Bird flu claims three human deaths in Vietnam

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 12 Aug 2004 - 18:00 PDT


Officials in Vietnam have announced that three people have died of bird flu (avian flu) - to of the victims were children. The Prime Minister has urged people to be vigilant.

The three died from the H5N1 strain of the virus. The Ministry of Health announced that the deaths took place between 30th July - August 3rd.

One victim, an adult, died in the Hay Giang province (south of the country), the other two, aged 4 and 1 came from the Ha Tay province, near Hanoi.

The authorities have issued urgent requests to the general public to be vigilant and to report anyone with symptoms of bird flu.

China, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam have seen a resurgence of bird flu over the last few months. The authorities in Vietnam have destroyed 50,000 birds during the present outbreak.

Experts were fearing a return on the virus during the summer - warmer weather, they say, favours the spread of the virus.

Symptoms of Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) in Humans

The reported symptoms of avian influenza in humans have range from typical influenza-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches to eye infections, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications.

Characteristics of Avian Influenza in Birds

Certain water birds act as hosts of influenza viruses by carrying the virus in their intestines and then shedding the virus. Infected birds shed the virus in saliva, nasal secretions and feces. Avian influenza viruses spread among susceptible birds when they have contact with contaminated nasal, respiratory and fecal material from infected birds; however, fecal-to-oral transmission is the most common mode of spread. Most influenza viruses cause no symptoms, or only mild ones in wild birds.

However, the range of symptoms in birds varies greatly depending on the strain of virus and the type of bird. Infection with certain avian influenza can cause widespread disease and death among some species of wild and especially domesticated birds such as chickens and turkeys.

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