Max Channon
ExpressThu, 11 Apr 2024 16:08 UTC
FILE
A student has
died just days after developing a cough that was being caused by a bird flu. It was a highly pathogenic strain of the virus already detected in the UK and the US.
The
21-year-old from Vietnam is confirmed to have been infected with avian flu strain H5N1.
While it's most widespread targets are birds, the illness can be transferred to mammals and humans.
People who had been in close contact with the student are being "monitored daily" in case they fall ill.
Vietnam has also recorded its first human case of the less deadly H9 avian flu in a 37-year-old male. Despite being less severe than H5N1, the man fell ill on March 6 and was hospitalised a week later with pneumonia.Last month, Brits were urged to avoid close contact with wild birds and maintain a social distance of at least two metres due to fears of a new pandemic.
The UK Health Security Agency issued guidelines in March advising the public to minimise contact with birds to prevent catching diseases.
The guidelines recommend keeping as much distance from wild birds as possible, aiming for at least two metres if feasible, reports
the Mirror.
Comment: Thailand Medical News
provides more details:
As health officials and the public grapple with the implications of this case, numerous questions remain unanswered, highlighting the urgency of understanding and addressing this evolving situation.
The Patient's Journey: From Symptoms to Hospitalization
The unfolding saga began with the onset of symptoms in the young student on March 11. What initially appeared as mild discomfort quickly escalated, prompting the patient to seek medical attention. After a brief return home, during which time the virus may have spread within his household, the severity of his condition necessitated hospitalization. Currently, he remains in serious condition and isolated at the Provincial Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Khanh Hoa.
The patient is currently under mechanical ventilation and does not seem to be responding to any treatments including the usage of the antiviral Oseltamivir.
At the moment, Vietnamese health authorities have placed more than 214 individuals who had come into contact with the infected individual under isolation and are closely monitoring them.
According to sources from the provincial health department in Khanh Hoa, there are about 23 individuals in the group who are exhibiting symptoms of a respiratory infection.
The Pasteur Institute in Na Trang in Vietnam is currently overseeing all genomic testing and the institute so far has confirmed that a new subtype of H5N1 Avian Flu is involved in the initial case involving the university student.
Local experts claim that the new H5N1 subtype is originating from the virus branch 2.3.4.4b. (We do not have details to validate this as of yet.)
Media Frenzy and Official Responses
Vietnamese media outlets, including state-sponsored sources, have been abuzz with H5N1 News coverage of this alarming development. Reports detailing the patient's condition, the efforts to trace and test contacts, and the measures being taken by health authorities have dominated headlines.
Despite the lack of official statements from government health agencies, the credibility of these reports underscores the gravity of the situation.
Unraveling the Mystery: How Did the Student Contract the Virus?
One of the most pressing questions surrounding this case is the mode of transmission. The exact subtype of the H5 virus remains unidentified, adding complexity to the investigation. While previous cases involving H5N1 and H5N6 variants have been reported in neighboring countries like Cambodia, China and Laos, the specific origin of the virus in this instance remains a mystery. The absence of dead poultry in the vicinity further complicates efforts to pinpoint the source of exposure.
Response and Containment Efforts
In response to the confirmed case, health officials in Khanh Hoa have initiated comprehensive measures aimed at containment and prevention. Contact tracing, testing, and isolation protocols have been swiftly implemented to curb the potential spread of the virus. Additionally, disinfection procedures have been carried out in relevant locations, including the patient's dormitory at Nha Trang University.
Challenges and Unknowns
Despite these proactive measures, significant challenges persist. The inherent variability of the H5 virus, coupled with the potential for reassortment and emergence of new subtypes, underscores the need for vigilance and ongoing surveillance. The lack of clarity regarding the source of infection and the potential for human-to-human transmission further complicate the situation.
Update: We have received updates from local media that the Vietnamese government is issuing a directive to all local media to stop reporting on this emerging health issue. The health authorities have however conformed the emergence of the H5N1 outbreak and the WHO are also involved already.
The Vietnamese government may be urging for calm because it's really not considered to be an urgent issue - that point, however, remains to be seen.
It's worth noting that, ominously, MIT reports that they're working on an mRNA injection; an outbreak detected in the US in cows, and one rancher, is thought to have occurred because they were feeding the excreta of (likely bird flu vaccinated) chickens to the cows; and there's evidence showing that the vaccine program they've been enforcing across the planet has been ineffective, at best:
How dare they!!!