16 March 2005: Avian influenza in Viet Nam update

On 11 March 2005 the World Health Organization received official notification from the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam of an additional 10 human cases of avian influenza in Viet Nam. [1] This notification includes recent cases as well as cases that were retrospectively identified and date back to late January, 2005. This notification also follows new reporting procedures that have been established within the Ministry of Health in Hanoi in collaboration with WHO.

The total number of laboratory confirmed cases of human avian influenza in Viet Nam since mid December 2004 now stands at 24; 13 of these have been fatal. A complete listing of cases detected since January of 2004 has been compiled by the WHO

There are no travel restrictions to countries in south east Asia. Travellers are reminded of the following precautions:

• Avoid visiting live animal markets and poultry farms
• Avoid contact with surfaces contaminated with animal faeces
• Do not eat or handle undercooked or raw poultry, egg or duck dishes
• Do not attempt to bring any live poultry products back to the UK

It is not recommended that travellers to south east Asia take with them the neuraminidase inhibitor, Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®).

Reference

1. World Health Organization. Avian influenza - situation in Viet Nam - update 11. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2005_03_11/en/

Links

World Health Organization Avian Influenza site: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/.