Two weeks after the only registered case of bird flu in Ecuador, in a 9-year-old girl from the province of Bolívar, there is no evidence that it has been transmitted or that it can be transmitted, and it is under control, indicated the minister of Cheers, Jose Ruales.
“The girl has not infected any other person either, whom we are monitoring from December 25 or 30 to date, more than fifteen days have passed. The contagion can occur between 5 and 7 days, therefore, there is no evidence that this case has been transmitted or that it can be transmitted… ”, she said – this Monday, January 16, in an interview in radio HCJB.
The girl is in isolation, receiving medical treatment at the Baca Ortiz hospital, he added.
“Avian flu does not have a high possibility of transmission between humans,” says the Minister of Health about the detected case
His evolution is favourable. In addition, epidemiological fences and control were carried out on the whole family, their parents, neighbors, he pointed out.
He expressed that control measures were applied, among them, more than 800,000 poultry such as chickens, hens, ducks were slaughtered, and epidemiological control is maintained.
He added that the laboratory of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) receives the samples daily, investigates, and as a State portfolio they are controlling the workers, especially the agricultural ones on the farms, to give them protection measures and prevent the occurrence of the infections.
He recalled that on December 25, 2022, there was the case of that girl, who was playing, manipulating, hugging, who had very close contact with two chickens that had been given to her.
He noted that the next day, those chickens died without an apparent cause, and after 5 to 7 days, the infant began with respiratory symptoms such as discomfort, fever, cough.
She was taken to a health center in her town, then to the Ambato hospital, and as of December 30, she was transferred to the Baca Ortiz hospital in Quito.
What are the infection risks and symptoms of bird flu in humans?
Jesús Dawaher, infectologist, explained that the transmission of bird flu, from animals to humans, can occur sporadically in exposure to animals.
For the specialist, what should worry is when the transmission between humans begins.
This, he added, because it means that the virus began to mutate, and it can be spread from person to person, which is the way in which an epidemic could be generated.
Ruales indicated that because Ecuador is in the flu and respiratory disease season, the influenza vaccine being applied is the trivalent vaccine, which contains three strains of influenza, but does not protect against avian influenza, which is not included because it is not a disease that is being transmitted.
The official recommended that children between 3 and 6 years of age, pregnant or lactating women, people over 65 years of age, people with disabilities, people who care for people with diseases, be vaccinated. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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