![]() |
||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Français | ![]() |
Contact Us | ![]() |
Help | ![]() |
Search | ![]() |
Canada Site |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|||||||
Home | ![]() |
Centres-Labs | ![]() |
Publications | ![]() |
Guidelines | ![]() |
A-Z Index | ||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||
![]() |
Child Health | ![]() |
Adult Health | ![]() |
Seniors Health | ![]() |
Surveillance | ![]() |
Health Canada |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]()
|
![]() |
Avian Influenza A (H5N1) : Activity in Asia Updated: August 8, 2005
The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to closely monitor occurrences of avian influenza A (H5N1), or “bird flu”, in both fowl and humans in several Asian countries. Summary of Human CasesHuman cases of avian influenza H5N1 have been reported in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and most recently Indonesia. The spread in humans is characterized by three distinct periods or waves of activity, since late-December 2003, when human cases were first reported.
Indonesia - Human CasesWave 1: nil Wave 2: nil Wave 3: 1 case, including 1 death To date, Indonesia has reported a total of 1 human case of avian influenza infection, including 1 death. Vietnam - Human Cases5 August 2005 - The Ministry of Health in Vietnam has confirmed an additional three cases of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza. One case was reported in Ha Tay Province, one in Tra Vinh Province, and one in Ho Chi Minh City. The patients from Tra Vinh and Ho Chi Minh City died. Wave 1 - 23 cases, including 16 deaths Wave 2 - 4 cases, including 4 deaths Wave 3 - 63 cases, including 20 deaths To date, Vietnam has reported a total of 90 human cases of avian influenza infection, including 40 deaths. Cambodia - Human CasesWave 1: nil Wave 2: nil Wave 3: 4 cases, including 4 deaths. To date, Cambodia has reported a total of 4 human cases of avian influenza infection, all of which have been fatal. Thailand - Human CasesWave 1: 12 cases, including 8 deaths Wave 2: 5 cases, including 4 deaths Wave 3: nil To date, Thailand has reported a total of 17 human cases of avian influenza infection, including 12 deaths. The last reported case in Thailand occurred in October of 2004. The World Health Organization has developed a chart table depicting human case counts by region and time period. Source: World Health Organization Information on Avian InfluenzaAvian influenza is a contagious viral infection that can affect all species of birds but can, less commonly, infect humans. The first documented infection of humans with an avian influenza virus occurred in Hong Kong in 1997, when the H5N1 strain caused severe respiratory disease in 18 humans, six of whom died. The infection in humans coincided with an epidemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, caused by the same strain, in Hong Kong's poultry population. At this time, there is no vaccine that protects against the avian influenza H5N1 virus. While the current seasonal flu shot does not protect against the avian influenza H5N1 virus, immunization with it may be of benefit for travellers to geographic regions where human cases of H5N1 are being reported. Individuals who are immunized with the seasonal influenza vaccine are less likely to contract seasonal influenza. This in turn reduces the likelihood of an immunized individual becoming infected with both human and avian forms of influenza at the same time. Should a person be infected with both viruses at the same time, there is a possibility that the two viruses could "mix" and mutate into a new virus that could be spread efficiently and against which, humans would have no immunity. Several anti-viral drugs are available for the prevention and treatment of seasonal influenza in Canada. Although, none of the anti-viral drugs have been shown to prevent H5N1, studies done through the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network have shown that the anti-viral Oseltamivir may be effective in the treatment of H5N1. Recommendations As a precautionary measure, it would be prudent that travellers to Thailand, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia , and Laos, where avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreaks in fowl have been reported, consider the following measures:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency recommendations to prevent the introduction of avian flu into Canada's animal population:
As a reminder…The Public Health Agency of Canada routinely recommends that Canadian international travellers seek the advice of their personal physician or travel clinic prior to international travel, regardless of destination, for an individual risk assessment to determine their individual health risks and their need for vaccination, preventative medication, and personal protective measures.
The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends, as well, that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada should seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician, without being asked, that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada, and where they have been. Additional InformationInformation on Avian Influenza from the Public Health Agency of Canada
Information on Influenza from the Public Health Agency of Canada
Other related information from the Public Health Agency of Canada
External Sources of Information For additional information on Avian Influenza A (H5N1) f rom the World
Health Organization (WHO) visit the WHO
Avian Influenza Disease Page For international reports of the flu, visit the World Health Organization influenza web site For international reports of infected animals by country, visit the World Organization for Animal Health
|
![]() |
|||
![]() |
Last Updated: 2005-08-08 | ![]() |