Vietnam confirms second bird flu case in two weeks

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       Vietnam confirms second bird flu case in two weeks  

   Posted : Sat, 02 Jun 2007 06:56:01GMT 

Hanoi- Vietnam has confirmed its second human case of the H5N1 avian flu virus in two weeks, after reporting no human cases in the previous 18 months, local press reported Saturday. In addition, a Vietnamese health official said at least two other patients are suspected of having the disease, the reports said. 

Vietnamese media Saturday quoted Dr. Tran Duc Hien, director of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, as saying that an employee at a slaughterhouse in the city had tested positive for the avian flu virus. 

The man, whom authorities are referring to only by his first initial, T., had reported to a health station on May 19, complaining of breathing difficulties, a runny nose and a persistent chill. 

Hien said T. remains in treatment at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Vietnam's other confirmed case, a 30-year-old man from Vinh Phuc province who tested positive for H5N1 on May 20 after killing the chickens for a friend's wedding, is being treated at Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital. 

That patient has recovered and will be released soon, according to doctors. 

"He's now much better," Dr. Tran Thuy Hanh, acting director of Bach Mai, said Saturday. "Tests have shown that he's negative to H5N1."

Hanh also said that besides the two confirmed cases, at least one other patient currently in treatment, and one who died Friday, are suspected of having the disease. 

Hanh said the patient who died was admitted Thursday night for complications related to gout. After he died the next morning, she said, "the hospital X-rayed him as a precaution, and found that his lungs were completely white." Results of his H5N1 test were not yet available. 

The second suspected case was also admitted on Thursday. He is a 29-year-old policeman who had taken part in the culling of sick chickens. 

The latest confirmed case brings the total number of confirmed human cases in Vietnam to 94 since the disease emerged here in late 2003. International health authorities generally regard Vietnam as a success story because of its aggressive efforts to control the disease in animals and to test and treat human cases. 

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Vietnam confirms second bird flu case in two weeks Posted: June 02 2007 at 1:23am
	Vietnam confirms second bird flu case in two weeks Posted : Sat, 02 Jun 2007 06:56:01GMT Hanoi- Vietnam has confirmed its second human case of the H5N1 avian flu virus in two weeks, after reporting no human cases in the previous 18 months, local press reported Saturday. In addition, a Vietnamese health official said at least two other patients are suspected of having the disease, the reports said. Vietnamese media Saturday quoted Dr. Tran Duc Hien, director of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, as saying that an employee at a slaughterhouse in the city had tested positive for the avian flu virus. The man, whom authorities are referring to only by his first initial, T., had reported to a health station on May 19, complaining of breathing difficulties, a runny nose and a persistent chill. Hien said T. remains in treatment at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Vietnam's other confirmed case, a 30-year-old man from Vinh Phuc province who tested positive for H5N1 on May 20 after killing the chickens for a friend's wedding, is being treated at Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital. That patient has recovered and will be released soon, according to doctors. "He's now much better," Dr. Tran Thuy Hanh, acting director of Bach Mai, said Saturday. "Tests have shown that he's negative to H5N1." Hanh also said that besides the two confirmed cases, at least one other patient currently in treatment, and one who died Friday, are suspected of having the disease. Hanh said the patient who died was admitted Thursday night for complications related to gout. After he died the next morning, she said, "the hospital X-rayed him as a precaution, and found that his lungs were completely white." Results of his H5N1 test were not yet available. The second suspected case was also admitted on Thursday. He is a 29-year-old policeman who had taken part in the culling of sick chickens. The latest confirmed case brings the total number of confirmed human cases in Vietnam to 94 since the disease emerged here in late 2003. International health authorities generally regard Vietnam as a success story because of its aggressive efforts to control the disease in animals and to test and treat human cases.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June 02 2007 at 1:24am
	Reports: Bird flu infects another man in northern Vietnam HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- A man has been infected with the bird flu virus in northern Vietnam, the second reported human case in two weeks, media reported Saturday. The man, who worked at a poultry slaughterhouse in the capital, Hanoi, has been hospitalized since he fell sick last week, the Tien Phong (Pioneer) newspaper said. Vietnamese laboratory tests showed he was infected with the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus strain, the newspaper said. It did not name the man. The paper quoted doctor Nguyen Duc Hien as saying the patient is now in a safe condition. Hien could not immediately be reached for comment. Hanoi hospitals have received several patients with bird flu-like symptoms in the past few days, said Nguyen Thuy Hanh director of Bach Mai hospital. Their test results are expected soon, Hanh said. Bird flu has spread rapidly as it hit 14th province in northern Vietnam, the second province in a week, according to a posting on a government Web site. Last month, Vietnam confirmed its first human case of bird flu in 18 months. At least 42 people have died of bird flu in Vietnam, though no deaths have been reported since November 2005. No poultry outbreaks were reported in 2006, but a recent wave of farm outbreaks has killed or led to the slaughter of more than 50,000 fowl. Vietnam was hailed as a success story in combatting the virus, which began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003. A nationwide mass poultry vaccination program and strong political efforts were credited with bringing the disease under control. The H5N1 strain is difficult for people to catch, but experts fear it could mutate into a form that spreads easily among people. It has killed at least 187 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June 02 2007 at 9:27am
	*Here's the link to the first article Mr. Peebles23 posted. It looks like more information about Vietnam victims of H5N1 are popping up.* SOURCE: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/68648.html#