Health rules out suspected case of avian flu in ES – 05/20/2023 – Health

This Saturday (20), the Ministry of Health ruled out a suspected case of avian flu (H5N1) in an employee at Parque Fazendinha, in Vitória, Espírito Santo, where a sick bird was found.

In a note, the ministry reported that only 1 of the 33 employees was under observation as a suspected case for the disease, due to having flu-like symptoms throughout the week.

The 61-year-old man had negative laboratory results for all viral targets tested, including Avian Influenza (H5N1).

Of the other 32 samples, 30 were negative for all tested targets and two tested positive for viruses that are already circulating in the country (Influenza A and Influenza B).

According to the ministry, in addition to the suspected case discarded in Parque Fazendinha, another three symptomatic patients were reported in the state, one of which has already been discarded.

The other two had samples collected and are awaiting results. According to the surveillance protocol, the patients were isolated and monitored by the health teams.

The samples were analyzed by the Fiocruz laboratory, in Rio de Janeiro, after referral from the Central Public Health Laboratory (Lacen) in Espírito Santo. The Ministry of Health guided an active search for the investigation of all people who had contact with the animals.

Last Monday (15), the first two positive cases of birds infected with H5N1 were confirmed in Espírito Santo. However, there were two seabirds, which does not cause problems for production on the farms, although the country loses the status of never having registered a case of the disease.

The transmission of avian influenza occurs through direct contact with birds infected by the virus, living or dead, or indirect contact through objects such as shoes, surfaces, products or waste, such as nests, eggs, feces or urine.

Also because it happens through water contaminated with remains or animal waste or that you have visited markets/fairs with confirmed cases, whether in birds or in humans.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), direct, person-to-person transmission is not sustained.

But the organization recommends that epidemiological surveillance measures be taken to monitor possible changes in pathogens.

Influenza viruses, the same as the common flu, have a history of undergoing mutations that lead to changes in their ability to infect organisms, both human and other animals.

Avian flu mainly affects birds, both domestic and wild. But there are already cases of spread to other species of living beings: the H3N8 strain, for example, has already been reported in horses and dogs.

In humans, the first record of this subtype was in April 2022 and, a month later, the second confirmation came, both in China. Current information shows that the two patients were infected after direct contact with infected birds.