There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of influenza A/H9N2.

At the national online conference on strengthening disease prevention and control organized by the Ministry of Health on the afternoon of April 10, Dr. Hoang Minh Duc, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, informed about the health status of the male patient (37 years old, residing in Tan Ly Dong commune, Chau Thanh district, Tien Giang province) infected with the first A/H9N2 flu in our country; at the same time, advised people not to be too panicked or worried because "so far there have been no signs or cases of human-to-human transmission".

The risk of an epidemic is very low.

Currently, the patient with influenza A/H9N2 mentioned above is being actively treated at the Negative Pressure Isolation Room of the Department of Adult Intensive Care and Anti-Poisoning - Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases with a diagnosis of sepsis from pneumonia, influenza A, invasive fungal infection, complications of respiratory failure, pulmonary hemorrhage, stable abdominal hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, acute kidney injury, alcoholic cirrhosis, and monitoring of liver tumors.

“Since the patient was isolated and treated at the hospital, people who have been in close contact with the patient are currently in normal health,” said the Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine.

According to the Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Hoang Minh Duc, from 2015 to present, the Western Pacific region has recorded 98 cases of A/H9N2 influenza, including 2 deaths, of which 96 cases were recorded in China and 2 cases in Cambodia. Most of the cases had mild and moderate symptoms, the 2 deaths were people with underlying diseases.

For the A/H9N2 flu case in Tien Giang, due to underlying diseases of cirrhosis and diabetes, the patient had more severe symptoms.

In response to people's concerns about the A/H9N2 flu, the Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine said that A/H9N2 flu is a low-risk pathogenic strain, often causing mild symptoms and not causing disease in poultry, so it is very difficult to detect. "So far, there have been no signs or cases of human-to-human transmission. Therefore, we affirm that the risk of an epidemic is very low, however, the risk of infection is there because of weather conditions, poultry trade, birds and wild animals migrating according to the weather," Mr. Duc shared.

Director Hoang Minh Duc also said that currently, the Department of Preventive Medicine and the Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) have been closely coordinating and actively handling issues related to human diseases, implementing zoning, testing and environmental treatment...

There is still no warning from the World Health Organization about genetic mutations and changes in virulence... Therefore, the community should not be too panicked or afraid of the information about a fatal case of A/H5N1 flu and A/H9N2 flu in our country recently.

However, Director Hoang Minh Duc also said that people should not be subjective and need to follow recommendations on preventing avian influenza from spreading to humans.

Continue to closely monitor the epidemic

To prevent and combat avian influenza, Director Hoang Minh Duc said that it is necessary to focus on solutions to prevent infection from poultry to humans, focusing on high-risk subjects. Along with that, it is necessary to strengthen communication on measures to prevent infection from poultry to humans, focusing on subjects with low resistance and underlying diseases.

Functional units continue to closely monitor the epidemic situation, especially at treatment facilities and high-risk areas to promptly detect cases of severe pneumonia suspected to be caused by the virus.

At the same time, continue to coordinate with veterinary agencies to promptly grasp information on avian influenza, assess general risks to have timely and effective measures to control human diseases;

In addition, coordinate with the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control to update and share the situation of avian influenza epidemics in the world, monitor genetic mutations of avian influenza virus strains to promptly assess and identify risks...

Previously, immediately after receiving information about the case of a patient infected with influenza A/H9N2 in Tien Giang, the Department of Preventive Medicine sent an official dispatch to the Tien Giang Provincial Department of Health and the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City, requesting the Director of the Department of Health to pay attention and direct affiliated units to urgently organize an investigation into the source of infection and thoroughly handle the outbreak.

At the same time, strengthen monitoring to detect new cases, be ready to receive, isolate, and treat according to regulations of the Ministry of Health and direct the Center for Disease Control to promptly deploy epidemic prevention and control measures.

The Department of Health closely coordinates with the agricultural sector and local authorities to monitor and detect early outbreaks of avian influenza, promptly share information and coordinate to thoroughly handle outbreaks.

In addition to strengthening propaganda on measures to prevent avian influenza transmission to humans, especially in areas with sick and dead poultry and high-risk areas, it is necessary to prepare medicines, supplies, chemicals, and means to promptly support localities in implementing measures to handle outbreaks.

The Department of Preventive Medicine also requested the Director of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City to direct its affiliated units to urgently continue investigating, monitoring and tracking cases in close contact with the patient, promptly detecting new cases.

In addition to continuing to conduct in-depth tests to identify virus subtypes, it is necessary to guide and support localities in confirming tests on samples from suspected cases in humans and handling outbreaks according to regulations...