Rare case of bird flu-linked encephalitis detected in Ho Chi Minh City

The patient, identified as L.B.A., a resident of neighboring Tay Ninh Province, initially experienced symptoms of fever, headache, and repeated vomiting on April 11.

She was rushed to the provincial hospital for two days, but her condition did not improve.

She was transferred to the Children’s Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City on April 13 in a drowsy state, displaying confusion and mild neck stiffness.

Doctors suspected viral encephalitis.

Samples of her cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and respiratory secretions were sent to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases for PCR testing.

On April 17, tests confirmed that the CSF was positive for A/H5N1, while respiratory samples tested negative.

To confirm the diagnosis, further testing was conducted by the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City.

The institute verified on April 18 that the CSF sample was positive for A/H5N1, although nasal and throat swabs remained negative.

An urgent report was submitted to the Ministry of Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine.

The patient remains in isolation in the infectious diseases intensive care unit.

She is currently stable on mechanical ventilation, conscious, with a fever of 38.5 degrees Celsius and stable vital signs.

Initial investigations revealed that the child had contact with a flock of chickens that died en masse at her grandmother's house two weeks prior.

She has a history of congenital heart disease, which was surgically corrected at Ho Chi Minh City-based hospital when she was two months old.

Infectious disease experts have classified the case as highly unusual.

Unlike typical H5N1 infections, which primarily attack the respiratory system, this strain has affected the central nervous system, a rare manifestation.

H5N1 infections in humans are acquired through close contact with infected poultry.

The municipal Department of Health has instructed the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), in collaboration with the Tay Ninh CDC and the Children’s Hospital 1, to conduct a thorough epidemiological investigation and implement containment measures in line with current regulations.

To proactively prevent and control the spread of A/H5N1 from poultry to humans, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health advises the public to strictly follow the following measures:

1. Do not consume sick or dead poultry or poultry products of unknown origin.

2. Avoid contact with, slaughtering, or consuming wild animals, especially birds.

3. Do not transport, sell, or purchase unverified poultry or poultry products.

4. Report any instances of sick or dead poultry immediately to local authorities and veterinary services.

5. Always cook food thoroughly and wash hands with soap before eating.

6. Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing flu-like symptoms, especially fever, cough, chest pain, or difficulty breathing.