Saturday, January 24, 2009

WHO Figures For Bird Flu Cases In Humans

Following is a list of confirmed human cases of H5N1.
WHO Figures For Bird Flu Cases In Humans



TEXT
Published: January 24, 2009 17:28h

China reported its fourth human death from the H5N1 bird flu virus this month on Saturday, this time in the far northwest region of Xinjiang.

 There have been 252 human deaths globally from the H5N1
strain and 399 confirmed cases of infection since 2003,
according to WHO data.

 Following is a list of confirmed human cases of H5N1. Total
cases include survivors.

 

                          Deaths        Total cases
AZERBAIJAN 5 8
BANGLADESH 0 1
CAMBODIA 7 8
CHINA 23 34
DJIBOUTI 0 1
EGYPT 23 52
INDONESIA 115 141
IRAQ 2 3
LAOS 2 2
MYANMAR 0 1
NIGERIA 1 1
PAKISTAN 1 3
THAILAND 17 25
TURKEY 4 12
VIETNAM 52 107
-------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 252 399
-------------------------------------------------

 The H5N1 virus remains mainly a bird virus. Experts are
monitoring it for signs of mutation into a form easily
transmitted from person to person, a development which could
trigger a deadly pandemic.

 So far, most human cases can be traced to direct or indirect
contact with infected birds.

 Initial tests usually take a day or two to confirm if
someone has H5N1. More detailed testing by government
laboratories or those affiliated with the WHO can take a week or
more.

AVIAN INFLUENZA DETECTED IN BRITISH COLUMBIA



OTTAWA, January 24, 2009 — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of H5 avian influenza virus in a commercial poultry operation in southern British Columbia.
Pathogenicity refers to the severity of the illness caused in birds. Tests to date indicate that the strain of AI in this case is low pathogenic. Further testing is underway to confirm pathogenicity and to determine the precise subtype and strain of the virus.
Avian influenza viruses do not pose risks to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked. Avian influenza rarely affects humans, unless they have had close contact with infected birds. Nevertheless, public health authorities will take precautionary measures as warranted.
All birds on the infected premises will be humanely euthanized and disposed of, in accordance with provincial environmental regulations and internationally accepted disease control guidelines. Once all birds have been removed, the CFIA will oversee the cleaning and disinfection of the barns, vehicles, equipment and tools to eliminate any infectious material that may remain.
In order to limit any potential virus spread, the CFIA is applying restrictions on the movement of poultry and poultry products within three kilometres of the infected premises. The CFIA is relying on all backyard poultry owners to monitor their flocks and immediately report sick or dead birds. Poultry owners are urged to take an active role in protecting their flocks by employing strict biosecurity measures on their property.
The CFIA is investigating any recent movement of birds, bird products and equipment onto and off of the infected property.
Animal health and public health authorities from the Province of B.C., local poultry specialists and industry are actively collaborating in this response effort. The CFIA is conducting a thorough epidemiological investigation of the premises. A shared commitment by all involved has maximized the Agency’s ability to contain and eliminate this situation as quickly as possible.
The CFIA is notifying the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and international trading partners of this situation.

New information will be provided to the public as it becomes available.
-30-
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media relations: (613) 773-6600

Eight northern provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) plague defense held an enlarged meeting in Beijing

[I remember this. I just came upon it again....and I thought I would post it, in case you missed it the first time around. Note the Date..December 11th. This is from the Ministry of Health Website]

December 11, 2008 , Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi eight northern provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) plague zone enlarged in Beijing. Health Minister Chen Zhu and Vice Mayor of Beijing Municipal People's Government丁向阳also attended the meeting. Chen Zhu, Minister made a presentation entitled "summing up the past to deal with the challenges to achieve joint prevention and control of plague scientific development" an important speech. The theme of the conference is a comprehensive summary of the original seven northern provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) plague defense health security since the founding of the Olympic plague prevention and control work, officially launched the eight northern provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) plague joint working mechanism, scientific analysis of the current national anti-plague control the situation, a systematic assessment of a "national plague" Eleventh Five-Year Plan "(2006-2010)" medium-term implementation of a period in the future deployment of plague prevention and control work. Emergency Office of the State Council, the State Council departments concerned, the eight northern provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) People's Government and the health department (bureau), Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang, Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces (autonomous regions) Health Department, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and related provinces in disease prevention and control institutions (including plague prevention and control bodies) on behalf of a total of about 120 people to attend the meeting.
Chen Zhu, the Minister stressed that the CPC Central Committee and State Council attaches great importance to plague prevention and control work. At all levels throughout the health sector, especially the northern provinces and cities in eight health departments should fully understand the danger of plague and unexpected epidemic, from practicing the "people-oriented" a high degree of scientific development concept, to the people's health and life safety responsible for sustainable development on the national economy and responsible attitude, seize the current deepening of the medical and health system opportunity to further strengthen our plague prevention and control work for the realization of the health of China's grand goal of 2020 for building a socialist harmonious society contributions.
Chen Zhu, the Minister also pointed out that the health sector at all levels, especially in the eight northern provinces and cities to strengthen the work of the health sector leadership, strengthen the awareness of plague prevention and control; a systematic summary of the original seven northern provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) plague defense work experience, improve the north eight provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) joint working mechanism plague; organizations implement "national plague prevention and control," Eleventh Five-Year Plan "" implementation, the overall advancement of plague prevention and control of emergency work; improve the current plague prevention and control strategies, the scientific work to upgrade the level of plague prevention and control of emergency ; the strengthening of plague prevention and control of the basic work, fast and effective disposal of plague and other public health emergencies.
The meeting also discussed the "eight northern provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) plague joint program of work (2009-2012)" concrete implementation of the measures considered in 2009 the eight northern provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) plague the work of joint prevention and control points to study the 2009 National plague prevention and control work.

Shandong termination of human avian influenza cases two major health emergency response

January 24, 2009

Excerpt:

At 18:40 on January 17, Jinan, Shandong槐荫occurred case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza deaths. Subsequently, Shandong Province, launched a human avian influenza major public health emergencies II-class emergency response. Provincial, city and district disease prevention and control institutions three daily engaged in poultry breeding, slaughtering, marketing and other occupational exposure to poultry takes the initiative to monitor the crowd, as of January 23, a total of 11,217 people monitoring;-depth monitoring of community-based family-home survey 402,798 views; Jinan City, all kinds of medical institutions at all levels to monitor the cumulative 31,856 cases of respiratory medical cases, the cumulative report槐荫District 586 cases of influenza-like people, no suspected human avian influenza cases have been reported.

Health Department of Shandong Province, according to the relevant person in charge, at 7:30 on January 24, Shandong Province, have all lifted the famous 157 in patients with avian flu in close contact with persons under medical observation. At present, the province's no animal bird flu report, issued no new human bird flu cases and suspected cases reported. The body of the patient and medical waste and pollution places hygienic processing has ended, related to the epidemiological investigation, specimen collection and virus isolates the work has been completed. The human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic and related problems has been to control risk factors. This case does not have the basic conditions for human to human.

Chickens imported from illegal TQ increase concerns about avian influenza

22/01/2009



Between the Chinese confirmation of the deaths by a third cause flu in chickens this year for a youth 16 years old in the province's Nam, Tan Hoa commune announced an all-scale poultry in areas with disease. Chicken ducks from China include illegal in Vietnam not only threatened the farmers but also the consumption again.

News on your site daily newspapers Saigon Giai Phong that the editor in Lang Son province recently made 16 chicken import illegal to experiment and discover 8 children become infected H5N1 virus causing chicken flu.

News said the authorities had blocked the many dozen trucks are trying to bring to 2 tons of illegal imported chickens to Lang Son, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh and Hanoi.

Do remain, Director of Animal Health Lang Son, said that officers under the zoo italy has followed the trial and found 50% vision test samples taken from the illegal import chickens infected with H5N1 withdrawn. He Nong Ngoc Tang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development show that concern previous rate and leave for home or the authorities will dep evils poulterer illegal import.

Duong Van Sinh, a management market in Lang Son province, acknowledged to be difficult to prevent them entering illegal smuggling of people earn more profits in the poulterer.

News said the smuggling buy chickens from ducks to China from 12,000 to 12,700 VND a kilo, but the selling price to 60,000 or 70,000 a signed contract in Vietnam.

About Friendship accountability concerns because people have consumed all the chickens and I do not have a test is conducted to see the chickens are sick or not.

In a meeting by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development summoned, the Committee of the National Chicken Flu Prevention concerns about cold weather winter prices are very favorable for the chicken flu outbreak.

Ministry of Rural confirm chicken flu outbreak was at Thanh Hoa province and Thai Nguyen.

Bloomberg News said the number of Luong Agriculture Organization United Nations, from 2004 to 2007 of the chicken flu often increase in Chinese New Year festival.

Vietnam: Tet festival, the more lethargy to H5N1

Thursday, 22/1/200

H5N1 outbreaks risk gumshoe everywhere but, as close to Tet, the more stolid use influenza unknown origin, not through quarantine.

People and not fear

Cuc market in Nghia Tan (Hanoi), in the morning and evening, there is always one you poultry operation available. No table, not just a broken nilon pineapple or portions of a statement describing the few birds that can sell. From chickens, ducks, Muscovy ducks ... what has. Buyers just surfing through this series of sales she has had the offer.


Influenza unknown origin difficult to control

Do car chain before selling poultry meat, Taiwan women in the group of Tan asked me to buy chicken. She brisk sales: "Chicken What you also have children! Our chicken, chicken industry, for a chicken rice, short, ducks they buy what she has."

She also Taiwan should not see chickens have quarantined or, just turn on, turn the chicken, then purchase price immediately. The chickens in the children she has just bought Taiwan finished, she immediately sell from time to a place other chickens to position it to sell more.

Pedal around a range of poultry products, one easily noticed is not a store poulterer have quarantined paper. That explains why the sales she always low thơm, invigorate the police, the quarantine.


Chicken surgery is not available quarantine, chicken contains one year queo below. (Photo: Le Ha)

She Xoan, a sale in the market this Thanh Minh Cuc "influenza very healthy. We buy poultry in the operation and then carry out this sale, if the poultry disease we hazards Yes. And Ha I do have the HPAI. Dịch in any way but the province. Sales for Cuc should be presented to the nilon easy running order wards. If they are under, I just could rank làn is to stop running. Quick but safe. "

Yes Xoan as you say, at the top to the order of the wards are military. Immediately the sale of her book all support each other nilon, poultry to run at times and the neighborhood group "lánh them."

According to observations by journalists, crowded market, with about as many meals should not salty but the shops in the market, or of decorum. They stop where facilities for the purchase of the fast. Even many who are sitting in the car to Vendor chosen to cash out and pay them.

Right along Nguyen Trai road, the road to Ha Dong much for Cuc mọc and sales type "run" on as many. Pork, poultry seven days on the sidewalk, grit, not quarantined. Retailers that sell complete, the buyer bought impassible. HPAI risk gumshoe anywhere.


Parks influenza have quarantined paper like this are few. (Photo: Le Ha)

Status selling poultry, poultry use unknown origin in the near Tet festival is taking place in many markets. Any market which has''army "hawk, not through quarantine.

Industry does not function as xue

After 10 months of "quiet ang" HPAI has appeared again, especially had the H5N1 strain of the infection and one death due to infection of influenza A/H5N1. In addition, many provinces and cities also appear infected poultry. However, people still considered more often, especially near the Tet festival.

Nguyen Van Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of Health Hanoi, said: "The functions are implemented as many measures, but if people still feel detached sales, poultry food, water blocked the origin, it is difficult avoid the risk of outbreaks of Bùng. On inspection last week at the market through successful, Hanoi area, selling chicken meat clean (with seal, certificates quarantined) Yes hoe, but the selling live chickens, slaughter on the spot again tấp load buyers. Meanwhile, according to regulations, the business owner is not poultry slaughter in the internal market ".


Vertical market Cuc Tan a series of sales not sell chickens, not control this disease. (Photo: Le Ha)

Related issues, hygiene and safety of food in Tet festival, Le Anh Tuan, Director of the Department of Health, said Hanoi, Hanoi has deployed 612 inspection groups, monitoring the area cities.

The groups are equipped with the necessary means, the quick test to try to effectively check the fastest. The products are focused on the chance to check this is the goods consumed in the occasion of Tet as bread, Mứt, sweets, time father, wine, beer ... If you discover any violations will be handled seriously ATVSTP the Ordinance and regulations of the state.

According to Tuan, the policy of the city is limited to the maximum of the food poisoning occurred in the opportunity before and after Chinese New Year. However, before the expected measures to manage the state, the consumers who played an important role in the market to ensure food safety and quality.

Due to the strong advocacy in recent years the awareness of the problem to ensure people's ATVSTP Hanoi has improved significantly, but still up to 30-35% of cases not receiving proper or not accept the good. Therefore, measures to strengthen inspection, supervision and control is only about 65-70% of food on the market.

According to Le Ha

Vietnam: Every tons of chicken waste types massively into Lang Son

Updated at 08h19, on 19/01/2009
Excerpt:

Until now, the Animal Health Department has provided more than 9 tons in drug targets, the same station for veterinary districts, communes, wards and towns. At the border communes often transporting illegal import of poultry as Bao Lam (Cao Loc), Coc Nam (Van Lang), Tu Mich (Loc Binh )..., agencies veterinary spray is being in the same pathway, off road, where the transfer of high illegal import of poultry before bringing to the province. On the other hand, the health sector and strengthening propaganda, encouraged people before the risk of flu Bùng A. The province is also promoting the health quarantine borders, especially as immigration from the region have.

Doctor Nguyen Sy Nam, Director of Quarantine Center in italy border Lang Son, said at the international border gate of the customers must go through measuring body temperature by infrared ray machine (special attention to the people to from areas HPAI). If there are manifestations of the disease, or high body temperature, they will be to examine ways.

Agency medical Lang Son also reserve rooms and parking available, chemical khử micro-organism, the treatment and isolation italy team physician backup in case of patients with influenza A/H5N1 or outbreaks of Bùng.

China: Add 1 case of death due to avian influenza

[article out of Vietnam]

Updated at: 5:50 AM, 24/01/2009
China: Add 1 case of death due to avian influenza
This is the death of 4 infected by avian influenza in China within less than a month
Again just more victims died because of avian influenza virus in China. Victim is a woman 31 years old, had died on 23 / 1 in the North West area of Tan Cuong.

This information is posted on the website of the Ministry of Health China. Center control epidemics of Tan Cuong also confirmed the women died after a period of time due to infection with avian influenza virus H5N1.

So here is the death of 4 infected by avian influenza in China within less than a month. /.

Sichuan disaster areas to 12 students diagnosed with influenza in Hong Kong after the return to Hong Kong

博讯北京时间2009年1月25日 转载

Sichuan disaster areas to 12 students diagnosed with influenza in Hong Kong after the return to Hong Kong
China news agency, Chengdu, January 24 - Today, went to Sichuan to participate in "earthquake-stricken children brings warmth activities" 12 Chinese University of Hong Kong students and two instructors in Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport upon his return flight smooth. This 12 Hong Kong students to visit the earthquake-stricken area in a period of fever, pharyngodynia such as feeling unwell, after a collective infection diagnosed as seasonal influenza, and in Chengdu in hospital for treatment. At present, except one who still have a fever, the rest have returned to normal body temperature. (Boxun.com)

It is understood that these 12 students from January 19 start to appear, such as a slight sore throat and cough influenza-like symptoms, immediately was sent to Sichuan University, Huaxi Hospital for treatment. Their attending physician, the total physician-patient传染科bell List Jun today to China news agency reporters Jie Shao and Qing Kuangshuo: "The patient to the hospital at noon on the 22nd, the hospital decided to take quarantine measures immediately and check for blood, and there respiratory symptoms of patients have done a chest CT examination. "
Through the inquiry, the hospital found that students did not come into contact with poultry. Immediately, the Sichuan Provincial Disease Control Center has also deployed experts to the students in a professional inspection. The results showed that a sample taken on Influenza A (H i) positive, and all samples of 'H e' of bird flu were negative. Zhong-jun total volumes physician said, "This means that only students infected with the ordinary seasonal influenza, rather than 'H e' pathogenic avian influenza."
Zhong-jun said List, "now is the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year in '49', low-temperature cold weather led to the arrival of the seasonal peaks of influenza. 12 patients with only one complicated by bacterial infection caused pneumonia, has been timely for their anti-flu treatment. The remaining 11 students have been cooling, is gradually returning to health. "
It is understood that the Chinese University of Hong Kong Exchanges Isagawa total of 30 people. The remaining 18 students do not have any symptoms, was late on the 23rd first return to Hong Kong from Sichuan. They and his entourage arrived in Chengdu on January 17, the original plan to carry out exchange activities on the 7th of six nights. Itinerary will include the earthquake-stricken area to the warmth activities, visiting the town of Dujiangyan Zipingpu rehousing the people in disaster areas, the children sent to the disaster area personally woven scarves small gifts, as well as local universities and charitable organizations such as visits.
"Hit the people are very optimistic, very strong." Hong Kong students from Sichuan to reporters at the airport have said that they returned to Hong Kong will continue to pay attention to post-disaster reconstruction in Sichuan, and at an appropriate time once again offer Isagawa love, warmth. (END) _ (博讯Reporter: Mr. roborovskii)

Major health events may not be concealed them late

During the Spring Festival 115 fever clinics rescue team on standby 24 hours on duty

(09/01/24 21:26)

By the Spring Festival period, the city found unexplained pneumonia and other major infectious diseases and major public health incidents of food poisoning, will immediately report may not be late, omitted, concealed.
Municipal Health Bureau yesterday issued a circular calling for the city at all levels to do a good job in all kinds of medical institutions in 2009 during the Spring Festival of the medical and health security.

Once found unexplained pneumonia or suspected human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza and other major infectious diseases and major food poisoning, occupational poisoning and drinking water pollution and other major public health incidents, disease control, health surveillance, emergency medical treatment and other departments to take immediate action in the shortest possible time will be disposed of. Resolutely put an end to the information late, omitted, concealed phenomenon.
It is understood that the city more than two (including 2) medical institutions fever clinics 24 hours on duty. At the same time, the city's emergency medical treatment network of 115 hospitals, emergency medical rescue team to the implementation of the system to listen to classes.
Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Peking University Third Hospital to be treated the focus of fireworks injury, will also strengthen the power of medical duty.

Fatal H5 Infections on Canadian Turkey Farm Raise Concerns

Commentary

Recombinomics Commentary 16:55
January 24, 2009

The initial test, which was conducted at a lab in Abbotsford, was prompted when a worker noticed the birds seemed to be suffering from some sort of respiratory distress.

Mortality among the birds in the two barns at the farm has been normal to “perhaps slightly elevated
,” Stephens said.

The above comments on the H5 outbreak in British Columbia increase concerns that the outbreak is due to H5N1. Although H5N1 frequently causes rapid and dramatic increases in bird mortality, some birds, such as waterfowl, can have asymptomatic H5N1 infections.

H5N1 pathogenicity is linked to a polybasic HA cleavage site and early mortality in experimental chickens. HPAI failures to lead to more symptoms in waterfowl are frequently linked to prior exposure of the waterfowl to low path H5, which creates cross reactive immunity. Media reports have indicated the turkeys have H5 antibodies.

H5 has been widespread in North America in recent years, so terrestrial poultry, such as the turkeys at the above farm could have immunity that would produce mortalities that were “slightly elevated”. Most would be asymptomatic or have some respiratory distress. The clade 2.2 (Qinghai) strain of H5N1 is largely limited to the upper respiratory in waterfowl, but produces fatal infections in naïve hosts, including humans.

More information on the delayed H5 analysis, such as the sequence of the HA cleavage site, or size of the HA or NA insert, would be useful.

DR Congo: Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Kasai Occidental, Situation Report No. 18 of the 22 & 23 January 2009



1. 1. SITUATION EPIDEMIOLOGIQUE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION

The epidemiological situation, to date, is as follows:

- New suspected cases: 1; new deaths: 1.

- Total number of suspected cases: 49 including 34 female, 17 suspected cases are under the age of 15 years, 32 are aged 15 and over.

- Cleaning the chier fi continues, including 12 cases whose samples were tested negative by the laboratory of the INRB. Other laboratory results are expected.

. - Total number of deaths: 15, CFR: 31%.

Residence of patients: 35 to Kaluamba, 2 to Mweka, 1 Nsungi Munene, 2 to Kabau, 6 Kampungu, 1 Bakatombi, 1 and 1 in Mwanyika Luebo.

Total number of contacts under surveillance: 13, the last contact will be unloaded on 13 February 2009.

Number of patients currently in isolation at Kampungu: 0

- New alerts were reported on Friday 23 January 2009 6 in Lubumbashi (Katanga) with 1 death, 2 in the area of health and Mweka 1 in Kananga. Investigations are underway.


Rapport_complet (pdf * format - 71.1 Kbytes)

Cholera cases pass the 50,000 mark in Zimbabwe


More than 50,000 people are now infected with cholera in Zimbabwe's epidemic, which has so far killed 2,773 people, the latest figures from the World Health Organisation said yesterday.

Most alarming, according to Red Cross Red Crescent health experts, is a mortality rate of 5.7 percent, an indication that the outbreak is still far from under control, the IFRC said.

"Overall, this signifies a 20-percent increase in cholera deaths over the past week and rings alarm bells about the need to push back this epidemic and better fund the humanitarian effort on the ground."

"Because of the severity of this outbreak, we fear that it will take many more weeks to get it under control," said Tony Maryon, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) team in Zimbabwe.

Nakhon Sawan Livestock Dept assures bird flu-free poultry sold to public

Nakhon Sawan Livestock Department holds a “Clean and Safe Poultry for Chinese New Year Celebration” event today in order to assure high quality in poultry products sold to consumers.

Today (January 21) at 4:30PM, Mr. Suppakit Boonyalittipong, Nakornsawarn governor, presided over the “Clean and Safe Poultry for Chinese New Year Celebration” event which was held by Nakornsawan Livestock Department. The event was aimed to assure consumers that all poultry products in the market would be clean and safe from the Bird Flu, as being affirmed by a veterinarian team from the Livestock Department which had already conducted quality control and examination on poultry farms in the province. For those poultry farms that had passed the quality inspection, they would receive bracelets which to be tied to the legs of their poultry as an indicator for being Bird Flu-free products.

Therefore, local consumers have been urged to keep an eye on those knotted bracelets when making purchases of poultry for the Chinese New Year Celebration next week. Furthermore, poultry retailers who had also passed the inspection process would have to put the quality guarantee signs given by the Department on their shelves as well.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255201210071&tb=N255201&news_headline=Nakhon Sawan Livestock Dept assures bird flu-free poultry sold to public

Fatal H5N1 Case in Xinjiang China Raises Clade 7 Concerns

Commentary


Recombinomics Commentary 15:50
January 24, 2009

张某某patients, female, 31 years old, living in Urumqi City头屯河区. Patients January 10, 2009 the disease exacerbations after hospital treatment. Because patients in a critical condition, after all rescue measures proved ineffectual, was at 4:40 on January 23 deaths.

January 22, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention collected specimens of patients with laboratory analysis, results for the H5N1 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive. January 24, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on samples of patients with respiratory secretions of the review of testing, results showed that H5N1 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive. Epidemiological survey found that patients have a live poultry market before exposure history.

The above comments, from the Ministry of Health website, raise additional questions about the recent H5N1 fatalities. Urumqi is in the far northwest (see updated map) and has not reported H5N1 in poultry. However, many of these locations were linked together in the 2005/2006 season when China reported a series of poultry outbreaks which were difficult to control. Many or all involved clade 7, which is markedly different than clade 1 or 2, which are the common targets of poultry or human vaccines. There were multiple outbreaks near Urumqi as well as Beijing.

This season those regions have not reported H5N1 outbreaks, but have reported human cases. Clade 7 was confirmed in Jiangsu last month, which preceded the outbreaks in China. Clade 7 was also reported in Vietnam, where there have also been recent human cases.

A/Beijing/1/2009 was said to be like other H5N1 in China isolates between 2005-2008, which would match clade 7, but is also true for clade 2.3.4, which has been associated with human cases previously.

More information on the H5N1 from recent human cases, including clade number, would be useful.

Bird flu hits again killing woman, 31

Source: Xinhua 2009-1-25 NEWSPAPER EDITION


A 31-year-old woman has died of bird flu in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, becoming the fourth death from the disease in the country so far this year, the local health department said yesterday.

The woman, a resident in the regional capital Urumqi, died at 4:40am on Friday. She had been to a poultry market before she fell ill on January 10, said Wang Xiaoyan, deputy director of the regional health department.

She was confirmed yesterday to have been infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Before the death in Xinjiang, three others have died of bird flu and another has been infected in the country so far this year. The first death was a 19-year-old woman in Beijing on January 5, followed by a 27-year-old woman in Shandong on January 17 and a 16-year-old boy in Hunan on January 20.

A two-year-old girl who was critically ill with the disease was out of danger at a hospital in Shanxi on Friday after her vital signs remained stable for six consecutive days.

The death rate for bird flu patients is above 60 percent.

Meanwhile, east China's Shandong Province yesterday ended the emergency response to bird flu, a week after a woman died of the virus.

All the 157 people who had close contact with the woman surnamed Zhang were discharged from medical observation yesterday morning. No one was found to be infected, said a senior official of the provincial health department.

Zhang, 27, who lived in Jinan, the provincial capital, fell ill on January 5 and went to hospital when her condition worsened. Her death was the second bird flu related death in China this year.

The province launched the emergency response after Zhang died and there has been no report of human or animal infections of bird flu since then.

Shandong is taking further measures to prevent and control the virus. It has banned the raising of poultry in urban areas and protected water areas.

Medical workers in the province had put more than 400,000 people under surveillance during the emergency response.

There have been 31,856 cases of respiratory disease in Jinan since Zhang's death and 586 people are suffering from influenza in the Huaiyin District where Zhang lived.

Comments: Onset Dates

Zhang (27): 1/5
Peng (2): 1/7
Wu (16): 1/8
Zhang (31): 1/10

Editing a 2nd time: Onset is on the 10th.:
"She had been to a poultry market before she fell ill on Jan. 10, said Wang Xiaoyan, deputy director of the regional health department. "
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/24/content_10714041.htm

"
She had been to a poultry market before she fell ill on Jan. 10, said Wang Xiaoyan, deputy director of the regional health department. "

"
She had been to a poultry market before she fell ill on Jan. 10, said Wang Xiaoyan, deputy director of the regional health department. "


Edited: This is where I got the information from. I don't think the onset date for Zhang (31) is 1/10 after all.

"Patients January 10, 2009 Disease exacerbations after hospital treatment. Because patients in a critical condition, after all rescue measures proved ineffectual, at At 4:40 on January 23 死亡."

Kuqa County of Xinjiang occurred in foot-and-mouth outbreak

http://internal.dbw.cn/ 2009-01-24 07:22:34
Ministry of Agriculture Web site January 24 reported January 14, Kuqa County, Aksu Prefecture, Interstate Highway 28 mesa animal health supervision and inspection of standing routine inspection found that the state from the Yili Yining County Jiashi County, Kashi Prefecture transported to the 34 cattle in a cow suspected of foot and mouth disease symptoms appear. January 21, by the National Foot and Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory confirmed the outbreak of foot and mouth disease type Ⅰ Asia.

Ministry of Agriculture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People's Government in accordance with the relevant contingency plans in a timely manner the disposal of the work of organizations do a good job in the outbreak of the epidemic areas to implement the blockade and disinfection measures, 34 of the first diseased cow and cattle with the group have all been culled and so innocuous treatment of infected areas, threatened all animals susceptible to implement an emergency immunization. At present, the epidemic has been effectively controlled.

Issued by: Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture

Appears outbreak LMLM on animals in Son La

Updated 00:09 on 24-01-2009


Its isolation has been raising cattle are sick to monitoring, treatment, and suggest Chau Thuan People's Committee banned sales, beef cattle killed in the province, resolvent khử chuồng same camp, established core temporary quarantine time in the Nong Chong Na Cat and to control the disease.

Cao Bang has deployed Sale for the whole network of animal italy grassroots level with the goal of 100% of communes, wards and towns have veterinary staff in 2012. Change with veterinary officials in the construction of the plan to prevent disease of cattle, poultry, coordinated local authorities controlling the purchase, transport animals in the province. Each year, the province will spend about 700 million per year for a team of veterinary communal.

ND-Its italy Son La province since 18-1 in the three years buffaloes and cows in Chieng No, Thuan Chau district missed mom, long móng (LMLM) tuyp O. Results investigation determined the initial outbreak is related to transport cattle from Phu Tho in the framework of the Program 135.

To actively prevent HPAI recurrence, Quang Ngai provincial People's Committee has recently written guidance of the sector related implementation of prevention HPAI before, during and after Chinese New Year, organized vaccination supplement and layout of inspection, monitoring the transport and sale of poultry in the province.

SPECIAL REPORT:AVIAN FLU

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Why be scared, really, really scared

Full-blown outbreak ‘just a matter of time’

By Paul M. Icamina, Special Reports Editor

IMAGINE: a veritable ghost town with deserted streets, most residents locked indoors fearful to venture outside, the schools, offices, banks, malls, public markets and groceries all shut down.

A full-blown bird flu outbreak may create this scary scene. And it is not farfetched in the Philippines. Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd warns that it is “just a matter of time.”

“In the worst scenario, public health measures will be instituted to prevent the spread of infection. These include suspension of public events, closure of schools and public establishments, reduction of unnecessary travel and for the ill to stay home,” the Department of Health (DOH) warns.

“Essential services such as emergency and disaster response, maintenance of peace and order and transportation, water and electricity utilities should be maintained,” says Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, head of the DOH Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Disease Program. “Duty schedules and buddy systems need to be planned.”

“Widespread illness will occur. Large numbers of deaths will occur. Medical supplies will be inadequate,” the World Health Organization (WHO) warns. “Few countries have the staff, facilities, equipment and hospital beds needed to cope with large numbers of people who suddenly fall ill.”

“Social and economic disruptions could be temporary but may be amplified in today’s closely interrelated and interdependent systems of trade and commerce. Social disruption may be greatest when rates of absenteeism impair essential services, such as power, transportation and communications.”

The World Bank estimates a severe flu pandemic could cost $3 trillion and result in a drop of nearly 5 percent in world gross domestic product.

Serious disruption

It is not known how contagious and how virulent a pandemic, or worldwide, strain of bird flu might be. Nor is it known if it will happen at all.

If it does, WHO estimates between 2 million and 7 million will be killed worldwide. The estimate is speculative—and conservative, based on the comparatively mild 1957 pandemic.

In the 20th century, the influenza pandemic of 1918 to 1919—considered exceptional—caused about 40 to 50 million deaths worldwide. It was followed by pandemics in 1957 to 1958 and 1968 to 1969 that were considerably less serious.

The previous pandemics encircled the globe in six to nine months, even when most international travel was by ship. Given the speed and volume of international air travel today, says WHO, the virus could spread more rapidly, possibly reaching all continents in less than three months.

What is certain is that if a pandemic occurs today there will be serious disruption of normal life, with enormous strain on public health facilities and considerable economic loss, dwarfing SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in casualties, social and economic impact.

One possible scenario is that bird flu will render one-third of a country’s workforce sick, with another third too frightened to leave home.

How then would authorities be able to ensure vital services such as clean water, sanitation, law and order and transport?

What if bodies are piling up in morgues with no one on duty to dispose of them?

Should schools be closed? How about offices and financial institutions?

These are just a few of the issues governments now consider when they draw up pandemic preparedness plans.

WHO believes there is still a window of opportunity to turn back the threat. But the situation is now beyond the control of any one country and needs a global response.

Influenza pandemics occur, on average, three to four times each century when a new and highly transmissible virus emerges against which there is no immunity.

Many experts agree that another influenza pandemic is due.

Deadly strain

A pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and starts spreading as easily as normal influenza—by coughing and sneezing.

Because the virus is new, the human immune system will have no pre-existing immunity. This makes it likely that people who contract pandemic influenza will experience more serious disease than that caused by normal influenza. Most affected will be previously healthy children and young adults.

While the virus does not jump easily from birds to humans or spread readily among humans, a pandemic could begin if the H5N1 virus that causes bird flu evolves to a form as contagious as normal influenza.

The H5N1 strain has pandemic potential since it might ultimately adapt into a strain that is contagious among humans. Once this happens, it will no longer be a bird virus—it will be a human influenza virus.

Vietnam believes its health-care system would be overwhelmed if 10 percent of its 82 million people became infected with bird flu. It will then declare a nationwide emergency.

It can cope with a small-scale epidemic but if it turns into a pandemic, Vietnamese health authorities admit they will be almost helpless.

After announcing four human infections in the last two weeks and two deaths this month, China’s Health Minister Chen Zhu warns the country faces “grim” prospects.

The same could be true in the Philippines—if and when bird flu enters the country.

Even if just 2 percent of the population is affected, that is already 1.78 million Filipino patients. Health facilities and manpower will be overwhelmed.

Bird flu per se, says health authorities, is manageable. But a pandemic is another story.

Second phase of anti-bird flu drive starts in eastern Nepal

Authorities have launched the second phase of programme to prevent the possible spread bird flu, in Jhapa district, where the disease was traced in chicken.

Officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives said thousands of chicken and other birds were culled and poultry products destroyed in Mechinagar Municipality, Jhapa, during the first phase of anti-bird flu drive.

The 2nd-phase, which will continue for three months, will include cleaning programmes in sensitive places like poultry firms and sales stores.

The government had issued bird flu alert in Mechinagar on January 16.

Meanwhile, as part of the anti-bird flu surveillance, the Home Ministry has banned transportation of live birds and poultry products in buses and other public vehicles.

The ministry in a statement Saturday said police officials can take action against anybody found carrying chicken and other live birds while using public transport.

Urumqi take active measures to do a good job in human avian influenza prevention and control work

At 19:39 on January 24, 2009

Xinhua Urumqi January 24 (Xinhua Pan) in view of Urumqi There were outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza infection, Urumqi City, health and epidemic prevention department immediately activated the prevention and control plans, and actively take steps to do a good job of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza prevention and control work.

The reporter learned from the Urumqi City Health Bureau, the Urumqi City CDC learned that, at present, Urumqi, the city strengthened the medical institutions at all levels of unexplained pneumonia cases of monitoring, investigation, reporting and management of the establishment of a human avian influenza emergency management team, the implementation of 24 hours a day, ready to deal with the epidemic.

At the same time, the city's medical institutions to strengthen the management of fever clinics, asked if severe pneumonia cases of unknown causes or suspected human avian influenza cases should be promptly reported to health authorities, and the area of disease prevention and control centers, and in the case of Direct Network Report Case in good time before the confirmation.

At present, the Urumqi City disease prevention and control institutions at all levels are arrange dynamic monitoring of the administrative district of the infectious disease reporting information, timely information audit report, the daily periodic meta-analysis area, and changes in the epidemic, and the results of the analysis to the same level health administration department reports; to carry out pro-active monitoring, select key areas as the monitoring points, vocational groups antibody level monitoring, timely detection of risk factors.

In addition, they also strengthened its cooperation with the agricultural sector and livestock sector, business exchanges, exchange of information related to the epidemic, timely detection of suspicious circumstances to prevent the spread of the epidemic and endemic, and strengthened supervision and management of the food market to prevent蛋禽into the market without quarantine, to a good start with the mouth clearance.

Xinjiang confirmed a woman died of bird flu H5N1 dyeing

) (Boxun Beijing January 24, 2009 reprint)

(博讯boxun.com) (Boxun.com)


China has confirmed that in 2009 confirmed the country's fourth human bird flu deaths.

China's Ministry of Health Web site on Saturday (January 24) announced the same day, according to the Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Health Department briefing, a local woman infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1.

It was announced that patients with Zhang, 31 years old, living in the Xinjiang capital of Urumqi City头屯河区.

Incidence of patients on the 10th of this month, and later sent to hospital due to illness, on Friday (23) 4:40 by fully died.

Xinjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday (22) of the specimens collected from patients for testing, the results for the H5N1 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive.China Disease Prevention and Control Center on Saturday officially confirmed after review.

The announcement said the Ministry of Health, according to epidemiological survey found that patients have a live poultry market before exposure history, but the announcement did not explain further details.

Notice that the epidemic occurred, the Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Government has been in close contact with all the strict medical observation, and timely to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological investigation. Up to now, all close contacts are not unusual clinical manifestations.

China will this weekend celebrate the Spring Festival, poultry increased demand. The latest deaths will undoubtedly increase awareness of bird flu transmission between humans concerns.

Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health said earlier that the occasion of the Lunar New Year to strengthen the prevention and control of bird flu to prevent the proliferation and dissemination.

This three patients infected with avian flu in Beijing, Shandong and Hunan died. Administration claims that these places do not have bird flu outbreak.

According to statistics, since 2003, a total of 24 people infected with bird flu deaths, the global death toll is about 250.

Hai Duong culls three tonnes of chickens

The Hai Duong authorities on Thursday exterminated more than three tonnes of smuggled chickens, which were seized in the province.

The Hai Duong Police, in co-ordination with the provincial Market Watch, confiscated 1.6 tonne of smuggled chickens being transported in a lorry. The driver said he had been hired to transport the chickens by a man in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

On the same day, local authorities confiscated 1.5 tonnes of illegal chickens in another lorry.

The drivers and owners of the goods were fined a total of VND7 million (US$410).

In two of the 18 control cities declared the epidemic of influenza


Publication date: 24.01.2009

Account opened grippuyuschih Lida and Grodno. Over three days, 5,171 people there sick. The virus also «otmetilsya» in Novogrudok, Lida and Grodno regions. Sick and the flu in the Vitebsk region: in Sharkovshchina district declared the epidemic. Students from 28 schools of different regions of Belarus have already been sent to the extraordinary vacation.

According to the forecasts of doctors, after one or two weeks, the epidemic and to reach Minsk. In last Thursday appealed for medical assistance 4.294 citizenship, among them 101 patients doctors diagnosed flu. Every day, patients will become longer. Why wait?

- Will circulate the already well known to us two virus subtype A (H1 and H3) and influenza viruses in - said a leading member of the Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Ministry of Health Natalia Gribkov. - Although the epidemic and announced, but the main pathogens yet - adenoviruses and the viruses paragrippa. Why is it dangerous? They reduce the immune system and prepare the ground for the flu. Patients complain of high fever, arthralgia lomotu, cough. But the infection was caused, for example, adenovirus. So it turns out that during the epidemic could perebolet and influenza, and ARI.

More than 740 thousand people who are vaccinated against the flu, take care of their health in advance. However, be vaccinated now too late. How to protect themselves from infection? Lubricate nose oksolinovoy mazyu, by the way, like even an ordinary vegetable oil. Try more ventilate offices and apartments, more than a walk in the fresh air. Doctors also are advised to take preventive drugs remantadin, arpetol and vitamins. Well, if you increased the temperature, not geroystvuyte - immediately call a doctor at home.

Author of: Oksana SIDOROVICH
Photo: BELTA

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (16): INDONESIA, SUSPECTED

Date: Fri 23 Jan 2009
Source: The Jakarta Post online [edited]
<http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/23/cirebon-women-treated-suspected-case-bird-flu.html>


Cirebon women treated for suspected case of bird flu
----------------------------------------------------
A 35-year-old resident of Suka Imut village, Kuningan, West Java, has
been treated at Gunung Jati Hospital in Cirebon, as a suspected case
of bird flu, Antara news agency reported. She was admitted to the
hospital on Thursday night [22 Jan 2009], after being 1st treated at
a local hospital in Kuningan. She was immediately put in the bird flu
isolation unit.

Gunung Jati Hospital spokesperson Haris said Friday [23 Jan 2009]
that the patient was currently being treated and had been given
Tamiflu, an anti-influenza drug. Haris said the hospital sent a
sample of the patient's blood to be examined by the Health Ministry
in Jakarta. According to a neighbor of the woman who took her to the
hospital, she came down with a high fever after 4 of her chickens had died.

--
Communicated by:
M. Randolph Kruger
<memphisservices@bellsouth.net>

UNDIAGNOSED RESPIRATORY FATALITIES - IRAQ: (BABIL), REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Date: Fri 23 Jan 2009
Source: Puk Media [in Arabic, machine trans., edited]
<http://pukmedia.com/News/23-01-2009/news12.html>


Mysterious disease kills 5 people in northern Babil
---------------------------------------------------
According to Hassan, the Chairman of the Commission Services in the
Province, a mysterious disease, which doctors have not been able to
diagnose so far, has spread in Babil province in the past few days.
The regions of Al-Ghazali southeast of the province and the northern
Babil Jurf al-Sakhar, have recorded a number of casualties from the
disease. Doctors believe that a type of fungus infected the lungs and
killed the injured 5 days after infection.

He pointed out that the 7 cases and deaths from the mysterious
disease have occurred in the region of Al-Ghazali 41 km (25.5 mi)
south of Al-Hillah, and Jurf al-Sakhar 30 km (19 mi) north. He called
on the Ministry of Health to work to determine the nature of the
disease, diagnosis, and provision of medical supplies and medicines
necessary for treatment.

It should be noted that last summer [2008] there was an outbreak of
cholera in Babil that spread to several regions in the province as
announced by the local government. Particularly affected was the area
of Al-Ghazali and surrounding areas, where recently there was also an
outbreak of measles.

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

[The machine translation above is less than perfect but suggests that
there have been 7 cases and 5 fatalities related to a respiratory
illness in Babil province of Iraq during the past few days. At
present the diagnosis is unknown, but local physicians are suspecting
a fungal etiology. Apparently the course of the disease is rapid with
fatalities occurring within 5 days of onset of illness.

In the absence of further information, it is very difficult to
speculate on the possible etiology, especially a fungal etiology
associated with a rapid down hill course. One wonders if the actual
disease is associated with an acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS), producing a "white out" effect on chest x-rays. But, rather
than speculate further, it is more prudent to request more
information from knowledgeable sources on the clinical picture,
laboratory testing performed to date, and equally important, the
epidemiology of this apparent cluster -- does there appear to be
person-to-person transmission, what is the age distribution of cases,
is there a possible common animal exposure?

Babil province is south of Baghdad and can be located on the map of
Iraq at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_pol_2004.jpg>.
For the HealthMap/ProMED interactive map with links to other recent
ProMED-mail postings on health related events in Iraq and neighboring
countries, see <http://healthmap.org/promed/en?g=98229&v=33,43.8,5>. - Mod.MPP]

Fourth death from bird flu reported in China

2009-01-24 17:27

URUMQI -- A woman has died of bird flu in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, becoming the fourth death from the disease in the country so far this year, local health department said Saturday.


A child feeds pigeons in the capital city of Beijing in this undated file photo. A woman has died of bird flu in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, becoming the fourth death from the disease in the country so far this year, local health department said Saturday. [Agencies]

The 31-year-old woman, who was only indentified by her surname Zhang, died at 4:40 a.m. Friday.

The death rate for bird flu patients is above 60 percent, which has already claimed four victims in China so far this year. The first death was a 19-year-old woman in Beijing on January 5, followed by a 27-year-old woman in Shandong on January 17 and a 16-year-old boy in Hunan on January 20.

Another 2-year-old toddler patient who was in a critical condition for more than a week in Shanxi province after contracting bird flu is out of danger, health authorities said on Friday.

Indo: The Health service was Still Low

Sabtu, 24 Januari 2009

Bukittinggi, Padek—Direktur developed the Medic's Service Spesialistik Department of Health RI Dr K Mohammad Akib Sp.Rad, MARS said, at this time, Indonesia faced the dual burden in the development of the health.

This followed the re-increase in several infectious diseases (re-emerging diseases), while the degenerative illness began to increase with berubahan the pattern of the lifestyle. Besides this, emerged also various new illnesses (new emerging diseases), for example the acute respiratory tract illness like influenza or bird flu that could become endemic in fact pandemik.

On the other hand, the hospital was pointed in the challenge that was increasingly big together with the development of science and technology as well as the height of the awareness of the community received perayanan the health in the high-quality hospital. ”Untuk that, the hospital and other facilities of the health service must be able to give the high-quality service, akuntabel, transparent against the community. Especially for the safety guarantee of the patient (patient safety).

Moreover Nomor UU 8 in 1999 about Consumer Protection became the challenge that must be anticipated by the service practitioners kesehatan,” firm Mohammad Akib.

That was raised by Mohammad Akib, in the writing address that was given Kasi the Guidance and the Evaluation developed the Medic's Service, Department of Health RI Dr Wahyuni Indra Pabayanti in In House Training in the guide's test WHO ”Infection Prefention and Control of Epidemic-and Pandemic-Prone Acute Respiratory Disease in Health Care” in the Hospital Dr Ahmad Muchtar (RSAM) Bukittinggi, yesterday.

Moreover, he said, also was demanded gave the service that was professional with the implementation of UU about the Kedokteran Practice that was aimed for the assurance of the law. Both for the recipient of the health service and gave the health service. With the existence of the handling and efficiency that were good from the official of the hospital against the patient of the channel illness prnafasan acute that came, will interrupt the spread link of this illness.

The implementation In House Training that took place for three days from Thursday (22/1) to Saturday (24/1) that, RSAM Bukittinggi Director, Dr H Azwir Dahlan, erharap, so that the service that was given to the patient is increasingly good. ”Selama this, the person more tended to take medicine to Malacca (Malaysia). In fact from the aspect of means and the infrastructure as well as human resources, we did not lose. Only we were still shallow the aspect of the service. Therefore, this service that was necessary ditingkatkan,” Azwir Dahlan words. (rul)

Authorities detect local human infection by Ebola strain

Saturday, January 24, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Authorities on Friday reported that they have tested one local worker positive for antibodies to the Ebola Reston virus, saying they were still determining if this was the first jump to humans from hogs, even if it had been found in a few people in the 1990s.

"We are looking at the risk of exposure, if the virus was transferred from pig to human or from other [source]," Eric Tayag, chief of the National Epidemiology Center of the Health department, told reporters in a briefing.

He stressed, however, that the person had recovered from the infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) Web site said Ebola Reston causes only mild flu-like symptoms in people, who quickly recover.

"For now, there is no sign that it [virus] is dangerous to humans," Mr. Tayag said in a TV interview Friday night. "The fact that the person developed antibodies means his body was able to fight the virus."

Mr. Tayag said experts were still trying to trace where the person concerned contracted the virus. "Right now, we cannot link it to pigs," he stressed.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said in the same briefing that the antibodies developed by the person concerned showed that "it was an old infection, maybe [the exposure was] 18 months to two years ago."

He stressed that the virus posed "negligible risk to human health" for now.

The WHO Web site that while humans had tested positive of the strain during the outbreak among macaques in the Philippines from 1989-1996, detection in two hog farms in Luzon last year was the first time the strain was found in pigs. The Ebola Reston virus was first discovered in the Philippines in 1989 among crab-eating macaques that were exported to Hazleton Laboratories in Reston, Virginia.

The 22-man mission composed of experts from WHO, World Organization for Animal Health, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as well as from the Agriculture and Health departments, tested 50 persons in farms and slaughterhouse who might have been exposed to infected hogs. The 10-day mission ended late last week.

Mr. Duque said the government will also test more blood samples taken from hogs earlier during a foot-and-mouth disease detection campaign. "We have on hand more than 4,000 blood samples and those are now being subjected to tests," he said.

"We have many blood samples in the Bureau of Animal Industry so it can be an additional step to test it for possible [Ebola Reston] infection," Renato R. Eleria, chairman of the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc., said in an interview at the sidelines of the press conference.

The government kept under quarantine the two hog farms in the towns of Pandi in Bulacan and Manaoag in Pangasinan where tissue samples of infected hogs were taken.

Furthermore, the voluntary export ban by the government will stay, Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said in a breifing.

The Matutum Meat Packing Corp. in Polomolok, South Cotabato was set to make its first export shipment of pork and pork products on December 10 last year, the same day the Agriculture and Health departments slapped the ban on pork exports due to the detection of the Ebola strain.
hat-tip Rickk

Seasonal Flu was developed was the Bird Flu Vaccine

Sabtu, 24 Januari 2009

Bandung – four vaccine kinds were just developed in Indonesia through Bio Farma. The four new vaccine kinds were the TD vaccine, Pentavalen, Seasonal Flu and DtaP, that began to be produced this 2009.

The Seasonal Flu vaccine entered the clinical test stage that was carried out in several hospitals in Indonesia. According to the Head of the Surveilance Division and the Evaluation of the Bio Farma Product, Bambang Djalimus, the clinical test was carried out to know the impact and the effectiveness of the vaccine. “Setelah the clinical test was finished, the production could be carried out in the year 2009,” flat Bambang in Bandung, on Friday (23/1). This Seasonal Flu vaccine was produced as anticipation towards the bird flu pandemic in Indonesia. Bambang said, if the bird flu pandemic happening, Indonesia was ready with anticipation to take the form of the bird flu vaccine for humankind. To be used as the bird flu vaccine, the vaccine of Seasonal Flu was kept being matched the kind (strain) him. The production plan of this bird flu vaccine was thought of co-operated with Japan since 2006. If being successful, the vaccine of Seasonal Flu this was the first vaccine product that was made in Indonesia.

Uptil now, to satisfy the requirement for this vaccine, Indonesia still must import from France and the United States. In fact the requirement for the vaccine of Seasonal Flu in Indonesia was big enough. Including being the requirement for the routine for the congregation's vaccination of the pilgrim and the congregation umrah. Every year the requirement for this vaccine more than 1 million doses. The height of this requirement made Bio Farma focus the vaccine product of Seasonal Flu. “Memang has had the other interested country, but we give priority to for the requirement in negeri,” said Corporate Secretary Bio Farma, M. Rahman Rustan. As for the number of productions was adapted to the requirement for the Department of the Health. After the vaccine of Seasonal Flu, three other vaccine kinds will be produced in stages.

-snip-

Xinjiang has not yet been found to closely monitor bird flu

http://www.tech-food.com 2009-1-23 16:11:45


January 20, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Department of Health Emergency Office, said Yang Bo, Xinjiang has not found all over the occurrence of avian influenza among poultry, no cases of human avian influenza.

Recently, Beijing, Shanxi, Shandong, each confirmed case of human bird flu cases. National Influenza Center director, said the dissemination of human avian influenza cases in China may also occur, but there were no signs of large-scale outbreak.

However, in winter and spring is a high incidence of avian influenza periods, together with the Spring Festival approaching, the frequent movement of livestock and poultry products, trading volume is very large, the bird flu outbreak and spread of risk will be further increased. Autonomous Region Health Department urged local health authorities to strengthen during the Spring Festival health emergency work closely monitoring avian influenza, food hygiene and safety, as well as pneumonia of unknown causes, such as public health incidents and do a good job of early warning monitoring and reporting.

Bo said that took place in Beijing and other places of human avian influenza case has aroused Xinjiang health administrations at all levels and medical institutions, as well as disease control departments have attached great importance to human bird flu fatality rate higher, but because there were no large-scale infections, Therefore the health sector is currently strengthening the surveillance of communicable diseases, if the event of cases, will be immediately carried out an emergency plan in accordance with the relevant disposal.

Xinjiang plans to start to prevent human bird flu

January 24, 2009
Xinhua Urumqi January 24 (Xinhua Pan) in view of Urumqi There were outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza infection, Urumqi City, health and epidemic prevention department immediately activated the prevention and control plans, and actively take measures to Shi, do a good job of human infection of highly
pathogenic avian influenza prevention and control work.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Health Department announced this afternoon on the 24th, Xinjiang confirmed case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases, as patients in a critical condition, after all rescue measures proved ineffectual, was at 4:40 on the 23rd death.

It is understood that the woman patient, 31 years old, living in Urumqi City头屯河区, January 10 in the disease, the condition worsened after the hospitalized patients have a live poultry market before exposure history.

At present, the Urumqi City of the city at all levels to strengthen the medical institutions to monitor cases of pneumonia of unknown causes, investigation, reporting and management of the establishment of a human avian influenza emergency management team, a 24-hour shifts, ready to deal with the epidemic.

At the same time, the city's medical institutions to strengthen the management of fever clinics, asked if severe pneumonia cases of unknown causes or suspected human avian influenza cases should be promptly reported to health authorities, and the area of disease prevention and control centers, and in the case of Direct Network Report Case in good time before the confirmation.

In addition, they also strengthened its cooperation with the agricultural sector and livestock sector, business exchanges, exchange of information related to the epidemic, timely detection of suspicious circumstances to prevent the spread of the epidemic and endemic, and strengthened supervision and management of the food market to prevent蛋禽into the market without quarantine, to a good start with the mouth clearance.

Xinjiang, one cases of confirmed human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases

The Ministry of Health Web site January 24 Health Department reported that the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region January 24 Informed, autonomous regions confirmed case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases.

张某某patients, female, 31 years old, living in Urumqi City头屯河区. Patients January 10, 2009 Disease exacerbations after hospital treatment. Because patients in a critical condition, after all rescue measures proved ineffectual, at At 4:40 on January 23 死亡.

January 22 Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention collected specimens of patients with laboratory analysis, results for the H5N1 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive. January 24 , The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on samples of patients with respiratory secretions of the review of testing, results showed that H5N1 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive. Epidemiological survey found that patients have a live poultry market before exposure history.

According to World Health Organization of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed case definition and China's diagnostic standards for human avian influenza prevention and control of the Ministry of Health expert group to determine the cases of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed cases.

疫情发生后,新疆维吾尔自治区人民政府高度重视,已按照《人感染高致病性禽流感应急预案》采取了相应的防控措施。 Close contacts of all the implementation of strict medical observation, and timely to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological investigation. Up to now, all close contacts are not unusual clinical manifestations. (This article Source: Ministry of Health website)

China reports 4th bird flu death in 2009

BEIJING – A woman in China's far west has died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the Health Ministry said Saturday, the country's fourth death from the virus this year as the biggest festive season approaches.

The victim, a 31-year-old woman from Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang region, had been to a live poultry market before she fell ill on Jan. 10, the official Xinhua News Agency reported, citing Wang Xiaoyan, a deputy director of the regional health department. She died Friday.

-snip-

China reports new bird flu death


24 Jan 2009 08:31:37 GMT
Source: Reuters
BEIJING, Jan 24 (Reuters) - China reported another human death from the H5N1 bird flu on Saturday, this time in the far northwest region of Xinjiang. The Chinese Ministry of Health reported on its website (www.moh.gov.cn) that the latest victim was a 31-year-old woman who died in the early hours of Friday. The Xinjiang disease control centre confirmed that she was ill from the H5N1 bird flu virus, the report said. (Reporting by Chris Buckley; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Friday, January 23, 2009

Up to 60,000 turkeys to be culled after Abbotsford avian flu outbreak


E & H Farms, a turkey farm near Abbotsford.

E & H Farms, a turkey farm near Abbotsford.

Photograph by: Jean Konda-Witte, Abbotsford-Mission Times

METRO VANCOUVER - Up to 60,000 turkeys on a farm near Abbotsford will be culled and their bodies likely composted due to an outbreak of avian flu.

Initial testing has shown birds at E & H Farms are carrying avian flu, but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is awaiting final confirmation from a lab in Winnipeg.

“At this point in time, while we’re waiting for the test, we are making plans for how we will destroy the birds and how we will dispose of the carcasses,” said Sandra Stephens, a disease control specialist with the C.F.I.A.

“We want to be prepared to be able to act very, very quickly once we receive the final word from the lab.”

In an effort to contain the virus, 22 commercial farms in a three-kilometre radius surrounding E & H Farms have been under quarantine since the virus was initially detected Wednesday night. The quarantine means poultry products cannot leave a farm until they have been tested and show no signs of the avian flu.

The quarantine will remain in effect for three weeks after the turkeys are culled, Stephens said.

The initial test, which was conducted at a lab in Abbotsford, was prompted when a worker noticed the birds seemed to be suffering from some sort of respiratory distress.

Mortality among the birds in the two barns at the farm has been normal to “perhaps slightly elevated,” Stephens said.

Initial tests show the virus is an H5 strain, which is an indication it could become highly pathogenic, similar to the H5N1 virus that has killed more than 250 people worldwide. But Stephens said there has been no evidence to suggest it is an unusually dangerous form of the virus.

It’s possible that we could have an H5N1, but it would appear, just by the way this virus is acting, that it’s not a highly pathogenic form, so it wouldn’t be the Asian strain,” she said. There are 16 different H-types of the virus, but it is the H5 and the H7 types that can quickly change from a low pathogenic form to a highly pathogenic form, Stephens said.

Dr. Perry Kendall, provincial health officer, said there is no risk to public health at this time. He said one worker at the turkey farm has possibly been affected by contact with the birds, but measures are in place to ensure the health and safety of anyone else who might come in contact with an infected bird.

“We’ve got rapid communication and if we need to, we can very quickly get out and assess who might be at risk,” Kendall said. “We have protocols in place for the protection that we think is needed for the people who would be exposed if they did a cull.”

Those who come in direct contact with the infected birds will have to take a course of anti-viral drugs as a precaution.

“The risk is really remote that the avian influenza would move to humans or infect a human,” he said.

During the avian flu outbreak of 2004, the virus was never detected in a human, but more than 17 million birds were culled, making it the largest animal cull in Canadian history. Most of the carcasses were composted and Stephens said composting is still the preferred method of disposal.

Kendall said the Asian strain of the virus has never been detected in North America. He said there has been thorough testing and surveillance of both farm fowl and wild birds, which are also known to carry the virus.

Calvin Breukelman, chair of the B.C. Poultry Association’s biosecurity committee, said an emergency response team coordinated by the poultry industry was mobilized Friday morning.

Since the 2004 outbreak, he said farmers have been working closely with the C.F.I.A. to enhance biosecurity and communication.

Despite all the precautionary measures, Breukelman said the local poultry industry is concerned whenever it hears of a possible outbreak of avian flu.

“Of course we’re concerned,” he said. “We want to be able to ensure, first of all that if it is on this farm, that we deal with it effectively and prevent it from spreading any further. That’s the number-one priority for us.

“We’re all hoping for the best with this thing, but if we do get the news that it’s a positive flock, then we’ll have to go in and deal with it accordingly. We just hope that everything’s going to turn out fine.”

Liz Bicknell, spokeswoman with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, said the farm in question has been diligent about biosecurity.

"This particular farm we're dealing with right now, their biosecurity measures are impeccable — they are very, very high," Bicknell said