Vietnam government warns against eating tiet canh; H7N9 bird flu detected in goose meat sold in Guangzhou

Two Asian countries reported on different strains of avian influenza being a potential danger in food this weekend–Vietnam advised against eating tiet canh, or raw duck or goose blood soup during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays because of the risk of H5N1 avian influenza, and in China’s Guangdong Province, health officials tested samples of goose meat sold at a Guangzhou market, which turned out positive for H7N9 avian influenza.

H5N1 avian influenza
Image/CDC

According to Thanh Nien News, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has warned people against eating tiet canh because of the health risks associated with it.

Blood soup (tiết canh) is made with raw blood of ducks or geese (sometimes pigs), with peanuts and herbs on top.­ This is the typical protein-rich breakfast of the country people in Northern Vietnam, but is very dangerous because of the H5N1 bird flu virus.­ (To see a photo of raw duck blood soup –not for the squeamish– click here)

Phat warned against the resurgence of bird flu this year, as the H5N1 virus has been found at more than 61 percent of 147 live fowl markets surveyed in 44 cities and provinces.

Health authorities have been warning of bird flu pandemics ahead of the country’s biggest holiday Tet, when demand for fowl increases and fuels the smuggling of birds from rural areas to cities.

influenza A (H7N9) virus.
Image/CDC

In China, Two goose meat samples and one sewage water sample from two poultry booths in a wet market in Zengcheng, a satellite city of Guangzhou, tested positive, Guangdong Provincial Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) confirmed on Sunday, reports Xinhua.

“It’s serious that the water sample test is positive, because it means all the birds inside coops have the possibility of being infected with H7N9 avian influenza. The longer they stay in the coops, the risk of being infected rises,” said Yang Zhicong, deputy chief of the Guangzhou municipal CDCP. The city government of Guangzhou, the provincial capital, is tracking the poultry source. The market was shut down on Saturday for three days so disinfection and cleaning can take place.

Meanwhile, 17 sales people working in nine poultry booths in the market are undergoing a week-long medical observation. So far, they have shown no signs of being infected with the bird flu, said Yang.

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