“If a flu pandemic occurs due to a disease that easily spreads from person to person, the culprit is definitely not H5N1 but a newly reassorted strain. It will carry the virulence of H5N1 and the terrifying transmissibility of type B influenza,” affirmed Deputy Minister of Health Trinh Quan Huan.
Mr. Huan stated that the key priority now is to find every possible way to prevent the risk of H5N1 “interacting” with other flu viruses, which could lead to the dangerous reassortment mentioned above. This means preventing humans from contracting the flu from birds and poultry. “Currently, the migration of bird species poses the greatest danger, but it is beyond human control. Therefore, we can only prevent outbreaks in poultry and waterfowl, and this must be done thoroughly.”
In recent days, a number of cases with symptoms resembling type A flu have been detected. However, the Ministry of Health has only confirmed one case of H5N1 infection, that of Mr. Bui Thanh Hai from Dong Da, Hanoi, who passed away on October 29. The Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology also recently confirmed another case of type A flu, that of Mr. Vu Van Nhat, 43 years old, from Hai Phong, who died on November 2 at Viet Tiep Hospital. Test results from the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology indicated that he was infected with the H3N0 virus, another strain of flu transmitted from poultry. Epidemiological investigations revealed that this patient had eaten chicken before falling ill. Additionally, according to the Ministry of Health, other suspected flu patients have all tested negative.
Regarding the production of Tamiflu in Vietnam, on November 9, the Drug Administration issued an official document announcing the agreements reached between the Ministry of Health and representatives of F. Hoffmann-La Roche. Accordingly, Roche will provide raw materials and some technical documents to support the production of capsules containing Oseltamivir phosphate (the generic name for Tamiflu) in Vietnam. Roche also committed to assisting in the implementation of plans for stockpiling and supplying flu treatment and prevention medications in the event of a pandemic occurring in Vietnam.
H.H.