New Human Bird Flu Case In Viet Nam

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Article Date: 20 Mar 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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The Ministry of Health in Viet Nam has confirmed a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. The case has been confirmed by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE).

The case is an 11 -year old male from Thanh Liem district, Ha Nam province. He developed symptoms on 4 March was hospitalized on 9 March and died on 14 March. The case had contact with sick and dead poultry prior to his illness.

Control measures have been implemented and close contacts have been identified. All remain healthy and will continue to be monitored.

Of the 106 cases confirmed to date in Vietnam, 52 have been fatal.

What is Bird Flu (Avian Influenza)

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a disease cause by viruses. It is a contagious disease which infects only birds, and sometimes pigs. The avian influenza viruses attack specific species - they have, on occasions jumped the species barrier and infected people. However, this has been quite rare, and continues to be rare.

As far as farmed birds are concerned (poultry), there are two main types of avian influenza - one is fairly mild while the other is deadly (for birds).

Mild

Low pathogenic forms of bird flu may cause a bird to have more ruffled feathers and lay fewer eggs. This form is often undetected among farmed poultry (in many cases the bird is infected, and then gets better and nobody noticed).

Deadly

The highly pathogenic form of bird flu is much more dangerous. It has a mortality rate of virtually 100% and spreads very rapidly among flocks of birds. A bird infected with the more virulent type of bird flu (the highly pathogenic form) experiences deterioration of many internal organs.

The most dangerous strain of the bird flu virus is called H5N1.

http://www.who.int