China Reports 3 Suspected H5N1 Cases and Seeks WHO Assistance for Verification
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Poultry Farm – China |
Three suspected cases of H5N1 have been reported in China: a 12-year-old girl who has died, her 9-year-old brother, and a 36-year-old high school teacher from Wantang Village in Hunan Province. Currently, the younger brother and the teacher have recovered after Chinese doctors initially found no signs of the avian influenza virus and concluded that the cause was pneumonia. However, Chinese experts “do not rule out the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus” in these three cases.
Previously, Wantang Village experienced an outbreak of avian influenza. Just yesterday, China completed the culling of 370,000 poultry in Liaoning Province after nearly 9,000 birds died from H5N1 in the area. Over the past three weeks, China has faced four consecutive outbreaks.
Current efforts to develop a vaccine have proven ineffective as the exact mutation of the H5N1 virus remains unknown. Meanwhile, countries are left with no choice but to stockpile the antiviral medication Tamiflu, which is believed to be the only weapon currently available against avian influenza.
The situation regarding avian influenza is still “heating up” in some regions around the world. In North Korea, measures against the pandemic have begun to be implemented, such as enhanced quarantine at border crossings and airports, disinfection of farms and vehicles, and restricting access to poultry farms.
Yesterday, Malaysia confirmed that H5N1 was not responsible for the death of 100 pigeons. Additionally, Hong Kong announced fines of $193 for anyone keeping pigeons in residential buildings.
M.L (according to AP)
