by U.S. scientists shows that H5N1 virus can also be combined with other common seasonal flu strains to spread from person to person. This study has also created a strain of H5N1 influenza can spread through the air after combining with H1N1 flu strain.

Appeared in Vietnam since 2003, so far, 123 cases of influenza A/H5N1 in 40 provinces and city.Including 61 deaths in 30 localities. From early 2012 until now, the country has recorded four people infected with H5N1 flu, including two deaths.[See our 2012 Worldwide Cases Map on the right side bar] To date, the incidence and death from this strain is largely due to direct contact or indirectly with infected poultry.

According to Nguyen Van Binh, Director of Preventive Health - Ministry of Health, influenza surveillance activities are carried out regularly and has not recorded any cases of A/H5N1 flu spread from person to person in our country.

Mr. Binh said that the virus is possible to spread from person to person through the air. It is through droplets of respiratory secretions of infected birds or breathing air containing dust from bird droppings. In addition, this virus can spread through ingestion and contact with equipment or objects infected. People can also become infected by direct contact with infected poultry breeding, transportation, slaughtering and processing, poultry diseases and poultry products may be cooked or processed unhygienic.

Flu hazard when combined

Dr. Nguyen Hong Ha, deputy director of Tropical Diseases Hospital central concern: "If the virus is able to air and the wider diffusion than saliva ejected. One of the measures to prevent spread of flu is to wear a mask while limiting exposure to risk of infection through droplets of saliva.However, when this virus was mixed in the air, most likely risk is higher ".

According to epidemiologists, what the world is now the main concern is the risk of genetically modified H5N1 virus by recombination with other viruses transmitted from human to human or to become a global pandemic. In it, particularly concerns about the ability to combine with H1N1 flu strain H5N1.

Dr. Ha said that although highly toxic, but not everyone has the ability to sense with H5N1 infection that depends on the location of each person. Indeed, infectious influenza virus
H5N1 is very different. Many persons exposed to influenza A/H5N1 virus but very few cases.Currently, it is unclear what factors increase susceptibility to the virus.

Mr. Nguyen Van Binh said the combination of the virus is very common story, especially influenza virus. "There is a new strain of influenza can only occur for several months. This combination is considered the "nature" of the influenza virus, so the vaccine production to keep pace with the change of strain is very difficult "- Mr. Binh seen.

Experts recommend that epidemiological though this time not a seasonal flu but H5N1 avian influenza has appeared almost year-round with small outbreaks in many localities. This is a permanent threat to human health, by the majority of cases of influenza in humans is related to bird flu.

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