Update on Yellow Fever Vaccine Availability

This information is current as of today, March 26, 2009 at 17:25

Updated: March 25, 2009

This statement is in follow-up to an earlier announcement from June 2008 regarding supply limitations of the yellow fever vaccine (YF-VAX®) manufactured by sanofi pasteur (Swiftwater, Pa.). The manufacturer has informed CDC that due to a minor production delay, ordering limits for both the single-dose and five-dose vials of YF-VAX® will remain in place. These ordering limits are expected to be in place until late spring or early summer 2009. As additional product becomes available, sanofi pasteur will adjust ordering limits accordingly.

As a reminder, according to the manufacturer’s package insert, all YF-VAX® must be used within one hour of reconstitution (both single-dose and five-dose vials). Clinics using the five-dose vials are advised to schedule patients to efficiently use the available vaccine doses within this one-hour timeframe.

Health-care providers should refer to Chapter 5: Yellow Fever Vaccine Requirements and Information on Malaria Risk and Prophylaxis, by Country in CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008 (the “Yellow Book”) for information about which countries require yellow fever vaccination for entry and for which countries CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination. In the absence of a country requirement, CDC does not recommend yellow fever vaccination if the traveler's itinerary does not include travel to a yellow fever-endemic area.

For further information, contact sanofi pasteur at 1-800-VACCINE (1-800-822-2463).

Russia bans imports from 3 US chicken plants

24 Mar 2009
Russian trade officials have announced that as of 27 March, it will stop receiving imports from several chicken processing plants in Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia, following the discovery of drug residue in chicken.
Inspectors have reportedly uncovered antibiotics and anti-parasitic drugs in chicken from a Sanderson Farms plant in Hammond, La., a Peco Foods facility in Canton, Miss., and a Tyson Foods plant in Cumming, Ga. All 3 companies are looking into these charges.

It was not known how long the bans will be in place.

"FSIS has requested information from Russia. We will then work with the establishments to determine if in fact the antibiotics and anti-parasitics were used and will then take appropriate actions," said a spokeswoman at USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Bryn Margaret Burkard.

Source: Reuters

Egypt declares 60th Bird Flu case

3/26/2009 9:28:00 PM

CAIRO, March 26 (KUNA) -- An Egyptian girl has been infected with the Bird Flu virus, bringing the number of these cases in the country to 60.

A spokesman of the Health Ministry said on Thursday Israa Abdel Shafi, aged two years and six months, was hospitalized in the province of Qina in southern Egypt.
The girl suffered from high fever and coughing after she mingled with dead birds suspected of bearing the virus. Her condition was described as stable after she given the required medications.
Egypt declared flare-up of the disease in February 2006. Up to 22 people had died as a result of the disease. (end) bna.rk KUNA 262128 Mar 09NNNN
hat-tip Niman

Disease feet, hands, mouth and avian influenza events complex in China and Egypt

[Out of Vietnam]


Disease feet, hands, mouth and avian influenza events complex in China and Egypt
The Chinese health for Disease feet, hands, mouth (HFMD) continues to place complexity in some localities in the country with two more cases of deaths due to disease.

Both victims were children in the city Ha Trach (Heze) Son Dong province, South East China. The first victim is a boy 7 years old, died at 22 / 3 at the Hospital of Infectious Diseases Ha Trach only 10 hours after hospitalization. The second victim 15 years old, died late 23 / 3 at the Hospital of the district the right to (Juancheng).
Department of Health Eastern Son sent the team of specialists to Ha Trach city to implement the service of emergency treatment, guiding people raise awareness and prevent disease outbreaks and prevent spreading.

Ministry of Health China, said the disease causes HFMD is infection by certain viruses Road bowel, which is the most common two types EV71 and Cox A16 (Coxsackievirus). Those infected often have HFMD symptoms such as mild fever, then appear nốt phồng the rop and sore in the mouth with the traces of your hands and feet. In the case of EV71 virus infection, patients often have more severe symptoms. If a child can lead to meningitis, inflammation of the brain, lungs and confess Poliomyelitis.

- The same day, the World Health (WHO) has confirmed a case of avian influenza infection in Egypt, raising the total number of people infected with H5N1 virus in this country since the epidemic of Bùng three months ago year to 59 people.

The patient is a woman 38 years old Elfath district, central Egypt, the capital of Cai-ro about 330 km south. Patients with manifestations of fever and headache on 14 / 3 and was hospitalized the same day. The patient had contact with sick birds, dead and test results showed that patients were infected with H5N1 virus.

Egypt is a foreign Asian people have died because of avian influenza highest. According to latest statistics by WHO, up to now has 412 people in 15 countries and territories around the world infected with H5N1 virus, in which 256 people died. /.

25 Areas in Jakarta susceptible to bird flu infection

March 26, 2009

Jakarta – Twenty-five kelurahan areas in Jakarta are known susceptible for bird flu. During 2005-2009, some bird flu infected human victims were occurred on those area, naming them as bird flu ‘red spot’ area.

Head of Health Control Division of Health Service DKI Jakarta, Ida Bagus Nyoman Banjar said that susceptible area for bird flu spreading is always changing. “Border area is very high risk’, says Banjar.

Banjar mentioned that within this year two of three bird flu positive victims had died. Bird flu positive case areas in 2009 are Kelurahan Pertukangan, South Jakarta; Kelurahan Penggilingan and Cakung Barat, East Jakarta.

Health Service data of 2005-2009 period showed 37 positive cases and 31 of them were fatal.

Bird flu case data (Health Regional Service)

- Year 2005: 8 positive, 7 fatal

- Year 2006: 11 positive, 10 fatal

- Year 2007, 8 positive, 7 fatal

- 2008, 7 positive, 5 fatal

- 2009, 3 positive, 2 fatal

Bird flu data according to Kelurahan (Area)

North Jakarta: 2005, Sunter Jaya.

West Jakarta: 2005, Meruya Utara; 2006, Kapuk, Kedaung kali Angke; 2007, Kali Deres, Rawa Buaya; 2008, Kali Deres.

South Jakarta: 2005 Bangka, North Petukangan, South Petukangan; 2006 North Petukangan, Ulujami, Pondok Pinang, Petogogan; 2007 Tegal Parang; 2008 Kebayoran Lama Utara, Gandaraia Utara; 2009 Petukangan.

East Jakarta: 2005 South Utan Kayu, Bambu Apus; 2006 East Pisangan, Rawa Bunga; 2008 Kayu Putih, Duren Sawit, Pulo Gebang; 2009 Penggilingan, Cakung

hat-tip: http://birdflucorner.wordpress.com/

The older brother was siblings Suspect Bird Flu

[From this article posted below]:

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The older brother was siblings Suspect Bird Flu

Toggletext:
"Not long afterward, tiba-arrived the brother-in-law's older brother Majid, Ikah, mengalami the same sign, that is flu and the high fever were accompanied breathless, was followed afterwards Aning, his brother. On Monday (23/3) around struck 02,00 WIB, both of them could not speak and his accomplice cramped."

Original:
Tidak lama kemudian,tiba-tiba kakak ipar Majid,Ikah,mengalami gejala yang sama, yakni flu dan demam tinggi disertai sesak nafas, disusul kemudian Aning, adiknya. Pada Senin (23/3) sekitar pukul 02.00 WIB, keduanya tidak bisa bicara dan kaki tangannya kejangkejang.

Dictionary:
Not long time after, [tiba-tiba: abruptly, all at once] older sibling brother-in-law Majid, Ikah, to experience symptom that are same, namely flu and fever high accompanied crowded breathing, followed afterwardds Aning, younger brother/sister. On Monday (23/3) around striking 02.00 WIB, both of them not able talk and [foot/lower leg] arm spasm.

Bird Flu suspect Died

Excerpt:

Pekanbaru (ANTARA News) - Wahyu Ibnu Saputra, child having the age two years yang menjadi suspect flu burung (avian influenza/AI) died dunia di RSUD Arifin Achmad, Kota Pekanbaru, demikian Koordinator Penanggulangan Flu Burung hospital above-mentioned, Azizman Saad, kepada ANTARA, Kamis.

Azizman said, Wahyu died after experienced breathless and could lose the awareness.

The life of casualties could not be rescued although six doctors tried optimal helped him.

Azizman explained, on Wednesday (25/3) conditions for casualties was still relative was good with the temperature of the body 36 levels celcius and the attraction of the breath 40 times per the minute, but on Wednesday night his condition descended drastic and finally died.

The revelation could be also treated in RS Ibnu Sina Pekanbaru for six days, before finally was reconciled to RSUD Arifin Achmad after being diagnosed as suspect bird flu.

However, RSUD did not yet confirm Wahyu's cause died as a result of being infected by the virus H5N1 the cause of bird flu because of must wait for results of the sample inspection to wipe off nose mucus and tengorokan from the Department's laboratory of the Health.

"We could not comment before accepting results" of the "lab inspection of the sample" of "casualties," he said.

Wahyu's body was buried in the funeral parlour that was located in the Pekanbaru City and was buried around struck 10,00 WIB
hat-tip Dutchy

The older brother was siblings Suspect Bird Flu

Garut (THE) – two older brothers beradik,Ikah,35,dan Aning, 30,warga the Factory Village of RT 01/12 the Village of Cintanagara,Kecamatan Cigedug,Kabupaten Garut, it was suspected was infected (suspect) the virus Avian influenza (AI). Currently, the two residents suspect this bird flu was treated intensive in the special room of the Daerah Public Hospital (RSUD) Dr Slamet Garut yesterday. Reconciled information that was assembled by SINDO from the family pasien,Ikah and Aning was run off with to RSUD Dr Slamet on Monday (23/3) around struck 02 00 WIB. Pihak Keluarga ran off with this brother and sister because his condition has been serious. Moreover several of his body parts, like foot and the hands already cramps, so as to be difficult to be moved.
-snip-

This sign was accompanied by difficult flu, breathless, the high fever, and could not have spoken again. To maintain the matter emergence that was not wanted, both of them were placed in special isolation space. ”Preceding was brought to the hospital, Ikah and Aning could be brought was checked to Dr Jonas's public in the Subdistrict Bayongbong, Garut, around struck 04,00 WIB (on Sunday). However according to the doctor Jonas, the illness that was suffered by Ikah and Aning immediately must be handled by the specialist doctor because according to him the illness was expected by bird flu and must be immediately handled secepatnya,” said relatives Ikah and Aning, Majid,34,saat was met THE in RSUD Slamet Garut yesterday. Majid explained, before the older brother and his brother were stated suspect flu burung,sekitar a week beforehand several tails of the chicken in the village belonging to the neighbour that be at a distance 50 metre from his house there are those that died suddenly.

Every few the day afterwards, his neighbour suddenly suffered the flu illness that was similar in the Ikah suffering and Aning, namely flu that was accompanied by the high as well as breathless fever. ” Awalnya they suspected is sick normally, therefore did not choose not memeriksakan himself to the community health centre or the doctor terdekat,” he said. Not long afterward, tiba-arrived the brother-in-law's older brother Majid, Ikah, mengalami the same sign, that is flu and the high fever were accompanied breathless, was followed afterwards Aning, his brother. On Monday (23/3) around struck 02,00 WIB, both of them could not speak and his accomplice cramped.

Was based on the team's medical inspection in RSUD Dr Slamet,ditemukan elements that headed to the infection AI.Tim medical decided that both of them were at once put into special isolation space. The Majid family did not suppose when the bird flu illness that was feared by the community will fall on his family's member. Uptil now his side had not maintained the chicken or the other poultry. Only, according to him, 50 metre from his house had the neighbour who maintained the chicken. ”Awal him I did not suppose will be serious like this, evidently the death of the chicken became one of the causes of the older brother and my brother cared for,” ujarnya. Moreover, in fact that contracted the difficult flu illness that was accompanied by the high fever in his house not only Ikah and Aning. There is one of the children Ikah, Yuyun, 8, that also took part in feeling the same indication.

However, because his condition was not as serious as Ikah and Aning, Yuyun at this time only underwent the normal maintenance in his house. The BP RSUD head Dr Slamet,dr Widjajanti Utojo, confirmed that at this time two patients suspect AI was undergoing the maintenance in Isolasi RSUD Space Dr Slamet. ” Saat Ini both of them have received the maintenance intensively in isolation space since Monday morning. We were still being waiting for results of the inspection laboratorium,” he said. (Dede ibin muhibbin)

Dịch tả pig reproduction in southern Russia

Cập nhật : 23/03/2009 16:29
Updated: 23/03/2009 16:29





.
Tả pig disease African Bùng continue in the area of the southern Stavropol Russia.
.
Tests on pigs at a farm in the village Kievka district Apanasenkovsky has confirmed the death is caused by pigs infected pigs and tả Africa. Until the present, about 50 pigs died due to disease in this region. Authorities have reported progress against all disease to spread.
Kievka village, about 189 farms raising pigs for a total of 2500 children. This area has been isolation to prevent disease spreading to neighboring villages. Ministry of emergency in Russia has a central control area in order to deal with the disease.
This is the time Bùng disease and African swine tả second in the region of Stavropol in 2009. In 1 / 2009, the type of virus causing the disease was discovered in the district Kursky. Then there are about 2,600 pigs were destroyed. And about 5,000 other pigs were extinct by the death or disease described in north Ossetia.

Thousands of poultries were destroyed in South Jakarta

The government of the Southern Jakarta City destroyed thousands of poultries to anticipate the spreading of the bird flu virus. Destroying caught died two pre-schoolers resident Kebayoran Lama result from bird flu. The extermination took place in the Wartas Field, Penang Kuningan, Kebayoaran Lama, on Wednesday (25/3). The poultry was results canvassing the official in 10 subdistricts in South Jakarta. Sweeping this poultry during the last three days. The poultry disembelih and was burnt. Poultry that was stated was infected by the virus H5N1. However the other healthy poultry but came from the location was infected continue to did not escape from the extermination.

David Nabarro: wearing more than one hat

© United Nations

Bird flu expert David Nabarro doubles duties

by Helena Bachmann

Geneva - 23 March 2009 10:59

With his hectic work schedule, Dr. David Nabarro is likely one of the busiest expats in Switzerland. His responsibilities as Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, as well as coordinator for the High Level Task Force on Global Food Security Crisis, take him all over the world, leaving very little time to enjoy the quiet life in the Geneva countryside.

A British physician and public health specialist who worked extensively in poverty-stricken regions and was once caught in a bombing in Iraq, Dr. David Nabarro is used to confronting difficult situations.

His latest responsibilities certainly fit that criterion because they combine two of the world’s major health and humanitarian problems: disease control and food security.

An eminent influenza expert, Nabarro has coordinated the United Nations efforts to prevent and control the spread of the “bird flu” virus since it had claimed its first human victims in 2004.

Although much progress has been made in the fight against the avian influenza, “we must remain vigilant so we are not caught by surprise if the virus should mutate,” he said.

That is, by any measure, a gargantuan task, but it did not stop Nabarro from accepting an additional UN mandate last December: that of coordinating the task force to ensure an effective response to global food security crisis.

With almost one billion people in the world’s poorest regions unable to purchase food or suffering from malnutrition, finding a solution to this pressing matter is of utter importance, he stressed, adding that Switzerland’s reaction to this crisis is heartening.

“The Swiss have empathy toward those who go to sleep hungry,” Nabarro told Swisster. “People here realize that world is a very small village and there’s interconnectivity between wealthy and poor societies. So the Swiss willingly give money to the UN, which is the best hope we have for the world.”

How does one person find time and energy to devote to both these crucial issues, giving each of them the attention they deserve? “I see this as an important opportunity to do something I had learned to do over the years – work in a coordinated and effective manner,” Nabarro said.

“It is not necessarily straightforward and often challenging, because getting all the parts of the machine working in synergy is a team effort,” he added. “Fortunately, I work with a lot of fantastic people.”

With his busy schedule and frequent travels, private time is at a premium, Nabarro said. Still, when he is home in Founex, he enjoys skiing, cycling, walking and running. “It is the most beautiful landscape and the people here are very nice,” he said. “It is an absolute privilege to be a guest in their country.”

He also takes pride in his UN mandate. “The work is quite exhausting,” he said. “But it gives me a lot of satisfaction.”

Amid avian flu outbreak, RP sets ban

Thursday, March 26, 2009

By Ira Karen Apanay, Senior Reporter The Department of Agriculture temporarily banned the entry of birds and poultry products from Japan and the Czech Republic following confirmed outbreaks of the Avian Influenza virus, or bird flu there. In separate directives issued on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the ban was imposed after official reports from the Office International des Epizooties or Animal Health Organization confirmed outbreaks of the dreaded bird flu in those countries. The ban covers “domestic and wild birds, and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen,” according to a statement. Yap noted that the Animal Health Organization had separately confirmed the occurrence of low pathogenic bird flu in a farm in Toyohashi City following a report by Japan’s International Animal Health Affairs Office of the Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau about the presence of the strain in that area. The Animal Health Organization reported that it had also confirmed the outbreak of low pathogenic bird flu in a farm in Hodonin Jihomo­ravsky in the Czech Republic. Staying flu-free In his directive, Yap said the ban and other emergency measures were necessary to protect public health and the Philippine poultry industry, which has remained free of bird flu ever since the outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain in Asia six years ago. ;) The Philippines, along with Brunei and Singapore, is the only bird-flu free countries in Southeast Asia. Yap directed quarantine officers and inspectors of the Agriculture department who are detailed at major airports and seaports across the country to stop and confiscate all shipments of live birds and poultry products into the country originating from Japan and the Czech Republic. He also ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Certificates for all imports covering these products from the banned countries. Idaho chickens safe Meanwhile, Yap lifted the ban on the imports of poultry products from the US state of Idaho after the Animal Health Organization validated the report of Dr. Stan Bruntz of that state’s National Surveillance Unit Epidemiologist that the bird flu had been eradicated in the area. Bruntz also reported to the Animal Health Organization that the cleaning and disinfecting of the affected premises in Payette County in Idaho were completed on October 29 and that ongoing surveillance has not detected any new cases of bird flu. In a memorandum order also on Wednesday, Yap said that based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry, the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from Idaho is “negligible.” The World Health Organization (WHO) had reported that as of March 23, there were 412 laboratory-confirmed cases of the bird flu and 256 fatalities from the disease since the H5N1 strain of the virus broke out in Southeast Asia in 2003. It had then spread across the rest of the continent, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Department of Agriculture in the Philippines has been setting up Community-Based Early Warning Systems in selected villages identified as in high risk of contracting the bird-flu virus as part of its continuing measures to keep the Philippines free of this animal disease. Under its Avian Influenza Protection Program, the Agriculture department has also implemented the Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training Program to strengthen the capacity of the field veterinary services, especially at the local level, in designing and managing disease surveillance, conducting outbreak investigation and effective outbreak containment measures. Thirteen local government veterinarians successfully graduated from the program on March 6. Besides these measures, 20 critical areas are under surveillance especially during the bird-migration season of October to February. The government has four avian influenza laboratories in the country—in Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City and San Fernando City in Pampanga.

Spanish Study Shows Vultures that Consume Carcasses of Livestock Treated with Antibiotics Have Compromised Health

Eating carcasses of livestock treated with antibiotics is wreaking havoc on the health of Spanish vultures, a new study carried out in Spain suggests. The researchers say that the practice of feeding vultures livestock carrion--although promoted by bird lovers--may actually threaten the species and should be ended.

Several studies in people and animals have hinted that overuse of antibiotics can suppress the immune system, and the researchers hypothesized that this happens in vultures as well.

Both the cellular and humoral immune systems of the central Spain vultures were suppressed, they found. Lab studies are needed to confirm that antibiotics cause the immune suppression...

Full article: http://www.organicconsumers.org/arti...icle_17344.cfm

Proceedings of The Royal Society
Cellular and humoral immunodepression in vultures feeding upon medicated livestock carrion
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.o...2009.0071.full
Hattip Mixin :)

Resident Indramayu Believed Suffer From Bird Flu

Kamis, 26 Maret 2009 3:01 WIB

Indramayu: A villager Mangun Jaya, Kecamatan Anjatan, of Indramayu, West Java, was expected terjangkit bird flu. He was run off with to the Daerah Indramayu Public Hospital after the fever and breathless protracted. Casualties Wawan, 33 years, were carried to the hospital on Wednesday night (25/3), after receiving the maintenance in the Anjatan Community Health Centre. He was placed in special observation space with the intensive maintenance from several doctors. The patient beforehand once direct contact with the chicken that died suddenly. It was not yet known whether the interaction that became his cause. The sample of the patient's blood has been sent to the Kesehatan Indramayu Service laboratory. The RSUD Indramayu team was still carrying out observation and did not yet confirm whether the positive patient was ill avian influenza. He was the assumption patient of third bird flu that was treated in RSUD Indramayu for 2009.
hat-tip Ironorehopper

Suspected virus kills a score of Peacock in Indore

India
Navda Pandha, Wed, 25 Mar 2009 ANI

Navda Pandha (MP), Mar 25 (ANI): Around twenty peacocks have died at a village near Mhow in Indore following outbreak of suspected virus.

Ten peacocks were found dead at Navda Pandha village while ten more dead peacocks were located in other parts of Indore distrct.

However, the concerned authorities claimed to have saved the lives of two peacocks by rushing them to the Government Veterinary College, Mhow.

Reportedly, these two peacocks are now out of danger.

A post mortem is being conducted on all the birds to determine the exact cause of the peacocks death.

"We are conducting the post mortem and once it is done on all the birds, then only we can come to any conclusion," said Dr. D K Garg, Professor of Pathology, Veterinary College, Mhow.

According to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Indore Range, consequent to this mishap, a close eye is being kept on birds and the water bodies have been chemically treated to prevent any virus from spreading.

"I went to the same village again and another case of peacock death has been reported, which means that the virus is still among the birds. We then added certain antibiotics in the water to prevent the peacock from dying further," said L Krishnamurthy, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Indore Range.

Meanwhile, it is believed that symptoms of Raniketh (an avian disease) have been found in some of the birds. (ANI)
Hattip Shiloh :)

Pharmaceuticals Found in Fish Across U.S.

Fish caught near wastewater treatment plants serving five major U.S. cities had residues of pharmaceuticals in them, including medicines used to treat high cholesterol, allergies, high blood pressure, bipolar disorder and depression, researchers reported Wednesday.

Findings from this first nationwide study of human drugs in fish tissue have prompted the Environmental Protection Agency to significantly expand similar ongoing research to more than 150 different locations.

"The average person hopefully will see this type of a study and see the importance of us thinking about water that we use every day, where does it come from, where does it go to? We need to understand this is a limited resource and we need to learn a lot more about our impacts on it," said study co-author Bryan Brooks, a Baylor University researcher and professor who has published more than a dozen studies related to pharmaceuticals in the environment.

A person would have to eat hundreds of thousands of fish dinners to get even a single therapeutic dose, Brooks said. But researchers including Brooks have found that even extremely diluted concentrations of pharmaceutical residues can harm fish, frogs and other aquatic species because of their constant exposure to contaminated water.

Brooks and his colleague Kevin Chambliss tested fish caught in rivers where wastewater treatment plants release treated sewage in Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Philadelphia and Orlando, Fla. For comparison, they also tested fish from New Mexico's pristine Gila River Wilderness Area, an area isolated from human sources of pollution.

Earlier research has confirmed that fish absorb medicines because the rivers they live in are contaminated with traces of drugs that are not removed in sewage treatment plants. Much of the contamination comes from the unmetabolized residues of pharmaceuticals that people have taken and excreted; unused medications dumped down the drain also contribute to the problem.

The researchers, whose work was funded by a $150,000 EPA grant, tested fish for 24 different pharmaceuticals, as well as 12 chemicals found in personal care products.

They found trace concentrations of seven drugs and two soap scent chemicals in fish at all five of the urban river sites. The amounts varied, but some of the fish had combinations of many of the compounds in their livers.

The researchers didn't detect anything in the reference fish caught in rural New Mexico.

In an ongoing investigation, The Associated Press has reported trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals have been detected in drinking water provided to at least 46 million Americans.

The EPA has called for additional studies about the impact on humans of long-term consumption of minute amounts of medicines in their drinking water, especially in unknown combinations. Limited laboratory studies have shown that human cells failed to grow or took unusual shapes when exposed to combinations of some pharmaceuticals found in drinking water.

"This pilot study is one important way that EPA is increasing its scientific knowledge about the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment," said EPA spokeswoman Suzanne Rudzinski. She said the completed and expanded EPA sampling for pharmaceuticals and other compounds in fish and surface water is part of the agency's National Rivers and Stream Assessment.
Hattip Alaska Denise :)

TB teacher infects 150 students

2009-3-25
MORE than 150 students and 20 teachers in northern Hebei Province school have been infected with pulmonary tuberculosis spread by a teacher.

Some parents have demanded compensation for their medical bills of 270 yuan (US$39.47) but the high school has refused to pay, Hebei Youth Daily reported today.

The school shouldn't pay the bill as the source of infection could not be confirmed, schoolmaster Wu Shengju said. However, the school will apply to the education authority for a subsidy.

Students in the third grade of the high school said their teacher often coughed and spat throughout the last semester. On February 6 the teacher told the school management by phone that he was suffering from TB.

The school arranged checkups for all the students in the two classrooms and found more than 40 students were infected. Further checkups showed another 106 students and more than 20 teachers had been infected but none of them had developed the full-blown disease. People infected with TB who have not developed the disease are not contagious.

All the infected students and teachers are back at school which now carries out routine disinfections throughout the campus.

Avian influenza is excluded. The cause of death of wild geese on the reservoir was Poisoning

March 25, 2009 g, 14:21


The statement was made head of the department of veterinary police to quarantine veterinary activities Edward Selegen. However, as it is poisoned birds, it is not clear. The final conclusions of the Commission will be known on 27 March

Remember, March 22 at the reservoir dam Krasnopavlovskogo were found the carcass of dead wild geese. On Monday, March 23, it became known that vodohranilitse found another 400 dead birds.

[Comments posted at site]

In Banten, 27 were killed resulting from Bird Flu [since 2005]

Selasa, 24 Maret 2009

Since 2005 till February 2009, at least 27 residents Banten were killed as a result of contracting the illness of Avian Influenza, or better known with the bird flu term. This number was recorded from 30 cases of bird flu that was confirmed, where the Tangerang Regency became the territory with the number of cases of bird flu was highest. That was revealed by Vice-Governor Banten, Moch Masduki in the Nasional Simulasi Tanggap Workshop of the Influenza Pandemic that was held selamam two days in the Sari Kuring Indah Cilegon Hotel, on Tuesday (24/03). According to the Deputy Governor, remembered the bird flu danger, the Banten Provincial Government really pay attention to and supported eradication efforts of this illness.

“Upaya that was carried out the Banten Provincial Government in part issued regulations that provided a basis for control efforts of the case of bird flu, that is Kepgub the number of 443.4/Kep.61-PUK/2007 about the Formation of the regional Commission of the Control of Bird Flu And Preparedness faced the influenza Pandemic in the Banten Province and Governor's Regulation the number 1 /2007 about the Ban on the Maintenance of the Poultry in the Settlement and the Control of the Illness Avian influenza (AI) to Humankind in the Province Territory Banten,” clear the Deputy Governor.

In relation to the workshop, the Deputy Governor hoped this agenda did not only discuss the AI pathogenesis until the pandemic happened, but more it was stressed how the awareness of the role and the action plan of each sector in accordance with the task and the function him was their respective. “Selain same went through this workshop could be made the momentum exchanged each other exchanged information, gave mutual input, increased knowledge, the co-ordination and the co-operation so as Banten preparedness in facing the possibility of the influenza pandemic could be reached in the level that memadai,” please the Deputy Governor.

In the meantime, delegation of Unicef West Java-Banten, Steve Aswir said, at this time the number of fatalities resulting from bird flu in Indonesia reached 119 people.

So, this workshop aimed at discussing problems that were urgent about the bird flu illness so as to be able to be dealt with carefully. “Selama this the spread of bird flu happened from the animal to the animal. But in the future was worried by his spread from humankind to humankind (the pandemic). This will be more again difficult for the government in menaggulangi him, because if someone was attacked by the bird flu virus then this person must diisolasi,” obviously him.

Aswir said the Pandemic was the form of the disaster but was different from the natural disaster like the tsunami, the earthquake and other. The striking difference the existence of the regional isolation and humankind in the pandemic, whereas the natural disaster was not received by the isolation.

In the opportunity, the Head {the Harian Executive Komnas FBPI, Dr. Emil gave the appreciation to the Banten Province that according to him already one step more advanced from the other province in the control of the spreading of the bird flu virus.

In one year of the Banten Province already eight times carried out the socialisation of the control of the bird flu illness, this in line with Komnas FBPI to destroy the bird flu virus from Indonesia. ”Kami also was grateful with the Government of the Banten Province that has bersinergi with Komnas FBPI,” said Emil.

Ukraine: Do the dead geese near Kharkov was not bird flu

24.03.2009 11:35

A dead goose Krasnopavlovskogo near the reservoir, Kharkiv region. не обнаружено вирусов птичьего гриппа и болезни Ньюкасла. not detected the avian influenza virus and Newcastle disease. Об этом заявил начальник управления ветеринарной медицины в Харьковской области Юрий Балым, ссылаясь на данные экспертизы. The statement was made by Head of Veterinary Medicine, Kharkiv, Yuri Balym, referring to the data examination.