Alert to the vaccine virus causes flu

Sunday, 10/01/2009, 17:13

This is also a time convenient to the vaccine virus causes flu development. According to doctor Hien, through clinical diagnosis in hospital Tropical Disease in Ho Chi Minh City last month in 2008, identified nearly 400 cases influenza A (H1N1, H3N2) and influenza B. For these cases is very easy with the virus H5N1 virus once released.
Yesterday, Health Department, said Vietnam has directed the city hospitals ready to deal with outbreaks of H5N1 human resources, the number of medications and equipment on the spread.
City - On 9 / 1, doctor Tran Tinh Hien Deputy Director-hospital patients Tropical TPHCM for business, slaughter poultry illegal clutter now in HCM City is one of the risk of making distribute the flu banning and the infection is very easy to happen.

Beijing 128 close contacts of the lifting of observation and 72 are still observed

At 3:04 on January 11, 2009
Yesterday, the Municipal Health Bureau released the latest avian flu prevention and control of the situation, as of January 9, the city's human bird flu cases in close contact with 200 people, 128 people had been lifted the current medical observation and are under medical observation in A total of 72 close contacts of people.
Municipal Health Bureau revealed that the city's medical institutions of various types of high-risk groups and focus groups conducted epidemiological surveillance.

From the monitoring situation, no bird flu case report or medical observation. The city's medical institutions at all levels to carry out all kinds of unexplained pneumonia cases of monitoring and investigation, no report of unusual circumstances.

The city's disease control agency a total of bird flu high-risk groups to carry out pro-active monitoring to monitor a total of 48,862 people, found no cases of influenza-like. The city's disease control agency to carry out pro-active monitoring of influenza 82,987 households, a total of 331,951 people to monitor and found 142 cases of influenza-like.

Municipal Health Bureau reminded the public that if there is influenza and human bird flu prevention knowledge aspects of the Beijing public health services can call the hotline 12320 for consultation, if found disease, I do not know how to handle dead birds can also be reported through the telephone.
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Held in Hong Kong "mangrove" exercise to test the ability to deal with human bird flu

January 10, 2009 21:39:51


Hong Kong January 10 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was held on the 10th, code-named "mangrove" exercises, to the human cases of bird flu after the occurrence of related medical emergency arrangements for testing and assessment, the Mainland and Macau to 13 expert observers attended the exercise.

By the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Department of Health Center for Health Protection, held in the exercise, aimed at a designated clinic for testing contingency plans, assessment and optimization.
Tests cover
Treat a fever or symptoms of influenza-like illness patients, patient triage and provide immediate medical services, and how and clinics where the building of other public service units and adapting to change.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said after the inspection exercise, to ensure that the designated clinics can effectively start and operate, it must first draw up a detailed process, including strict infection control measures, efficient triage system, as well as the different units between effective communication and cooperation.

York Chow, accompanied by the Director of Health inspect Lam Ping-yan said the Center for Health Protection to carry out regular drills to test the government departments and relevant agencies for emergency public health incidents were prepared.

It is learned that more than 200 officers participated in the exercises, involving six government departments and agencies, including the Food and Health Bureau, Department of Health, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong AIDS Foundation, the Auxiliary Medical Services and Fire Services Department. Mainland and Macao 13 experts as observers in the exercise.

Onsite 80,000 monitoring avian flu Onsite 80,000 monitoring avian flu

At present, the city no new cases of bird flu
By the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau yesterday released the situation of human avian influenza prevention and control of communications, said the city's disease control staff have come more than 80,000 households, a total of more than 330,000 monitoring and found no new human bird flu infections. Hwang deaths, there are still 72 people did not lift the medical observation. Communications, the January 9, 2009, the city at all levels of medical institutions to continue to focus on high-risk groups and to conduct epidemiological surveillance of the crowd, from the monitoring situation, no bird flu case report or medical observation.
The city's medical institutions at all levels to carry out all kinds of unexplained pneumonia cases of monitoring and investigation, no report of unusual circumstances.
The city's disease control agency a total of bird flu high-risk groups to carry out pro-active monitoring to monitor a total of 48,862 people, found no cases of influenza-like. The city's disease control agency on the floating population to carry out pro-active monitoring to monitor a total of 9969 people found no cases of influenza-like. The city's disease control agency to carry out pro-active monitoring of influenza 82,987 households, a total of 331,951 people to monitor and found 142 cases of influenza-like.
The emergency door from the city to monitor cases of influenza-like situation, January 9, the city's medical institutions at all levels, has reported a total of 1984 cases of influenza-like cases, disease control departments to carry out epidemiological investigations 1495 cases, no cases of influenza-like focus on cases have been reported. The same day, the city's disease control officers at the scene to carry out rapid detection of 1186 cases of influenza, 31 positive samples sent to CDC in Beijing, after the completion of H5N1 virus nucleic acid 31, were negative. As of January 9, the city's human bird flu cases in close contact with 200 people, 128 people had been lifted the current medical observation, medical observation is in close contact with a total of 72 persons.

DR Congo / Matadi: rumors around the Ebola spreads panic among the population

Date: 09 Jan 2009


This revelation was made last Wednesday by the provincial medical inspector, during a crisis meeting held on this subject. Everything is from a letter referring to a patient who has left Lubumbashi for Bas Congo. This follow treatment Kisantu, plus or minus 245 km northeast of Matadi, said Dr. Firmin Mapuya. Information that has not been confirmed after verification, reports radiookapi.net

The provincial medical inspector reassured that no case of Ebola was reported in the province.

It calls, however, the population to be vigilant.

Dr. Mapuya Firmin said: "We have been contacted by our friends who were in the process of following a case of souspiçion. According to the information in their possession, this case would have to come from Lubumbashi in the province. I can say that 'At present, we have failed to verify the information that this case would be in the province. The public must remain vigilant. We believe that every family, to introduce the health problem, should contact the health center for the signs are checked by qualified personnel to allow for early management. "

Moreover, Tanzania has sent health officials in Mbeya, Kagera, Rukwa, Kigoma and Mwanza, five border regions of the DRC, to implement preventive measures against the Ebola virus that has struck the DRC since late November. The announcement was made on Thursday by the Tanzanian Ministry of Health.

According to the same source, the Tanzanian population will be informed about the causes of the Ebola virus, its symptoms and prevention measures.

Remember that Angola has already closed its north-eastern border with the DRC to protect its population from the virus.

H1N1 Tamiflu Resistance In Korea Raises Pandemic Concerns

Recombinomics Commentary 22:01
January 10, 2009

A/H1N1 17 16 (94.1%) Oseltamivir
A/H1N1 17 1 (5.9%) Amantadine

The above translation is from the Korean CDC report on antiviral resistance in Korea this season.. 16/17 H1N1 isolates were resistance to oseltamivir, while 1/17 was resistant to amantadine. These data indicate the H274Y levels in H1N1 were approaching 100%, as was seen in Japan.

In Japan, the H1N1 was sequenced and H274Y was identified in NA, while G189V, A193T, and H186R were identified in HA from three identical H1N1 isolates from Sendai, Japan. Those isolates were associated with the closing of 10 elementary schools and match H1N1 isolates from the United States (in HI, TX, PA). In the United States the level of H274Y was also approaching 100% (86/88).

These data indicate H274Y has become fixed throughout most if not all of the northern hemisphere. Resistance levels in Canada and Europe are also at or near 100%..

South Korea has issued an alert as ILI physician visits crossed baseline line levels in week 50. H1N1 levels exploded in weeks 51 and 52, suggesting that oseltamivir resistance was associated with an aggressive virus.

This dramatic increase in South Korea raises concerns of transfer of H274Y from H1N1 to H5N1. Two years ago there was a significant H5N1 outbreak in Korea at the end of 2006. That was followed by a larger outbreak in the spring of 2008. In the 2008 outbreak, one culler developed bird flu symptoms and was PCR H5 confirmed. This H5N1 history raises concerns of co-infections involving H5N1 and H1N1.

This concern extends to Japan, which has also had H5N1 outbreaks that coincided with outbreaks in South Korea. Japan is planning an aggressive H5N1 vaccine program for first responders which may be significantly expanded into the general population.

The high levels of H274Y in virtually all aggressive H1N1 in at least two countries in Asia with a history of H5N1 infections are causes for concern. Moreover, the H274Y levels in Korea and Japan suggest other countries in Asia, including China, have similar levels of H274Y, since last season Japan and South Korea had significant levels of clade 2C, which was adamantine resistant but oseltamivir sensitive.

The fixing of H274Y in H1N1 in Asia significantly increases pandemic concerns.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Fever DREF Operation No. MDRCD006

Source: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Date: 09 Jan 2009

Full_Report (pdf* format - 1.2 Mbytes)

GLIDE No. EP-2009-000008-COD

The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.

CHF 146,404 (USD 132,205 or EUR 97,375) has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RCDRC) in providing assistance to some 15,000 beneficiaries (people affected by the Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in the Mweka health zones of the Western Kasai province). Un-earmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary: An Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever outbreak has been declared in the Mweka health zones following the death of a parturient, her baby and the person who accompanied them to the hospital. Studies have revealed that all three persons died of the same disease as they presented the same symptoms: bloody diarrhea. Even the nurse who attended to those departed persons is presently showing the same signs, though alive. The situation as of 2nd January 2009 was as follows: 40 cases registered in one month, including 28 female cases. So far, 13 persons have died of the disease and 173 cases are being monitored. Since the outbreak occurred, the RCDRC volunteers who acquired experience during the 2007 Ebola operation in neighboring localities have been deployed in Mweka to sensitize the populations to the dangers of the disease and to help transfer patients with Ebola signs to isolation centers, as well as bury corpses in a safe manner. This DREF will enable the national society to provide assistance to affected persons in the areas of Emergency relief and non-food items (NFI) distribution, water and sanitation (WATSAN), Hygiene promotion and Capacity building.

This operation is expected to be implemented over 3 months, and will therefore be completed by 7 April, 2009; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 7 July, 2009).

The situation

The Western Kasai Provincial Health Inspectorate informed the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Public Health Ministry on 27 November 2008 that there are suspected cases of the Ebola hemorrhagic Fever in the Mweka health zone. In fact, the Mweka health zone physician-in-chief reporting to the Minister of Public Health revealed that an Ebola epidemic is hitting Kaluamba, a neighboring area to Kampungu that was affected by the same disease in August 2007. The reporter also described an outbreak of diarrhea epidemic in children under 5 years in neighboring Buena-Lueka on 8 December 2008.

On the 48th week of 2008, a parturient died of postpartum hemorrhage in a health centre. Her baby and the person who accompanied them to the hospital also died of bloody diarrhea. Even the nurse who attended to those departed persons is presently showing the same signs, though alive. The situation as of 2nd January, 2009 was as follows: 40 cases registered in one month, including 28 female cases. Out of the 40 cases, 13 are below the age of 15, while 25 are above 15 and the age of 2 patients is yet to be determined. So far, 13 persons have died of the disease and 173 cases are being monitored. A patient has been isolated. Six new alarms have been sounded, on the basis of 5 in the Western Kasai province (4 in Kampungu and 1 in Kanaga), and 1 in the Katanga province (Lubumbashi), and investigations are underway to confirm the epidemic in these localities. The following diagram highlights the present evolution of the disease:

Full_Report (pdf* format - 1.2 Mbytes)

RP’s Ebola-virus ‘brand’ sets

Sunday, January 11, 2009

By Paul M. Icamina, Special Reports Editor THE discovery is disturbing: pork is one of the world’s most popular meats—though not among Muslims and Jews—and swine infected with a virus makes for a potentially alarming food on the table. Pork is a major human food and the Ebola-Reston virus detected in Philippine swine prompted international food, animal and health experts to see for themselves the situation here. The Ebola-Reston virus— detected in October in pigs from two commercial farms in Bulacan and Pangasinan— is not harmful to humans but it has shown in an earlier outbreak 20 years ago to be fatal to monkeys, a distant human cousin. This is the first time the virus has jumped species and the first time ever anywhere in the world that it has been detected in a major food source that is closer than most to humans in the food chain. At this point, given the little knowledge about the virus, “it is more an animal than a human health issue,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd told The Manila Times. “While there are potential public health implications, one can’t go beyond what the evidence shows.” That is, the Ebola-Reston virus that affected laboratory monkeys from Laguna in the 1990s infected 25 people but they did not get ill; one handler got sick from what was probably an unrelated cause and he recovered quickly. The Department of Agriculture (DA) says it is not a public health issue but a veterinary one, adding the Ebola-Reston strain “does not pose a significant public health risk.” Humans can get the virus, but it does not cause illness, the Department of Health (DOH) said in turn. The concern this time is that the virus has been detected in food-producing swine. More worrisome is the possibility that hogs are so close to humans in the food chain that the virus may eventually infect humans. Duque cautions there is very inadequate evidence to make definite conclusions now. “Anything is possible,” he said. “We want to make sure, to know more about the virus which is unique to the Philippines.” “We don’t go overboard, nor should we assume a laid-back, complacent attitude,” he said. “It’s a tightrope [and] we have to look at the matter closely.” “We can’t afford a cavalier attitude,” he added. “We are concerned but tempered against an epidemic of misinformation that is more dangerous. We have to look at the matter closely.” The matter is “open-ended,” he said, adding that’s why the international experts have been invited to look at the matter closely. “Not really because of the potential threat to humans but because of the information, the scholastic, the very high research value.” “All systems are in place to prevent public transmission. Our preparedness for SARS is now helping us adequately respond to emergencies,” Duque said in reference to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 caused by the SARS coronavirus. “We are confident of our capability to test for the [Ebola-Reston] virus,” he said, citing facilities at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). The RITM said 94 percent of blood samples of hogs from affected farms tested negative for Ebola-Reston. Some 42 people who had close contact with the pigs also tested negative. Cautious approach “The fact that this is the first time that the virus has been found outside monkeys, and the first time ever, worldwide, that it has been found in swine, a food-producing animal, makes this mission particularly important—especially considering the potential implications for animal and human health and welfare,” said a statement this week from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The FAO, OIE and WHO, upon the invitation of the government, are here on a 10-day mission that started on Monday. They are conducting field and laboratory investigation on the source of the virus, its transmission, virulence and natural habitat. The aim is to provide appropriate guidance for animal and human health protection—although Ebola-Reston has not been found to be dangerous to humans. Calling it an “unfolding situation,” FAO said other microorganisms isolated from sick and dying swine—rather than the Ebola-Reston virus—may have been the cause of elevated mortality. Some 22 foreign epidemiologists, laboratory specialists, veterinarians, food safety and public health and risk communication experts are working closely with agriculture and health authorities. Preliminary results, which will guide further investigations, are expected in a few weeks at the earliest. In a cautious approach to what FAO calls an “evolving situation,” the United Nations agency stressed it is still not known whether humans can be infected. “To make sweeping statements as to Yes-Risk or No-Risk based on six caretakers exposed to Ebola-Reston at this stage would be premature,” it said in a statement. “The answer requires close collaboration between producers, veteri-narians, health officials and market intermediaries. Studies need to be carried out in the commercial swine sectors affected, animal handlers, throughout the market chain and its intermediaries, and among consumers before full advice can be given.”

Influenza Warning Issued Nationwide

Thursday, December 18, 2008 17:03:33

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an influenza warning for nation.
According to the center, there were an estimated three-point-six influenza patients per one-thousand Koreans last week. The agency issues a flu warning whenever the ratio exceeds two-point-six per thousand.
Expecting a full-fledged flu outbreak after mid-December, the center advised people ages 65 or older and pregnant women to get flu shots.
The center said all are advised to devote extra care to thorough personal hygiene and to try to avoid going to crowded places.

14 people die of Ebola in DR Congo

14 people die of Ebola in DR Congo

www.chinaview.cn 2009-01-10 10:47:43

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KINSHASA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- A total of 14 people have died of Ebola, a haemorrhagic fever, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since November 2008, Health Minister Mopipi Mukulumanya said on Friday. Mukulumanya said in the western Kasai province, 43 people have been infected with Ebola and 199 others were under observation. Symptoms of Ebola begin with fever and muscle pain, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. The minister called for the strengthening of health care, and report cases of Ebola immediately. Ebola is transmitted through contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people. It is one the deadliest viruses in the world, killing 50 to 90 percent of its victims.

No human bird flu case found in Beijing door-to-door epidemiological survey

2009-01-10 20:37:06

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BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- No human bird flu case was found in a door-to-door epidemiological survey on Friday in Beijing, the municipal health bureau announced in a statement on Saturday. The survey investigated 82,987 households with a total population of 331,951. In total, 142 flu cases were found. But none of them were H5N1avian influenza virus positive, according to the statement. Hospitals in Beijing reported 1,984 flu cases on Friday and no bird flu case was found. The Ministry of Health reported a human bird flu case on Jan. 7, in which a 19-year-old female in Beijing was killed by the virus. Of the 200 people in close contact with the patient in Beijing, 128 have been dismissed from medical observation.

Mekong Delta faces bird flu threat, ducks die in central province

Mekong Delta faces bird flu threat, ducks die in central province

21:43' 09/01/2009 (GMT+7)

The woman, the mother of farmer Le Xuan Doi in the central province of Quang Nam, disposes of ducks that died of bird flu. The disease is again threatening to rear its head in many areas in Vietnam. VietNamNet Bridge - Widespread farming of free-range ducks and a slackening in the campaign to vaccinate water fowl are threatening a fresh outbreak of bird flu in the Mekong Delta. According to official agencies, the disease occurred in Tra Vinh, Dong Thap, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang provinces and Can Tho last year, killing 31,350 ducks. Local administrations undertook intensive measures and managed to stamp out the epidemic, but then they relaxed their vigil. For instance, in the Mekong delta province of Hau Giang which has around 3 million water fowl, health workers immunized over 97 per cent of the birds during the first round of vaccination but the rate plummeted to 60 per cent the second time around. The situation has been repeated in province after province. Local administrations blame it on a shortage of veterinary workers and a preponderance of small farms with free-range birds scattered around the region. Mr. Nguyen Hien Trung, head of the Hau Giang Department of Animal Health, warned about a possible resurgence of bird flu -- winter is normally the peak season – because water fowls raised on small farms in remote and distant areas are not adequately vaccinated. The head of the Dong Thap Province Department of Animal Health, Vo Be Hien, said a thorough vaccination campaign must be carried out to head off the epidemic. It is necessary to make local officials and agencies responsible for the task and raise public awareness of the disease, he said. Central outbreak Around 100 ducks in a flock of 300 owned by farmers Le Xuan Doi and Ngo Van Minhin in Nui Thanh District in the central province of Quang Nam died five days ago. They suspect the deaths that spread from their neighbor’s house. The neighbor reportedly cooked and ate a duck that had died of the disease instead of destroying it, and wastewater from his house, that flows into the local canal, spread the disease. Surprisingly, the head of the province Department of Animal Health, Pham Ngoc Anh, said there were no poultry deaths in his area though the two farmers said that they had immediately reported their birds’ deaths to commune officials. The cause of the birds’ deaths is yet to be officially ascertained. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has instructed all local authorities to carry out measures before and after the Lunar New Year to stamp out the disease. He told officials to tour villages and report to the ministry about the disease. He also ordered them to closely monitor transport, sale, and slaughter of poultry, disinfect farms, and prepare for a comprehensive vaccination campaign targeting every single bird in the coming weeks.

Vietnam bird flu patient is recovering: gov't website

Vietnam’s first human avian influenza case in 10 months is showing signs of recovery, according to a statement posted on the government’s website on Thursday.

Bui Thi Thao, an eight-year-old girl from the mountainous Ba Thuoc District of Thanh Hoa Province, 153 kilometers (95 miles) south of Hanoi, no longer has a fever and didn’t need respiratory aid as of Friday, the statement said. Thao was confirmed on Tuesday as having contracted the H5N1 virus after eating sick poultry at home. “Thao has recovered after 10 days of treatment, even though she will need to stay in the hospital for another two weeks for further treatment and until tests indicate no presence of the virus,” according to the statement. Thao’s elder sister, Bui Thi Thuong, died last Friday, the statement said, citing Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, standing director of the province’s Department of Health. Her death may not be related to the H5N1 strain of avian flu virus, according to Vietnamese authorities. There is not enough evidence to show her death was caused by bird flu as no samples were taken, even though she also ate the sick bird and had similar symptoms to her sister, the statement said. The H5N1 virus in meat and eggs is killed when it is heated above 70 degrees Celsius, making properly cooked poultry meat and eggs safe to consume. Thuong developed fever, fatigue, stomach pains and digestive disorders on December 29, two days after her younger sister fell ill, the statement said. At the local district hospital she was diagnosed with appendicitis, the statement said. She later encountered multiple organ failure and doctors said she had typhoid fever before she died last Friday, according to the statement. The H5N1 viral strain killed five people in early 2008 but no new human deaths have been reported since last March. Vietnam has confirmed 52 bird flu deaths, the second highest toll after Indonesia with 113 deaths so far. Since 2003, the World Health Organization has reported 393 human cases of bird flu, not including the latest case in Vietnam, of which 248 have died. Source: Bloomberg, Reuters

Public advised serious caution against bird flu

Health officials are advising residents not to buy chicken directly from the market Agricultural and health officials have advised the public to buy processed, tested chicken following two recent bird flu outbreaks in the northern region with one person affected.

Hoang Van Nam, deputy head of the Animal Health Bureau under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said although bird flu has appeared in Vietnam for many years, people continue to eat fowl that have died of unknown reasons. Nam blamed ineffective awareness campaigns for the problem, noting that local officials have failed to implement anti-bird flu measures that had proven to be effective. Bird flu vaccines are available in abundance but were not being used quickly, he said. Market vendors around Hanoi have complained about consumers turning their back on processed chicken, even though they were tested and stamped for safety. People prefer live ducks or chickens and are choosing to have them killed and processed right at the market. “Such habits help spread the disease when the birds are not quarantined strictly,” Nam said. “We have to try harder to make the residents change their habits.” Deputy Director Nguyen Van Yen of the capital city’s Health Department said the campaign has to start with local authorities and health officials have to keep closer watch on every stage where bird flu can occur: from farming, transporting and slaughtering to selling. Bird flu outbreaks were reported in Thai Nguyen and Thanh Hoa provinces last week. Based on Health Ministry regulations, an area is officially recognized to be epidemic-free once no new cases occur within 21 days. Earlier this week, authorities reported Vietnam’s first human case of bird flu since early last year, the victim being an eight-year-old girl in Thanh Hoa. (See related news on page 12)

Unexplained duck deaths scare Quang Nam villagers

Hundreds of ducks have died for unclear reasons in the last few days in Loc Ngoc Village in central Quang Nam Province’s Nui Thanh District, triggering panic among its residents.

They say they have brought the problem to the attention of local government agencies, but no attention has been paid to it, either at the commune or district level. However, head of the Quang Nam Province’s Animal Health Department, Pham Ngoc Anh, said Tuesday that the local authorities were keeping a close watch on the epidemic. What is most worrying is that Loc Ngoc Village borders Tam Ky Town and poultry from the village is taken to the town’s market for sale. If local authorities do not act now, it could lead to very serious problems, residents fear.

China sets up nationwide testing for bird flu virus

2009-01-10 11:40

An official with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday that a nationwide network for the testing of bird flu virus has been established.

Shu Yuelong, vice director of virus control and prevention with the CDC, said the network connects 63 labs in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

"Every lab has the ability to test and identify virus of avian influenza and some in provincial disease control centers are capable of analyzing the virus," Shu said.

He said China will add another 21 new labs to the network in 2009.

The Ministry of Health reported a human bird flu case on January 7, in which a 19-year-old female in Beijing was killed by the virus.

China reported its first human infection case with the H5N1 avian influenza virus in 2005. So far 30 cases have been confirmed and 20 fatal.

Beijing: Medical treatment of human avian influenza expert group on standby throughout the day

09/01/10 02:28

By yesterday, reporters learned from the Beijing Health Bureau, the city's newly formed by 78 experts composed of the top three hospitals were medical treatment of avian flu expert group to bear the suspected cases of the consultation, diagnosis, treatment, and a 24-hour standby system.

In order to enhance the human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza and other respiratory diseases screening timely, accurate diagnosis and medical treatment, the city Health Bureau of Beijing in 2005 were medical treatment of avian flu expert group members to add and adjust. After Concord, Sino-Japanese friendship, Fu Wai Hospital, a hospital of Beijing University,北医三院, Xuanwu Hospital, Friendship Hospital, such as the recommendation of the top three hospitals, the newly established by the infectious diseases, neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular, epidemics , ICU, hospital flu 12 professional, a total of 78 experts composed of human avian influenza Beijing municipal expert group medical treatment. Group of Experts can not rule out the commitment to human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases in medical observation consultation, diagnosis and medical treatment.

All the hospitals should be strictly implemented, "the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau on further strengthening of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza and other respiratory diseases prevention and control work notice" requirements, before the lifting of the state of human avian influenza contingency before the start of experts within 24 hours listening class system, all the relevant experts should not go out if there is to go out tasks, subject to the approval of President of the Municipal Health Bureau reported that the record Bureau of Medical Affairs. Hospital experts, it is necessary to make proper arrangements for day-to-day medical experts work in the event of consultation, the rescue mission to ensure that the four hours to reach the designated hospitals work.

No evidence confirmed a baby girl dies of H5N1

On 8 / 1, Dr. Nguyen HuyNga, Department Chief of Department of Health and Environment, Ministry of Health has information on previous deaths of patients Bui Thi T. (13 years old, in Điền Trung, Bá Thước, Thanh Hóa). Earlier, T. girls, then 8 years old have been confirmed infected with H5N1 virus.

According to information from the Department of Health, Thanh Hoa, patients T. is sick and family care, treatment tainha from 29/12/2008. Ngay 2 / 1, found by T. does not help that the disease situation seem more serious, the family has brought them to clinics in Điền Trung. Once diagnosed as inflammatory bowel legacy, T. transferred to the district hospital.

T. hospitalized in state acerbate stomach, take out the liquid, heavy cold. The doctor has focused on research to treat and detect you think has been the rise. After 1 hour hospital, patients have died. Also because patients died quickly, the doctors only focus of that time not get blood tests. In addition, millions of eggs of patients unknown respiratory failure, only on the incline, chill. Therefore, Dr Russia said no basis to assert T. death due to H5N1 virus infection.

She's patient T., 8 years old, the sick and from 27-12-2008 to Hospital Ba Thuoc with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, XQ have taken pictures of the pneumonia -According to withdraw ... family home, since a thousand, had been sick chicken meat as food. Patient isolation treatment by phac map of pneumonia due to influenza A virus H5N1-and get the blood tests sent about disease from birth [Viện Vệ sinh dịch tễ TƯ.] Results showed that the patient was infected with H5N1 virus.

Thus, from the influenza A-H5N1 first to 12/2003 to present, the country has 107 cases, of which 52 were fatal.

The future of GlaxoSmithKline to Quebec worries its 750 employees

Published on January 9, 2009 with 05:00 | Updated at 05:00

To increase
The pharmaceutical group GlaxoSmithKline invested 200 million $ in 2006 and 2007 to increase and modernize its installations in the capital.
Photographic library Sun, Patrice Laroche

(Quebec) There is less than three years, the pharmaceutical group GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) invested nearly 200 million $ to increase the production capacity of vaccines of its factory located in the technological Park of metropolitan Quebec. Today, uncertainty is with its roof among the 750 employees.


Since the end of October, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals - the division of GSK which manufactures vaccines - abolished between 90 to 120 stations in Quebec. GSK Biologicals whose seat is in Belgium also put the key in the different door of sound machines production in Quebec, that of Laval, which caused the suppression of 144 employment.

“One expects worst in the next weeks”, entrusts Sebastien Boies, president of local section 3783 of the Canadian Trade union of the public office (SCFP-FTQ) which summarizes the frame of mind of the trade unionists of the factory of Quebec who, according to him, never saw coming the blow.

“Nobody can about which foot dance. The employer did not present any guarantee to us to the effect that there will not be other dismissals”, indicated Mr. Boies during a discussion with the Sun.

“Uncertainty is so large that employees who are not aimed by the settings at foot started to leave GSK of their own boss, it announced.

“In Quebec, fortunately, the labour market in the sector biopharmaceutic is very good by times which run with the emergence of several young people biotechs. That enables us to believe that the people who lost their employment will be able to obtain another in a relatively brought closer future from them.”

GSK Biologicals, the regional management of Employment-Quebec and the trade union collaborate narrowly in the operation of reclassification of the personnel laid off.

According to Sebastien Drink, the cuts affect all the departments of the factory which used, until very recently, nearly 1000 people in peak period. “The most touched are people who worked on the line production, i.e. technicians of laboratory, technicians of production, clerks and employees of production.”

To remain competing

Thursday, at GSK Biogicals, nobody was able to comment on of sharp voice the decision taken at the end of October and which did not make noise in the majority of the media. Only radio station CHOI had made of it mention a few months ago. GSK Biologicals rather forwarded an official statement to the Sun explaining the reasons leading to the rationalization of its production activities in Quebec without saying a word on the future of its production centre.

The company explains that the decision to close the factory of Laval and to repatriate the whole of the production to its installations of Quebec - all while imposing a reducing treatment to him - was the fruit “of an closer examination of its production activities in Quebec”.

The decision aimed “at tightening its competitiveness and its effectiveness” in order to make it possible the company to continue to be “competing in the particularly difficult market of the vaccines against the seasonal flu in which the world provisioning increased considerably”.

While investing nearly 200 million $ in 2006 and 2007 to increase and modernize its installations in the capital, GSK Biologicals tripled its production capacity of vaccines against the seasonal flu and the pandemic influenza which passed to 75 million amounts by year. That enabled him to fill its engagements towards various governments, mainly those of Canada and the United States, for the provisioning of vaccines.
“The sales were not as high as envisaged, explains Sebastien Boies. According to the abundant data by the employer, one would speak rather about 30 to 35 million sold amounts. In a fragile economic context as that which one knows it at present, it is possible to think that the purchase of vaccines against the influenza does not constitute the priority of the governments.”

According to the president of local section 3783, it would be very little probable that GSK Biologicals chose to rationalize its activities in Quebec for if required transferring the production to its other manufacturing plant from vaccines in Germany.

GlaxoSmithKline had put the feet at Quebec in December 2005 while becoming purchaser of ID Biomédical which employed, at the time, 200 people.

All in the same launch

GlaxoSmithKline. Pfizer. Bristol-Myers Squibb. Merck. These world giants all of the drug company are in the same launch. That of the reduction of their costs of operation.

The patents of drugs expiring their, competition coming from the generic products, the increasingly rare discoveries of new drugs and the generalized fall of the sales are as many phenomena which give an evil of block strong to the large pharmaceutical laboratories.

Without counting competition. A study undertaken by firm ZS Associates revealed recently that the number of salesmen of drugs had doubled during the seven last years in the United States whereas the number of doctors had increased only by 15% during the same period. What makes so that a doctor can meet to 20 representatives of different medicinal products during the same day!

While deciding to rationalize its production activities of vaccines in Quebec, GlaxoSmithKline (100 000 employees) fits in a wind of continuity. Factories already closed their doors in Belgium, France and Great Britain.

To the United States, GSK comes to announce the elimination of 1000 stations in its team of sale, that is to say 12% of its commercial force. In the hope to save 1 billion $US from here 2012, Bristol-Myers Squibb (41 000 employees) will stripe chart 4300 employment. For its part, Merck (60 000 employees) wants to remove 7200 from here 2011 of them. And Pfizer (100 000 employees) aimed at dividing 10.000 stations in 2008.

hat-tip Muscade

Vietnam: HPAI: Story can not lơ is!

Updated: 09/01/2009 10:33

Yesterday (8-1), the health management and trading of poultry in the world (OIE) has called upon governments of all countries is not lơ in the fight against HPAI.

OIE Director General Bernard Vallat said, though Bùng of avian influenza in the past year and has reduced the number of related deaths also reduce the "story is not finished and hypotheses variations virus still deadly the risk society." Threats from active buying and selling of poultry remains the H5N1 virus to become and, outside control in many countries. Mr Vallat specify the check, and outbreaks in Egypt and Indonesia is not completely effective. Vietnamese alone Male and whether China has been controlled, but vaccination measures vaccine is too expensive and can not sustain in the long run. Vallat He also called for rich countries to support poor countries in check, prevent, if not the process of trade globalization will soon make the disease spread, the consequences are very disastrous.

Resume of Bùng in Asia in 2003, avian influenza has caused 248 deaths in people, in which Indonesia has to 113 people. Especially number of poultry is canceled after. First week, China confirmed patients 19 years old woman died after contact with sick ducks for sale in markets in Hubei and the government immediately deployed to check the Bùng not detect the outbreak. At the same time, Medical Center, said Hong Kong, according to test results gen, influenza virus A H9N2 detected in the baby girl of 2 months old to 12 months have originated from birds.

Thanh Hoa: Patients with influenza A H5N1 has recovery

Thanh Hoa: Patients with influenza A H5N1 has recovery
Updated: 8/1/2009 17:24
As news, child 8 years old baby in Thanh Hoa province is a case of influenza A H5N1 infected the first 10 months after the Vietnamese have no cases. Until this time, you baby's health was good recovery, of fever, aware, and almost all difficulty breathing.


Even when the results form the disease from Thanh Hoa sent out, the delegation of scientists under the sanitation epidemiology central to survey the situation in the province are infected. Group 4 consists of the scientists have to Delete the village commune, Dien Trung, Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa province, where the patient 8 years old must be hospitalized several days ago. You children hospitalized with severe symptoms are: high fever, difficulty breathing and is not aware of. Earlier, family and child did eat dead chickens.
Scientists found, from 12/2008 to present, many households in the village Delete dead birds have scattered, the phenomenon this year will appear in the winter-spring. People do not know the cause why the birds died, and probably natural governments and local animal italy also not known. Under normal routine, when birds die, people will do to eat meat, hair and also to dispose of the chickens around the living environment.
Concerns about the spread of the virus in the environment that the scientists are most concerned about by the winter, exposed to the risk of infection with avian influenza is very large. In the area where the fold is the outbreak, the risk of influenza infections bring healing very high. The types of viruses hidden for this opportunity is released and people are infected object first. According to scientists, to ensure safety for human health, should all poultry in the outbreak.
At the village Delete above, even when there is more a case of other mild fever and sore throat, patient samples have been made subject to testing. Results showed that negative, people in this area is still healthy.
According to scientists, this is the season of Respiratory Diseases and flu, the most dangerous is influenza A H5N1. During this sensitive point, people should perform good personal hygiene, keep warm, enhance nutrition for good health to create resistance, prevention of illness.
Thanh Huong

HPAI is still threatened in Vietnam

Nam Nguyen, journalists RFA
2009-01-08

Having robbed the network of 51 people in the past 5 years, avian influenza H5N1 is still threatening Vietnam.



Each car can carry the birds to market, veterinary staff only on a single drug spraying is more germs
In this week, a family in Thanh Hoa have 8 years old baby girl was identified as infected with H5N1 virus are being treated. Prev a baby girl under 13 years old and family life through the 2 / 9 but is for other reasons. Nam Nguyen interview Dr. Van Ky, Manager epidemiology Department of Animal Health in issues related. From Hanoi, he said:

The first two are not the only case of a girl child is only 8 years old, 13 years old but you can not then there is the H5N1 strain, he died the same time so we thought that by H5N1
Dr. Van Registration

A single case in Thanh Hoa

Dr. Van Register: This we have tracked since the beginning, through information from local authorities to send, we have direct guidance in the outbreak.
The first two are not the only case of a girl child is only 8 years old, 13 years old but you can not then there is the H5N1 strain, he died the same time so we thought that by H5N1, but not .
Currently you that the H5N1 infection epidemiology Central identified positive, the child is being treated and have good progress. We determined that only one case only.
Nam Nguyen: Dear Dr., Bùng disease can develop rapidly in the northern, central or region in the Mekong Delta in the season before and after Tet not?

Dr. Van Register: Go ability that we do not dare say before. But as a result vaccinated and guidance ... today has a power steering and powerful at the local, I think is stodgy and not, or if there is only as men in the drive and only small, if there is early detection and treatment immediately, not nature occur and bulk.

I think that is stodgy and not, or if there is only as men in the outbreak only small, if there is early detection and treatment immediately, not nature occur and bulk.
Dr. Van Registration

Nam Nguyen: Dear Dr., H5N1 virus causing the disease to the baby in Thanh Hoa and poultry in Thai Nguyen in the force are signs of genetic change or not?

Dr. Van Register: We regularly monitor, Till now they have not recorded changes in the virus, vaccines immunized H5N1 in China is still good. Presently the epidemiology also told we are not seeing what the change.
This is a case of people exposed to the thousand-thousand dead infected, was able to eat thousand patients had been infected.
It occurred in a mountainous district, people do not know about the dangers of the disease, they are ideal for these types of disease occur frequently, because the disease also focused blood dead poultry, they do not know the risk insurance by avian influenza should be spread the disease. In case of other people and that process is not thoroughly to happen like this.

The training, border control and the direction gắt gao

Nam Nguyen: Dear Dr., Bùng the TQ and the strong and death, chickens, eggs and viscera carry through the northern border is not controlled through a lot, can bring down the plain. According to the measures to prevent thoroughly to have or not?

For control, especially in the provinces bordering the region, we have assigned to the units directly implement quarantine border. In the public power has guided gắt Gao to prevent problems related to production poultry products from TQ.
Dr. Van Registration

Dr. Van Registration: We have much warning, the international project also involved in this. We have the training, media guides for the same.
For control, especially in the provinces bordering the region, we have assigned to the units directly implement quarantine border.
In the content of electricity has gắt Gao guidance to prevent problems related to poultry products from TQ.

Nam Nguyen: Dear in the upcoming festival season, the transport trade and consumption of poultry products will be as big. He has what advice to business and consumers?

Dr. Van Register: We often say that food should feed the birds are the source and the warning is to have the control. We will set up the system italy animals associated with the department of commerce, health care will control the food.

Point is we ask the local with the central established that many test speed control issues quarantine, and then issues prevent disease.

I think that quarantine is only one part only, but the problem is not influenza vaccination can cause recurrence of the new outbreak. We also request the local to review methods of vaccination, the vaccines are now fully comfortable, ready to provide local vaccination requirements for a better immunity.

AVIAN INFLUENZA (04): INDIA (WEST BENGAL)

A fresh outbreak of bird flu was reported in Darjeeling Wednesday [7
Jan 2009], prompting the authorities to restart culling operations,
an official said.

"We have started culling operations at Rangli Ranglikot area of
Darjeeling. This time, a total of 7000 poultry will be culled,"
district magistrate Surendra Gupta told IANS over the telephone.

Gupta said the blood samples of dead poultry from the area sent to
the High Security Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Bhopal had tested
positive for avian flu.

"We got the reports Wednesday [7 Jan 2009] that confirmed that the
dead birds had H5N1 virus," Gupta said.

About 31 000 poultry have already been culled at Matigara in Siliguri
subdivision and Pubang in Takdah of Darjeeing sub-division of the
same district after avian flu was confirmed in the areas Saturday [3 Jan 2009].

The development came 18 days after bird flu struck Malda district in the state.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Susan Baekeland

[For the chronology, epidemiological details, control measures
applied and a map addressing the 1st 18 outbreaks of the current
northeastern Indian epizootic, see OIE's WAHID summary at
<http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=event_summary&reportid=7566>.
The said summary was updated on 2 Jan 2009. The new outbreak in
Darjeeling is yet to be notified to the OIE.

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India is available at
<http://healthmap.org/promed/en?v=22.9,79.6,5>.

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (02):

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo DR) in Western Kasai
Province, health officials are trying to contain an Ebola outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that out of 42 patients, 5
cases of Ebola have been confirmed; 12 others are probable cases, and
25 more are suspected cases of Ebola [hemorrhagic fever].

Gregory Hertl, WHO spokesperson for epidemic and pandemic diseases,
spoke from Geneva to VOA News reporter Joe De Capua about how hard it
is to diagnose a case of Ebola. "Certainly, on the ground, when
you're there in the middle in the jungle or in a very isolated
location, there are many diseases which are endemic in that part of
the world. It is difficult to make a snap and accurate diagnosis of
something being Ebola. Certainly, also, in the early phases of the
disease, there are actually many diseases which have a similar
presentation, which is basically a spike in fever, plus vomiting and
diarrhea. It's only in the later stages of Ebola do you start to see
the tell-tale hemorrhagic symptoms," he says.

Hertl says that the 1st response when a suspected Ebola outbreak is
reported is to get health professionals "on the ground." But it's not
always easy to do that right away. He says: "Unfortunately, many of
these outbreaks occur in extremely remote locations where very few
people have access. So it takes a while to get people on the ground.
But if we had people on the ground at the start of this, we would
want to isolate suspected cases so that there was no possibility of
transmitting the disease onward. We would want to institute proper
infection control procedures in hospitals so that no hospital workers
[become] infected. We would want to do a laboratory testing to
confirm that this was indeed Ebola."

The WHO spokesperson says that the WHO and others would also work
with the communities to make sure they understand what Ebola is and
"what measures they need to take in order to not contract Ebola
themselves and to stop the disease from spreading further."

There's no treatment for Ebola. Hertl says: "There's no anti-viral
medication. There's no vaccine that one can be given beforehand. So,
all you can do is hope that the body's defenses will fight off the
virus. And we know that, unfortunately, the virus can kill up to 90
percent of the people it infects. It's not only deadly; it's easily
transmissible. They can't even touch someone else, because the virus
is transmissible even by the touch of the skin," he says.

It's been difficult to pinpoint the source of Ebola in the bush or
jungle. Hertl says: "It might come from contaminated bushmeat, but
we've also seen other routes of transmission, certainly, even more
so, more plainly, with Marburg (virus), because Marburg, which is a
very close cousin of Ebola, also can be transmitted by bats. If bats
urinate on fruit, which is then eaten, or you come in contact with
bat feces through one means or another, then the disease can also be
transmitted that way. But certainly, yes, one of the 1st ways that we
saw Ebola being transmitted was through bushmeat," he says [These are
presumed modes of transmission, not yet confirmed unequivocally. - Mod.CP].

It's difficult to educate communities in the bush to avoid the
disease, due to its very nature of transmission. "What you really
only can do is try to help them, often times after the fact, to
understand what can be done in order not to transmit it further, not
to endanger the family, loved ones, [and the] community," he says. In
areas where there have been previous outbreaks, communities often
know what Ebola is and what steps to take to prevent its spread. "But
in any time that Ebola 1st surfaces in an area which has never had it
before, that's a big issue," he says.

[Byline: Joe De Capua]

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

[On 31 Dec 2008, the WHO reported that there has been a total of 3
laboratory-confirmed cases of Ebola hemorrhagic fever and that WHO
was 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 upon. This interview with
Gregory Hertl of WHO adds little substance and possibly some
misinterpretation. The situation remains confused, and the number of
cases in the outbreak is now given as 42, comprising 5 confirmed
cases, 12 probable cases and 25 suspected cases. It is not clear how
these categories are defined.

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 (the site of the outbreak) can be found at
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mweka,_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo>.

Health officials in Kinmen on guard against avian flu

Taiwan
eTaiwan News
2009-01-08 01:35 PM

Health officials on the Taiwan-controlled outlying island of Kinmen off China's Fujian province heightened their alert against avian flu yesterday, requiring all passengers coming in through the "mini-three links" route to have their body temperatures checked.

The Kinmen office of the Center for Disease Control under the Cabinet-level Department of Health set up a check point on the wharf for the ferry services between Kinmen and Fujian to measure the body temperature of each incoming passenger from China after being informed that a human case of avian flu resulted in the death of a 19-year-old woman in Beijing two days ago.

Wang Ho-shun, director of the office, told reporters that health officials would isolate any incoming passengers who had developed a fever and would find out who they had been in contact with.

He added that so far no passengers coming in from China showed any suspicious symptoms.

Chinese authorities have informed Taiwan, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), of the confirmed case of the H5N1 strain of human avian influenza.

According to China's Ministry of Health, the woman, Huang Yanqing, who lived on the outskirts of Beijing, died Jan. 5 after developing flu symptoms and tests confirmed she had the H5N1 bird flu virus. The woman appeared to have been infected during the slaughter and preparation of poultry.

Avian flu is primarily a communicable disease among birds, but the WHO and the governments of many countries remain on guard because the avian flu viruses have the potential to mutate and trigger outbreaks among humans.

The mini three links, which refer to ferry services between Taiwan's outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu and Chinese cities in Fujian province, currently offer some of the closest transportation connections between Taiwan and mainland China.

Kinmen lies just six kilometers east of Xiamen in China's Fujian province.

There was no immediate information on whether other ports of entry in Taiwan, including the Taipei Songshan Airport, which receives passengers arriving on direct Taiwan-mainland China flights, would also monitor incoming passengers for flu symptoms.
hattip Helblindi

Ministry tightens bird-flu checks as threat increases

09-01-2009)

Veterinary officers in Tien Giang Province’s Tan Phuoc District vaccinate fowls and ducks at risk of avian flu.— VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue

HA NOI — There is a high risk of re-occurrence of the bird-flu epidemic this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Dev-elopment’s Veterinary Department.

The warning follows an outbreak of the disease on 19 farms in Ba Thuoc District in central Thanh Hoa Province since December 28.

The sister of a girl infected with avian influenza type A/H5N1 died in the province last Friday.

The 13-year-old girl, Bui Thi Phuong, was from Dien Trung Commune where the latest outbreak occurred. She was taken to hospital with symptoms of fever, cough and difficult breathing, said her father Bui Van Hop.

Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, deputy director of Thanh Hoa health department, said she died quickly before any tests could be made.

Earlier, her 8-year-old sister, Bui Thi Thao, was tested positive for avian influenza type A/H5N1. She was hospitalised with fever, cough, sore throat and difficult breathing.

"After five-day treatment, she is recovering," said doctor Le Trong Dung, head of the infectious department of the Thanh Hoa Polyclinic.

Two weeks ago, both girls ate birds raised by their family. The birds are believed to have been diseased.

Thao was the first recorded human case of avian influenza type A/H5N1 in Viet Nam since last March.

Health ministry figures show that five people were infected with the H5N1 virus in 2008 – and all had died.

The Thanh Hoa veterinary department reported that the latest avian influenza strain had affected 380 fowls and led to the culling another 8,000.

To prevent the disease spreading further, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Cao Duc Phat, has sent a circular to provinces and cities urging them to set up missions to frequently check on prevention and control measures and to make sure 100 per cent of the poultry are vaccinated.

He said steps should be taken to strengthen quarantine checks on poultry and other farm animals being transported before and after Tet, the lunar New Year festival.

And he called for publicity to warn people about the dangers of catching or spreading the disease.

Relevant agencies have been asked to set strict controls over the trade, transport, slaughtering and consumption of poultry.

The ministry on Wednesday approved spending VND120 billion ($7 million) nationally on poultry vaccination for the 2009-10 period.

Local authorities had promptly quarantined the area, culled sick fowls and kept an eye on all people relating to this case, said Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, director of the provincial health department.

"Local administrations have set up check-points and increased supervision on the transport and slaughtering of poultry in Dien Trung Commune," said Lo Van Len, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Ba Thuoc District.

The Department of Preventive Medicine and Environment under the health ministry recommends people should not eat sick poultry and report all dead or sick birds to local authorities. They should also only eat cooked food, drink boiled water and wash their hands frequently with soap.

High-risk areas

The risk of bird flu returning to the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta is high now because the disease typically breaks out in winter, local authorities are unable to control free-range ducks.

The delta last year reported 34 bird flu outbreaks in Tra Vinh, Dong Thap, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang provinces and Can Tho Citythat saw 31,350 birds killed or culled.

Yellow Fever Kills Brazilian as Deadly Virus Spreads (Update1)

By Jason Gale

Jan. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Yellow fever killed a person in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul, the southern state’s first death from the virus in more than four decades, indicating the lethal disease is spreading in Latin America.

The patient died in San Angelo city on Dec. 25 from an infection probably acquired in a rural area of Eugenio de Castro, the State Department of Health said in a Jan. 7 statement on its Web site. Laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis, it said.

The patient, a 31-year-old housewife, is the state’s first yellow fever fatality since 1966, the Estadao newspaper reported Jan. 7 on its Web site. The case adds to a wave of infections in humans and monkeys in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Peru during the past 18 months, most of which were caused by infected mosquitoes circulating in jungle areas.

“This case is part of the outbreak in Argentina,” the International Society for Infectious Diseases said yesterday in an e-mail via its ProMED-mail program. “This is an illustration that infectious disease outbreaks do not respect political boundaries, emphasizing the need to focus surveillance on ecosystem areas rather than international limits.”

Tests are also being run on a person from Porto Alegre suspected on Jan. 6 of having yellow fever, according to the health department’s statement. The person had been in the city of Pirapo prior to becoming ill, it said. Neither of the two people tested had been vaccinated, State Health Secretary Osmar Earth said.

‘Devastating Outbreaks’

Earth said 500,000 doses of vaccine have been distributed to residents in areas at risk of the virus, which the World Health Organization says can cause fatal bleeding and spark “devastating outbreaks.”

Brazil recently changed the boundaries of its areas of risk for yellow fever transmission and vaccination recommendations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement on its Web site updated Jan. 5. The southern, coastal area of Bahia state and the northern, coastal area of Espiritu Santo are no longer considered risk areas for yellow fever transmission, while the yellow fever risk areas have expanded in the states of Sao Paulo and Parana.

Yellow Fever has reemerged as a public health threat during the past two decades, spurred by the spread of the Aedes mosquito, a reduction in vaccination rates and increased global travel and urbanization, according to the WHO.

‘No Specific Treatment’

There is no specific treatment for the disease, which can cause fever, muscle ache and nausea. About one in seven sufferers develop severe complications, including hemorrhaging and kidney failure, from which only half survive, the Geneva- based WHO said.

Yellow fever circulates mostly among monkeys in jungles or forests. It can cause outbreaks in humans when a person infected in the jungle travels to an urban area and is bitten by an Aedes egypti mosquito, which subsequently transmits the virus to other susceptible people.

In June, two deaths were confirmed in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s economic center, the country’s Center for Epidemiological Surveillance said.

For Related News: Latin American health stories: TNI LATAM HEA Top health industry news: HTOP Top Latin American news: TOP LAT

Last Updated: January 9, 2009 00:59 EST

HPAI easy to play Bùng Tet festival

While many local number is coming as the preventive vaccine.

(Dân trí) - After a time ang im some provinces appear poultry died series. Department of Animal Health warning on the back of influenza A/H5N1 and opportunity in this Chinese New Year.

Status poultry died series also took place in Quang Nam Province as the nearly 500 dead chickens, Muscovy ducks. Thai also occurred on. The entire number of infected birds in this province have not been vaccinated according to regulations.

According to Hoang Van Nam, Deputy Director General Animal italy (MARD), cold, dry climate in the North is the ideal conditions for flu viruses to develop the poultry.

Besides, the smuggling of poultry in the provinces bordering the North is increasing rapidly. The number of poultry is illegal dumping of all local and neighboring cities, to serve the needs consumption trends are increasing rapidly, especially in the traditional Tet festival upcoming.

This is the most harmful, causing HPAI Bùng the strength and spread on a large scale.

According to a report by Its italy Thanh Hoa province, to the present avian influenza outbreaks have occurred in 19 households in 6 / 12 villages of the Central Fill in Ba Thuoc district (Thanh Hoa) as 383 dead birds sick. At veterinary officials have destroyed nearly all of the 8000 influenza in 6 villages. 1 has 8 years old baby girl was identified infection virus H5 influenza tuyp food to sick poultry.Previous events complicated by HPAI, NNPTNT Minister Cao Duc Phat sent electricity to the provinces to timely implement all measures rooms and before and after Tet Ky Sưu.

Ministry of Health also make recommendations about H5N1 disease in people. The epidemic prevention experts recommend that consumers carefully in the time now. Should buy poultry in the base guarantee. Must wear gloves when slaughter and wash hands with soap. Absolutely not use sick poultry, died.

Ministers requested the local authorities quickly established mission to inspect the prevention epidemic levels take time, review all of influenza vaccine under the object in the province, additional injection of influenza also omitted, strictly control the transport trade of cattle and poultry over the border.

Ministry of NNPTNT was allowed to approve projects using vaccines to control diseases and payment HPAI in the high period 2009 to 2010. Expenditure for this project to over 120 billion.

Germany-Suspected Bird Flu.

A low form of bird flu may have been found on a turkey farm in Germany, it was revealed on Thursday.

The farm in the Cloppenburg area, have culled 4,800 turkeys from the flock on the farm and H5N3 virus has been confirmed on a near by farm in the area.

The government is running tests on the suspected birds

Protect UPDF against ebola, says DP

Kampala

The Democratic Party has advised the government to take precautionary measures on the safety of UPDF soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following an outbreak of the dreaded Ebola hemorrhagic fever in the area.

DP President John Ssebaana Kizito said the soldiers’ mission in DR Congo to pursue the Lord Resistance Army rebels was good but might turn tragic when they carry the Ebola virus back home.
“We are very worried that Ebola might be carried by our soldiers on their way back. We appeal to the Ministry of Health to be more vigilant along the border and examine our soldiers who are returning home,” he said.

Last month, a joint force of the UPDF, the Congolese army, FARDC and the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army launched a military offensive against the LRA rebel camps in the forested Garamba National Park in the DRC following the rebel leader Joseph Kony’s refusal to sign the final peace agreement to end the two-decade war in the north.

Mr Ssebaana made the remarks during the party’s weekly press briefing in Kampala on Tuesday. Information emerged last week that there was an Ebola outbreak in the neighbouring DRC and two people had been confirmed to have died of the virus. DR Congo’s Ministry of Health declared on December 25 that there was an outbreak of Ebola in Mweka District, Kasai Occidental province.

The Director General of Health Services, Dr Sam Zaramba, said the health ministry had communicated to immigration staff at Uganda’s western border points to monitor all people including refugees fleeing from DR Congo into Uganda. “We have asked immigration officials to immediately contact our medical staff in the vicinity in case of any suspicion,” Dr Zaramba said last Thursday.

The World Health Organisation (Who) last week said of 35 suspected cases, including 11 deaths, in western Kasai province, nine were confirmed as Ebola deaths. A major Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, then known as Zaire, in 1995 killed 250 out of the 315 people known to have been infected, including health workers.

Late 2007, Uganda suffered an Ebola outbreak in the western district of Bundibugyo, which claimed 37 lives out of the 148 infected. And since that outbreak that was officially declared over on February 20, 2008, Ugandan health ministry has been on the alert for any eventualities.

Ebola virus is highly contagious and causes a range of effects including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, malaise and in many cases internal and external bleeding. Mortality rates of Ebola fever are extremely high, with the fatality rate ranging from 50 per cent to 89 per cent, depending on the viral sub-type.

Angola widens border closure with DRC over Ebola

Thu Jan 8, 2009 10:29am GMT



LUANDA, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Angola has increased border restrictions with the Democratic Republic of Congo where an outbreak of the highly contagious and deadly Ebola virus is believed to have infected 40 people and killed 13.
State-owned daily Jornal de Angola said on Thursday migratory movements between part of Angola's eastern province of Moxico and the DRC were suspended, days after authorities closed the border of its Lunda Norte province with the DRC.
The outbreak of the Ebola virus is believed to have taken place in the DRC's Western Kasai province in November. The viral haemorrhagic fever is one the deadliest in the world, killing 50 to 90 percent of its victims.
Angolan Health Minister Jose Van-Dunem said on Monday no signs of the Ebola virus had been found in Angola.
He urged the military and police to be on alert for any possible signs of the Ebola virus in the eastern and northern provinces of Moxico, Malange, Uige, Lunda Sul and Lunda Norte because of their proximity with the DRC.
The World Health Organisation representative in Angola Diosdado Nsue-Micawg, told Reuters he feared the Ebola virus may have come from dead monkeys in the forests of the DRC.

Tanzania Act To Contain Suspected Ebola Outbreak - Officials

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AFP)--Tanzania dispatched health officials to regions bordering Congo to contain a suspected ebola outbreak, officials said.
"Experts have been deployed to five regions closer to Congo, which are Mbeya, Kagera, Rukwa, Kigoma and Mwanza," health ministry spokesman Nsachris Mwamwaja told AFP.
"People will be educated on ebola's causes, symptoms and prevention measures."
Angola has shut down its border with Congo to protect its population from any spread of the virulent virus, which is suspected to have killed at least 13 people and infected 42 in central Congo since it was detected two months ago.
Ebola is fatal in about 50-90% of cases.

DRC Suspected Ebola Cases Rise to 44

By Joe DeCapua Washington D.C 08 January 2009

Efforts continue to contain the Ebola outbreak in the DRC’s Western Kasai Province. The epicenter of the outbreak is a village called Kaluamba, the scene of a previous outbreak in 2007. Thirteen deaths have been reported so far.
Dr. Michel Van Herp is with Doctors Without Borders. He is the head of mission in Kaluamba and spoke to VOA’s English to Africa Service reporter Joe De Capua about the current situation there.
“For today, we have 44 cases in the data base and among them we have 13 deaths. It’s clear that among the cases, we still need to…work to determine very well who are probable of (having) Ebola and who is not (infected with) Ebola,” he says.
Lab tests are currently underway to determine the exact number of Ebola cases and those tests cannot be done in the field.
“For the moment, the outbreak seems to be very localized.… It’s really the same village as September 2007, where we had an outbreak of Ebola,” he says.
Van Herp says that the current outbreak differs from last year’s in that alerts of a possible outbreak were filed much more quickly this year, and thus brought a quicker response. “We hope that the disease will remain in the same area and will not be exported outside the area where we work,” he says.
After initial reports of an Ebola outbreak are made, Doctors Without Borders sends an outreach team to the area to confirm those reports. If the outbreak is confirmed, sick people are either placed in isolation or special measures are taken to care for them in their homes. The latter is done if patients fear being placed in isolation. Health officials also need to know who the patients came in contact with and monitor those people for symptoms over the next 21 days.
Since there is no actual treatment for Ebola, what can be done to help patients? Van Herp says that placing them in isolation actually gives them a slightly better chance of surviving because doctors can treat some of the symptoms. Or, since Ebola is extremely painful, they can give patients medication “to ease their suffering.” Van Herp says that the medication also allows patients to die “with some dignity.”
The epidemiologist says more research will be done next to find the source of the initial infection. In the past in Kaluamba, the suspected source of Ebola was a dead animal or bat found in the bush.

The Vaccination Not the Solution to Bird Flu

Jum'at, 09 Januari 2009

The program of the poultry vaccination that was proclaimed by the government to prevent bird flu being focussed on by Dr Chairul Anwar Nidom DVM Ms, the researcher Tropical Disease Diagnostic Center (TDDC) Unair.

He said, this vaccination could precisely make the spreading of bird flu increasingly high. According to the Unair lecturer, the vaccination was almost certain can not stop the spreading of the bird flu pandemic.

In an other point, the vaccination could even make the virus increasingly raging because the poultry had antibodies.

Personally, I did not recommend the vaccination. Because, the step made the situation increasingly was difficult, said Nidom in Javanese Pos yesterday.

From the side of economics, continued Nidom, the vaccination could indeed bring the profit. Because, when being affected by the bird flu virus, the poultry that was vaccinated will not die. On the other hand, the poultry without the vaccination at once will die if flattest this deadly virus. But, his risk was big. Because, faeces (the waste, Red) the poultry continued to contain the virus. The potential to spread to humankind still really big/great,''jelas Nidom.