11 January 2005
Between December 30 and January 8 three young people have been reported to the WHO as having died due to H5N1 avian influenza. These three persons, ages 6, 9, and 16 years are the first reported patients with H5N1 infection in Vietnam since last September. All three patients were from the southern part of Vietnam. The total number of laboratory-confirmed H5N1 cases in Vietnam over the past year is now 30, with 23/30 having died due to this infection. Today (11 Jan), a fourth person in Vietnam was reported in the New York Times as having been diagnosed with H5N1 infection.
Although no sustained person-to-person transmission of H5N1 has been reported, authorities in Vietnam have been working to increase surveillance and control efforts against H5N1 infections in poultry including chickens, ducks, and quail. These measures include testing for H5N1, scrutiny of poultry transported from rural provinces into urban areas such as Ho Chi Minh City, and working with the WHO to determine the precise genetic composition of these newest H5N1 virus isolates.
In early February the Lunar New Year (Tet) will be celebrated. The potential for increased risk of human H5N1 infection during these celebrations is being anticipated by Vietnam, and WHO, due to increased transport, marketing, and consumption of poultry. NO recent cases of H5N1 infection in humans have been reported from Thailand or any nations hit by the tsunamis of December 26th.
Daniel R. Lucey, MD, MPH
Director, Center for Biologic Counterterrorism and Emerging Diseases