S'pore buys 1m H5N1 shots

Mar 12, 2010

H5N1 bug could be a bigger killer than H1N1 if it mutates

By Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent


SINGAPORE has bought a million doses of a vaccine to protect the people here against the H5N1 bird flu.
The vaccine will arrive by the end of the year.
The bug is particularly scary for Singapore, which sits next to Indonesia, the country with the most cases (163) and deaths (135) from the virus. Vietnam, with the next highest number of cases (115) and deaths (58), is also nearby.
Both countries have already had one death each this year.
Unlike the H1N1 pandemic that swept the globe last year, the H5N1 bug could be a bigger killer by far if it mutates.
Of the 486 people reported to have been infected by H5N1 since 2003, 287 have died. This works out to an almost six-in-10 death rate.

CIDRAP: H5N1 avian flu virus reproduces in gut as well as lungs

The H5N1 avian influenza virus can replicate in the human gut as well as in the lungs, according to Chinese researchers writing in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The researchers found viral antigen in samples of gut tissue from a patient known to have died from H5N1, and they also experimentally infected samples of human gut tissue with the virus in the laboratory. Unexpectedly, gut epithelium, like lung epithelium, turns out to contain specific areas where the sialic acid alpha-2,3 receptors to which avian flu viruses preferentially bind are expressed. The finding illuminates the gastrointestinal illness reported in some H5N1 victims, and also suggests that H5N1 may spread from person to person not only via the exhaled droplets that are the primary mode of transmission, but also via feces.
Mar 8 J Infect Dis abstract

Despite contracting to 5 million vaccine UN official: Egypt the only country not feed its citizens against "pigs"

Author: Heba Magdy Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 08:27 evening

Said David Patarrd Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations on food security, the UN coordinator for avian and human beings that Egypt is the only country which did not get its citizens to be vaccinated for swine flu symptoms due to fear of the vaccine, but many countries where the same the same thing, but in truth serum safe and effective and has no side effects and does not cause cancer, as claimed by some Egyptian media.

He noted that the Egyptian government to have high transparency in the spread of swine flu and flu as it rushed to report the cases to international organizations, led by the World Health Organization without a cover or reduce infections.

He said during a press conference today that Egypt, the things you do not by any country in the world to compensate the owners of farmers and breeders to missing a large number of birds and pigs at the beginning of the outbreak of the disease, pointing out that the preparation with swine flu in Egypt 16 الف and 138 of them 232 deaths from the beginning 2010 died 72 cases and most of the cases, mostly of pregnant women and young people under the age of 21 years and, more recently said that injury is a big disease.

He said the first wave and second wave ended no one knew how serious this disease is the fiercest disease known to mankind in the twentieth century, if repeated in the second wave of the disease the disease is very fierce, adding that the disease status of each not exceeding two weeks, as were vaccinated 3400 of pilgrims to the old Prophet's Birthday that the swine flu last from 10:5 years in Egypt and that the first country to spread the flu Mexico.

He said the plan formulated by the Ministry of Health for the Eradication of swine flu effective despite the attack on his ministry CV Egyptian government, which distributed them with the utmost transparency and the Egyptian people did not interact with the data Aldlell seriously and they have refused to take the vaccine.

He said that Egypt signed a contract for 5 million vaccine at a cost of $ 730 million and took them only 3 million from the World Health Alaalmipbalenciq with France and there are excess amounts of the vaccine for human use are valid for a period of 5 years and expressed his admiration for the Egyptian hospital that has a rapid response in the hygiene of doctors ordering 0

Egypt: The death of a new case of bird flu, bringing the death toll to 32

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

وفاة حالة جديدة بأنفلونزا الطيور ليصل اجمالى الوفيات إلى 32 حالة أعلنت وزارة الصحة فى بيان لها فى 10 / 3 / 2010، عن حالة وفاة جديدة مصابة بمرض "أنفلونزا الطيور" ليصل اجمالى الوفيات منذ ظهور المرض فى مصر عام 2006 إلى 32 حالة وفاة. The Ministry of Health said in a statement on 10 / 3 / 2010, on the status of the death of new infected with "bird flu", bringing the total deaths since the disease appeared in Egypt in 2006 to 32 deaths. وأوضح البيان أن حالة الوفاة لسيدة تبلغ من العمر 20 عاما من محافظة القاهرة ظهرت عليها الأعراض نتيجة للاشتباه فى تعرضها لطيور منزلية مصابة . The statement said that the case of death of a woman aged 20, from Cairo Governorate, developed symptoms as a result of suspicion of exposure to infected domestic birds.

At a press conference for the United Nations Office .. The end of the first wave of swine flu in Egypt

Thursday, March 11th, 2010 - 18:43

Dr. Nasr El-Sayed Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs that the incidence of preventive Bonflonz pigs becoming less so as not to exceed 20 -25 cases per week, after it was up to 235 cases per week, affirming the end of the first wave of the virus.

The Mr. during the conference organized by the Office of the United Nations in Egypt in cooperation with the Chamber of crises, the central information center in the Council of Ministers that, for the validity of vaccination for the prevention of virus imported Egypt did not unite so far, especially as it is not recognized in the form of the next wave of the virus.

Sayed said that vaccination comes from the company in two parts: "catalyst" which is a two-thirds the price of dose and is valid for 3 years, indicating that it would be suitable for use in case of change of vaccination.

The second part is "Aloltren," he said of Mr. that the agreement between the Egyptian government and includes the company to exchange the latest in this part if the virus mutates, which is the active part in this wave of the virus.

It was announced that the government canceled Mr. importing 3 million doses and only 1.9 million doses given only to a weak demand for vaccination, indicating that the bait is located in Egypt, enough to vaccinate the pilgrims until the end of 2010, as 3400 pilgrims have been vaccinated so far.

Mr. denied the existence of any side effects of the virus at all, which was also confirmed by Dr. John Jaber, regional adviser for communicable diseases in the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean of the United Nations, said that the rumors in the media, which led to weak demand for vaccination in the whole world.

And for the evolution of bird flu, David Nabarro Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on food security and the United Nations coordinator for avian and human beings, that Egypt is still affected by bird flu virus, and there are 5 countries in the world are the most affected countries including Egypt.
He added that he can not imagine the end of the disease in Egypt before the period ranging from 5 - 10 years to come, pointing out that the organization plans to deal with the worst-case scenario.

For his part, Dr. Nasr El-Sayed, during 2010 showed 16 cases of bird flu in Egypt, including 5 deaths, confirming that it is a large percentage indicates that the virus still exists in Egypt, and needs to change the cultures over a long period.

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ar&tl=en&u=http://www.youm7.com/News.asp%3FNewsID%3D199830%26SecID%3D65%26IssueID%3D87&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhjl7_Nyfljy6QwDpa2lYps2-bxYAA

Indonesia: Minister of Health Comments from "Handling of BF & Pandemic Influ" Meeting

Menkes SUPPORTS ESTABLISHMENT KOMNAS ZOONOSA

Jakarta, 10/3/2010 (Kominfo-Newsroom) - Minister of Health of Indonesia Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih welcomes the establishment of the National Commission plans Zoonosa (diseases originating from animals). The new Commission was formed to handle the outbreak of diseases and viruses that can be handled animal sourced quickly.
"More than 60 percent of diseases originating from animals, so better to stay there as the coordinator of the institution," said Minister of Health at the opening of National Coordination Meeting on "Handling of Bird Flu and Pandemic Influenza" in Jakarta, Wednesday (10 / 3).
According to him, the handling of bird flu & pandemic influenza in Indonesia 2005-2009 period has been running well and successfully, even if the problem persists, due in 2010 were still detected a case of avian influenza (H5N1) in humans, and WHO declared pandemic influenza A New (H1N1) is still going on despite the over the top.
For that, said the minister, the most important thing related to pandemic influenza is the preservation and improvement of preparedness to cope with the next influenza pandemic that occurred as a result of mutation or reassortment "virus of avian influenza or bird flu virus H5N1 is highly pathogenic.
"Therefore, the plan of national influenza pandemic preparedness continue to be maintained and enhanced to be able to cope with an influenza pandemic that turned out to arise again and time at which it is difficult to predict," said Minister of Health.
He added, during the bird flu is still endemic in animal populations, especially poultry, in most parts of Indonesia, as long as it is also the possibility of human bird flu virus still exists.
The government, he said, currently under review to replace the National Commission for Avian Influenza Zoonosa with the National Commission. It was considered necessary for handling the various outbreaks of running a systematic and not temporary (adhoc).
Stated, it will Zoonosa Commission is expected to accommodate the handling of bird flu, anthrax, rabies, and others. Commission also will handle the task of handling the bird flu virus is still handled the National Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Influenza (FBPI).
Based on Presidential Regulation No. 7 of 2006, he said, is adhoc FPBI Commission, and his tenure ended on March 13, 2010. Has achieved success include West Kalimantan province has been declared free of bird flu based on RI Mentan Decree No. 316 Year 2010 dated January 21, 2010.
The case of bird flu (H5N1) was first discovered in poultry in Indonesia in August 2003, while the virus infects humans was recorded in July 2005 in Tangerang. At the national level, endemic H5N1 in poultry occurred in a sporadic in many areas, and only two provinces (Gorontalo and North Maluku) are declared free of bird flu in poultry.
In 2009, the number of cases of human bird flu found in 13 provinces and 51 districts / cities, with the CFR (Case Fatlity Rate) of 82.2 percent. A total of 162 people tested positive for infection, and 134 of whom died. (T.Jul / ysoel)

Egypt: H5N1 Death - 20 yo from Cairo Gov't. 32n'd Death (possibly #105)

The death of Case No. 32 of avian flu

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 - 17:02


Minister of Health
Abdul Salam wrote Princess


Ministry of Health announced the death of a new case of avian flu this morning, Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 for the old lady (20 years) from the Cairo governorate following the coming into contact with dead birds suspected of being infected with the virus.

This brings the total number of deaths in Egypt 32 cases, as confirmed by the Ministry of Health in its official statement this morning since the emergence of the disease in 2006 so far.
hat-tip Twall

PubMed Abstract: Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Can Directly Infect and Replicate in Human Gut Tissues.

Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Can Directly Infect and Replicate in Human Gut Tissues.
Shu Y, Li CK, Li Z, Gao R, Liang Q, Zhang Y, Dong L, Zhou J, Dong J, Wang D, Wen L, Wang M, Bai T, Li D, Dong X, Yu H, Yang W, Wang Y, Feng Z, McMichael AJ, Xu XN
J Infect Dis. 2010 Mar 8;

The human respiratory tract is a major site of avian influenza A(H5N1) infection. However, many humans infected with H5N1 present with gastrointestinal tract symptoms, suggesting that this may also be a target for the virus. In this study, we demonstrated that the human gut expresses abundant avian H5N1 receptors, is readily infected ex vivo by the H5N1 virus, and produces infectious viral particles in organ culture. An autopsy colonic sample from an H5N1-infected patient showed evidence of viral antigen expression in the gut epithelium. Our results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that H5N1 can directly target human gut tissues.

abstract Abstract · PubMed

hat-tip tetano

Indonesia: Crisis Communication Determine Success

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 | 07:36 pm
ATLANTA, KOMPAS.com - Communication crisis in the health sector increasingly important as bermunculannya various infectious diseases that have the potential to be catastrophic, such as bird flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS, and influenza A-H1N1. A good crisis communication in the health sector in determining the success of control issues, including holding the spread of the disease.

It was stated communication experts from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) United States, Barbara Reynolds, in Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Training, such as Indira Kompas reported Permanasari journalists from Atlanta, United States, Tuesday (9 / 3).

Reynolds says, crisis and risk communication in emergencies especially important when dealing with cases of disease that can cause death, easily transmitted, and unprecedented. In some studies, for example, cases of influenza A-H1N1 and avian influenza (H5N1), with a crisis communication strategy to the public good, at least not a large explosion in the case of fast time.

"With a good crisis communication, remains an increase in cases, but with a more sloping curve and then slowly down the number of cases. If there is no good public communication, cases tend to increase sharply in place quickly and then just come down after the treatment. However, the victim of spilled milk, "he said.

He said the health problems directly touches the lives of the people so that it appears a disease, let alone new infections, the public needs information related to the danger. In addition, steps can be done so that the disaster would not befall them, and how to care for themselves.

Responsibility in communicating to the public about the crisis, especially in the hands of government and related organizations concerned. Reynolds said, leaders at various levels to provide honest information with empathy about the situation to the public quickly. Information must also be constantly updated.

"Dishonesty in providing an explanation even backfire in the long run because people will lose faith," he said.

More dangerous, more Reynold, people then did not want to follow the medical recommendations given that control more difficult.

"People can see whether a leader who communicates honestly crisis or not," Reynolds said.

Failure to communicate a crisis to happen because so many comments from some experts that ended up confusing people.

Separately, a consultant Risk Communication World Health Organization, Jodi Lanard, said there are many dilemmas in crisis situations to communicate honestly to the public. It often happens because of various interests. However, the public interest to get honest information in the middle of crisis and uncertainty poor can not be ignored.

"The way to calm the people instead of saying that all the control on the first day, it was certainly hard to believe. Better to be truthful about the situation, "he said

Indonesia: Disease 'Zoonosis' The Threat

[Indonesia has tracked H5N1 outbreaks for years now. This article, and the preceeding article, must be talking about a combination strain of the both of them combining.]

Similar article..excerpt:

similar article, excerpt:

"Public health infrastructure must be prepared to anticipate the possibility of extraordinary events diseases like this," he said.

Keberadaan sistem intelijen epidemi, juga sangat penting untuk mendeteksi secara cepat kemunculan zoonosis yang berpotensi menimbulkan wabah penyakit dan pandemi.

The existence of an epidemic intelligence system, is also very important to quickly detect the emergence of a potentially zoonotic diseases and pandemic outbreaks.

Kepala Pusat Komunikasi Publik Kementerian Kesehatan Indonesia, Tritarayati mengatakan, pemerintah Indonesia telah mempunyai sistem pengendalian penyakit zoonosis.

Head of Public Communication Center of Health Ministry of Indonesia, Tritarayati said, the Indonesian government has had a zoonotic disease control system.

Pemerintah, kata dia, berencana membentuk komite yang khusus menangani pengendalian penyakit zoonosis.

The government, he said, plans to form a special committee dealing with zoonotic disease control.

"Tapi zoonosis memang belum menjadi prioritas utama. Prioritas utama pemerintah masih pada pengendalian penyakit menular yang prevalensinya tinggi dan dampaknya besar seperti DBD, tuberkulosis, malaria, dan HIV," katanya.

"But zoonoses are not a top priority. The main priority of government is still in control of infectious diseases and high prevalence of major impact such as dengue, tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV," he said.

Indonesia: Zoonosis Disease Threats Increasing

toggletext translation
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 11:56 pm

The infection threat that spread from the animal to humankind or zoonosis increased in several last years consequently the government must give more attention in prevention efforts and the control of these infectious diseases. "More attention must be given in new illnesses that emerged resulting from the nearness" of "relations between the animal and humankind that could spread," said Henry Walke, Kepala of the Development of the Program in the Pengembangan Division of the Kesehatan Capacity of the Global Community in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the United States in Atlanta, on Wednesday.

CDC, said Walke ended spoke in the training of risk communication for the crisis period and kedaruratan, had special attention in control efforts zoonosis in various countries.

That, according to him, must be done remembered uptil now most plagues of new infectious diseases that happened as a result of by zoonosis including among them influenza of A H5N1 or bird flu and influenza of A H1N1 or pig flu.

"Indonesia as the country with the inhabitants's population and the high animal better give special attention to control efforts" of "this illness," he said. He said, countries with the risk of the spread zoonosis high must increase their capacity in detecting and responding to the incident zoonosis. The "infrastructure" of the "health" of the "community must be prepared to anticipate the possibility" of the "extraordinary incident emergence illnesses like this," he said.

The existence of the system of epidemic intelligence, he added, also very important to detect quickly the emergence zoonosis that had the potential to cause the plague of the illness and the pandemic.

The head of the Centre of Publik Kementerian Communication of the Tritarayati Health said, the Indonesian government had the control system of the illness zoonosis. The government, said he, also planned to form the special committee handled the control of the illness zoonosis. "But zoonosis indeed did not yet become prioitas main." The main priority in the government still in the control of infectious diseases that his prevalence was high and his impact was big like DBD, tuberculosis, malaria, and the HIV, he said. (M035/B010)

Excerpt of Google translation:

That, according to him, must be given during most of the new infectious disease outbreaks that occur are caused by zoonoses including influenza A H5N1 or bird flu and H1N1 influenza A or swine flu.

"Indonesia as a country with a population of high animal population and should give special attention to efforts to control this disease," he said.

He said countries with a high risk of zoonotic transmission should enhance their capacity in detecting and responding to incidents of zoonoses.

"Public health infrastructure must be prepared to anticipate the possibility of extraordinary events diseases like this," he said.

The existence of an epidemic intelligence system, he added, is also very important to quickly detect the emergence of a potentially zoonotic diseases and pandemic outbreaks.

CIDRAP: NEWS SCAN: Egypt launches new H5N1 measures; more pepper recalled

Mar 8, 2010

Egypt launches new strategy to curb H5N1 spread
In the wake of rising human H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks, coupled with an increasing number of outbreaks in poultry, Egypt's health ministry said it is implementing new measures to curb the spread of the virus, including restricting the sale of poultry across governorate borders, the United Nations' Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) reported today. The health ministry said it will also launch a campaign to warn the public about the risk of raising poultry at home and will stop vaccinating poultry, because the practice has not curbed the spread of the disease, according to IRIN. Egypt has reported several dozen poultry outbreaks so far this year, most of them in household birds. The country has also experienced a surge in human cases since the first of the year, with14 so far, including 3 deaths, according to a recent update from the World Health Organization (WHO). In other developments, Egypt's health ministry reported another H5N1 death, according to translated reports that appear today on the FluTrackers infectious-disease message board. The death appears to be that of a 53-year-old man from Qalyubia governorate whose illness was detailed in a Mar 4 WHO update. He had been listed in critical condition.
Mar 8 IRIN story
FluTrackers thread on Egypt's 104th H5N1 case

More black pepper recalled in Salmonella outbreak
A second company that supplied ground black pepper to the sausage company involved in a 44-state Salmonella outbreak has issued a recall, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported on Mar 5. Mincing Overseas Spice Co., Dayton, N.J., recalled black pepper lots 3258 and 3309, both involving 50-, 25-, and 20-pound cartons bearing the company name. The FDA said a sample from lot 3258 tested positive for Salmonella, and further testing was still under way to determine if it matched the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo. Mincing and Wholesome Spice Co. of Brooklyn, N.Y., both supplied pepper to Daniele Inc., maker of salami and other sausage products linked to the outbreak (Wholesome previously recalled some pepper products). The FDA said it has also tested pepper samples from other customers that received pepper from Mincing and Wholesome. So far, two of those samples have tested positive for strains of Salmonella not associated with the current outbreak. The findings prompted Mincing's recall of lot 3309 and also prompted another company, Heartland Foods Inc. of Indianapolis, to issue a recall, the FDA reported. Heartland's Mar 1 recall notice covered all its coarse black ground pepper distributed between Oct 19, 2009, and Feb 17, and sold in 1-, 4-, and 8-pound containers. The FDA also said it is working on a spice risk profile that could lead to new guidance for the spice industry and FDA inspectors and possibly to new regulations.
Mar 5 FDA update on Salmonella investigation
Mar 5 Mincing recall notice
Mar 1 Heartland Foods recall notice

Vietnam: Response possibility of pandemic

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 1:03

(Bloomberg) - Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Ba Bong Resident Coordinator and United Nations in Vietnam, John Hendra, on the 8-3 co-chaired the conference for all of the bird flu prevention Influenza and Human Influenza (PAHI), held in Hanoi.

Theo TTXVN, qua hội nghị, Bộ NN-PTNT, Bộ Y tế và các thành viên của PAHI xem xét, đánh giá các hoạt động thực hiện chương trình phối hợp hành động quốc gia phòng chống dịch cúm gia cầm và cúm ở người giai đoạn 2006 - 2010; thông tin về tình hình dịch và các hoạt động của đối tác, đồng thời bàn về những định hướng và ưu tiên cho giai đoạn sau 2010.

Source: Reuters, via conferences, MARD, Ministry of Health and members of PAHI review and assessment activities for the program to coordinate national action preventing avian influenza and human flu period the 2006 - 2010; information on the services and activities of partners, and discuss the direction and priorities for the period after 2010.

Tại hội nghị, nhiều đại biểu nhận định Việt Nam cũng nên rà soát lại toàn bộ công tác chuẩn bị đối phó ở cấp cao nhất với những loại thảm họa quy mô lớn, phức tạp và không thể dự báo.

At the conference, many delegates get to Vietnam should also review all the preparation work at the highest level to deal with the kind of large-scale disasters, complex and unpredictable.

Discovery of the 104 case of bird flu

[I believe the date of this article is faulty. He did not make his statement on the 3rd of March. He made it on the 6th.]

3/3/2010
Ministry of Health announced the discovery of new human case of avian flu to the old man 53 years of Shubra El-Qalubia, bringing the total number of cases 104 cases since the onset of the disease in Egypt.

وأكدت وزارة الصحة أن التاريخ المرضى للحالة يؤكد دخوله مستشفى النيل للتأمين الصحى يوم 27 فبراير الحالى وهو يعانى من ارتفاع فى درجة الحرارة وسعال ورشح والتهاب صدر مزمن، بالإضافة إلى التهاب رئوى أيسر وذلك عقب تعرضه لطيور يشتبه فى إصابتها بمرض أنفلونزا الطيور، وقد تم إعطائه عقار "التاميفلو"، وتحويله إلى مستشفى صدر العباسية بالقاهرة وحالته الصحية حرجة.

The Ministry of Health that the date for the case of patients entering the hospital confirms the Nile to health insurance on February 27, suffering from fever, cough, runny nose and chronic inflammation was issued, in addition to pneumonia, easier and that after being exposed to birds suspected of being infected with bird flu, has been given a drug "Tamiflu", and was transferred to a hospital in Cairo and the Abbasid critical condition.

Egypt: The Ministry of Health: the case of death of a new pandemic flu raises the total to 31

3/7/2010 1:25:00 AM

مصراوي- خاص- أعلنت وزارة الصحة عن وفاة حالة جديدة بفيروس أنفلونز الطيور ليرتفع اجمالي الوفيات الى 31 حالة منذ ظهور المرض في مصر.

Masrawy - Special - The Ministry of Health for the death of a newly infected with bird flu, bringing the total death toll to 31 cases since the disease appeared in Egypt.

وقالت الوزارة في بيان لها مساء يوم السبت أن حالة الوفاة الجديدة لرجل من محافظة القليوبية يبلغ من العمر 52 عاما.

The ministry said in a statement late on Saturday that the new death of a man from Qalyoubia province, at the age of 52 years.


-snip-

The death of a new case of bird flu flying for 31 Total

This could be this victim:

Confirmed #104
From: Shubra al-Khaima
Onset: 2/27
Adm: 2/27 suffering from fever and cough, runny nose and chronic inflammation and pneumonia
Note: Entered hospital, immediately given tamiflu and transferred. WHO Update #31
Saturday, March 6th, 2010 - 22:49

The Ministry of Health has announced a new human death from bird flu, bringing the total cases since the disease appeared in Egypt and so far 31 cases.

وأوضحت الوزارة، فى بيان، أن الحالة لرجل يبلغ من العمر 52 عاما، وتعتبر هذه حالة الوفاة الرابعة بأنفلونزا الطيور خلال 2010.

The ministry said in a statement that the situation of a man aged 52 years, is the fourth death from bird flu in 2010.

Egypt Swine Flu Death #272 - Sharkia governorate.

السبت، 6 مارس 2010 - 18:01 Saturday, March 6th, 2010 - 18:01


الدكتور عبد الرحمن شاهين المتحدث الرسمى لوزارة الصحة

Dr. Abdel Rahman Shahin, official spokesman of the Ministry of Health
(أ.ش.أ) (A. U. A)


أعلنت وزارة الصحة عن حالة وفاة جديدة بفيروس "اتش1 إن1" المعروف بمرض أنفلونزا الخنازير ليصبح إجمالى عدد الحالات 272 حالة وفاة منذ ظهور المرض فى مصر حتى الآن. The Ministry of Health on the status of the death of a new virus, "1 H-1 The" known disease, swine flu, bringing the total number of cases 272 deaths since the disease appeared in Egypt so far.

وأوضح بيان وزارة الصحة أن حالة الوفاة لرجل مصرى يبلغ من العمر 50 عاما من محافظة الشرقية. A statement of the Ministry of Health to the case of death of the Egyptian man at the age of 50 years of the Eastern Province.

hat-tip Twall

China: WHO warned that the third wave hit H1N1 virus gene may be re -

Excerpt:

The virus, experts are now concerned that the avian flu, including my own in many countries and regions have a long time. World Health Organization has recently announced an outbreak of bird flu in Egypt were reported. With the Influenza A H1N1 influenza pandemic, the body can easily become the new virus, "assembly plant." Avian influenza virus influenza A H1N1 influenza virus with the mixing, hybrid? Guan Yi said: "We do not know. But not because it is a low probability event, be regarded as not happen."

Guan Yi intuitively that from December 2009 to February 2010, coincided with Chinese New Year around the weather is cold, the use of poultry, large turnover, the avian flu virus in the environment, and stable, but so far have not heard of the domestic touching an infected bird cases of H5N1 reported, this is not a good thing.

Dr. Guan's research team found that: lead three times in the last century, the most serious pandemic influenza virus, before the advent of the disaster are close to complete in the form of communication for several years. 1918 H1N1 pandemic virus, today's seasonal H1N1 viruses and influenza A H1N1 virus may have already been together on the 1918-1919 inter-spread. Although these three kinds of different but related viruses. 1919 virus genes may be from 1911 onwards, in pigs and spread among humans, and that the virus can not spread directly from birds to people. The virus directly from birds to humans and cause a flu pandemic is very difficult, which may explain why the H5N1 virus has so far not caused a pandemic causes. 1957 H2N2 and 1968 H3N2 viruses have similar manner to form.

In the influenza issue, due to lack of continuous data since these periods, pigs with the pandemic virus, arising from such correlation can not be excluded. He suggested that China establish a special public relations group, very open way to explore the existing ecological environment in China, the virus the possibility of genetic recombination. He told reporters: "We should normally, conventional way to look at this issue, neither the disease Do not be afraid, do not conceal, otherwise, negative not only for the people, the State will be sapped."
-snip-

Si-Dong Xiong pointed out that from a well-documented history of 2000 years of influenza, influenza pandemic did show some seasonal characteristics. Epidemic peaks occurred mainly in winter and spring, as the two seasons relatively dry air, ultraviolet weak environment for people living mostly closed for the virus to survive. However, air temperature, local micro-climate, and changes in the living environment of local people are likely to change the characteristics of influenza pandemic. In recent years, with the accelerated pace of globalization and air-conditioning and other facilities in the post-industrial age technology to improve people's living environment has become increasingly similar throughout the year, seasonal became blurred, as does the resultant gradient so that the virus of influenza throughout the year The onset of the rising trend.

From the time of seasonal influenza pandemic in an expanded view of the trend, in fact, belong to influenza A H1N1 flu seasonal influenza. In addition to seasonal influenza spread faster than the outside its current mortality and infection rates were still present close to the characteristics of seasonal influenza and seasonal influenza is not very clear boundaries. Proceeding from this, he reminded: In the past people think the summer is not a multiple of infectious diseases respiratory season now, with the influenza epidemic season changes, the 2010 Shanghai World Expo will be experienced in the summer should also be vigilant. "The world is all about influenza when it will happen, will have what kind of scale, as well as strains which have arisen in the monitoring system, but has never been accurately predict the number of years too. Like weather forecasting, as short-impending difficulties." He sighed Road.
-snip-

China & Vietnam: Worried About the Next Few Months....

From Vietnam
March 3, 2010
excerpt

""Previous years, avian influenza appears in winter, cold weather. Also this year, avian influenza appears to prolonged hot and dry season. This suggests that influenza A/H5N1 virus strain variations, complicated development. Concern that avian influenza outbreaks occur in the former."
http://tinyurl.com/yg552r5



From China
A flow of a pandemic "may not" occur
2010-03-05
Source: Jinyang Wang - New Express (Guangzhou)

Zhong Nanshan: Southern from February to June a high incidence of influenza, the most worried about human transmission of new variant of

New Express News (Reporter YIN GUO Xiao-yan CHEN Qi-tin Liuzheng Xu Cao Jingjing Liao Ying-yi) Yesterday, the National People's Congress, Chinese Academy of Engineering academician Zhong Nanshan, told reporters sounded "alarm bells": influenza in southern China is the high season of February to 6 months, there are other mutations found in H3N2 influenza viruses are most worried about mixing the virus to generate new variants.

Zhong Nanshan said that the recent two months, the mainland accounted for influenza A flow ratio gradually decrease, A flow of a pandemic "may not" happen.

He said that last year, Hong Kong and the Mainland, was found in pigs in a stream of individual variants, and some are also resistant to Tamiflu, even in the end of last year also found that individual H5N1 (avian influenza); the same time, in southern China, including Hong Kong, In the February to June for the influenza season, the medical estimates of the A stream that currently the predominant influenza outbreak is unlikely, but there may be other influenza viruses mix, so this time should not relax their vigilance.
He said that although the show you will be seeing the virus variant does not pose any outbreak, but medical authorities most fear is the virus through the mixture to produce a new variant, with resistance, both human transmission characteristics, "This is the most afraid of. "
http://tinyurl.com/y9pwknf

WHO: Avian influenza – situation in Viet Nam - update 8

[All of which we already have here...they were posted as the events unfolded]

4 March 2010


The Ministry of Health has reported three new confirmed cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, including one fatality.

Two cases have been confirmed at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and one case has been confirmed at the Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh City.

The first case is a 3 year-old female residing in Ninh Hoa District, Khanh Hoa Province. She developed symptoms on 27 January 2010, and was hospitalized at Ninh Hoa district hospital on 28 January. She is recovering well. The source of exposure is currently under investigation. Her family raises chickens but did not report any mass poultry illness or death. However, Ninh Hoa District and Van Ninh District are currently being monitored because of recent H5N1 poultry outbreaks.

The second case was a 38 year-old female residing in Cai Be District, Tien Giang Province. She developed symptoms on 13 February 2010. The patient was admitted to the Sa Dec Hospital in Dong Thap Province on 21 February where she died on 23 February. An epidemiological investigation showed that the patient had slaughtered and processed sick water fowl.

The third case is a 17 year-old female residing in Son Duong District, Tuyen Quang Province. She developed symptoms on 19 February 2010 and was taken to the Son Duong District General Hospital on 24 February where she is currently being treated for mild breathing difficulties. Approximately, 10 days ago, there were unexplained deaths of chicken in the patient's household. She participated in the disposal of the dead poultry.

Of the 115 cases confirmed to date in Viet Nam, 58 have been fatal.

hat-tip Ironorehopper