A/H5N1 influenza is easily transmitted from poultry to humans and can spread into an epidemic.

Madam, Vietnam has recently recorded a death due to influenza A/H5N1; epidemiological investigation showed that the patient had previously gone to trap wild birds. How do you assess the risk of influenza A transmission from animals to humans, especially from wild animals?

Currently, some strains of influenza A virus that can cause disease in humans and animals are commonly known as: H5N1, H1N1, H3N2, H5N6, H7N9... In which, influenza A/H5N1 is known as a dangerous acute infectious disease that causes disease in birds, poultry and some other animals and can infect humans, causing severe disease, rapid progression, not responding to conventional treatments and having a high mortality rate.

Humans can become infected through direct contact with infected animals or by touching surfaces contaminated with infected animal mucus, saliva, or feces and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth, or by inhaling droplets or dust in the air.

According to some screening results, avian influenza virus has been detected in more than 100 species of wild birds, including some species that are considered natural hosts of avian influenza virus such as mallards, geese, swans, seagulls... However, in reality, most wild birds infected with avian influenza virus do not show symptoms; while poultry infected with the virus may have typical symptoms such as: loss of appetite, swollen eyelids, purple comb, wattles, legs, difficulty breathing, staggering, falling, respiratory symptoms (runny nose, cough, sneezing...), twisted neck or death.

Is the A(H5N1) flu strain easily transmitted to humans? While the A(H5N1) flu strain has so far mainly been reported in poultry, madam?

Direct or indirect contact with infected animals poses a risk of infection to humans. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), human cases of avian influenza and other zoonotic influenza viruses have been reported, although not yet fully.

With influenza A/H5N1, there is the ability to transmit directly from birds and poultry to humans through contact with infected live or dead birds and poultry or from the environment. In particular, after being transmitted to humans, the virus also has the ability to recombine to form new viruses with human influenza virus genes and make the epidemic easily spread from person to person, with the risk of causing a pandemic in humans.

In case people have caught and recognized that the animal has influenza A; how should people handle it to protect themselves and those around them from infection, madam?

According to the recommendations of health and veterinary agencies, when detecting sick or dead poultry, people must absolutely not slaughter and use them but must immediately notify the local authorities and veterinary units in the area.

Because wild birds infected with influenza A virus often do not show obvious symptoms, the best way to minimize the risk of infection is to limit contact with, slaughter, and eating wild animals in general, especially birds.

In case people have flu symptoms such as: fever, cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing... especially if they are related or have been in contact with poultry or birds, they must immediately go to the nearest medical facility for timely consultation, examination and treatment.

To avoid infection with A/H5N1 flu, what should people do, madam?

To limit the risk of infection with A/H5N1 flu, we need to follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Health such as:

- Do not eat sick, dead poultry or poultry products of unknown origin; ensure 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 discovering 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.

- When you have flu symptoms such as fever, cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing related to poultry, you must immediately go to a medical facility for timely consultation, examination and treatment.

In particular, for those traveling to countries or areas where avian influenza is circulating, it is necessary to minimize going to poultry farms, contact with animals at live poultry markets, entering poultry slaughter areas, and contact with surfaces exposed to poultry feces, fluids, and secretions.

People need to monitor symptoms and go to medical facilities if they have symptoms of suspected bird flu infection.

Thank you very much!