Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The Ho Chi Minh City Department ofHealth has activated its surveillance system for early detection of all potentiallysuspected infections of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (A/H5N1), said Le HongNga, deputy head of the municipal Centre for Disease Control (HCDC).
The move came after a warning by the local Pasteur Instituteon a death from the disease in a Cambodian province bordering Vietnam, Nganoted.
According to her, the system targets all clusters ofrespiratory illnesses in the community or those of severe respiratoryinfections with a history of exposure to poultry. To comply with the department’srequest, all cases of severe pneumonia of unknown cause in the area will besampled for diagnostic testing.
Poultry and waterfowl farms, wholesale poultry markets, slaughtering units and border gates are set to be increasinglyinspected.
Nga said huge traffic flows between the southern metropolis and otherprovinces and cities, coupled with its large number of bordergates, pose a very high risk of the disease invasion.
The municipal Hospital for Tropical Diseases is now ready interms of facilities, medicine, and personnel to receive patients infected withthe virus.
A/H5N1 is a dangerous disease that starts in poultry andspreads to humans through contact. It has a rapid progression and currentlythere is no specific treatment and no vaccine for humans. The mortality rate among people infected is up to 70% when it turns to pneumonia./.
