Vietnam Reports First H5N1 Bird Flu Death

Student Succumbs to Virus…

On March 23rd, a 21-year-old student enrolled at Nha Trang University in Vietnam tragically became the country's first victim of avian influenza, specifically the H5N1 subtype, confirmed by the Ministry of Health.

The student's death has led health officials to call for stricter measures to stop bird flu spreading to humans. Although no sick or dead poultry were found near the student's home, trapped wild birds around the Lunar New Year raise concerns amid bird flu outbreaks in various Vietnamese provinces since January.

The Health Ministry is worried that changing weather due to shifting seasons might aid the virus's spread. To tackle this risk, they're urging increased surveillance to spot any new potential cases.

On March 11, 2024, a 21-year-old male resident of Tan Ninh village, located in Ninh Trung commune, Ninh Hoa town, Khanh Hoa province, began experiencing symptoms of fever and cough.

Despite attempting to treat himself, his symptoms persisted. Consequently, he sought medical attention at the Ninh Hoa Medical Centre on March 16-17, 2024.

Due to the severity of his condition, he was subsequently transferred to Khanh Hoa General Hospital for further treatment, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

According to the statement, on March 19, 2024, the Khanh Hoa Centre for Disease Control collected patient samples for testing. Test results on March 20, 2024, confirmed the patient's positive status for influenza A/H5.

Subsequent confirmation from the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute on March 22, 2024, identified the patient as positive for influenza A (H5N1). Unfortunately, due to the severe progression of the disease, the patient passed away on March 23, 2024.