A kind of pneumonia is the clinical picture presented by the 9-year-old girl who is the first case of bird flu detected in Ecuador. She is a native of the Simiátug parish, in the Bolívar province.
The Minister of Health, José Ruales, indicated that since last December 15 an alert was decreed for influenza in poultry, initially in the province of Cotopaxi, and then other outbreaks have been identified in more locations.
Ruales explained that transmission between birds is common and frequent, however, the spread of avian influenza from an animal to a human is very rare, it is very difficult, and for this there must be some favorable circumstances, especially close handling. .
Girl infected with bird flu had contact with chickens bought in Ambato; she is evolving favorably, according to authorities
He recommended that farmworkers wear protective equipment even when handling birds for slaughter.
Regarding the case of the infected girl, she received two chickens that were apparently sick, they died, but she played and hugged them.
“That generated conditions of contagion, of animal-to-human transmission,” he said in an interview with Sucesos radio.
When the symptoms began, on December 27, she was treated at the community health center, then at the Ambato hospital, and on January 2, when the respiratory problems worsened, which present as a kind of pneumonia, she was transferred to Quito, to the Baca Ortiz hospital. She is in an isolation area.
What are the infection risks and symptoms of bird flu in humans?
He added that no new cases have been identified and control of this disease is maintained.
The girl is under special care and is evolving favorably.
This respiratory infection manifests itself in the course of two to eight days, a private hospital in Quito explained in a statement.
That health home suggested strengthening biosecurity measures such as hand washing, use of a mask, and the influenza vaccine.
Also, if you have a cough, fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, muscle pain and headache, go for a medical assessment.
Ruales added that bird flu does not have a high possibility of transmission between humans.
The sample from this case has been sent for sequencing to the Center for Disease Control in the United States, in order to identify the characteristics of the virus.
“At this moment we have no more risk of contagion to humans than the case that is isolated,” he added. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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