# 4299
Ha Tinh Province
When it comes to news of infectious diseases outbreaks it is practically axiomatic that early reports, particularly from remote areas of the world, are often wrong or misleading.
It is for that reason that I try not to jump in with both feet every time some dire sounding report crosses the wires. I’m an old man, and don’t jump that easily. Besides, quite often, they end up being less than first advertised.
Still, a major outbreak of a disease would probably first appear as a small but disturbing news blip somewhere. Which is why we comb media sources from around the world, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
Today we’ve one such report, that may well turn out to be nothing. But it is notable enough to warrant mention, and following to see where this leads.
As you are probably aware, H5N1 bird flu has resurfaced in several provinces in Vietnam over the past few weeks (see An Outbreak Of Reports From Vietnam). Thus far, most of the reports have been of sick or dying birds, but we are now starting to hear of suspected human cases as well.
In particular, this morning there are reports of `dozens’ of suspected bird flu infections in Ha Tinh province.
It should be immediately noted that we have no laboratory confirmation of H5N1 infection, and that these people are hospitalized because they have been exposed to sick or dead birds and because they are showing symptoms consistent with H5N1.
Symptoms `consistent with H5N1’ could cover a lot of disease territory, including Dengue, Chikungunya, seasonal influenza, and pandemic H1N1.
For now, this is just an interesting news report. We’ll have to wait and see if it becomes anything more.
A big hat tip to Dutchy on FluTrackers for posting this translation from VTC News.
Dozens of people hospitalized for suspected influenza A/H5N1 infection
January 28, 2010 8:17
A/H5N1. (VTC News) - There were dozens of people exposed to sick poultry in Ha Tinh province were hospitalized with symptoms typical of influenza A/H5N1. Many patients have been isolated track.
Avian influenza outbreak is in the Thach Quy - hesitance Tinh, Cam Binh, Cam Thach Cam Xuyen. The process of exposure to bird flu, many people in the provinces was hospitalized.
Specific to this time, the whole Cam Binh has 1450 people exposed to birds as food for poultry, slaughtering; including 859 who had direct contact with poultry were H5N1.
HPAI is threatening the region's progress
Worrying thing is just less than a week but the outbreak in the commune had 38 cases with suspected symptoms of influenza A/H5N1 infection. These patients after exposure to poultry high fever, headaches. Some people have expressed serious was isolated tracking station in the treatment room and isolated from communities for monitoring and treatment at home.
Doctor Nguyen Van Dinh-station chief clinics Cam Binh, Cam Xuyen said, this time the number of people in treatment or health monitoring yey for more than 30% increase compared to normal.
Meanwhile in hesitance Tinh, he Trinh Van Thuan, the owner of the Ward Forum duck sick You also have to Thach hospital treatment for symptoms typical of influenza A/H5N1.
At the same time infectious Sciences - General Hospital province has also conducted treating a patient in isolation Song Loc commune Can Loc district for suspected influenza A/H5N1 infection.
