A 21-year-old student in Vietnam has sadly become the country’s inaugural victim of avian influenza, or bird flu, as reported by the Ministry of Health. The student, who was studying at Nha Trang University, passed away due to the H5N1 strain of the virus on March 23rd. This tragic incident has spurred health authorities to advocate for more stringent measures to thwart the transmission of bird flu to humans.
The student began to experience symptoms on March 11 and was rushed to the hospital for treatment, but his condition quickly worsened, and he was transferred to Khanh Hoa provincial hospital on March 20. Nha Trang Pasteur Institute test results confirmed that he had the H5N1 infection.
He is in serious condition and under isolation at the hospital. Close contact with the patient, including family members and healthcare workers, is being monitored and reported for any signs of illness. The room at the dormitory of Nha Trang University where the patient lived has been sterilized with Chloramine B.
As of March 26, no new cases of human infection with H5N1 have been recorded in the country, but it is still too early to determine whether the epidemic has peaked. The virus has a history of causing sporadic outbreaks in humans and has a high mortality rate. It is also believed to have mutated, which could lead to a more dangerous strain with pandemic potential.
The ministry said the investigation found that the victim had been trapping wild birds near his home several times before and after the Tet holiday. The investigation also found no signs of sick or dead poultry near the man’s residence.
Nevertheless, the health ministry warned that it’s still too early to know how the disease spread and cautioned people to remain vigilant. It has also urged poultry farmers to maintain strict biosecurity protocols.
The virus is endemic in Asia, where it’s killed dozens of people since the beginning of the year. In addition, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia have all reported recent deaths from the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) monitors the situation closely and stands ready to offer support if necessary. The agency has already sent experts to help contain the epidemic in Vietnam, where heightened surveillance is being implemented. Thousands of poultry have been slaughtered in the country to stem the disease, also blamed for outbreaks in China, Japan, and Thailand. The WHO fears that if the virus is allowed to mutate further, it could cause a global pandemic. The last one, the 1918-19 Spanish flu, killed between 20 million and 50 million people worldwide. The disease has been endemic in the region for years, but recent mass culling campaigns have helped contain it. However, the virus remains active in wild birds and could infect them. If it does, the resulting pandemic could be worse than the one that occurred in Asia in 1997.
