Health Ministry announces new bird flu therapy for humans (Vietnam)
HA NOI — The Ministry of Health yesterday proclaimed a new therapy for type A H5N1 flu or bird flu on humans, replacing the earlier guidlines on treatment initiated in November 2005.
The new therapy is based on World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2006 instructions on clinical diagnosis and treatment of type A flu H5N1 and suggestions from domestic and international medical professionals.
The ministry’s Medical Treatment Department said there were some modifications in the new therapy from the former one, including diagnosis and treatment. Three military hospitals and one in HCM City have been newly included in the list of designated medical units providing treatment for bird flu patients.
In a bid to reduce the mortality rate and after-effects for child patients, the new therapy describes methods on dealing with respiratory and organ deterioration with specific instructions on using respirators, medicines and care periods, the department said.
The therapy would soon be launched at clinics and hospitals nation-wide.
The ministry said that no new case of bird flu in humans was found in the country since November 14, 2005, although infections in poultry were found late last year.
To date, bird flu was found in 34 communes and wards in 15 districts of three localities in Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, including Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Hau Giang. These localities were carrying out additional vaccinations on poultry.
Though bird flu has not spread to the north, many provinces in the region have urgently adopted preventive measures to cope with bird flu infections in poultry.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Animal Health Department have continued to issue warnings over the high risk of bird flu reoccurrence in the northern region, particularly before and during the Tet (lunar new year) festival.