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Avian
influenza in birds
A number of countries in the region have reported incidents
of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in poultry.
These countries include Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan,
Laos, South Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
H5N1 avian influenza has been reported in Cambodia, China,
Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam
whilst Pakistan and Taiwan have reported weaker strains of
avian influenza.
China
As of 4 February 2004, China has reported that it had
confirmed or suspected avian influenza in one third of the
country. Provinces where confirmed highly pathogenic H5N1
avian influenza has been reported in poultry are Guangxi,
Hubei and Hunan. Suspected avian influenza outbreaks have so
far been reported in the provinces of Anhui, Gansu,
Guangdong, Henan, Shaanxi, Shanghai, Yunnan, Zhejiang and
the Xinjiang Uygar Autonomous Regions.
Thailand
As of 2 February 2004, the H5N1 avian influenza virus has
been reported in 36 of Thailand's 76 provinces. The affected
regions are located mainly in the Kingdom's central,
northern and northeastern provinces.
Vietnam
As of 3 February 2004, 52 of Vietnam's 64 provinces have
detected outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza
in poultry.
Situation update on human cases of avian influenza
As of 4 February 2004, a total of 17 persons have been
confirmed to be infected with H5N1 avian influenza in
Thailand and Vietnam. Human cases of H5N1 have only been
confirmed in Thailand and Vietnam. All the 4 cases in
Thailand have died and of the 13 cases in Vietnam, 9 have
died. All the human cases have had contact with infected
poultry except for a family cluster of 4 cases in Vietnam.
Investigation of possible human-to-human transmission
Although there is no firm evidence of human-to-human
transmission of avian influenza at this point in time, the
World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating into the
possibility of this mode of transmission involving a family
cluster of severe respiratory illness in Vietnam. The
cluster involves a 31-year-old man, his two sisters, aged 23
and 30 years old who attended to him while he was ill prior
to his hospitalization, and his 28-year-old wife. Both the
man and one sister are reported to have handled ducks while
preparing a meal on 4 January 2003. The man and his two
sisters have since died whilst his wife has fully recovered.
Laboratory tests have confirmed H5N1 infection in his
sisters. Neither the man nor his wife was tested. Direct
human-to-human transmission due to close exposure, contact
with infected poultry or some other environmental source of
infection e.g. bird droppings are possible routes of
infection.
Advised Vigilance
All medical practitioners in Singapore have been advised to
remain vigilant for the possible emergence of Avian
Influenza in Singapore, and to implement strict infection
control procedures in the management of the suspected Avian
Influenza patients at all times.
The Ministry advises that travellers to countries in Asia
with documented H5N1 outbreaks should avoid exposure to live
poultry.
Other Resources
Please refer to the AVA's
Avian Influenza website and MITA's
Bird Flu website for information on the preventive
measures taken as well as related press reports.
For answers to some common questions on Avian Influenza,
please refer to the FAQs
on Avian Influenza. Find out more about:
Ministry of
Health News Release 5 Feb 2004 |
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On 13 January
2004, the World
Health Organization reported that an outbreak of avian
influenza (bird flu) among chickens in Vietnam might be
linked to the deaths of twelve people. Laboratory tests have
confirmed the presence of H5N1 avian influenza in these
patients.
Influenza viruses that infect birds are called "avian
influenza viruses". Avian influenza A viruses do not
usually infect humans. However, several instances of human
infections have been reported since 1997.
Although the primary mode of transmission in human cases of
avian influenza virus infection is from bird to human, all
influenza viruses have the potential to change and it is
possible that an avian influenza virus could change so that
it could infect humans and spread more easily from person to
person. Because these viruses do not commonly infect humans,
there is little or no immune protection against them in the
human population.
So far, H5N1 avian influenza has not been detected in
Singapore, either in humans or poultry. Based on current
available evidence, bird flu does not present as a
significant public health threat to Singapore. However, MOH
and the Agri-Food
and Veterinary Authority (AVA) will be monitoring the
situation closely and will provide regular updates to the
public should the situation change.
For more further information, visit the FAQs
on Avian Influenza to find out more about:
Ministry of
Health News Release 16 Jan 2004 |
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