Tips for preventing avian influenza

Recently, seven confirmed cases of H7N9 avian influenza were found in mainland China, which was the first time that a new subtype of influenza virus was found in the world, which aroused great concern in the society. At present, two people have died in Shanghai; Anhui 1 patient is critically ill and still receiving treatment; The latest 4 cases are all from Jiangsu and are being treated. According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, this is the first case of human infection at home and abroad, and no epidemiological correlation has been found among 7 cases. The Health Emergency Office reminds the public that in case of symptoms of acute respiratory infection such as fever and cough, especially those with high fever and dyspnea, they should seek medical advice in time. Maintain personal hygiene habits, such as washing hands frequently and covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. At the same time, contact with and consumption of sick (dead) birds and livestock should be avoided.

On March 30th, the National Health and Family Planning Commission organized experts to diagnose 2 confirmed cases according to the clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and epidemiological investigation results of 3 confirmed cases of human infection with H7N9 avian influenza in Shanghai and Anhui province. Two of them died after being rescued, 1 person is in critical condition. This is the first case of human infection at home and abroad. On April 2, Jiangsu recently reported 4 cases, all of which are critical cases and are being treated. At present, the health departments in Shanghai, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces are implementing emergency measures such as clinical treatment of patients, tracking of close contacts, medical observation and epidemic monitoring. Beijing, Guangdong, Hunan, Chongqing, Hainan and other places have announced that no cases of human infection with H7N9 avian influenza have been found. Up to now, seven confirmed cases of H7N9 avian influenza have been found in Chinese mainland, which has aroused great social concern.

Experts said that among the three confirmed cases in Shanghai and Anhui, two had contact history with poultry and one had no contact history. Therefore, the specific source of infection of H7N9 virus is still unclear. At present, no epidemiological association has been found among the three cases. China CDC said that according to the limited evidence at present, the risk of public infection with the virus is low.

According to the Health Emergency Office, there is no vaccine against H7N9 avian influenza virus at home and abroad. At present, only 7 confirmed cases of human infection with H7N9 avian influenza virus have been found, and the research data about this virus and its diseases are very limited. Experts are making further judgments on the virulence and interpersonal transmission ability of the virus, and it is not clear whether the virus infection will cause mild cases or other clinical manifestations.

No abnormal increase of influenza was found in the whole country.

According to experts, influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus. Influenza viruses can be divided into three types: A, B and C. According to the characteristics of influenza virus, influenza A can be divided into HNX * * * 135 subtype, and H7N9 subtype avian influenza virus is one of them. Previously, it was only found in birds, but no human infection was found.

According to the report of China CDC, no abnormal increase in influenza activity level in China has been found recently. Experts believe that according to the current medical observation results of close contacts, it is not suggested that the virus has strong human-to-human transmission ability.

What is avian influenza?

Avian influenza is an animal infectious disease caused by virus, which usually only infects birds and rarely infects pigs. Avian influenza virus is highly targeted at specific species, but in rare cases, it can infect people across species barriers. Since 1997 discovered avian influenza in Hong Kong, the disease has attracted great attention from the World Health Organization.

Previously, it was confirmed that there were H5N 1, H9N2, H7N2, H7N9, H5N2 and H 10N7 avian influenza viruses infecting human beings, with different symptoms, including respiratory symptoms, conjunctivitis and even death.

H5N 1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Among avian influenza viruses, H5, H7 and H9 can be transmitted to people, among which H5 is highly pathogenic, and H5N 1 is a legal infectious disease reported in the new infectious disease prevention law of the Ministry of Health, also known as human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza.

How is the avian influenza virus spread?

Avian influenza virus can enter human body through digestive tract and respiratory tract and infect people. Humans can also be infected by direct contact with poultry infected with avian influenza virus and their droppings or by direct contact with avian influenza virus. Through droplets and contact with respiratory secretions are also routes of transmission. If you come into direct contact with articles with a considerable amount of viruses, such as poultry droppings, feathers, respiratory secretions, blood, etc. You can also cause infection through the conjunctiva and damaged skin. At present, no hidden carriers of human infection have been found, and there is no definite evidence of human-to-human transmission.

It is generally believed that people are susceptible to human avian influenza at any age, but the incidence rate of children under 12 is higher and the condition is more serious. People who are in close contact with poultry that have died of unknown reasons or are infected or suspected of being infected with avian influenza are high-risk groups.

What are the symptoms of bird flu patients?

After people are infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, the onset is very urgent, and the early manifestations are similar to those of ordinary influenza. The main manifestation is fever, and the body temperature is above 39℃ for 1 ~ 7 days, usually for 3 ~ 4 days, which may be accompanied by runny nose, stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, headache and general malaise. Some patients may have digestive tract symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea and watery stool. In addition to the above manifestations, severe patients infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza may also have pneumonia, respiratory distress and other manifestations, and even lead to death.

Common disinfectants, high temperature and sunlight can inactivate avian influenza virus.

Avian influenza virus is sensitive to organic solvents such as ether, chloroform and acetone. Commonly used disinfectants such as oxidant, dilute acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate and halogen compounds (such as bleaching powder and iodine agent) are easy to inactivate it, which can quickly destroy its infectivity.

Avian influenza virus is also sensitive to heat, and can be inactivated by heating at 65℃ for 30 minutes or boiling for more than 2 minutes. However, it has strong low temperature resistance, and can maintain vitality 1 year under the protection of glycerol. It can survive in feces 1 week and in water 1 month.

Avian influenza virus will also lose its activity in direct sunlight. Under direct sunlight, the virus can be inactivated within 40 ~ 48 hours, and if it is directly irradiated with ultraviolet rays, its infectivity can be quickly destroyed. Sunbathing is also the simplest and most effective way to prevent bird flu.

Can people infected with bird flu get effective treatment if they seek medical treatment in time?

The key to the prevention and treatment of human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza is to achieve "four early", that is, early detection, early reporting, early isolation and early treatment.

Early detection: When you or people around you have symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and general pain, you should go to the hospital immediately.

Early report: If you find cases of human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza or similar cases, please report to local medical institutions and disease prevention and control institutions in time.

Early isolation: isolate cases and suspected cases of human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza in time, and isolate or observe close contacts according to the situation to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

Early treatment: Patients diagnosed with highly pathogenic avian influenza should be actively treated, especially those complicated with other chronic diseases. After antiviral treatment, supportive treatment and symptomatic treatment, most patients can recover and leave the hospital. Once you get sick, you should treat and take medicine under the guidance of a doctor, rest more, drink more water and pay attention to personal hygiene.

Gene sequence analysis showed that H7N9 avian influenza virus was sensitive to neuraminidase inhibitors. According to the experience of antiviral treatment of other types of influenza, it may be effective to use neuraminidase inhibitors as anti-influenza drugs in the early stage after onset, but the specific treatment methods for newly discovered H7N9 avian influenza virus infection still need to be observed and studied.

How to prevent people from being infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza in daily life?

Experts remind that "six preventive measures" should be taken to prevent human avian influenza:

1, a healthy lifestyle is very important. Usually, we should strengthen physical exercise, rest more, avoid overwork, don't smoke, and wash our hands frequently; To have a balanced diet, pay attention to eating more foods rich in vitamin C and other foods that enhance immunity; Pay attention to personal hygiene and cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.

2. Keep the room clean. Use washable floor mats, avoid carpets that are difficult to clean, keep floors, ceilings, furniture and walls clean, and ensure smooth drainage channels; To keep the indoor air circulating, you should open the window twice a day for at least 10 minutes each time, or use an exhaust fan to keep the air circulating; Try to go to places with poor ventilation as little as possible.

3. Pay attention to food hygiene. Edible poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked. When eating eggs, the eggshells should be washed with running water. Don't eat raw eggs or half-baked eggs. Pay attention to the separation of raw and cooked food when processing and preserving food. Develop good hygiene habits, do a good job in kitchen hygiene, do not eat raw poultry meat and internal organs, and wash your hands thoroughly after dissecting live (dead) poultry, livestock and their products.

4, should try to avoid contact with poultry, especially children should avoid close contact with poultry and wild birds. Try to buy qualified poultry products in the regular market; Wash your hands frequently, stay away from poultry secretions, and pay attention to thoroughly cleaning your hands with disinfectant and water when touching birds or bird droppings; Schools and kindergartens should take measures to educate children not to feed wild pigeons or other birds; When traveling, try to avoid contact with birds, such as not going to birdwatching gardens, farms, markets or parks, and not feeding white pigeons or wild birds.

5. Pay attention to the disinfection of household appliances. Avian influenza virus is heat-labile, and can be inactivated in 2 minutes at 100℃. It is sensitive to common disinfectants such as drying, ultraviolet radiation, mercury and chlorine.

6. Don't underestimate the cold. The symptoms of avian influenza are similar to other influenza, such as fever, headache, cough and sore throat. In some cases, it can cause complications and lead to the death of patients. Therefore, if there are symptoms of respiratory infection such as sneezing and coughing, cover your mouth and nose with paper towels and handkerchiefs to prevent infection; If you have respiratory symptoms such as fever, headache, stuffy nose, cough and general malaise, you should wear a mask and go to the hospital as soon as possible, and be sure to tell the doctor whether you have been to the bird flu epidemic area and whether you have been in contact with sick birds before you get sick, and treat and use drugs under the guidance of a doctor.