Another case of avian influenza has emerged in Sichuan Province, as all of China heightens its alert ahead of the Lunar New Year and the migratory bird season.
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Director-General of WHO Lee Jong-Wook (Photo: Wikipedia) |
The new patient, named Gao, is a 29-year-old woman from Chengdu, Sichuan Province. She experienced fever and pneumonia starting January 12, and it was only five days later that she was diagnosed with the H5N1 virus. The Chinese Ministry of Health did not specify whether there was an outbreak in the poultry around Gao’s residence. Individuals who had direct contact with her are currently being monitored.
Last Wednesday, a 35-year-old woman in Sichuan also became the ninth confirmed case of avian flu and the sixth fatality in China. Following this death, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised questions about China’s disease surveillance measures, as most fatalities occurred in areas without outbreaks in poultry.
Since the beginning of 2005, China has reported over 30 outbreaks in poultry, peaking in October. The country’s leaders have called for enhanced prevention and control measures during the Lunar New Year, when the demand for poultry products surges and migratory birds begin their journey north.
“Although the current situation is under control, we cannot afford to relax or be overly optimistic. This year may see more outbreaks,” warned the Vice Premier of China.
Meanwhile, Turkey reported yesterday that the outbreak there is gradually “diminishing.” No new infections have been recorded in the past week, and several patients have been discharged from the hospital. However, according to WHO Director-General Lee Jong-Wook, the situation in Turkey indicates that the world has little time to prepare for a potential pandemic. The organization also denied accusations of exaggerating the risks. “We can only mitigate the human and economic losses caused by a pandemic if we timely recognize the risks and prepare comprehensively. This is a global issue,” Lee stated. WHO predicts that approximately 2 to 7.4 million people could die if a pandemic sweeps across the globe.
Mỹ Linh (according to AFP)
