To prepare the poor Pemprov fund Rp 12.2 M

Minggu, 04 Januari 2009
Excerpt:
Jebres (Espos) Health Department of the provincial government (Pemprov) Central Java in 2009, menggelontorkan funds worth Rp 12.2 billion for the poor mengcover that is not listed on the public health insurance (Jamkesmas) from the central government.

Funds are distributed to seven local general hospitals (hospitals), which are under the Pemprov Central Java.
The seven hospitals was RSUD Dr. Moewardi Solo, Purwokerto RSUD Margono, RSUD Jepara, Semarang Tegalrejo hospitals, Hospital Regional Life (RSJD) Solo, RSJD Semarang and Klaten RSJD. The statement was delivered Dinkes Jateng, Dr Hartanto M Med Sc Espos found time in between the event visit to Dr. Moewardi RSUD Solo, Saturday (3 / 1).
-snip-
He also explained, at this time a number of issues that still the main PR Pemprov Central Java is still found many children of poor nutrition, bird flu or avian influenza (AI), dengue fever and dengue (DBD). According to him, other than the issue of sustainability is vulnerable to human life, are also vulnerable as a political commodity to topple the government.
-snip-

Vietnam: Information on avian influenza outbreaks, and disaster LMLM green on 02/01/2009

Information on avian influenza outbreaks, and disaster LMLM green on 02/01/2009
Written by: Office epidemiology
Department of Animal Health would like to inform the HPAI, and lo mồm long móng and blue ear pig disease as follows:
I. SITUATION ON

1. HPAI

On no outbreak reported from the provinces.

Currently, the country is Thai Nguyen HPAI not last 21 days.

2. Foot Lot mồm long móng

On no outbreak reported from the provinces.

Currently, the country is the province of Nghe An (12 days) have not LMLM last 21 days.

3. Translation on green pigs

In days, no outbreak reported from the provinces.

Currently, both countries have successfully controlled blue ear disease.

II. The preventive

Leaders of Department of Animal Health, the Animal italy region is guiding, supporting the prevention of outbreaks in the local. /.

Hanoi still safe with HPAI

03/01/2009 07:08


Spray detergent, the chuồng hygiene for poultry farms (the only photo illustrations)

(HNMO) - This is confirmed by Tran Manh Giang, Department Director Its italy Hanoi, after the information on HPAI Bùng play again occurred in Thai Nguyen in the final in 2008.

Also according to Mr. Giang, in the last months of 2008 more time to switch to winter, many changes, easy to cause disease. With the guidance of the Department of Agriculture - Rural Development and People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the last time Hanoi has strengthened against the disease, the disease for cattle and poultry. Specifically were vaccinated for H5N1 additional hundreds of thousands of birds turn, enhance chuồng farm hygiene, animal quarantine and control of slaughter, not to the disease from spreading elsewhere in Hanoi. Therefore, from this month to Hanoi found avian influenza H5N1.


Most recently in transcendent, Ta Thanh Oai, Thanh Tri although new phenomenon occurred a pigs all died out, but after investigation has verified the cause of pigs died on us, not with disasters green as a cutter's Animal ... italy Hanoi to check for now and destroys 5 swine diseases.

Also, the Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture - Rural Development), until now, outside the Thai new Bùng return of flu is not detected any more local happen avian influenza.
Quang Anh

Unified commands adjust responsibilities

Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 9:40 AM CST

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President George W. Bush has signed an updated unified command plan that codifies U.S. Africa Command, shifts responsibility for parts of the Caribbean Sea to U.S. Northern Command and assigns cyberspace and pandemic influenza missions to other combatant commanders.

The revised plan, which Bush signed Dec. 17, is the key strategic document that spells out the missions, responsibilities and geographical boundaries of each functional and geographic combatant command within the U.S. military, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman explained.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Joint Staff led the review process, with input from every combatant commander and service chief and much of the Defense Department leadership.

Mullen submitted the plan through Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to the president for final approval, officials said. Congress received notice of the revisions Dec. 22.

Major changes to the plan include:

n Codifying AFRICOM, which became fully operational-capable Oct. 1, as a geographic combatant command by assigning specific missions, responsibilities and geographic boundaries.

n Shifting the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands from U.S. Southern Command's to U.S. Northern Command's area of responsibility.

n Assigning every combatant commander responsibility for planning and conducting military support for stability, security, transition, reconstruction operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

n Assigning central planning authorities for several global missions, including pandemic influenza response, cyberspace operations, global operations against terrorist networks, combating weapons of mass destruction and global missile defense.

n Codify U.S. Pacific Command's responsibility for homeland defense operations in Hawaii, Guam and other U.S. territories within its area of responsibility.

The plan codifies a new "pandemic influenza" mission and tasks NORTHCOM to plan departmentwide efforts in support of the U.S. government response to an outbreak. U.S. Strategic Command is assigned responsibility for the department's cyberspace mission, Whitman said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Special Operations Command is assigned responsibility for global operations against terrorist networks, and STRATCOM becomes responsible for combating weapons of mass destruction and global missile defense.

"This is a new concept," Whitman said of the synchronized global planning construct. "What it means is the assignment of responsibilities to a single coordinator to coordinate missions that exceed the responsibility of any one commander."

The new document is the first unified command plan to assign all combatant commanders responsibility for missions ranging from stability operations to humanitarian and disaster relief. The goal, Whitman explained, is to give added emphasis on these areas to head off problems "before they reach crisis proportions."

"If all the combatant commanders are out there conducting stability operations, this can have the effect of strengthening governance and really preventing the creation of these ungoverned spaces ... that are troublesome and are used as safe havens for terrorist activities," he said.

The realignment of NORTHCOM's boundary is designed to improve the department's effectiveness in its homeland defense and support to civil authorities missions, officials said. The revision follows Gates' decision in August 2007 to task NORTHCOM to provide civil support if requested by the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico in the event of a natural disaster.

Meanwhile, assignment of the cyberspace mission to STRATCOM recognizes cyberspace as a warfighting domain critical to joint military operations, officials said. The revised unified command plan will give new emphasis to this capability, they said, ensuring it is protected, defended and leveraged for the United States.

Fog clouding respiratory tracts in city

3 Jan 2009, 0441 hrs IST, Shimona Kanwar, TNN

CHANDIGARH: The winter air is thick with breathing problems for city residents, say doctors. Low temperature leading to foggy weather has activated the respiratory syncytial virus, which causes lung infections leading to pneumonia. Doctors at PGI have been receiving twice the number of breathing-related cases as compared to the previous year. Official data shows that the hospitals emergency received an average of four pneumonia cases per day in the month of December, as compared to two per day during the same period last year. During the other seasons, the facility receives 3-4 cases of pneumonia per week among adults. Information from Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, shows a 15% rise in the number of breathing-related cases this season as compared to the previous year. There were 863 respiratory tract cases at the hospital in November, while their number rose to 1,203 in December. Head of pulmonary medicine at PGI SK Jindal said the body tended to lose heat at a faster rate during winter. Pneumonia accounts for 25% of the patients with respiratory problems, he noted. Government Multispecialty Hospital, Sector 16, has been receiving 60 cases of pneumonia per day among children of age 5 years and less. Pneumonia-causing microbes become active during winters and are easily transmitted in overcrowded places. The lining of the respiratory passage mucosa gets damaged due to exposure to the cold, which lowers immunity, said Deepak Chawla of GMCH-32s department of paediatrics. Consume supplements like vitamin A, zinc and iron. High calorie food should be taken in moderate quantities, said Meenu Singh, who specializes in treating pulmonary disorders among children at PGI. -snip-

Bugging mosquitoes to fight dengue

3 Jan 2009, 0026 hrs IST, AP

WASHINGTON: Old mosquitoes usually spread disease, so Australian researchers figured out a way to make the pests die younger - naturally, not poisoned.

Scientists have been racing to genetically engineer mosquitoes to become resistant to diseases like malaria and dengue fever that plague millions around the world, as an alternative to mass spraying of insecticides.

A new report on Friday suggested a potentially less complicated approach: Breeding mosquitoes to carry an insect parasite that causes earlier death. Once a mosquito encounters dengue or malaria, it takes two weeks of incubation before the insect can spread that pathogen by biting someone, meaning older mosquitoes are the more dangerous ones.

The Australian experts knew that one type of fruit fly often is infected with a strain of bacterial parasite that cuts its lifespan in half. So they infected the mosquito species that spreads dengue - called Aedes aegypti - with that parasite, breeding several generations in a controlled laboratory.

Voila: Mosquitoes born with the parasite lived only 21 days - even in cozy lab conditions - compared to 50 days for regular mosquitoes, University of Queensland biologist Scott O’Neill reported in the journal Science.

The study funded by American billionaire Bill Gates Mosquitoes tend to die sooner in the wild than in a lab. So if the parasite could spread widely enough among these mosquitoes, it “may provide an inexpensive approach to dengue control”, O’Neill concluded.

25 die in cold-related incidents in UP

3 Jan 2009, 1838 hrs IST, PTI

LUCKNOW: At least 25 people have died in cold-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours, reports reaching Lucknow said.

While four deaths due to cold wave were reported from Gorakhpur, two persons each died in Lucknow, Mahoba, Santkabirnagar and Barabanki districts due to cold wave. One death each was reported from Bahraich, Jaunpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Hardoi, Faizabad, Shahjahanpur and Muzaffarnagar, official sources said here.

Three others lost their lives in the district after they got burnt in a fire lit to provide respite from the biting cold, locals said.

The children, Arshad (1) and Samiya (2) died after their house caught fire at Akhlor village. A resident of Titerwada village, Multan Singh (70) also died from burn injuries, they said.

Three people were killed in Kuakheda in Kanpur when their vehicle rammed into a stationary truck due to poor visibility, police said.

The driver of the vehicle, on its way from Kanpur to Fatehpur, and two others -- Kuldeep Lohar and Rakesh died on the spot. The bodies have been sent for a post-mortem, they added.

The state capital on Saturday witnessed 9 degrees Celsius temperature, two degrees above normal, while Kanpur shivered at 5 degrees and remained the coldest in the state, the Met office said.

Heavy fog in the morning disrupted rail and road traffic in the state.

Meanwhile, the state government has directed all the district magistrates to ensure arrangement of bonfires to protect people from the chilly winds.

Bird flu in two Bengal districts detected afresh

3 Jan 2009, 1754 hrs IST, PTI

SILIGURI: Bird flu has been detected afresh in West Bengal's Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts and culling of 65,000 birds will begin on Sunday, official sources said on Saturday.

The epicentres of the avian influenza in Darjeeling district were Benoy Krishna Palli village under Matigara village of Siliguri sub-division and Pubang village under sadar sub-division in the hills, District Magistrate Surendra Gupta told a press conference in Siliguri.

Altogether 30 culling teams would start work in full swing from Sunday morning, Gupta said.

A control room headed by a deputy director of Animal Husbandary has been opened at Pintal village on the outskirts of the town, he said.

Gupta said there was no notification to stop sale and consumption of birds and poultry products outside the five km radius of the two epicentres.

Rs 50 lakh has been allotted for culling operations which included 34 wards under Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

Bird flu has also been confirmed in adjacent gram panchayats one and two in Fulbari in Jalpaiguri district, its DM Bandana Yadav said.

Ten culling teams had been formed and 4000 birds would be culled from tomorrow, she said.

Earlier, over 20,000 birds were culled in Malda in mid-December after the H5N1 virus was confirmed in the north Bengal district.

Bird flu detected in Siliguri, culling to begin tomorrow

Siliguri, Jan 03 : Bird flu has been confirmed in Patiramjote area under Matigara police station here, District Magistrate Surendra Kumar Gupta said today.

Unnatural deaths of poultry had been reported from two villages of the area following which the blood samples were sent to laboratories in Belgachia, Kolkata, and Bhopal.

The samples tested positive for Avian Influenza and the report was sent to the DM yesterday.

Meanwhile, the DM held a meeting with the district administration and veterinary doctors and issued instructions to begin culling operations tomorrow.

About 60,000 chickens have been targetted to be culled in three days. Veterinary teams led by Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry department Dr Rabindranath Ghosh will undertake the culling operations.

Unnatural deaths of birds have also been reported from the hill areas. The blood samples have been sent to laboratories for testing, the results of which are awaited, the DM added.

All precautionary measures were being taken to prevent the spread of the disease to other areas. The district administration was undertaking awareness drives to educate the people about bird flu.

--- UNI

Sulawesi: IGD RSUP Sultra closed due to dangerous disease

[I could not find this article in our archives]

Thursday, December 18, 2008 06:28 WIB

KENDARI - MI: room service Installation Emergency (IGD) General Hospital Sulawesi Tenggara (South East Sulawesi) closed temporarily due to a patient suffering from a dangerous infectious disease.

Sub-Section Head Marketing and Public Relations RSUP Sultra Devyanti in Kendari, on Wednesday (17/12), said, the handling of urgent patients (urgent) still running, but the room moved to another part.

"The closed temporarily IGD is the use of space because there are patients suffering from dangerous diseases. Service emergency patients running as usual, but moved to another room," said Deviyanti.

Patient's identity be concealed because of the demands medical code of ethics is that patients injured body part of the conditions have worsened.

"Patients who are currently undergoing surgery on the foot. Operation last option because conditions have become," he said.

Watchlist RSUP Sultra appear in the text is placed on the door and leaves a window of space IGD temporary closure due to a dangerous infectious disease.

The RSUP Sultra close IGD temporary space for four days, since 16 to 19 December 2008.

Patient's family, Tasrin expects delivery of the disease should be detailed in order to increase visitor awareness.

"Written dangerous disease but is not clear what the disease so that people create fear. Bird flu or HIV / AIDS," said Tasrin peeved. (Ant/OL-03)

The influenza virus antibiotic nature increases day by day

03/01/2009, Saturday in the afternoon 05:37

The port hears the abstract

Caption: Steps into the winter, treats flu patient to the Public hospital to increase.
More pictures

The influenza virus antibiotic nature increases day by day

[Eastern daily paper special news]The government stockpiles nearly 20,000,000 grain of sensitive lucks one after another expired, although the authority asserted that the expired sensitive luck still might use, but has the medicine expert to believe that the influenza virus was recent years getting stronger and stronger to the sensitive luck's antibiotic nature, worried, even if stockpiled the massive sensitive lucks, erupted greatly to flu when also not necessarily the effective anti-epidemic disease, suggested that the authority increased the reserve not yet to have antibiotically “the musical sense to be clear”, or the consideration introduction has promoted the European market now the human with the bird flu vaccine, before taking the epidemic disease, the vaccine reserve, first injected for the high-risk public figure. Hong Kong Hospital pharmacist learns medicine educational resources center inspector general Cui Junming to believe that now departments and so on Public hospital and department of health stockpile the sensitive luck, the availability date will expire one after another, in addition recent years the local influenza virus the antibiotic nature which presented to the sensitive luck day after day strengthens, suggested that the authority purchased the new batch of sensitive lucks with it, was inferior that changed the reserve epidemic disease predecessor to use the bird flu vaccine. At present had one kind at least by the foreign pharmaceutical factory research and development person with the bird flu vaccine, is allowed to promote the European market, other pharmaceutical factories with all one's strength are also developing the similar vaccine.

The expert implores to increase the musical sense clear reserve

He said that the World Health Organization has settled the goal, must stockpile 1,000,000,000 medicinal preparation people with the bird flu vaccine, places such as Japan, Singapore and Taiwan has also planned the introduction vaccine to make the emergency requirement, the Hong Kong government temporarily still had not only had the related motion. Before he refers to the epidemic disease, the vaccine reserve main object, to contact the public figure of foreign nationality frequently and so on high-risk tribal grouping tribal group, all average per person must inject by no means. Moreover, he also suggested that the government increases the musical sense clear margin, because has not had the place influenza virus to assume the antibiotic nature clear at present to the musical sense. According to health protection center analysis, Hong Kong H1N1 influenza virus to sensitive lucky antibiotic constant rise, by last July to September period approximately is 17%, but to ten months and in November month, then increases anxiously 56% and 94%, in December the month most recent data demonstrated that the antibiotic nature reaches as high as 89%.

Kananga: Ebola, the population aware applications on hygiene measures

Kasai Occidental Health 02 January 2009 at 11:13:40 a.m.


This awareness aims to eradicate the Ebola virus. This is one of the resolutions of the crisis meeting held Wednesday in Kananga by the United Nations Mission in Congo, MONUC and UN agencies. During the meeting, participants were also informed of the progress of the disease on field reports radiookapi.net

This awareness will be done in a short time, with particular emphasis on population health zones of Mweka and Luebo. It will educate them not to pick and eat the dead animal by itself. The population is also known not to eat the meat of the bat, regarded as the great reservoir of Ebola. It will also be sensitized on general hygiene, to maintain its own environment. These measures will be associated with notions of basic signs to allow them to detect the disease.

As for the evolution of the disease, the World Health Organization, WHO / Kasai Occidental, spoke of 228 people who had contact with sick Thursday, against 214 on Wednesday.

Dr. Edmond Magazani always Kambale confirmed 12 deaths since the beginning of this disease. For its part, MSF-Belgium is studying ways to move, by Saturday, the center of the village of isolation Kaluamba, epicenter of the epidemic to Kampumu, where premises have been more appropriate disponibilisés during the epidemic of 2007.

Ebola haemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - update

Date: 02 Jan 2009

The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is continuing to respond to the ongoing outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in the Mweka health zone, Province of Kasai Occidental with the support of a wide range of international partners.

As of 31st December there has been a total of 3 laboratory-confirmed cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. WHO is aware of 36 additional suspected cases including 12 deaths associated with this outbreak. A further 184 contacts have been identified and are being followed up.

Laboratory analysis was undertaken at the the Institut National de Recherches Biomédicales (INRB) in Kinshasa , DRC , the Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Gabon, and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), South Africa.

The WHO Country Office, Regional Office and Headquarters are supporting the MoH in Kinshasa, in Kananga and in the field at the location of the outbreak. WHO has deployed five vehicles to the field and has sent outbreak response equipment and medical supplies. The local health authorities in the affected area are working closely with social mobilization experts to develop key information messages for the local communities.

The international response to the outbreak includes partners from Caritas (Belgium), the Congolese Red Cross (DRC) , Médecins Sans Frontières (Belgium), UNICEF, the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), and the World Food Programme (WFP) .

WHO confirms 3 Ebola deaths in Congo

Fri Jan 2, 2009 5:55pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Health Organization Friday confirmed the Ebola virus had killed three people in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo and said more deaths were being investigated.

Earlier this week, WHO officials said diseases other than Ebola were likely making people sick in the region as well as Ebola, a frightening and often fatal virus.

WHO said laboratories had only confirmed Ebola infection in three of the cases.

"WHO is aware of 36 additional suspected cases including 12 deaths associated with this outbreak. A further 184 contacts have been identified and are being followed up," WHO said in a statement.

Auguste Mopipi Mukulumanya, health minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, said on December 25 that analysis of blood and stool samples taken in the village of Kalwamba at the heart of the apparent outbreak had shown that an Ebola epidemic was under way.

The virus, which is highly contagious via bodily fluids and causes severe vomiting, diarrhea and often internal and external bleeding, was first reported in the area on November 27.

There is no cure for Ebola, which kills 50 to 90 percent of its victims.

In 1995, a major Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then known as Zaire, killed 250 of the 315 people known to have been infected, including health workers who touched infected blood.

Siliguri: Chicken deaths trigger flu panic

Saturday , January 3 , 2009

Siliguri, Jan. 2: The Siliguri subdivisional administration has formed teams to search for dead chickens after 50 poultry birds were reported dead in Matigara over the past one week.

However, it is yet to be confirmed if the poultry had died of bird flu, said Sarad Dwibedi, the subdivisional officer of Siliguri.

“We have received a report through the animal resource development department that 50 poultry birds died at Patiramjote in Matigara Gram Panchayat-II over the past one week. The ARD officials had been to the spot and collected the samples from there. We have sent the samples to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal two days ago to confirm if the birds died of avian flu,” said Dwibedi.

Patiramjote is located 8km away from Siliguri.

The SDO said 16 teams have been formed to check the farms in the subdivision from tomorrow. “We will set up a check-point at Murligach at Bidhannagar, 45km from here,” he added.

Dwibedi today held a meeting with the ARD department and the Siliguri Municipal Corporation officials to alert the departments concerned.

“We are expecting the report from the Bhopal laboratory any time,” the SDO said.

The SMC officials will keep a watch over the local poultry markets to check if there was any unnatural death in its area.

“We have not received any reports of abnormal death of poultry birds from the civic area. But after today’s meeting we will keep a vigil on the market to check it further,” said an official of the conservancy department of the SMC.

The Siliguri markets located at Bidhan Market, Champasari More, Subhashpally and Fuleswari remain largely unaffected by the Matigara incident so far.

The administration has not issued any notice to curb the selling of poultry and its products. “As the detection of avian flu is yet to be confirmed, we are not going to issue any directive immediately,” Dwibedi said.

In Malda, mop-up operations in the bird flu affected areas of Narhatta Gram Panchayat would continue for the next three months.

More than 20,000 birds had been culled in Narhatta following the outbreak of bird flu in the area.

Vietnam: Nam Dinh uses SMS to control bird flu

(02-01-2009)

NAM DINH — The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has selected the northern province of NamDinh to carry out a pilot project on collecting bird flu data using instant messaging, according to Ninh Van Hieu, head of the provincial veterinary department.

With the SMS mobile phone service, the project would help accumulate data on affected areas, the number of dead poultry, and the status of the epidemic in the province, as well as facilitate quarantine and control of further spread.

As part of the project, a training course was held for 45 heads of communal veterinary stations from Nam Truc and Nghia Hung districts, which are home to many poultry farms and slaughterhouses.

West Bengal: Bird flu scare in Siliguri

Saturday , January 3 , 2009

Siliguri, Jan. 2: Poultry samples have been sent for tests after 50 birds were killed in a village on the outskirts of Siliguri in the past week.

The administration has formed teams to search for more dead chickens. The 50 deaths were reported from Patiramjote village in Matigara, 8km from Siliguri town. The subdivisional officer said the samples were sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal two days ago and the report would come soon.

Ebola haemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - update

2 January 2009 -- The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is continuing to respond to the ongoing outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in the Mweka health zone, Province of Kasai Occidental with the support of a wide range of international partners.

As of 31st December there has been a total of 3 laboratory-confirmed cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. WHO is aware of 36 additional suspected cases including 12 deaths associated with this outbreak. A further 184 contacts have been identified and are being followed up.

Laboratory analysis was undertaken at the the Institut National de Recherches Biomédicales (INRB) in Kinshasa , DRC , the Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Gabon, and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), South Africa.

The WHO Country Office, Regional Office and Headquarters are supporting the MoH in Kinshasa, in Kananga and in the field at the location of the outbreak. WHO has deployed five vehicles to the field and has sent outbreak response equipment and medical supplies. The local health authorities in the affected area are working closely with social mobilization experts to develop key information messages for the local communities.

The international response to the outbreak includes partners from Caritas (Belgium), the Congolese Red Cross (DRC) , Médecins Sans Frontières (Belgium), UNICEF, the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), and the World Food Programme (WFP) .

During the five Birul three days of mourning the death of children

Jan 03, 12:15 am Jan 03, 12:15 am

बिरौल (दरभंगा) । Birul (Darbhanga). जिला के बिरौल प्रखंड अंतर्गत अफजला पंचायत के भरही टोला में पिछले तीन दिनों के दौरान दलित परिवारों के पांच बच्चों की मौत हो गयी है। Birul under the district block Afjla in Panchayat Tola Brhi during the past three days, five Dalit families of the children have died. वहीं करीब दो दर्जन बच्चे अभी भी बीमार चल रहे हैं। The nearly two dozen sick children still are running. उपचार में लोग झाड़-फूंक करा रहे थे, लेकिन जब शुक्रवार को पांचवीं बच्ची फूसी लाल सदा की दो वर्षीया पुत्री रूपम की मौत हुई तो जदयू नेता उदयचंद्र आचार्य ने दूरभाष पर पूरे घटनाक्रम की जानकारी सीएस डा. लखीन्द्र प्रसाद को दी और सीएस ने बिरौल के प्रभारी चिकित्सा पदाधिकारी डा. अमरेन्द्र मिश्र के नेतृत्व में एक मेडिकल टीम का गठन कर गांव में भेज दिया है। Treatment of people in the trees - had been smoking, but when the red on Friday Fusi fifth child endures the death of two-year-old daughter, then Jadu Rupm leader Acharya Udaychandra the full development of the information on the phone Lkindra Dr. CS Prasad, and the CS Birul Medical officer in charge of the leadership of Dr. Amrendra Mishra set up a medical team sent in the village. सीएस ने कहा है कि जांच रिपोर्ट आने के बाद ही स्पष्ट रूप से कहा जा सकता है कि किन कारणों से बच्चों की मौत हो रही है। CS said that after the investigation report can be said clearly that what causes the death of children is going on.

बताया जाता है कि बच्चे सर्दी-खांसी व बुखार से पीड़ित हो जाते हैं और उसके बदन पर बड़े-बड़े लाल-लाल चकते के साथ फोड़े निकल आते हैं। Children are told that a cold - are suffering from fever and cough, and his body on the big - big red - red Ckte come out with boils. सभी की जीभ में भी छाले पड़ जाते हैं। All of the tongue are also Chhale fall. इसके बाद बच्चे खाना-पीना छोड़ देते हैं और काफी सुस्त पर जाते हैं। After this baby food - and drink a lot of slack to leave now. गत 31 दिसंबर को भरही टोला के बूटन सदा की पुत्री पानो कुमारी , छब्बू सदा का पुत्र परमजीत सदा (3), महेश सदा का पुत्र सतवीर सदा (3) के अलावा पहली जनवरी को हरिश्चंद्र सदा का पुत्र चंदन सदा (4) तथा 2 जनवरी की दोपहर फूसीलाल सदा की बेटी रूपम कुमारी (2) की इन्हीं लक्षणों के उभर आने के बाद मौत हो गयी है। Tola on December 31 last Brhi of Pano's daughter Miss Butn always, always the son of Paramjit Cbbu always (3), the son of Satvir endures forever Mahesh (3) In addition to the first son of sandalwood on January Harishchandra always forever (4) and 2 January afternoon Fuseelal always Rupm the daughter of Miss (2) of these symptoms emerge after the death has been. इधर, लक्ष्मण राम, देवचंद्र राम, मीना कुमारी, गणपति राम, अरुण राम व काजल कुमारी समेत लगभग दो दर्जन बच्चे अस्वस्थ चल रहे हैं और इन सभी की उम्र सात माह से लेकर चार वर्ष तक है। Here, Ram Laxman, Ram Devchandra, Meena Kumari, Ganpati Ram, Arun Ram Kumari and soot, including nearly two dozen children and the ill are running from the age of seven months is four years.

India: Five infants die in mysterious outbreak

January 2,2009	Print
Source: PTI

Darbhanga (Bihar), Jan 2 (PTI) Five infants died of a mysterious disease at Dalit-inhabited Varahi village in Bihar's Darbhanga district within a span of two days triggering panic in the area.

District Civil Surgeon L Prasad told reporters that while Banu Kumari (5), Pranayjeet Sada (3) and Satbir Sada (3) succumbed on December 31 at Musahar Tolla of the hamlet, another child Raghunandan Sada (3) died yesterday. Rumpam Kumari, the fifth child, died this afternoon. The children afflicted by the disease were found to be running high fever among other symptoms. The Civil Surgeon constituted a team headed by Additional Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) Amrendra Mishra to examine the cases in details and initiate steps to check the outbreak. All primary health centres had been provided with possible drugs needed for use among those children showing similar symptoms.
map: http://www.maplandia.com/india/bihar/darbhanga/

hat-tip Okieman

Post-Flu vigil in Malda villages

Statesman News Service
MALDA, Jan. 1: The animal resources development (ARD) department will start collecting blood samples from 12 January as a part of post Bird Flu surveillance within 3 to 10 km radius from the epicentre of Avian Flu detected at Satgharia village in English Bazaar in December 2008.
The deputy director of ARD in Malda, Mr N K Sit said a team of vets would start collecting blood samples from all villages in English Bazaar and Old Malda following the directive of central government to continue post Bird Flu surveillance. Mr N K Sit claimed that till date several blood samples collected from 15 blocks of Malda district after outbreak of Bird Flu have tested negative.
According to Mr Sit, many villages in English Bazaar have come under special surveillance twice shortly. After Bird Flu outbreak in English Bazaar in March 2008, a total of 900 blood samples were collected from poultry. “Though not a single blood sample was tested positive but unfortunately the virus resurfaced at Satgharia and Sabjipara villages in English Bazaar in December 2008 , nearly 10 km radius from the epicentre state run poultry farm -in English Bazaar town where Avian Flu broke out in March 2008”, he said. Following the instruction the ARD official has planned to visit the Bird Flu affected zone surprisingly to oversee the situation and to urge the people not to rear birds for at least three months in the affected zone within 3 km radius from the last epicentre.

But the risk of avian Koylancl Influenja

Dec 30, 11:55 pm Dhanbad.

Koylancl but fatal disease, is threatened by avian Influenja. Bengal did not limit Koylancl Sube ten adjoining districts of the disease risk. West Bengal in patients infected with this fatal disease, which found the Department of Health, including the Bengal Dhanbad limit ten districts in the adjoining state of high alert has been issued. इ All these districts and DC by sending a message to the civil surgeon - the disease in the districts to deal with the necessary arrangements have been directed to.
State Health Secretary Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Deputy to the sensitive districts in a letter that in Bengal, with the Asom Influenja avian patients were found. The caution is necessary in Jharkhand.
Bird flu coming into contact with birds infected with the possibility of the spread of the disease in human lives. In view of this sensitive districts in the district hospitals to deal with the emergency ward Aisoleshn and doctors for the treatment of the disease and mercury to train medical staff, he has directed.
According to information from the adjoining Bengal due to the disease for the Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Jamtadha, Dumka, Sahebganj Border, including ten from the adjoining districts have been declared sensitive. Famous doctor of the city, according to Dr. N. K. Singh Influenja most deadly avian disease. The pneumonia is not getting treatment on the life which can be used.

Previous Post:

Around 156 chickens belonging to residents Hamlet Susukan Village Pare, Selogiri, Saturday (27/12) reported sudden death due to this dangerous virus infected....
....belonging to 32 families in Hamlet Susukan, Pare has occurred since the last five days. The death of the birds, known occur gradually, and up to five days the number of birds that reach the hundreds of dead chickens.

http://pandemicinformationnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/central-java-156-positive-bird-flu.html

Posted today, below:
DKK watching Hamlet Susukan 10 Residents Suffer symptoms similar to bird flu
Friday, January 02, 2009

Bird flu of Strain Indonesia was Still Sensitive Tamiflu

BANJARMASIN - Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari says bird flu virus strain Indonesia remains sensitive to Tamiflu drug. This is related to drug sales model that is not done freely. "Only in Indonesia, Tamiflu is not sold freely, so that the only bird flu strain that is still sensitive to Tamiflu is the Indonesia strain," said Siti Fadilah in Banjarmasin, Wednesday.

In other countries, the Minister to continue, sales of Tamiflu have been free of the negative impact. In addition to going prone to abuse, sales trigger more freely strain of flu virus to become resistant to Tamiflu.

As in previous years, the Ministry of Health in 2009 to buy Tamiflu to be distributed to the major public health. According to Siti Fadilah, Tamiflu should be 1 percent of the total number of residents. In fact, if there is a case of bird flu, of stock could reach 2 percent. "Tamiflu should reserve owned, or have no patients," said the Minister, "It is a must according to international rules."

According to the notes World Health Organization (WHO), in January to 16 December 2008 have recorded 22 positive cases of bird flu in Indonesia. From that amount, 18 patients died. Until this time, since the emergence of patients who expressed positive with bird flu in 2005, Indonesia recorded a record number of countries with most bird flu patients in the world, ie 139 cases. The number of patients who died, according to the WHO, reached 113 people.

Associated with Tamiflu, Siti Fadilah disprove the existence of millions of doses of Tamiflu Rp 200 billion that expire, such as dilansir a national daily published in Jakarta in mid-December. Moreover, he said, departemennya never buy the type of drugs are up to Rp 200 billion. "We only buy the Rp 3.8 billion in 2006," said the Minister. However, he admitted some of the drugs purchased are already expired at the end of 2008. DIANING SARI

Indonesia: FINAL REPORT OF HEALTH 2008

Still Afflicted indonesian
Many of Serious Diseases

Friday, 2 January 2009
Year 2008 may be spelled years owned the Minister of Health (Menkes) Siti Fadilah Supari. How does not, every sunday sosoknya warawiri in the three private television program "Bincang Shows Bareng Bu Menkes"-discuss the success in managing the health problem in this country. Issues like health care can be overcame through discussion in the display glass and working visit to the area full-Puja praised.

Indeed, the facts on the ground shows the health problems in the country still does not go ride than previous years. Start the disease malaria, diarrhea, dengue fever, bird flu, foot and elephant ISPA (acute respiratory infection channel) is still a serious problem. While people degeneratif such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and hypertension are growing. This situation seems still difficult released this year 2009.

Projected government press maternal mortality (AKI) also seems to bear due to difficult to achieve. Still number in the range of 295 deaths per 100,000 live births. Not to mention the number of HIV-AIDS penetrate number 12,686 people and spread in 32 provinces.

Director of Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Health Iskandar Sitorus rate, the policy only Menkes good rank in the concept, not the practice in the field. As state officials, Menkes also should not obtrude the withdrawal celebrities. An official state much better to work rather than a lot of talk.

"In fact, many health problems that should be Menkes directly in the field, rather busy to discuss in television and reach only a certain segment," said Sitorus stressed.

Add Sitorus, statement did not mean "judge" Menkes, but that does not present the facts revealed in the mass media. Because, it is important note that the figures presented in the materials presented Menkes not all in accordance with the facts on the ground.

He cite Village standby program. If be, the village will enter standby in manipulatif policy. There is not a new village from standby, but only up a grading of health care center for mothers and babies. "Then, the fund billions of rupiah for the establishment of the Village standby to which the flight," said the Sitorus.
Another problem is related to the program Kesehataan Assurance Society (Jamkesmas). This is a health insurance program for the poor in the implementation has not been targeted. Many poor people who should be the participants Jamkesmas not count because they did not have people sign cards (KTP).

"Many of our residents are poor we rejected because the hospital does not have a card or letter Jamkesmas not afford (SKTM). In fact, mengurusnya [organize/manage/administer] hard because do not have a place to stay," he said.

Not handling diseases infection which occurs when certain seasons, such as dengue fever, bleeding, diarrhea, ISPA (acute respiratory infection channel), malaria, and elephant feet. The same problem cases bird flu, HIV-AIDS, and people with diseases degenerative that the number continues to increase every year.

"When the condition has become epidemic, the government and then panic, then take a policy that is sporadic. It also shows the government does not have a clear format for the work related to the handling of public health," said Sitorus.

Not Easy

This senada been professor of the Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia, Prof Dr Hasbullah Thabrani. In a separate occasion, he has not been any effort to assess the powerful Ministry of Health (MOH) to change the culture of healthy people. "I understand, this is not easy work," he said. Take at least 10 years that people have a healthy living culture.

Thabrani states, the business community has not been made of how strong MOH. "If we already know every year the rains came, long before it should already have MOH efforts to remind the community," he said.

Tropical disease that often involves the culture of Indonesia indeed healthy living community. So no need to wonder if the outbreaks of diarrhea each year, or dengue fever was a newspaper headline. The pattern of living healthy and clean (PHBS) that often didengung-dengungkan so easy to understand the community, the concept simply beautiful on paper, but difficult to implement.

Therefore, extraordinary incident (KLB) diarrhea in the area Koja, North Jakarta, is not solely related to tropical disease outbreaks pascabanjir. That pattern is also associated with healthy living community. Laboratory test conducted Penanggulangan Crisis Center (PPK) MOH noted the findings of water in the vicinity of residential communities, among others, and the Semper Cilincing, which already tercemar bacteria ecoli. Diarrhea outbreak had reached its peak with the 1066 case.
Campaign to change the culture also not how many, let alone a mass movement. "The campaign is still on a little, not optimal," said Thabrani.

He argues, MOH can not just blame the people hold that cultural factors have not changed, without trying to change that culture. Indeed, the changes that take 10 to 15 years.

One interesting thing will be Prof. Thabrani related to the implementation of Jamkesmas, which is expected to be considered for future implementation Jamkesmas 2009. That the government forget the middle-class people down, that does not enter the poor and the pitch is usually the top-cover by private insurance. Earnings daily only enough to cover the cost of daily living and save a little for children's education in the future.

"When they fall ill, a new feel that they terabaikan. How about a letter is not able denied local health agencies. For, in terms of the physical is not included because of the poor and have a motor home. However, the fact he can not afford to pay the cost of hospital reach 20 million, "he said.
-snip-

Siti Fadilah Supari Reinforces 2,000 Youth Disaster standby Peduli (DASIPENA) in South Kalimantan

31 Dec 2008

Today, Dr. Menkes. dr. Siti Fadilah Supari, Sp.JP (K) reinforces the 2000 Youth Disaster standby Peduli (DASIPENA) in South Kalimantan Regional GOR Hasanudin, Banjarmasin. Present in the event the Governor of South Kalimantan. Drs.H.Rudy Arifin, MSi, Head of the National Disaster Relief, the Rector of the University Lambung Mangkurat, Alim Ulama and the Malay Society of South Kalimantan and local Muspida

In his speech Menkes said, to increase youth participation in a health crisis due to the disaster, in partnership with the MOH students, youth boarding, Saka Bakti Husada, nature lovers, the party youth and other youth organizations, youth establish standby disaster Peduli (DASIPENA). Thousands of members DASIPENA spread across parts of Indonesia will be improved with training capacity in the first victims of injury and the basics of disaster response.
-snip-
In connection with that case, the Ministry of Health has been providing assistance and health equipment pelaratan to the KDP meubelair Regional 9,381,020,543 worth of South Kalimantan, health equipment to the City Hospital Ulin Banjarmasin worth 23,628,220,000 and Emergency urban city of Banjarmasin worth Rp 1,590,600,000 and 10 fruit water PURIFIER which aims to improve the ability to act in emergency response in disaster situations. Menkes also inaugurate the building KDP Regional 2,302,851,069 worth of South Kalimantan., Said Dr. Siti Fadilah Supari.

Based on the record MOH [Ministry of Health] in 2007 as many as 69.7% Provincial Health Office has a Quick Reaction Team. South Kalimantan is one of the central point of the 9 Regional Penanggulangan crisis in Indonesia, would have to be more responsive and quick to give in response to health problems resulting from the disaster, said Dr. Siti Fadilah Supari.

DASIPENA in South Kalimantan, is a dedication to the 6. DASIPENA Regional first inaugurated in South Sulawesi, Makassar on 5 May 2008 with train 1600 people, and DASIPENA to-2 in the Regional Central Java, Semarang on 31 July 2008 to train 4,500 people, Dasipena to-3 Regional East Java, Surabaya in the dated 19 August 2008 to train 5,000 people, Dasipena to-4 in the Regional Bali, Denpasar, on 14 October 2008 with the practice in 1500 and Dasipena to-5 Regional Bandung in West Java on 20 December 2008 with the practice in 2000, while Dasipena to - 6 This schedule will train around 2,000 people from 12 districts and cities in the province of South Kalimantan.

DASIPENA is one of the MOH breakthrough in efforts to improve community development tackling the disaster. In relation to disaster response, including the Government of Indonesia MOH has made disaster preparedness efforts as national priorities expressed in the national action plan for disaster risk reduction (Disaster Risk Reduction). This is in accordance with Law No. 24 Year 2007 Disaster Relief on the runway in an effort to become a crisis of health, including the extraordinary incident (KLB), an epidemic and pandemic diseases, Menkes said.
-snip-
[click title for full article]

DKK watching Hamlet Susukan 10 Residents Suffer symptoms similar to bird flu

Friday, January 02, 2009

Wonogiri (Espos) At least 10 people Hamlet Susukan, Pare, District Selogiri carry infectious diseases like bird flu. As a result, since the end of December 2008 to 9 January future, all citizens in observation intensively by local health officials.

According to the Prevention and Kabid Penanggulangan diseases and Environmental Health, Widodo, symptoms that are experienced by 10 residents in general as cough, runny nose, previously known contact with poultry, sore throat and has a temperature over 38 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, not all people can contract the disease is bird flu.

"So far still in the stage of observation. By the incident because there are poultry deaths occurred on December 27, the added incubation period takes 14 days, then it can be taken at the conclusion of upcoming January 9, "he said when reporters found in the work space, on Wednesday (31/12).

According to him, handling cases in Susukan, Pare dimaksimalkan in one last weekend. Among the appeal-to always appeal for poultry stall that has to maintain health and the environment. It also has conducted mass treatment.

"I hope people do not need to worry because we have signed it. Moreover, at this time are still in the stage of observation, not to lead to the suspect bird flu, "he said.

Based on data collected Espos, end of December 2008, there were 156 dead chickens found in Susukan, Pare, Slogiri. Despite the death of poultry on bird flu, but that case has not spread in humans. - By: pso

But the risk of avian Koylancl Influenja

Dec 30, 11:55 pm

Dhanbad. Koylancl but fatal disease, is threatened by avian Influenja.

Bengal did not limit Koylancl Sube ten adjoining districts of the disease risk. West Bengal in patients infected with this fatal disease, which found the Department of Health, including the Bengal Dhanbad limit ten districts in the adjoining state of high alert has been issued. All these districts and DC by sending a message to the civil surgeon - the disease in the districts to deal with the necessary arrangements have been directed to.

State Health Secretary Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Deputy to the sensitive districts in a letter that in Bengal, with the Asom Influenja avian patients were found. The caution is necessary in Jharkhand. Bird flu coming into contact with birds infected with the possibility of the spread of the disease in human lives. In view of this sensitive districts in the district hospitals to deal with the emergency ward Aisoleshn and doctors for the treatment of the disease and mercury to train medical staff, he has directed.

According to information from the adjoining Bengal due to the disease for the Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Jamtadha, Dumka, Sahebganj Border, including ten from the adjoining districts have been declared sensitive. Famous doctor of the city, according to Dr. N. K. Singh Influenja most deadly avian disease. The pneumonia is not getting treatment on the life which can be used.

DRC: MSF Works To Stop Spread of Ebola in Western Kasai

December 31, 2008

MSF staff in protective gear work in an isolation unit for patients suspected of having Ebola in Kaluamba, Western Kasai Province. DRC 2008 © MSF

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a highly contagious disease. Patients present with high fever, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in some cases, external or internal bleeding. Case fatality rates have ranged from 50 to 90 percent. Typically, by the end of the second week of illness, patients succumb to multiple organ failure. No vaccine or treatment exists for this infection. But rapid recognition of an outbreak and early response can reduce the number of new cases in communities and in hospitals where patients seek care.

The number of people with suspected Ebola hemorrhagic fever in the Mweka district of Western Kasai Province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is now 38, including 12 who have died. This is the second outbreak of its kind in just over a year in Western Kasai; the current outbreak claimed its first life on November 27.

Last week, international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), sent a team of expert medical and non-medical staff to the area. A team of 16 are now working around the clock to contain this deadly epidemic.

MSF built a small isolation unit in Kaluamba, the worst-affected village in Mweka district. Here, to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, patients who are already sick, along with others who are suspected of having Ebola, are separated from the community and cared for. Currently, there are two patients in this special ward.

MSF also set up another isolation center further north in the district, in Kampungu. This center can host up to 25 patients if the outbreak extends even further.

Ebola is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease. It is transmitted between people through contact with body fluids (blood, vomit, diarrhea). Thus, because of their proximity to the patients, both health staff and family members are at serious risk of contracting the disease.

MSF hired and trained a dozen local “home visitors” to help reduce the spread of the outbreak. These home visitors identify and follow up with those people who have had any contact with the disease. Currently, there are 184 people who must be tracked.
Another 36 local people travel throughout the communities, ensuring that people are properly informed about the disease and are aware of the health services available to them.

MSF is closely monitoring what could possibly be new pockets of Ebola in the same district of Mweka. However, other diseases, including malaria and shigellosis, which can also have similar flu-like symptoms to Ebola’s in the first stages, have been confirmed in the area. Thus, confirmation is still pending from the laboratories to determine whether these new cases are Ebola or not.

Indonesia: RSA Miliki Ambulan Berstandar International

[Bangkalan, East Java]
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Peralatan medical hospitals in Syarifah Ambami Rato Ebu (RSA) has been increasing. Currently, RSA has ambulan international. Car it is a central government assistance through Menkokesra to Bangkalan Pemkab.

The ambulance that was brought directly in from Jakarta this could give the beginning action of infectious diseases. Like the sufferer avian flu device or that more was known with bird flu. Because, in the ambulance has been tyvek isolation gown. "For the control" of the "disaster, in this ambulance was prepared various equipment." Among them, the buoy and the fire extinguisher, obviously RSA Bangkalan Director Dr Teguh Basukohadi when it was confirmed this newspaper reporter, yesterday. According to Firm, help of the ambulance will with this most complete equipment support the increase in the service. Because, at this time the ambulance that was owned by RSA to six units.

His operation, continued the former head of this Burneh Community Health Centre, kru in the ambulance was four orang. consisted of a doctor was helped by two nurses and the driver. "For the doctor and the nurse has undergone the training," he explained. Valued, the ambulance bernopol B 7415 IQ this, his medical equipment was worth Rp 500 million. Whereas his car around Rp 200 million. "The price of medical equipment rather than the car," said Teguh. Previously, five ambulances were belonging to RSA divided for the reconciliation vehicle and the body carrier. "Two special ambulances to carry the reconciliation patient." Three special ambulances to carry the body, he said. Nevertheless, in the condition for the emergency of all the ambulances could be operated on. "Could if having the extraordinary incident (KLB) all of them were operated on." For example to handle disaster casualties or the accident, he explained.

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (03):

Date: Wed 31 Dec 2008
Source: Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Field News [edited]
<http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=3297>


The number of people with suspected Ebola hemorrhagic fever in the
Mweka district of Western Kasai [Kasai Occidental] Province, in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo DR), is now 38, including 12 who
have died. This is the 2nd outbreak of its kind in just over a year
in Western Kasai; the current outbreak claimed its 1st life on 27 Nov
2008.

Last week [ending 27 Dec 2008], international medical humanitarian
organization Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)
sent a team of expert medical and non-medical staff to the area. A
team of 16 are now working around the clock to contain this deadly
epidemic. MSF built a small isolation unit in Kaluamba, the
worst-affected village in Mweka district. Here, to reduce the risk of
the virus spreading, patients who are already sick, along with others
who are suspected of having Ebola, are separated from the community
and cared for. Currently, there are 2 patients in this special ward.
MSF also set up another isolation center further north in the
district, in Kampungu. This center can host up to 25 patients if the
outbreak extends even further.

Ebola is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease. It is
transmitted between people through contact with body fluids (blood,
vomit, diarrhea). Thus, because of their proximity to the patients,
both health staff and family members are at serious risk of
contracting the disease. MSF hired and trained a dozen local "home
visitors" to help reduce the spread of the outbreak. These home
visitors identify and follow up with those people who have had any
contact with the disease. Currently, there are 184 people who must be
tracked. Another 36 local people travel throughout the communities
ensuring that people are properly informed about the disease and are
aware of the health services available to them.

MSF is closely monitoring what could possibly be new pockets of Ebola
in the same district of Mweka. However, other diseases, including
malaria and shigellosis, which can also have similar flu-like
symptoms to Ebola's in the 1st stages, have been confirmed in the
area. Thus, confirmation is still pending from the laboratories to
determine whether these new cases are Ebola or not.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

[Since the previous report from the Mweka district on 28 Dec 2008,
the number of fatalities has increased from 11 to 12 and the number
of suspected cases from 21 to 38. Another 184 people are possible
contacts who remain under surveillance. The above report includes a
photograph (which can be accessed via the above URL) of MSF staff in
protective gear working in an isolation unit for patients suspected
of having Ebola in Kaluamba, Western Kasai Province.

A map of the Democratic Republic of the Congo can be accessed at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/congo_demrep_pol98.jpg>,
and the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map is available at
<http://healthmap.org/promed/en?g=214139&v=-4.5,22,5>.
The location of Mweka District can be found at:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mweka,_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo>.
- Mod.CP]

Shenzhen says no further bird flu infections after infant case

09:55, January 01, 2009

No further infections of bird flu have been detected here in southern China, where an 82-day-old baby girl contracted the disease, a city health bureau spokesman said on Wednesday.

The girl, surnamed Chen, was born in Hong Kong. She had been living in Xiabaishi Village, Nanshan District with her grandmother while her parents were working in Hong Kong.

The baby fell ill last Monday and was diagnosed as having the H9N2 bird flu strain on Tuesday in a Hong Kong hospital, the spokesman said.

Experts from the city's health bureau and disease control center went to the village to investigate. They collected blood samples from the baby's grandmother and eight staff members in a local hospital who had contact with the baby. No virus was detected in those samples.

Experts also investigated a restaurant near the patient's home that kept live chickens. No virus was found in blood samples from four staff members of the restaurant.

The disease control center has sterilized the area around the baby's home and the hospital where she sought treatment.

Experts said the H9N2 bird flu strain is less pathogenic than the H5N1 strain.

Source:Xinhua

Apac imposes livestock quarantine

Wednesday, 31st December, 2008	E-mail article Print article
By Patrick Opio FOOT and mouth disease has attacked cattle in Apac district, prompting the veterinary officer, Dr. Ongu Elim, to announce a quarantine on animal movement. Addressing the press on Tuesday, Elim said the quarantine would affect Aduku and Abongomola sub-counties, which have the highest prevalence of the contagious animal fever. The measures, he said, took immediate effect and warned tough action against cattle-keepers and livestock dealers who do not obey the ban. Elim said some of the symptoms include blisters and wounds in the mouth and feet of an infected animal, forcing the animal to stop grazing and moving. The disease, he said, could kill the animal within 24 days after weakening it. “We believe the measure will stop further spread of the disease,” Elim said. He said the district had established animal check-points on all roads including community access roads. “The farmers ought to cooperate with the veterinary officers to eliminate it in the shortest time possible,” he said. Elim said the agriculture ministry would send vaccines for free use on all animals in the district. The foot and mouth disease is a fatal viral infection of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, water buffalos, sheep, goats and pigs. It drastically reduces milk output during lactation. Although it does not affect human beings, he said, people who consume the meat of an infected animal can spread the disease. It is transmitted through, saliva, dung, urine, milk and semen and takes up to four days for the symptoms to appear. Elim urged the local leaders to implement the quarantine.

AVIAN INFLUENZA (132): INDIA (ASSAM)

A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Tue 30 Dec 2008
Source: Pandemic Information News [edited]
<http://pandemicinformationnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/bird-flu-spreads-to-new-areas-in-assam.html>


The Assam government has made it clear that avian influenza has
spread to new areas of the state. Sources in the Animal Husbandry and
Veterinary Department said that the deadly bird flu virus was
confirmed in about 15 more villages. The health authorities have been
asked to cull nearly 70 000 birds in these areas.

Speaking on this situation, a veterinary department official said:
"So far, about 150 villages in 8 Assam districts were hit by bird
flu, and Rapid Response Teams have already slaughtered about 510 000
chickens and ducks since 27 Nov 2008." The latest report added that
culling was in progress in the new areas, including Manahkuchi of
Hajo, Chayani Barduar block in Kamrup (Rural), Tihu-Barama of Baksa,
Chachaligaon Burachowk in Nagaon, Rangamati and Aurpakmoniari Tiniali
in Kamrup (Metro).

"We have so far identified 19 epicenters affected by bird flu in
Assam. Culling operations in newly affected areas have already begun,
while in some places, the drive is almost complete," added the
official. The official said the source of the deadly virus was
difficult to ascertain as it was air-borne. The Assam government has
already banned sale and movement of poultry products from bird flu
affected areas.

It may be recalled that the deadly bird flu was 1st detected in
Kamrup (Rural) district on 27 Nov 2008. Since then, more than 500 000
poultry have been culled by state authorities. Furthermore, the Union
government has also established the outbreak of the disease among the
poultry of Doloigaon Uzanpara village under Dhaligaon Development
Block of Bongaigaon District.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur: Susan Baekeland

Family says 23-year-old died from flu complications

06:07 PM EST on Wednesday, December 31, 2008

By FRANCES KUO / NewsChannel 36
E-mail Frances: FKuo@WCNC.com

Jordan Traylor

BELMONT, N.C. -- A day before the New Year, hundreds of family and friends gathered at Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church to remember 23-year-old Jordan Traylor.

"It's such a tribute to Jordan to see all the people that are here," said Traylor’s uncle, Michael Smith. "[Jordan] had a great personality, lot of energy when he walked into a room."

Traylor graduated from Gardner-Webb University, was a star soccer player and died suddenly over the weekend in his Belmont home.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said Traylor tested positive for influenza, commonly known as the flu.

The department is still investigating exactly how Traylor died.

His family said he started feeling sick before Christmas. Relatives say doctors diagnosed him with the flu and sent him home.

"Sometime during the night on Friday, he just passed. No pain or anything, just kind of fell asleep,” said Smith.

Dr. Charles Breiger, medical director of Presbyterian Urgent Care’s Southern Piedmont region, and who is not affiliated with Traylor’s case, says that people do not normally die from the flu per se.

"It’s really a complication of the flu and the most common one would be getting pneumonia,” said Breiger.

Breiger said he has noticed flu cases picking up recently.

"It is getting worse this week and there's no telling how bad the flu season could be this year,” he said.

According to NCDHHS, North Carolina has had three positive cases of the flu so far this year.

Nationally, the agency says there is an average of 36,000 deaths annually from the flu and 200,000 hospitalizations.

Health leaders say there is plenty of the flu vaccine available, both in nasal and injection form.

Doctors say there are differences in symptoms between the flu and common cold. The flu normally results in severe, high fevers, muscle aches and fatigue.

Scientists find key component of Spanish flu

The Yomiuri Shimbun

A protein that contributed to the high level of toxicity found in the Spanish flu virus, which caused the 1918 flu pandemic, has been identified by a team of researchers led by Prof. Yoshihiro Kawaoka from Tokyo University's Institute of Medical Science.

The findings, published Tuesday in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could be useful in the development of measures against new strains of flu viruses.

In 1918, Spanish flu appeared as a new strain of influenza. The virus multiplied and caused lower respiratory system infections in victims, which led to pneumonia and other illnesses.

About 50 million people died in the pandemic.

The strain of the virus is similar to the A-virus subtype H1N1 strain of seasonal influenza virus that multiplies in the upper respiratory parts of the body, including the nose and throat. The researchers were puzzled by the difference.

The research team focused on eight types of protein present in both strains of flu virus. They substituted single genes from the Spanish flu virus and created various combinations by integrating it with the H1N1 virus.

They examined the effects of the viruses on laboratory ferrets.

(Jan. 1, 2009)

Drug-resistant flu linked to pneumonia

Bloomberg News

3:08 PM EST, December 31, 2008

A drug-resistant influenza strain that has spread globally this year needs further study to gauge its virulence, according to doctors in Norway who found the bug was linked with patients suffering more severe symptoms.

A form of the H1N1 seasonal flu virus that evades Roche Holding AG's Tamiflu appeared more likely to cause pneumonia and sinusitis than the H1N1 strain without the resistance-causing mutation, researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo and the U.K.'s Health Protection Agency said.

While "not a statistically significant finding," results of the study, involving fewer than 300 patients, "warrant further investigation," the authors said. The study was released online today ahead of publication in the February edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tamiflu-evading influenza has been reported in 50 countries on six continents since widespread resistance to the bestselling antiviral was first reported to the World Health Organization by Norway in January. Its emergence prompted doctors to consider other medicines, such as GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Relenza, to fight a disease the WHO estimates causes 250,000 to 500,000 deaths annually.

In the U.S., doctors prescribing anti-flu treatments should give their patients Relenza, an orally inhaled medicine, or a combination of Tamiflu and an older drug called rimantadine, the CDC said in a Dec. 19 statement. Basel, Geneva-based Roche had worldwide Tamiflu sales of $1.74 billion in 2007 and $2.1 billion in 2006.

Dominant Strain

Of the 65 H1N1 viruses tested in the U.S. since October, 99 percent were resistant to oseltamivir, and all were susceptible to Relenza, rimantadine and amantadine, a similar drug, the CDC said. H1N1 is the dominant flu strain currently circulating in the U.S. this winter.

Preliminary data indicate that Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 flu viruses don't cause different or more severe symptoms compared with Tamiflu-sensitive H1N1 viruses, the CDC said in its Dec. 19 health advisory.

Of patients infected with the mutant strain in the Norwegian study, 9.2 percent had pneumonia and 6.2 percent had sinusitis. That compares with a pneumonia risk of 2.9 percent and sinusitis risk of 3 percent in patients infected with a non- resistant H1N1 strain. Risk ratios weren't statistically significant after adjusting for age, gender, and predisposing disease, according to the study.

Pandemic Plans

The emergence of Tamiflu-resistance has raised concern that the medicine, stockpiled by governments worldwide, might become a less powerful weapon in the fight against the H5N1 avian strain and any global contagion it spawns because of the potential for bird flu and pandemic flu to exchange genes with drug-resistant seasonal flu.

"Resistance in a more virulent influenza virus can have serious public health implications because of fewer therapeutic and prophylactic options, which may result in more persons being affected by influenza and more severe illness and death in those who become infected," Siri H. Hauge and colleagues wrote. "These findings should be taken into consideration when shaping future strategies for treating and preventing seasonal and pandemic influenza."

The researchers found the resistant strain occurred in the absence of selective pressure caused by widespread Tamiflu usage. The pill is not available in Norway without a prescription and it is rarely prescribed there, they said.

"Our data indicate that the viruses carrying this resistance mutation are fully capable of persistence and spread in the absence of selective pressure," the authors wrote.

Study hints at pneumonia risk with resistant flu viruses

Robert Roos News Editor

Dec 31, 2008 (CIDRAP News) –

A newly published analysis of oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses collected last winter in Norway hints that they may increase an infected person's risk of pneumonia and sinus infections, but the small number of patients in the study means the finding is no more than a hint at this point.

Increased resistance to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in influenza A/H1N1 viruses emerged last winter in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere, and was first observed inNorway. Because nearly all H1N1 viruses tested in the United States so far this winter have shown resistance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month changed its recommendations for use of antiviral drugs in flu patients. H1N1 is one of the three influenza subtypes that typically circulate each winter.

Writing in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Norwegian researchers report that they collected and analyzed H1N1 viruses from 272 patients and determined that two thirds of the viruses were resistant to oseltamivir. Patients infected with the resistant variety had higher rates of pneumonia and sinusitis than those who had the susceptible viruses. But because of the small sample size, the differences were not statistically significant.

"Because of our limited sample size, the precision of our estimates is low, but they do indicate findings that warrant further investigation," write the researchers, led by Siri H. Hauge of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo. Their study was published online ahead of print.

The researchers tested the oseltamivir susceptibility of all H1N1 viruses collected during Norway's 2007-08 flu season and also gathered data on the patients by sending questionnaires to their physicians. The viruses were obtained from primary care clinics and hospitals during routine flu surveillance. Norway's national influenza center tested the viruses for the mutation (called H274Y) that confers oseltamivir resistance, and many of the isolates were sent to the Health Protection Agency in London for further genetic analysis.

H1N1 infections were confirmed in a total of 297 patients during the flu season, and resistance profiles were obtained for 272 of these, according to the report. Of the 272 isolates, 183 (67.3%) showed oseltamivir resistance.

Questionnaires provided information for 265 of the patients, but response rates for specific questions varied, the report says. The median age for patients with resistant viruses was 31, versus 21 for those with susceptible viruses. From the available responses, none of the patients had received antiviral treatment in the 2 weeks before they fell ill. There was no clear link between having a predisposing disease (diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or immune deficiency) and infection with a resistant virus, and resistance was not associated with any particular symptom.

Of 241 patents for whom information was available, 58 (24.1%) had at least one complication, but there was no significant difference in overall complication rates (24.4% versus 22.1%) or in hospitalization rates (15.8% versus 19.5%) between those with resistant and susceptible viruses.

However, the differences for pneumonia and sinusitis in particular were greater, though not significant. Patients with resistant viruses were more likely to have pneumonia (9.2% of 153 patients versus 2.9% of 69; relative risk, 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7 to 13.7) and sinusitis (6.2% of 145 versus 3.0% of 67; relative risk, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.4 to 7.5).

The authors comment that sicker patients are more likely to be tested for flu, but because physicians didn't know the resistance pattern of the virus at the time of sampling and reporting, their findings regarding pneumonia and sinusitis are not likely to be due to selection bias.

The researchers also observe, "The prevalence of oseltamivir-resistant viruses reported in Europe throughout the 2007-08 influenza season clearly shows that this resistant mutation is stable and that these viruses sustain their fitness and ability to spread among persons."

Disease expert Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH, called the findings interesting but cautioned against drawing any conclusions about a link between oseltamivir resistance and pneumonia risk. He is director of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, publisher of CIDRAP News.

The patients with the resistant viruses were somewhat older than the others, which would typically signal a higher risk for pneumonia, he observed, adding, "With such small numbers it's difficult to make any concrete statements about a relationship between clinical presentation and resistance status. It serves as an important piece of information for evaluating the current situation in the US to see if there might be some mechanism that accounts for clinical presentation and resistance."

Hauge SH, Dudman S, Borgen K, et al. Oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses A(H1N1), Norway, 2007-08. Emerg Infect Dis 2009 Feb (early online publication) [Full text]

S. China province tightens poultry market inspection after bird flucase

S. China province tightens poultry market inspection after bird flucase

www.chinaview.cn 2009-01-01 00:34:09

Print

GUANGZHOU, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Agricultural authorities in south China's Guangdong Province tightened inspection over trading markets for domestic poultry after an 82-day-old baby girl was diagnosed in Hong Kong with bird flu. No further infections were detected in the province, the provincial agricultural department announced on Wednesday. The girl, surnamed Chen, was born in Hong Kong. She had been living in Xiabaishi Village, Nanshan District of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, with her grandmother while her parents were working in Hong Kong. The baby fell ill last Monday and was diagnosed as having the H9N2 bird flu strain on Tuesday in a Hong Kong hospital. Experts from Shenzhen city's health bureau and disease control center went to the village to investigate. They collected blood samples from the baby's grandmother and eight staff members in a local hospital who had contact with the baby. No virus was detected in those samples. Experts also investigated a restaurant near the patient's home that kept live chickens. No virus was found in blood samples from four staff members of the restaurant. The disease control center has sterilized the area around the baby's home and the hospital where she sought treatment. The provincial agricultural department instructed its Shenzhen bureau to step up efforts to prevent and control the pathogenic avian flu in a bid to stem an outbreak of the disease in the city. All poultry in Shenzhen have been vaccinated. The provincial agricultural department sent staff to inspect markets together with staff from the Guangzhou city bureau. It also sent five extra teams to other areas of the province to inspect bird flu prevention and control measures. There have been no reports of a bird flu outbreak. Experts said the H9N2 bird flu strain is less pathogenic than the H5N1 strain.