#17,961
Overnight dozens of Vietnamese language media outlets - including state sponsored media - have carried reports of a university student who is currently hospitalized in serious condition, who has tested positive for A/H5 (n-type unknown).
Despite this avalanche of media coverage, I've yet to find anything official posted on the Vietnamese Ministry of Health (and other govt. health-related) websites, nor anything posted on the Nha Trang University website.
While I would urge caution until these reports can be verified by the Vietnamese government, the WHO, or by our own CDC, the reports I've seen appear credible and consistent.
The following (translated) report comes from VOV.vn (Voice of Vietnam) .
People who had close contact with Influenza A/H5 patients tested negativeOther (quite similar) reports are available at the following links:
Friday, 11:03, March 22, 2024
VOV.VN - On March 22, Khanh Hoa Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) said that the province had just recorded 1 case of influenza A/H5 infection. Initially, 6 people staying in the same dormitory room with the patient tested negative for Influenza A/H5.
More than 10 days ago, patient with CKD., 21 years old, residing in Ninh Hoa town, student at Nha Trang University, Khanh Hoa province had fever and mild cough. After that, the patient bought the medicine himself in Nha Trang city and took it but his illness did not improve.
On March 15, the patient returned home and went to Ninh Hoa Town Medical Center for examination, was diagnosed with pharyngitis - laryngitis, monitored for dengue fever and recommended hospitalization. The patient did not agree to be hospitalized and was prescribed outpatient medication.After 1 day, the patient became more tired so he was taken to the emergency room at Ninh Hoa Regional General Hospital. At this time, the patient had a high fever, abdominal pain and became seriously ill, and was taken to Khanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital for treatment. On March 20, test results of patient samples from Nha Trang Pasteur Institute were positive for influenza A/H5. Currently, the patient's condition is severe and is being isolated for treatment at Khanh Hoa Provincial Hospital of Tropical Diseases.
As soon as there was information, CDC Khanh Hoa approached the investigation, handled the case, and guided the patient's family on epidemic prevention measures. At the same time, make a list of 14 officials at the Provincial General Hospital and 6 officials at the Hospital of Tropical Diseases to monitor health, disinfect examination and treatment areas, transport vehicles and monitor health. health of the patient's family. CDC Khanh Hoa also disinfected with Chloramin B the living room and rooms in the dormitory of Nha Trang University - where the patient is studying, making a list of 6 roommates and 60 students studying in the same class. with patients to conduct health monitoring. At the same time, 6 samples were taken from people in the same dorm room as the patient and tested, and the results were negative for influenza A.
Doctor Ton That Toan, Deputy Director in charge of the Center for Disease Control of Khanh Hoa province, said: "The patient has a high fever, the test sent has identified Influenza A H5, currently the patient is being treated." . 6 people in the same room at Nha Trang University dormitory, all tested negative. Influenza A H5 is transmitted from poultry, the patient's area did not detect dead poultry. We are coordinating The Department of Veterinary Medicine controls poultry flocks to have the best treatment plan."
A student in Nha Trang was discovered infected with avian influenza A/H5Khanh Hoa: A/H5 bird flu detected in humans
Male student infected with influenza A/H5
Assuming these reports are confirmed, there is still a lot we don't know about this case. A/H5 can cover a lot of territory, including several clades of H5N1 (2.3.2.1c, 2.3.4.4b, etc.) , H5N6 (which so far has been limited to 90 cases China and 1 case in Laos), and potentially other subtypes due to reassortment.
How this student was exposed is another big unanswered question.
Stay tuned, hopefully we'll have some answers sooner rather than later.
