Seven outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) were reported last month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday, urging poultry farm workers to enhance protective measures and offering the public tips on avoiding the novel influenza A virus.
Avian influenza outbreaks peak during winter, especially between December and March the following year, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠) said.
As of Friday last week, seven avian influenza A(H5N1) outbreaks had been reported at poultry farms this year, he said.
Photo: CNA
Since the first avian influenza A(H5N1) outbreak in Taiwan was reported in November 2022, there have been a total of 135 outbreaks in the nation, statistics from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency showed.
Novel influenza A virus infections are human infections with an influenza virus different from the seasonal circulating influenza A (H1N1) or A (H3N2) strains, often originating from poultry or swine, Lin said.
While no human infections with the avian influenza A(H5N1) virus have been reported in Taiwan, the CDC said that poultry farm workers should step up protective measures, while local health department should conduct contact tracing and assist workers in properly implementing protective measures and self-health monitoring at farms where outbreaks have been reported.
The CDC encourages people to prevent novel influenza A virus infections by implementing the “five do’s and six don’ts,” Lin said.
They include “cooking poultry meat and eggs thoroughly,” as the virus is highly susceptible to heat, and “washing hands frequently with soap,” as it not only protects against flu viruses but also various viruses and bacteria.
People should wear a mask if they have respiratory symptoms or when they visit crowded venues, and eat balanced meals and exercise regularly to increase immunity, Lin said.
Eligible recipients of seasonal flu vaccinations should get their shots regularly, he said.
As for the “don’ts,” they are: do not eat food that include raw egss; do not buy animals from unidentified sources; do not approach or feed wild birds or poultry; do not free or abandon livestock and poultry; do not raise different species of livestock and poultry together; and do not go to poorly ventilated or crowded venues.
In related news, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳) said that medical visits for flu-like illness from Jan. 25 to Saturday last week increased 3.2 percent to 116,281, 10.3 percent of which were visits to emergency rooms —still below the epidemic threshold of 11 percent.
There were also 25 cases of severe flu and one flu-related death reported between Tuesday last week and Monday, she added.
Lin Min-cheng said it is rare that the seasonal flu has not entered an epidemic period at this time of the year, but flu activity is slowing rising, and as many people are expected to attend gatherings or travel during the Lunar New Year holiday and many clinics are expected to be closed during the holiday, it is likely to enter the epidemic period by then.
There are still about 110,000 doses of government-funded flu vaccines, he said, advising people at a higher risk of severe illness to get vaccinated before it turns into an epidemic.
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