[These 2 pdf files will be located on the right side-bar for reference in the future]
1. HPU CASE MANAGEMENT ALGORITHM
ALGORITHM FOR INVESTIGATION AND
MANAGEMENT OF POSSIBLE CASES OF SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY ILLNESS
ASSOCIATED WITH A NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
2. HPU CLOSE CONTACT OF CONFIRMED CASE FOLLOW UP ALGORITHM
ALGORITHM
FOR INVESTIGATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CLOSE CONTACTS OF CONFIRMED CASES
OF SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY ILLNESS ASSOCIATED WITH A NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1317136270914
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1317136270963
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Factbox: New virus can cause fever, cough, breathing problems
LONDON |
(Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a global alert about the emergence of a new virus that was previously unknown in humans and can cause a potentially fatal acute respiratory infection.
Here is an at-a-glance guide to the virus:
* The virus belongs to a family called coronaviruses and has so far been confirmed in only two cases globally. Both occurred between July and September 2012.
* The first case was in a 60-year-old man in Saudi Arabia and proved fatal. The second is in a 49-year-old Qatari man who recently visited Saudi Arabia. He had the infection diagnosed after travelling to London in early September.
* The WHO has not yet given the virus a name, but scientists at Britain's Health Protection Agency (HPA) refer to it as "London1_novel CoV 2012".
Continued:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/27/health-virus-factbox-idINDEE88Q08Q20120927
(Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a global alert about the emergence of a new virus that was previously unknown in humans and can cause a potentially fatal acute respiratory infection.
Here is an at-a-glance guide to the virus:
* The virus belongs to a family called coronaviruses and has so far been confirmed in only two cases globally. Both occurred between July and September 2012.
* The first case was in a 60-year-old man in Saudi Arabia and proved fatal. The second is in a 49-year-old Qatari man who recently visited Saudi Arabia. He had the infection diagnosed after travelling to London in early September.
* The WHO has not yet given the virus a name, but scientists at Britain's Health Protection Agency (HPA) refer to it as "London1_novel CoV 2012".
Continued:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/27/health-virus-factbox-idINDEE88Q08Q20120927
MOH Indonesia: Indonesian pilgrims and No Need to Worry Can Still Make Travel to Saudi Arabia
September 27, 2012
WHO is currently collecting information from the focal point of England, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KAS) and Qatar to determine the level / new coronavirus possible impact on public health of confirmed cases. Specifically, more information is required on how exposure / transmission, work and travel history to determine possible sources of infection or virus container.
It originated from the information given IHR focal point of United Kingdom on 22 September 2012, the WHO about one case of acute respiratory syndrome with history of renal failure with a trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
WHO has conducted a rapid assessment of risk, and there are currently no reports of acute respiratory syndrome with renal failure from other WHO member states. WHO requested that all National IHR Focal Point reported an abnormal increase in the number of patients admitted to the ICU with kidney failure and respiratory problems that can not be known cause. WHO case definition will be presented in the coming days.
The case is not yet a serious impact on public health. In the UK, all the contacts and healthcare workers who provide care, not sick or showing symptoms. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, there are no reports about the influx of patients to the ICU at the hospital.
Currently, there are no high risk that encourage the adoption of international travel or trade restrictions. KAS has increased surveillance in connection with the pilgrimage season and increased travel. WHO and health authorities of Saudi Arabia has yet to declare anything serious with respect to the new virus. Therefore there is no prohibition to visit the Middle East. That means, Indonesian pilgrims no problem and still can carry out a trip to Saudi Arabia.
So far no Indonesian pilgrims and also no pilgrims from any country affected by this new coronavirus infection. The data also showed the world no new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus that while this is called "London1_novel CoV 2012.". The virus is different from the coronavirus that causes SARS a few years ago.
Continued: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=id&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsehatnegeriku.com%2F
WHO is currently collecting information from the focal point of England, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KAS) and Qatar to determine the level / new coronavirus possible impact on public health of confirmed cases. Specifically, more information is required on how exposure / transmission, work and travel history to determine possible sources of infection or virus container.
It originated from the information given IHR focal point of United Kingdom on 22 September 2012, the WHO about one case of acute respiratory syndrome with history of renal failure with a trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
WHO has conducted a rapid assessment of risk, and there are currently no reports of acute respiratory syndrome with renal failure from other WHO member states. WHO requested that all National IHR Focal Point reported an abnormal increase in the number of patients admitted to the ICU with kidney failure and respiratory problems that can not be known cause. WHO case definition will be presented in the coming days.
The case is not yet a serious impact on public health. In the UK, all the contacts and healthcare workers who provide care, not sick or showing symptoms. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, there are no reports about the influx of patients to the ICU at the hospital.
Currently, there are no high risk that encourage the adoption of international travel or trade restrictions. KAS has increased surveillance in connection with the pilgrimage season and increased travel. WHO and health authorities of Saudi Arabia has yet to declare anything serious with respect to the new virus. Therefore there is no prohibition to visit the Middle East. That means, Indonesian pilgrims no problem and still can carry out a trip to Saudi Arabia.
So far no Indonesian pilgrims and also no pilgrims from any country affected by this new coronavirus infection. The data also showed the world no new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus that while this is called "London1_novel CoV 2012.". The virus is different from the coronavirus that causes SARS a few years ago.
Continued: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=id&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsehatnegeriku.com%2F
Saudi Arabia assures no outbreak of SARS during Hajj
2012-09-26 20:43:15
RIYADH, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia assured Wednesday that the
coming Hajj season will be safe from the outbreak of a virus from the
family of deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Spokesperson of the Saudi health ministry, Khaled Al-Mirghalani, told Arab News that there have been two recent cases of flu and this is normal.
The undersecretary for preventive medicine at the ministry, Ziyad Memish, said the virus "has been in the kingdom for three months," insisting that the situation is "stable and no new cases have been recorded."
Memish said the kingdom is not planning to impose new preventive measures on pilgrims.
Spokesperson of the Saudi health ministry, Khaled Al-Mirghalani, told Arab News that there have been two recent cases of flu and this is normal.
The undersecretary for preventive medicine at the ministry, Ziyad Memish, said the virus "has been in the kingdom for three months," insisting that the situation is "stable and no new cases have been recorded."
Memish said the kingdom is not planning to impose new preventive measures on pilgrims.
Editor:
Tang Danlu
CDC: Spread of Influenza Virus A (H5N1) Clade 2.3.2.1 to Bulgaria in Common Buzzards
October 2012
Excerpts:
On March 15, 2010, the carcass of a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) containing HPAIV (H5N1) was found at St. Konstantin and Helena Black Sea Resort in Bulgaria and submitted to the Regional Diagnostic Laboratory on Avian Influenza (Varna, Bulgaria). The virus was characterized as clade 2.3.2.1.
The 50% mouse lethal dose of A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 was 30 EID50 (EID50 of the virus was 109/mL). All 3 donor ferrets were shedding virus by day 5 postinfection; however, only 1 was still shedding virus by day 7 postinfection (Figure). Virus titers were not detected in the nasal washes of contact ferrets, indicating that A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 is not transmissible by direct contact or respiratory droplets. All ferrets used in this study were healthy during the experiment and showed no clinical signs of disease; they were alert, playful, and eating and drinking normally.
Compared with that of A/goose/Guangdong/1/96, the amino acid sequence of A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010s neuraminidase had a 20-residue deletion in the stalk region (residues 49–68), which was thought to be required for influenza viruses to adapt from wild aquatic birds to domestic chickens (24). This deletion causes a loss of the N terminal NQS glycosylation site (positions 50–52). Residues E119, H275, or N295 (N1 numbering) were not mutated, which suggests sensitivity to oseltamivir and zanamivir (25,26).
The M gene–encoded ORF of matrix (M) 1 protein consists of 252 aa, and that of M2 consists of 97 aa. Residues 26L, 27V, 30A, 31S, and 34G of M2’s transmembrane region indicate that A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 is an amantadine-sensitive strain (29).
To assess possible reassortment in the A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 genome, we performed phylogenetic analysis of the remaining genes using the same group of viruses that had been used to make the HA tree. In the N1, PB1, PB2, PA, NS, and NP phylogenetic trees, A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 clustered with the other subtype H5N1 viruses from clade 2.3.2.1 (data not shown). In the M gene tree, the Bulgarian subtype H5N1 virus clustered with the clade 2.3.4 subtypes from Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Shantou, and Hong Kong that were isolated in 2005, 2006, and 2008; all other subtype H5N1 viruses from clade 2.3.2.1 clustered in a separate group (Technical Appendix Figure
[PDF - 838 KB - 3 pages]). The evolutionary distance between the 2 groups of isolates in the M tree is long, indicating that the M gene of A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 originates from a non–clade 2.3.2 ancestor.
The day after we received the HPAIV (H5N1)–containing common buzzard
carcass, officials in Romania notified the OIE of an outbreak of an
HPAIV (H5N1) in Letea Village (Danube Delta); 47 backyard chickens were
found dead. These reports are considered to be the introduction of HPAIV
(H5N1) clade 2.3.2.1 into Europe. Furthermore, the European Reference
Laboratory on Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease (Weybridge, UK)
found that the HA gene sequence of the Bulgarian isolate is 99.9%
similar to that of the Romanian isolates from Letea Village (34), confirming that both viruses are derived from a common source, which is most likely wild birds.
Map of Buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 & OIE Report of Letea Village Backyard Chickens
Our results show that chickens are highly susceptible to influenza virus A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 (H5N1) and that the virus is highly pathogenic in them. Mammals appear not to be susceptible. Although buzzards can serve as intermediate hosts of HPAIV (H5N1) between migratory birds and poultry, the lack of gross pathologic findings in the buzzard carcass we examined indicates that the bird died shortly after infection. Thus, in this case, the buzzard could not have served as a reservoir of infection to spread the virus over a long distance. Additionally, the lack of poultry farms within 10 km of the area where the buzzard carcass was found may partially explain why no outbreak occurred. As part of a regular avian influenza surveillance plan, we tested 1,709 cloacal and fecal samples from mule ducks that were collected monthly during January 1, 2010–April 30, 2010, from 64 farms in 5 regions of Bulgaria (Plovdiv, Pazardjik, Stara Zagora, Haskovo, and Dobrich). No notifiable avian influenza viruses were isolated from any sample.
The potential of clade 2.3.2.1 HPAIV (H5N1) to cause an outbreak is heightened because vaccines currently in use do not efficiently protect poultry flocks from a strain of this clade that was recently identified in Vietnam (40). Now that clade 2.3.2.1 has spread to Europe, implementing active surveillance plans in all high-risk areas and monitoring the wild birds in the region will play key roles in early detection of incidences of HPAIV (H5N1) infection and in prevention of outbreaks. The expansion of the geographic distribution of HPAIV (H5N1) in wild birds and poultry and the virus’s repeated interspecies transmission to humans make this virus a substantial pandemic threat.
Full Document: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/18/10/12-0357_article.htm
Atanaska Marinova-Petkova, Georgi Georgiev, Patrick
Seiler, Daniel Darnell, John Franks, Scott Krauss, Richard J. Webby, and
Robert G. Webster
Abstract
On March 15, 2010, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was isolated from the carcass of a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) in Bulgaria. Phylogenetic analyses of the virus showed a close genetic relationship with influenza virus A (H5N1) clade 2.3.2.1 viruses isolated from wild birds in the Tyva Republic and Mongolia during 2009–2010. Designated A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010, this strain was highly pathogenic in chickens but had low pathogenicity in mice and ferrets and no molecular markers of increased pathogenicity in mammals. The establishment of clade 2.3.2.1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the H5N1 subtype in wild birds in Europe would increase the likelihood of health threats to humans and poultry in the region.
Excerpts:
On March 15, 2010, the carcass of a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) containing HPAIV (H5N1) was found at St. Konstantin and Helena Black Sea Resort in Bulgaria and submitted to the Regional Diagnostic Laboratory on Avian Influenza (Varna, Bulgaria). The virus was characterized as clade 2.3.2.1.
The 50% mouse lethal dose of A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 was 30 EID50 (EID50 of the virus was 109/mL). All 3 donor ferrets were shedding virus by day 5 postinfection; however, only 1 was still shedding virus by day 7 postinfection (Figure). Virus titers were not detected in the nasal washes of contact ferrets, indicating that A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 is not transmissible by direct contact or respiratory droplets. All ferrets used in this study were healthy during the experiment and showed no clinical signs of disease; they were alert, playful, and eating and drinking normally.
Compared with that of A/goose/Guangdong/1/96, the amino acid sequence of A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010s neuraminidase had a 20-residue deletion in the stalk region (residues 49–68), which was thought to be required for influenza viruses to adapt from wild aquatic birds to domestic chickens (24). This deletion causes a loss of the N terminal NQS glycosylation site (positions 50–52). Residues E119, H275, or N295 (N1 numbering) were not mutated, which suggests sensitivity to oseltamivir and zanamivir (25,26).
The M gene–encoded ORF of matrix (M) 1 protein consists of 252 aa, and that of M2 consists of 97 aa. Residues 26L, 27V, 30A, 31S, and 34G of M2’s transmembrane region indicate that A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 is an amantadine-sensitive strain (29).
To assess possible reassortment in the A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 genome, we performed phylogenetic analysis of the remaining genes using the same group of viruses that had been used to make the HA tree. In the N1, PB1, PB2, PA, NS, and NP phylogenetic trees, A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 clustered with the other subtype H5N1 viruses from clade 2.3.2.1 (data not shown). In the M gene tree, the Bulgarian subtype H5N1 virus clustered with the clade 2.3.4 subtypes from Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Shantou, and Hong Kong that were isolated in 2005, 2006, and 2008; all other subtype H5N1 viruses from clade 2.3.2.1 clustered in a separate group (Technical Appendix Figure
[PDF - 838 KB - 3 pages]). The evolutionary distance between the 2 groups of isolates in the M tree is long, indicating that the M gene of A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 originates from a non–clade 2.3.2 ancestor.Discussion
Map of Buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 & OIE Report of Letea Village Backyard Chickens
Our results show that chickens are highly susceptible to influenza virus A/common buzzard/Bulgaria/38WB/2010 (H5N1) and that the virus is highly pathogenic in them. Mammals appear not to be susceptible. Although buzzards can serve as intermediate hosts of HPAIV (H5N1) between migratory birds and poultry, the lack of gross pathologic findings in the buzzard carcass we examined indicates that the bird died shortly after infection. Thus, in this case, the buzzard could not have served as a reservoir of infection to spread the virus over a long distance. Additionally, the lack of poultry farms within 10 km of the area where the buzzard carcass was found may partially explain why no outbreak occurred. As part of a regular avian influenza surveillance plan, we tested 1,709 cloacal and fecal samples from mule ducks that were collected monthly during January 1, 2010–April 30, 2010, from 64 farms in 5 regions of Bulgaria (Plovdiv, Pazardjik, Stara Zagora, Haskovo, and Dobrich). No notifiable avian influenza viruses were isolated from any sample.
The potential of clade 2.3.2.1 HPAIV (H5N1) to cause an outbreak is heightened because vaccines currently in use do not efficiently protect poultry flocks from a strain of this clade that was recently identified in Vietnam (40). Now that clade 2.3.2.1 has spread to Europe, implementing active surveillance plans in all high-risk areas and monitoring the wild birds in the region will play key roles in early detection of incidences of HPAIV (H5N1) infection and in prevention of outbreaks. The expansion of the geographic distribution of HPAIV (H5N1) in wild birds and poultry and the virus’s repeated interspecies transmission to humans make this virus a substantial pandemic threat.
Full Document: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/18/10/12-0357_article.htm
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Blog Reorganization
Hi,
I did a bit of a reorganization of sorts here tonight. The right side-bar has been cleaned up, and will now represent the variety of influenza activity. I am hoping this will help my readers in their attempts to keep up with all the news. I'll provide up-to-date information on the right side-bar for your convenience. Thank you all for viewing.
Commonground
I did a bit of a reorganization of sorts here tonight. The right side-bar has been cleaned up, and will now represent the variety of influenza activity. I am hoping this will help my readers in their attempts to keep up with all the news. I'll provide up-to-date information on the right side-bar for your convenience. Thank you all for viewing.
Commonground
Ontario H1N1 Variant Influenza First Human Case
First pig-to-human transmission of H1N1 is confirmed
September 26, 2012
Excerpt:
Ontario has identified its first case of a human contracting the H1N1 virus from a pig.
The province's chief medical officer confirmed the case to the Toronto Star, but declined to say where the person lives.
The adult male is reportedly in critical but stable condition in an Ontario hospital. H1N1 is a variant influenza virus.
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/blog/morning_roundup/2012/09/first-pig-to-human-transmission-of.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search
September 26, 2012
Excerpt:
Ontario has identified its first case of a human contracting the H1N1 virus from a pig.
The province's chief medical officer confirmed the case to the Toronto Star, but declined to say where the person lives.
The adult male is reportedly in critical but stable condition in an Ontario hospital. H1N1 is a variant influenza virus.
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/blog/morning_roundup/2012/09/first-pig-to-human-transmission-of.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search
Spread of variant swine flu unlikely: officials
25/09/2012 10:07:00 PM
CTV Toronto
Health officials say they are monitoring a new kind of swine flu that landed an Ontario man in hospital, but the chances of the virus spreading are slim.
The province confirmed that an Ontario man contracted a strain of the H1N1 virus on Tuesday.
The man, who contracted the flu after having frequent and direct contact with pigs, is being treated in a southwestern Ontario hospital.
The strain affecting him is called variant H1N1, or H1N1v, meaning it's a strain of H1N1 swine flu that's made a leap into humans. The term variant is added to flu virus names when viruses that normally circulate among animals cause infections in humans.
Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said the case which was discovered by the province's health surveillance system is likely an isolated one.
"We know that there have been extensive contact investigations done and we have no infections even within close contacts," she said.
In an earlier statement King said the chances of variant virus spreading are slim.
"I would like to reassure Ontarians that this variant influenza virus rarely spreads from animals to humans. Subsequent human-to-human transmission is also rare," King said.
"I would also like to stress that this is not a food safety issue; the consumption of properly cooked pork continues to be safe. Proper cooking of meats, including pork, kills all bacteria and viruses."
Health Minister Deb Matthews stressed that hand washing and thorough cooking of pork would help protect people.
"It's very important that people wash their hands," she said. "This is not something you can get from eating pork, so cook your pork and enjoy it."
Officials say the fact that the strain was identified so quickly is proof that the province's surveillance system is working.
"Labs have become more sophisticated since H1N1 to pick out these very new types of virus," said infectious disease expert Dr. Neil Rau.
Since the strain was identified health officials have been hunting for other cases, but have so far not found any.
Officials say the strain is a distant cousin of the one that caused an H1N1 pandemic in 2009, but not the same one that passed from pigs to humans in the U.S. this past summer.
Some 300 people in the U.S. have been infected by that strain, which is an H3N2-variant. That strain has not been found in Canada.
A man in Missouri was also infected with a H1N1v virus this summer. It's not known if the Ontario and Missouri viruses are closely related.
King added that hand washing is the best way to prevent infections. She also said Ontarians should be sure to get their flu shot, to protect them from humans strains of flu.
With files from CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson and The Canadian Press
http://news.sympatico.ctvnews.ca/local/on/spread_of_variant_swine_flu_unlikely_officials/81ee36fd
H1N1 variant influenza virus - Investigating an illness
September 25, 2012
The Public Health Agency of Canada is assisting the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in investigating a Canadian case infected with an H1N1 variant influenza A virus. This virus is genetically similar to a virus that is found in swine.
The public health risk is considered low, as there has been no evidence so far to support that this virus would be able to spread from person to person. It is not the same virus that caused the pandemic in 2009.
The Agency's National Microbiology Laboratory positively identified the virus by testing samples from the affected person.
The Agency is also assisting by notifying international partners through an established standard process under the International Health Regulations.
More information about the investigation into this case of illness is available through the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is assisting the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in investigating a Canadian case infected with an H1N1 variant influenza A virus. This virus is genetically similar to a virus that is found in swine.
The public health risk is considered low, as there has been no evidence so far to support that this virus would be able to spread from person to person. It is not the same virus that caused the pandemic in 2009.
The Agency's National Microbiology Laboratory positively identified the virus by testing samples from the affected person.
The Agency is also assisting by notifying international partners through an established standard process under the International Health Regulations.
More information about the investigation into this case of illness is available through the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
.
Ukraine: State Sanitary Service Predicts Influenza And ARVI Incidence Rate To Grow In November
September 26, 2012
The State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service predicts that the influenza and acute respiratory viral infections incidence rate will grow in November, agency chairman, Anatolii Ponomarenko, has told a news briefing.
"There are preliminary forecasts on the incidence rate scaling up in November. An early wave is not planned in October, which we had judging from the monitoring experience," he said.
Ponomarenko remarks, at the moment the situation in the country regarding the influenza and ARVI incidence rate is stable, manageable and controllable.
In his turn, deputy minister of healthcare Oleksandr Tolstanov characterised preparedness of medical institutions for the epidemiological season.
"The system of medical institutions and the system of sanitary and epidemiological stations, their laboratories is absolutely ready for the possibility of both definition of virus type and of rendering appropriate level of aid patients need," he said.
Besides, as to Tolstanov, they arranged a reserve of beds for patients, more than 30,000 for today, for probable breakout of incidence.
Apart from this, in his words, they compiled and approved a list of medications that must be available at medical treatment facilities.
Tolstanov underlines, more than 12 million packs of medicines are now in the retail chains, required for provision of medical aid in cases of acute respiratory viral infections, including more than 2.7 million packs of vaccines.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Healthcare Ministry predicted incidence rate of acute respiratory viral infections in the 2011/12 epidemiological season of more than 8 million people.
The Healthcare Ministry expects influenza incidence rate to grow from November in the 2011/12 epidemiological season.
The 2010/11 epidemiological season brought 20 lethal cases of influenza and ARVI (there was no epidemy), while the 2009/2010 season 1,126 (there was an epidemy).
Ukraine Readies Itself For New Strain of Influenza
Ukraine expects new strain of influenza
Circulation of a new strain of influenza Victoria is expected in Ukraine in the coming autumn-winter period, deputy health minister Oleksandr Tolstanov told a briefing after the Cabinet meeting, ForUm correspondent reports.
Tolstanov noted that health facilities are ready for the coming epidemiological season.
"Provision of beds amounts to more than 30 thousand. Pharmacies have already received more than 12 million packages of drugs against acute respiratory infections including 2.7 packages of vaccines," the deputy minister said.
According to him, the vaccines in pharmacies will cost 50-75 UAH.
Partial genetic sequence information for scientists about the Novel Coronavirus 2012
Phylogenetic tree constructed with partial sequences from the polymerase gene (nsp12) of representative coronaviruses from different groups is displayed in the attached Figure.
The sequence obtained at HPA has been tentatively named as London1_novel CoV 2012 (boxed in red). The HPA sequence data is based on direct detection from clinical material from the London case. HPA do not yet have a virus isolate. There will shortly be a GENBANK accession number for the sequence. The attached phylogenetic tree is considered preliminary, as is virus nomenclature, and liable to change as more information or a virus isolate becomes available.
You may download the fasta file (as a zip file) from the link below:
http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/RespiratoryViruses/NovelCoronavirus/respPartialgeneticsequenceofnovelcoronavirus/
You may download the fasta file (as a zip file) from the link below:
London1 novel CoV 2012 nsp12 (partial) (ZIP Archive, 330 byte)
Last reviewed: 25 September 2012
http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/RespiratoryViruses/NovelCoronavirus/respPartialgeneticsequenceofnovelcoronavirus/
CIDRAP: UK agency picks name for new coronavirus isolate
Robert Roos 
News Editor
News Editor
Sep 25, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – As the investigation of two severe
illnesses associated with a novel coronavirus continued today, the
United Kingdom's Health Protection Agency (HPA) released a preliminary
phylogenetic tree for the virus and tentatively named it "London1_novel
CoV 2012."
As reported previously, the virus has been identified in a
49-year-old Qatari man who is in a critical care unit in a London
hospital and in a 60-year-old Saudi Arabian man who died in July in his
home country. Both cases involve pneumonia and kidney failure, and the
Qatari man had traveled to Saudi Arabia before he got sick.
In 2003, a then-novel coronavirus caused the SARS (severe acute
respiratory syndrome) outbreak, which killed 774 people worldwide. Other
coronaviruses are linked to the common cold.
The phylogenetic tree, constructed from partial sequences from the
polymerase gene of various coronaviruses, shows that the new one is
closely related to bat coronaviruses. The HPA also released the partial
sequence for the virus's polymerase gene.
In other developments, the European Centre for Disease Prevention
and Control (ECDC) said today the available information suggests that
the current risk associated with the new virus is low.
Noting that there has been no sign of human-to-human transmission,
the agency said, "The newly identified coronavirus is not genetically
similar to the SARS coronavirus and does not signal the start of a new
SARS outbreak."
Also today, the World Health Organization (WHO) commented via
Twitter that the kidney failure reported in both patients infected with
the new virus is a "unique feature" of the infection.
In addition, late today the WHO released an update and an interim
case definition to help countries be on guard against the new virus. On
the basis of the cases so far, the definition includes criteria for "a
patient under investigation," a probable case, and a confirmed case,
using clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory variables. The update said
no new cases were identified today.
And in Hong Kong, the region's Hospital Authority said that a
previously reported cluster of coronavirus-related respiratory illnesses
in Castle Peak Hospital was caused by a known coronavirus. The cases
occurred in a "female long-stay ward" and are due to human coronavirus
NL63, a strain that usually causes mild respiratory illness such as the
common cold, the agency said in a statement.
See also:
Sep 25 HPA statement showing phylogenetic tree
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/other/sars/news/sep2512corona.html
Indonesia: Chicken Husbandry Department Samarinda Find Ketawa Positive Bird Flu
September 23, 2012
Department of Fisheries and Livestock of Samarinda weekend again find poultry (chicken) were positive for the bird flu virus.
The findings were originally known from the reports of the Animal Husbandry Department had reported that chickens died suddenly. After the officer down checking spaciousness, and perform rapid test (rapid test), was one of seven chickens owned by a resident of Jl Bungtomo Sei Keledang Samarinda was positively infected with bird flu.
"Last week in the Sei Keledang Jl Bungtomo Samarinda Seberang, we find a positive laughter chicken bird flu, according to results of rapid tests that we do," said Jumianti, Head of Animal Health and Livestock Fisheries Samarinda to the Tribune, Sunday (23 / 9/2012).
According Jumianti, chicken coop bird flu that we have isolated, while 7 chickens had been culled.
"Poultry cages were empty and we had our isolation. During one month of the cage can not be used and needs to be cleaned by spraying disinfectant on a regular basis," said Jumianti.
Said to him, the Animal Husbandry Department officials have done spraying disinfectant on chicken coop belonging to the bird flu and in a chicken coop belonging to others around them.
Asked about the cause of the bird flu virus in chickens are laughing? He said it was likely that brought laughter chicken owners outside Samarinda.
"We have not had time yesterday to ask the owner, he bought a chicken laugh from, but probably from outside Kaltim" he said.
He appealed to the citizens to immediately report to the Department of Animal Husbandry through local RT or RW if found chickens that died suddenly, so that the Animal Husbandry Department immediately check whether the chickens are infected with bird flu or not.
"Animal Husbandry Department officer will act quickly if there are reports of people," he said.
Added Jumianti, the case of chickens that died suddenly suspected of contracting bird flu in Dublin this year is somewhat reduced compared to previous years.
Up to September this year, the number of chickens that died suddenly reported only about 50 birds.From the report, which was positively infected with bird flu is only a part, as well as chickens owned by residents in Sei laughed Keledang, it stated piositif bird flu.
Indonesia: Samarinda - Dangerous Disease Control Simulation
September 25, 2012
tribunkaltim / nevrianto hp tribunkaltim / nevrianto hp
tribunkaltim / nevrianto hp tribunkaltim / nevrianto hp
SAMARINDA, tribunkaltim.co.id - Port Health Team led both ship's (ABK) are infectious diseases AI out of the ship Queen Soya special evacuation to the tent as Public Health Emergency Response Simulation Of International Concern (PHEIC) in the port of Samarinda, Tuesday (25/9). Health teams are also taking action infusion. Simulation is witnessed PHEIC sub head of the Directorate General of Health Quarantine (Karkes) Directorate General of Environmental Control (DG and PL) Ministry of Health, Dr. Zahimir Setiawan, Vice Mayor Ishmael Nusyirwan Samarinda Samarinda Bay Head Adpel M Hasani, Representative kppp.
Indonesia: Simulation - Samarinda 2 Crew Aboard ABK Queen Soya Suspected #H5N1 #Birdflu
Two crew KM Quen Soya "Suspect" Bird Flu
September 25, 2012
Two Queen Soya crew who had been due to depart from the Port of Samarinda towards Pare-pare flui suspected infected birds were found on Tuesday (25/9).
That day the ship will depart and have begun to increase passenger and freight activities.
But 3 hours prior to departure suddenly get a report from the agency posts that get a report from the Master Vessel that two crew boats are sick.
Following the post got the information from agents, officers Port Health Office (KKP), which is in the post immediately contacted the captain to seek infomasi about the symptoms of the two people who are sick crew.
Because the disease is similar to ABK pandemic disease, then the Dublin Port Office stating KM ship Queen Soya temporarily not allowed to get out of the Samarinda, and must remain in place to wait for the examination and investigation of the officer CTF.
Suddenly the atmosphere is inviting noise from passenger which will set out on the edge of the dock.
They asked the ticket is refundable if the ship did not depart.
Chief Administrator Office of the harbor (Ka Adpel) as a responsible authority in the port of Samarinda immediately ordered the Rapid Response Team command post for immediate action.
Ports in the region immediately tighten vigilance.
Tim Verification ensures that two crew was suspected.
After that, the officer Immigration, Customs and Quarantine farm further examination on board the ship, using the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) exhaustive.
The medical team declared that suspects need to be reconciled in hospitals AWS.
The medical team in the tent to report to the command post to contact AWS for the preparation of a referral hospital.
Meanwhile, due to ship in quarantine it can not do the activities of people and goods up and down a passenger who had entered the ship became restless and afraid of contracting an infectious disease influenza type new, they demanded to be lowered from the ship, the ship demo, passenger anxiety began to subside after the CTF team and security team of Unity Port Security Administrator (KP3) and the Marine and Coastal Unity Babysitting (KPLP) gives verbal comprehension.
With the fret board community particularly the Passenger Vessel will rise, and ojeg Street vendors who have worked in the port area, because they are forced to enter the restless harbor area.
The situation can be controlled after the team provide a thorough understanding of the circumstances that happen to people. scenes Simulations That's part of public health emergency response is troubling the world (PHIEC) in the port of Samarinda.
WHO: Case Definition for Case Finding Severe Respiratory Disease associated with NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
Interim case definition as of 25 September 2012
Patient under investigation:
Clinical definition:
A person with acute respiratory syndrome which may include fever (≥ 38°C , 100.4°F) and cough• requiring hospitalization
OR
• with suspicion of lower airway involvement (clinical or radiological evidence of consolidation)
not explained by any other infection or any other aetiology.
AND
Epidemiological criteria:
Close contact* within the last 10 days before onset of illness• with a probable or confirmed case of novel coronavirus infection while the case-contact was ill
OR
• travel to or residence in an area** where infection with novel coronavirus has recently been reported or where transmission could have occurred.
Probable Novel Coronavirus Case:
A person fitting the clinical definition AND epidemiological criteria above but no laboratory confirmation.Confirmed Novel Coronavirus Case:
A person with laboratory confirmation of infection with the novel coronavirus.* Close contact is defined as:
• Anyone who provided care for a confirmed or probable case including HCW and family members in a health care setting or in the community.• Anyone who stayed at the same place (e.g. lived with, visited) as a probable or confirmed case while they have been symptomatic.
• Anyone with significant casual exposure with the patient such as sitting nearby in a classroom, sharing a taxi, sitting close by on an airplane.
** Area where infection with novel coronavirus where transmission could have occurred:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar (as of 25 September 2012)http://www.who.int/influenza/case_definition_NovelCoronavirus_20120925/en/index.html
WHO: Novel coronavirus infection - update
25 September 2012 -
As of 25 September 2012, no additional cases of acute respiratory syndrome with renal failure due to infection with a novel coronavirus have been reported to WHO. WHO is continuing investigations into two recently confirmed infections identified as a novel coronavirus. Today WHO issued an interim case definition to help countries strengthen health protection measures against the new virus.
The case definition, based on the cases so far, includes criteria for identifying a ‘patient under investigation’, a ‘probable case’ and a ‘confirmed case’. These criteria are based on clinical, epidemiological and laboratory indicators.
Following the confirmation of the novel coronavirus, WHO - under the International Health Regulations - immediately alerted all its Member States about the virus and has been leading the coordination and providing guidance to health authorities and technical health agencies. WHO is also identifying a network of laboratories that can provide expertise on coronaviruses for countries.
On 22 September 2012, the United Kingdom (UK) informed WHO of a case of acute respiratory syndrome with travel history to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Qatar.
The case is a previously healthy, 49 year-old male Qatari national that presented with symptoms on 3 September 2012 with travel history to KSA several days prior to onset of illness. On 7 September he was admitted to an intensive care unit in Doha, Qatar. On 11 September, he was transferred to the UK by air ambulance from Qatar. The Health Protection Agency of the UK (HPA) conducted laboratory testing and subsequently confirmed the presence of the novel coronavirus.
The HPA compared the sequencing of the virus isolate from the 49 year-old Qatari national with that of a virus sequenced previously by the Erasmus University Medical Centre, Netherlands. This latter isolate was obtained from lung tissue of a fatal case earlier this year in a 60 year-old Saudi national. This comparison indicated 99.5% identity, with one nucleotide mismatch over the regions compared.
Though it is a very different virus to SARS, given the severity of the two confirmed cases so far, WHO is engaged in further characterizing the novel coronavirus. As such, international efforts are being stepped up across all WHO six regions to ensure an appropriate and effective response with a WHO specialist team in daily contact with more than a dozen international and regional technical partners.
In addition WHO is working closely with KSA, as in previous years, to support the country’s health measures for all visitors participating in the Haji pilgrimage to Mecca next month.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2012_09_25/en/index.html
As of 25 September 2012, no additional cases of acute respiratory syndrome with renal failure due to infection with a novel coronavirus have been reported to WHO. WHO is continuing investigations into two recently confirmed infections identified as a novel coronavirus. Today WHO issued an interim case definition to help countries strengthen health protection measures against the new virus.
The case definition, based on the cases so far, includes criteria for identifying a ‘patient under investigation’, a ‘probable case’ and a ‘confirmed case’. These criteria are based on clinical, epidemiological and laboratory indicators.
Following the confirmation of the novel coronavirus, WHO - under the International Health Regulations - immediately alerted all its Member States about the virus and has been leading the coordination and providing guidance to health authorities and technical health agencies. WHO is also identifying a network of laboratories that can provide expertise on coronaviruses for countries.
On 22 September 2012, the United Kingdom (UK) informed WHO of a case of acute respiratory syndrome with travel history to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Qatar.
The case is a previously healthy, 49 year-old male Qatari national that presented with symptoms on 3 September 2012 with travel history to KSA several days prior to onset of illness. On 7 September he was admitted to an intensive care unit in Doha, Qatar. On 11 September, he was transferred to the UK by air ambulance from Qatar. The Health Protection Agency of the UK (HPA) conducted laboratory testing and subsequently confirmed the presence of the novel coronavirus.
The HPA compared the sequencing of the virus isolate from the 49 year-old Qatari national with that of a virus sequenced previously by the Erasmus University Medical Centre, Netherlands. This latter isolate was obtained from lung tissue of a fatal case earlier this year in a 60 year-old Saudi national. This comparison indicated 99.5% identity, with one nucleotide mismatch over the regions compared.
Though it is a very different virus to SARS, given the severity of the two confirmed cases so far, WHO is engaged in further characterizing the novel coronavirus. As such, international efforts are being stepped up across all WHO six regions to ensure an appropriate and effective response with a WHO specialist team in daily contact with more than a dozen international and regional technical partners.
In addition WHO is working closely with KSA, as in previous years, to support the country’s health measures for all visitors participating in the Haji pilgrimage to Mecca next month.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2012_09_25/en/index.html
Monday, September 24, 2012
Bird Flu Outbreaks Reported Around China
September 24, 2012
Outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza, better known as bird flu, have occurred across China this year.
Information on bird flu’s spread in China was made public in January in a Hong Kong health report to the World Health Organization (WHO), saying that China was one of the 15 affected countries in the world with 18 provinces and cities experiencing H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks. Now, the Guangdong Province Department of Agriculture has also admitted that there is an outbreak.
A 2-year-old boy from Hong Kong contracted bird flu in early June as confirmed by the Department of Health in Hong Kong. A duck sample from Jiangnan Market in the Haizhu District of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, where the boy had visited in mid-May, was tested positive for the H5N1 virus. Samples from another market in the same district also tested positive, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Guangdong Province.
Continued: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/china-news/bird-flu-outbreaks-reported-around-china-295921.html
Outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza, better known as bird flu, have occurred across China this year.
Information on bird flu’s spread in China was made public in January in a Hong Kong health report to the World Health Organization (WHO), saying that China was one of the 15 affected countries in the world with 18 provinces and cities experiencing H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks. Now, the Guangdong Province Department of Agriculture has also admitted that there is an outbreak.
A 2-year-old boy from Hong Kong contracted bird flu in early June as confirmed by the Department of Health in Hong Kong. A duck sample from Jiangnan Market in the Haizhu District of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, where the boy had visited in mid-May, was tested positive for the H5N1 virus. Samples from another market in the same district also tested positive, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Guangdong Province.
Continued: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/china-news/bird-flu-outbreaks-reported-around-china-295921.html
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