Regarding the H5N1 flu epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends not to be subjective and to prepare for possible bad situations.
On February 25, according to information from the Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City, on February 8, 2023, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) commented on the situation of H5N1 flu in the world. gender. Although the assessment of the risk of this disease to humans is low, WHO recommends not to be subjective and to prepare for possible bad situations.
More worryingly, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City has just announced that (according to WHO) in Prey Veng province of Cambodia initially recorded two cases with positive test results for avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. high virulence, including one death and some suspected cases.
Previously, WHO announced that there were several reports of certain types of mammals (ferrets, otters, foxes and sea lions) being infected with avian influenza H5N1. According to WHO, H5N1 has spread to wild birds and poultry for the past 25 years, but the recent emergence of spread to mammals is a sign that needs to be watched closely.
WHO currently assesses the risk of H5N1 influenza to humans as low, since H5N1 first appeared in 1996, transmission of H5N1 to humans has remained uncommon and unsustainable.
However, the WHO Director-General urged not to be subjective and to prepare for possible bad situations when there is any change of the pathogen.
In the immediate future, WHO recommends that people should not directly contact or collect dead or sick wild animals, instead must immediately notify local authorities for handling.
WHO recommends that countries strengthen surveillance where humans and domestic or wild animals interact.
WHO is working with authorities and countries to closely monitor the situation and study human cases of H5N1 infection.
WHO’s global network of laboratories, the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, continue to identify and monitor circulating influenza virus strains and provide advice to countries regarding the risk of H5N1 on human health, H5N1 flu epidemic control measures and treatment guidelines.
WHO continues to work with manufacturers to ensure that when needed, vaccines and antiviral drugs are available globally.
