Brazil - Espírito Santo: People monitored for possible exposure to H5N1 avian flu - so far all test negative: 5 people still have tests pending May 1

[Mary Wilson]

Brazil Has 4 Suspected Cases if Avian Flu in Humans

May.24.2023 2:20PM

SÃO PAULO (SP)
The Ministry of Health informed this Tuesday (23) that four residents of Espírito Santo are still under suspicion of being contaminated with the avian flu virus (H5N1). The blood samples collected from these people are being analyzed by Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation).

On the other hand, all the other 38 tests carried out (34 in Espírito Santo and four in Rio de Janeiro) in people who had contact with sick birds were negative.

On the night of this Monday (22), Mapa (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock) published an ordinance in the Federal Official Gazette declaring a state of zoosanitary emergency throughout the country, which must remain in force for a period of 180 days and may be extended for a period undetermined. The purpose of this decree is to prevent the disease from reaching subsistence and commercial poultry production, in addition to preserving fauna and human health. ...

https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/inter...-suspected-cases-of-avian-flu-in-humans.shtml
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[Shiloh]

Source: https://eshoje.com.br/2023/05/h5n1-em-humanos-10-pessoas-monitoradas-5-com-sintomas-gripais/

H5N1 in humans: 10 people monitored 5 with flu-like symptoms
ESHOJE Multimedia Writing
May 29, 2023
Last update: 8 hours

Although leading cases of Avian Influenza (H5N1) in animals, Espírito Santo has not recorded any case of influenza in humans. The Secretary of Health of Espírito Santo (Sesa), through the Center for Strategic Information and Responses in Health Surveillance (CIEVS/ES), reported, this Monday morning (29), data related to monitoring.

> Epidemiological Week 22 (period 05/28/2023 to 06/03/2023)

– Notifications: 102 (total people exposed)
– Discarded: 92
– In monitoring without symptoms: 10
– Under investigation with symptoms: 05 (awaiting test results)
– Positives: none


The infectologist, Martina Zanotti, explains that the capixaba must exchange panic for alert, since the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (IAAP) of the H5N1 subtype, avian flu, presents the same symptoms of a common flu syndrome, however, the disease – just like Covid - it can lead to pneumonia frames or respiratory failure.
“There is no reason to panic. But we must certainly remain alert, since the presence of the virus in our state has already been identified. Transmission takes place via the respiratory route, through direct contact with birds infected with the H5N1 influenza virus, whether alive or dead, and through indirect contact through products and droppings from these animals,” says the expert.
The symptoms of avian flu, being identical, can be confused with that of a common flu. “Symptoms are runny nose, sneezing, headache, fever and body pain. It can be serious, especially in risk groups such as the elderly and immunosuppressed. The infection can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, septic shock and multiple organ failure, and it can be fatal”, points out Martina Zanotti.​