Bird-flu: Vietnam gets masks

2004-01-26 19:49

Hanoi - The World Health Organisation said on Monday it was rushing gowns and masks to Vietnam to prevent further transmission of bird flu to humans, as it struggled to gauge the scope of infection across the country.

Two crates of personal protective equipment were due to arrive in Hanoi on Tuesday from the UN health agency's regional headquarters in the Philippines for distribution to hospital staff and workers culling infected poultry.

"This is needed to stop workers who are culling chickens and hospital staff from being infected," said Bob Dietz, the WHO's spokesperson in Vietnam.

Human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which has killed at least six people in Vietnam and triggered fears of a global influenza pandemic as it sweeps through Asia, has yet to be detected.

To date, human infection is thought to be from contact with sick birds.

2.9 million chickens killed

However, the WHO has warned that the highly pathogenic H5N1 could merge with a human influenza virus to create a deadlier and infectious virus sub-type capable of human-to-human transmission.

The UN agency says rapid elimination of bird flu in bird populations is critical to preventing the emergence of a new virus with pandemic potential.

But, it has warned of the "brief but intensive exposure to the virus" faced by those culling infected chickens.

At least 2.9 million chickens have died from bird flu or were slaughtered in 23 of Vietnam's 64 provinces and cities that have reported 445 outbreaks since December 27, according to government figures.

This has raised fears that more people could have been infected with H5N1, particularly in rural areas where protective equipment is non-existent or in short supply.

"We are worried that we are not seeing the complete picture of infections.

"We are having to rely on the Vietnamese health authorities to report any cases outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City up through the system," said Dietz.

The WHO is monitoring hospitals in these two cities, which are two hours' flying time apart.

Besides the seven confirmed H5N1 infections, the WHO says nine other people - some of whom have died - could have contracted the virus.

Test results on a further 13 people have so far proved inconclusive.

- AFP