The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday that a case of H5N6 avian influenza, also known as bird flu, has been confirmed in Hunan province.
According to the statement, the patient is a 60-year-old female farmer living in Changde, a prefecture-level city in the northwest of Hunan. The statement said that the patient started to feel unwell on October 3 and was hospitalised on October 13, pointing out that she was still in critical condition yesterday. The statement underlined that the patient had contact with dead poultry.
The statement noted that since 2014, Anhui, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Yunnan have recorded a number of cases of H5N6.
The statement said in order to prevent the spread of avian influenza, the bureau is urging residents to abide by procedures such as avoiding contact with poultry faeces, and if so to wash hands immediately; avoiding to buying or bringing any types of uncertified poultry into the city; refraining from eating raw poultry meat, animal organs, blood-made food items or eggs; paying close attention to personal hygiene; and if one shows bird flu symptoms, such as fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, contacting a doctor immediately and revealing one’s recent travel itinerary and interaction with animals
For more information, one can visit www.ssm.gov.mo or contact the bureau on 2870 0800.
Graphical abstract about bird flu, courtesy of sciencedirect.com
