Pilgrimage to Mecca concern because of #Coronavirus #MERS

Virologists experts anxiously watching the enigmatic and dangerous coronavirus MERS in the forthcoming pilgrimage to Mecca, while Saudi Arabia is the most affected by the disease. (Fayez Nureldine)

30-06-2013
Excerpt:
"This is a new phenomenon. We do not know yet its potential for transmission from man to man, based on the information we have. We do not know to this day what is the full geographic range of the virus, "said Wednesday during the Conference Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General of WHO.
-snip-
For the Saudi Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Ziad Memish present at the meeting, one of the critical issues is the case of pilgrims from countries underdeveloped health system. "We do not know if the disease is not already there. They have no oversight," he told AFP.

Complete article:  http://www.leparisien.fr/laparisienne/sante/pelerinage-de-la-mecque-preoccupation-a-cause-du-coronavirus-29-06-2013-2939487.php

Pennsylvania: Chesco is ready for large pandemic outbreaks, feds say

May 30, 2013
By Michael P. Rellahan

WEST CHESTER — The ability of Chester County health and emergency officials to deal with a pandemic outbreak requiring mass medication has been given the thumbs-up by federal preparedness authorities.

The county announced Wednesday that it had a perfect score of 100 on the 2013 Technical Assistance Review, or TAR. The TAR is an annual assessment by the   U.S. Centers for Disease Control    and the state Department of Health of the overall county stockpile program for medication.

-snip-

Walls said the goal of the county’s plan is to ensure that it can deliver medication for a particular disease outbreak — including bio-terrorism — to 500,000 people within 36 to 48 hours after notification. She said that she considered such an outbreak a “not if, but when” situation.

Residents “should feel very secure in knowing that if we have some sort of disease brought in by bio-terrorists, the county can respond effectively to protect them,” Walls said Wednesday.

The TAR evaluation took place on March 27. The review included assessment of 12 strategic stockpile program elements, including command and coordination, communication and public information, and the core element of county-wide distribution and dispensing of medication in response to a possible medical emergency affecting the whole county. 

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130530/NEWS01/130539937/chesco-is-ready-for-large-pandemic-outbreaks-feds-say 

Indonesia Takes Steps To Anticipate H5N1 Pandemic #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

Indonesia Takes Steps To Anticipate H5N1

JAKARTA, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian government has been on alert on the possible spread of bird flu viruses (H5N1) following a global concern that the virus may mutate to a certain form that can spread among human, Xinhua news agency reported quoting a minister as saying here on Tuesday.

On Jan 3, a 23-year-old Indonesian man suspected of having avian influenza died in a hospital in the capital of Jakarta following the death of one of his pigeon a week before.

Indonesian Agriculture Minister Suswono Arsyaf said that his ministry had received informal information from the international organisations that the viruses would later show an indication that they could mutate to a certain form that make it enable to spread among humans.
"This is a warning. The concern over possible human-to-human spread has appeared. I have received such information informally," said Suswono.
Despite there was no any mass bird-flu case on poultry or cattle, the minister had ordered to impose a precaution measure.

"We keep monitoring the viruses as part of our alertness on bird flu. I have ordered officials to persistently conduct surveillance. And we ask people don't be reluctant to report any animal or poultry sudden death or the person himself or herself being sick," he said at the State Palace.

Indonesia had been hit the hardest by bird flu years ago with more than 100 fatalities, but then the spread of the viruses has been slow.

Deputy Health Minister Ali Gufron said that the government had set up task force teams to face the threat and hospitals had been prepared.

"We anticipate by preventing the virus from spreading to human or other places. Teams have been set up that can operate more effectively and efficient," he said.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsworld.php?id=639037

Japan intends to develop new bird flu emergency response bills #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

Japan intends to develop new bird flu emergency response bills
 2012-01-10 17:01

World Wide Web in Japan Peng special correspondent reports, according to Japan Xinhua China Press, Jan 10, 2007, most recently, Japan's Miyagi Prefecture Jingxian new highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. News is confirmed, in Japanese society caused a panic, so that people think of the new flu outbreak in 2009 when the scene. To this end, the Japanese government to make preparation for the development of new highly pathogenic avian influenza contingency plans.


According to the "Yomiuri Shimbun" news, the Japanese government to respond to possible cases of highly pathogenic new influenza pandemic, the development of relevant contingency plans.


Contents of contingency plans will specify the new large-scale bird flu, the government will declare a "state of emergency." Meanwhile, the emergency plans in the event of the Japanese people to stay home as much as possible after the epidemic, and prohibition of the assembly. This emergency plan has mandatory. Today, the Japanese government has to prevent the spread of disease and social unrest as a "national crisis management" an important part, will be ready to develop "emergency law." And develop contingency plans for the new flu is a Japanese government official bill for the later preparation.
In 2009, Japan had a large-scale outbreak of new influenza. However, when a new influenza virus of low pathogenicity, toxicity is not strong, so the infected patient's symptoms are not severe. However, the potency of a new highly pathogenic influenza outbreak occurs, it may lead to social chaos occur. Therefore, the Japanese government believes that, in order to prevent the spread of the disease resulting from social unrest, the development of relevant emergency bill in advance is necessary.   http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2012-01/2343577.html

Short Video report #1 #H5N1 #Birdflu

Video report #1 #H5N1 #Birdflu

I made a short video on the current situation in a few countries. China, India, USA, Egypt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHoQ1S5IE1M

Dan K. Thomasson: NIH decision on flu-strain handling endangers

Tuesday, December 27, 2011
By Dan K. Thomasson
Scripps Howard

WASHINGTON — My father used to say if you have to think about something very long, you probably shouldn't do it. It's sound advice that the National Institutes of Health obviously didn't follow when it contracted for a study into the most viral strain of influenza.

Now it has a problem on its hands that is downright scary in this increasingly dangerous world. What the researchers in The Netherlands and at the University of Wisconsin came up with could easily in the wrong hands pose a threat to every man, woman and child on the planet.

What they meant to do, apparently, was to keep tabs on a strain of bird flu to meet the challenge of future mutation. What they accomplished was an ability to make the strain, which rarely attacks humans at this point, into a highly transmissible killer that would thrill the heart of every "mad scientist" in literary history. You can almost hear the hysterically maniacal cackles.

Now the unanimous membership of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity must convince at least two prominent magazines — Science published here and Nature printed in London — not to report the specifics of how to replicate this monstrosity that apparently can be airborne through sneezing and other methods. Once in the air, there is no stopping it as proven by experimentation on a bunch of ferrets that passed it on to their brethren with ease.

Just so you know: If you haven't paid attention to the uproar that has descended through the media during one of the two holiest seasons in Christendom, the death rate from infection would range from 60 percent to 80 percent, an astounding pandemic dimension that should frighten us all. That is particularly so when the possibility of an intentional misuse of this poison is very real in a world increasingly subjected to terrorism. Even an accidental release of the virus would be devastating.

That is what drove the advisory board to plead for caution in any discussion of the blueprints for H5N1 — the designation assigned to this particular flu bug.

And well it should have, even if it comes in the face of general reluctance to censor the scientific achievements and there are some scientists who say there is nothing to fear here.

Pardon me if I am not convinced. Any chance is too much. Have these guys never heard of Osama bin Laden and the crazies he inspired around the globe before meeting his demise?

Why these magazines or anyone else has any say in how this material is presented is beyond me. The money that brought this about came from the U.S. taxpayers and that in my book at least should make the results U.S. government property and not subject to any outside claims or control. He who sponsors the research should clearly own the product.

This whole thing is not about censorship but about the public welfare and how to protect it. Quite clearly, the decision to conduct this study, now being condemned in any number of scientific quarters, was made in an atmosphere devoid of common sense. The initial reasons for conducting the studies don't come close to offsetting the damage the virus could wreak on society as we know it.

That might also have been said about the atomic bomb except it was developed to end a war that without it would have caused tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of more deaths. The steps taken beyond that initial development are not as clear-cut.

Clearly thinking ahead was not a strong suit of those within the National Institutes of Health, which approved the project and financed it. Granting that the magazines and others who want to publicize the details may now be having second thoughts — as they should — doesn't mean that someone somewhere won't do what they agree not to. The security board has said it would not object to a simple narrative of the dangers, just not the formula for concocting this deadly virus.

It seems to me that someone should step in quickly and shut down any dissemination of the results, even those said to be benign explanation of why the research was conducted. It may be too late. What were these guys thinking?

Reach Dan K. Thomasson at thomassondan@aol.com.

Update: Influenza A (H3N2)v Transmission and Guidelines — Five States, 2011

Early Release

December 23, 2011 / 60(Early Release);1-4

From August 17 to December 23, 2011, CDC received reports of 12 human infections with influenza A (H3N2)v viruses that have the matrix (M) gene from the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus (formerly called swine-origin influenza A [H3N2] and pandemic influenza A [H1N1] 2009 viruses, respectively [Box]). The 12 cases occurred in five states (Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia), and 11 were in children (1,2). Six of the 12 patients had no identified recent exposure to swine. Three of the 12 patients were hospitalized, and all have recovered fully.
A case in an adult male in Indiana with occupational exposure to swine was among the 12, and two children in West Virginia who regularly attended the same day care accounted for the latest cases. This report describes those cases and swine influenza virus (SIV) surveillance being conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Case Reports

Indiana.
 On October 28, 2011, CDC was notified by the Indiana Department of Health of a suspected case of A(H3N2)v virus infection in an adult male. The patient experienced onset of fever, cough, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and body aches on October 20, and was hospitalized for 4 days. He did not receive treatment with influenza antiviral medications and recovered fully.
On October 22, a respiratory specimen from the patient was positive for influenza at the hospital. On October 28, the virus was identified by real-time, reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing at the Indiana State Public Health Laboratory as an inconclusive influenza A virus, consistent with results seen with other recent A(H3N2)v infections. On October 31, genome sequencing at CDC confirmed the virus as A(H3N2)v with the M gene from the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, similar to the viruses identified in the other cases of human infection in the United States since August 2011.
The patient reported direct contact with swine during his work in the week before illness onset. He said he did not wear any personal protective equipment (PPE) because the swine did not exhibit signs of illness. No illness was reported among the patient's household members or other close contacts
.
West Virginia.
 On November 19, a child aged <5 years developed acute onset of fever after 1 week of cough and congestion. The child had been hospitalized for an unrelated condition 2 days before the onset of fever. On November 21, a respiratory specimen was collected. Rapid diagnostic tests conducted by the hospital were negative for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, but influenza A was identified by an alternative rRT-PCR at the hospital. The specimen was forwarded to the West Virginia Office of Laboratory Services, where it was identified as a suspected influenza A (H3N2)v virus. Subsequent genome sequencing conducted at CDC confirmed the virus as A(H3N2)v with the M gene from the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. The child, who had no recent travel or exposure to swine, was discharged on November 21, and has since recovered from the influenza illness.
An investigation was conducted to ascertain respiratory illnesses among contacts of the child that occurred during November 9–December 19. Multiple contacts, including children who regularly attended day care with the child, were found to have had respiratory illness during this period. On November 29, a second child aged <5 years who attended day care regularly with the first child and who had no recent travel or swine exposure became ill with fever, cough, diarrhea, and rhinorrhea. The second child did not seek medical care and recovered fully from the illness. A respiratory specimen obtained from the second child on December 7 was inconclusive by rRT-PCR at the West Virginia Office of Laboratory Services; however, the specimen was confirmed as influenza A (H3N2)v with the M gene from the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus via genome sequencing at CDC.
No additional A(H3N2)v cases have been identified among the other ill day care attendees or contacts of either patient. Enhanced surveillance for influenza-like illness and increased diagnostic testing of respiratory specimens is being conducted in West Virginia and adjacent counties in Maryland as part of the ongoing investigation of these cases. Currently, no evidence of additional human-to-human transmission in the community has been identified.

Influenza Surveillance of U.S. Swine

Surveillance for SIV in the United States is overseen by USDA, largely in swine that display influenza-like illness. In July 2009, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the swine industry implemented a SIV surveillance program* to characterize the distribution of SIV in U.S. swine herds. To date, approximately 150 SIV isolates have undergone sequencing of three genes (hemagglutinin, matrix, and neuraminidase gene segments) and sequences have been submitted to GenBank.† Thirty isolates have been identified as A(H3N2) viruses and eight of those 30 have the M gene from the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus as determined by an informal analysis of GenBank submission data by the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Further characterization and analysis are ongoing, and new submissions are added as diagnostic work is completed.

Reported by

Shawn Richards, Mark Glazier, Katie Masterson, Michael Denton, Indiana State Dept of Health; Cheryl Miller, DVM, Indiana Board of Animal Health. Carl Liebig, MD, Andrew J. Root, Cynthia Whitt, Mineral County Health Dept, Julie Freshwater, PhD, Sherif Ibrahim, MD, Danae Bixler, MD, Christi Clark, Loretta Haddy, PhD, West Virginia Dept of Public Health. Swine Influenza Virus Team, U.S. Dept of Agriculture. Douglas Jordan, MA, Matthew Biggerstaff, MPH, Scott Epperson, MPH, Lynnette Brammer, MPH, Lyn Finelli, DrPH, Susan Trock, DVM, Michael Jhung, MD, Joseph Bresee, MD, Stephen Lindstrom, PhD, Alexander Klimov, PhD, Daniel Jernigan, MD, Nancy Cox, PhD, Influenza Div, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Rachel Radcliffe, DVM, Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response; Tegwin Taylor, DVM, EIS officer, CDC. Corresponding contributor: Douglas Jordan, dejordan@cdc.gov, 404-639-3747 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 404-639-3747 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Editorial Note

Human infections with the influenza viruses currently circulating among swine are rare. Since 2005, only 35 cases have been reported in the United States, but the frequency with which they have been detected increased in 2011. When different influenza viruses simultaneously infect a single host (e.g., a human or swine), exchange of genetic material can occur, resulting in a new influenza virus. Depending on the antigenic distance between the new virus and recently circulating seasonal viruses, little or no immunity might exist in the human population. Influenza A (H3N2)v viruses resulted from reassortment of influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 viruses with swine influenza A (H3N2) viruses. A diagram depicting this reassortment is available online from CDC's Public Health Image Library.§ Because these viruses carry a newly identified combination of genes, little information is available regarding transmission efficiency in swine, in humans, or between swine and humans. However, the recent human cases involving swine exposure and results of SIV surveillance indicate that these viruses also currently are circulating in swine herds.
The case of influenza A (H3N2)v infection after occupational contact with swine in Indiana and the apparent limited human-to-human transmission of A(H3N2)v virus that occurred in a day care setting in West Virginia represent two different possible scenarios for transmission of this virus. Work exposure highlights the risk for interspecies influenza transmission in occupational settings where humans are exposed to swine, an association that has been described previously (3–7). To minimize the risk for interspecies influenza transmission in occupational settings, CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) encourage swine workers to 1) get vaccinated against human seasonal influenza, 2) wear appropriate PPE, and 3) practice good hygiene, such as washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, when in contact with swine, especially swine that show signs of illness. The National Pork Board also recommends producers work with their veterinarian to develop appropriate prevention and control measures for influenza in swine, which can include vaccinating swine against swine influenza. Similar to humans, swine infected with influenza viruses do not always exhibit signs of infection (8). Persons with swine exposure in the week before onset of an illness with symptoms of influenza requiring medical care should notify their health-care provider of their swine exposures. Persons who develop symptoms of influenza after close contact with swine are recommended to stay home until well to minimize contact with persons and swine as much as possible.
Guidance materials for persons who work with swine have been published by OSHA.¶ In addition, the National Pork Board,** CDC, and the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians have published guidance for persons exposed to swine in public settings (9). Clinicians should consider variant influenza virus infection in the differential diagnosis of patients with febrile respiratory illness who have been near swine whether at work or at an agricultural event, such as a fair or exhibit.
The A(H3N2)v cases in West Virginia involved two children who attended the same day care, but the first child was unlikely to have transmitted the virus to the second child, given the ≥10-day difference in their symptom onset dates. This represents a scenario of limited human-to-human transmission occurring in a day care setting. Therefore, clinicians also should consider the possibility of influenza A (H3N2)v infections in patients who have not had exposure to swine, particularly young children in those states where influenza A (H3N2)v cases have been reported. Clinicians who suspect variant influenza virus infection should obtain a nasopharyngeal swab, place the swab in viral transport medium, and contact their state or local health department to facilitate transport and timely diagnosis (10). Influenza A (H3N2)v viruses detected to date are susceptible to oseltamivir and zanamivir for the treatment of influenza. Clinicians who suspect variant influenza infection in a patient should consider treatment with these medications if clinically indicated (10). Because these viruses have the M gene from the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus, they are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine.

CDC requests that state public health laboratories notify CDC immediately of suspected variant influenza A specimens and send them to the CDC Influenza Division's Virus Surveillance and Diagnostics Branch Laboratory. Confirmed cases should be investigated thoroughly and expeditiously to ascertain whether swine-to-human or human-to-human transmission is ongoing and to limit further exposures between humans with others and swine. Such investigations require close collaboration among state, local, and federal public and animal health officials.

CDC is working with USDA and state public health and animal health experts in the locations where these cases have occurred to investigate each case fully and to enhance influenza surveillance to detect human cases of variant influenza virus infections. The CDC rRT-PCR assay that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in September 2011 is able to identify these cases as presumptive influenza A (H3N2)v cases. These diagnostic test kits have been distributed to public health laboratories in the United States and National Influenza Centers designated by the World Health Organization in other countries. Additional rRT-PCR test enhancements to further improve detection of influenza A (H3N2)v viruses are under development.
Limited serologic studies conducted to date indicate that young children have little preexisting immunity to influenza A (H3N2)v viruses. Because the hemagglutinin genes of these viruses are related to human influenza A (H3N2) viruses that circulated in the 1990s, older children and adults might have limited immunity against these viruses. Certain persons, including young children, pregnant women, persons with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease, and persons aged ≥65 years, are likely to be at greater risk for serious influenza-related complications from variant influenza viruses such as influenza A (H3N2)v. The influenza A (H3N2)v virus is different enough from current human seasonal influenza viruses that the seasonal influenza vaccine is not expected to provide significant protection.
CDC will provide routine and timely communications regarding these influenza A (H3N2)v viruses and other variant influenza viruses with the public, partners, state and local health departments, and stakeholders. Updated information and guidance documents related to A(H3N2)v viruses are available online from CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/influenza-variant-viruses.htm. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm60e1223a1.htm

Expert unease over deadly flu virus #H5N1 'created' in Dutch laboratory

Friday 25 November 2011

Dutch scientists have created a flu virus which is so deadly there is doubt about whether the research should be published, the Volkskrant reports on Friday.

The paper says American experts are worried detailed information could fall into the wrong hands and that terrorists could recreate the virus as a weapon. The fears are notable because the work was carried out on behalf of the National Institutes of Health in the US.

The research team, led by Ron Fouchier, professor of virology at Erasmus teaching hospital, was able to create a highly infectious variant of the bird flu virus H5N1. H5N1 is rarely transferred from animal to human, but if it does, the infection is often fatal.

Pandemic

Fouchier was asked to find out if H5N1 could lead to a pandemic and was able to show that a couple of mutations in the virus dna changed it into an extremely virulent form. Japanese researchers have also made similar findings, the paper says.

Fouchier then offered an article on his findings to scientific journal Science which asked a US institute for bio security to examine the result. That institute told the US government the research could be threatening to public health and security.

The Volkskrant says Fouchier is unwilling to comment on the situation because he does not want to prejudice the expert opinion. Both his and the Japanese research are currently being scrutinised.