Indonesia: Sumatara - Update on the 4 Suspected Cases

The article is extremely long. Here are some important facts from it. Click on the title above for the full article.

• 2/24 Four children suspected to be infected with bird flu was still a
  intensive care in hospitals DEPATI amzah Pangkalpinang.
• Rojik Mt Pasirgaram Kades initially revealed on Tuesday (23 / 2), chickens that died in the village the was positive bird flu.
• A number of doctors hospitals Hamzah DEPATI heading Pangkalpinang settlements suspected of four patients suspect bird flu. The team consists of several physician specialists and specialized staff handle patient departed from Pangkalpinang flu burung to Simpang Katis and Sungaiselan, Thursday (25 / 2) at 11.00.
  The team is deployed to a location in order to anticipate outbreaks of bird flu in the two regions had. The team will check the blood of some poultry peliaran citizens and residents.
• PE 105 people committed against residents in RT 1-7
  Pasirgaram Village, a place where many reports of dead birds that happen.
• In handling these cases, action was limited to handling dinkes in humans only, while handling the poultry farms conducted by the department.
• PE carried out to look for suspect cases of bird flu patients with symptoms of high heat above 38 degrees Celsius, sore throats, coughs and colds have direct contact relationship with positive poultry bird flu. These symptoms are then reported tiered.
• "At first inspection, we found no people affected suspect bird flu,
  but we continue to monitor, "he said.
• Bateng health office will monitor continuously for two
  weeks of the suspect bird flu patients and the population is in the location of the outbreak of chicken
  the sudden death.
• Two days after entering a special space Hamzah Pangkalpinang DEPATI hospitals, four children who
  stated suspect bird flu returned to their homes because of perceived condition improved, Friday (26 / 2) morning.
• In addition to reviewing the location, the team also coordinated with the Department Livestock Babel for to anticipate the things that are not desirable. "We give the extension and at the same precautions to calm residents not to panic,
• "Many are afraid to eat chicken. I myself frankly a little scared to eat chicken, "said BPD Chief Husein Pasirgaram Vice Chairman BPD didamping Sumartono to Bangka Pos
  
  
  
  

hat-tip Dutchy

Egypt: Alexandria - Swine Flu Death - Total #271

My list of Swine Flu cases/deaths in Alexandria.

---

2/16:
20 yoAdm: 2/16 Alexandria Fever Hospital
El Mahrosa, El Ramel, Alexandria, Egypt

2/17:
Child - 8 mos old
Adm: Of the Alexandria Fever Hospital

2/19:
Farmer
From: Abeas (Apis) 10 Central District
Adm: Detained in Hospital

2/19:
2 yo
From: Abdul Qadir Amriya district
Adm: Detained in hospital

2/21:
SF Death #269
25 yo - from 6 October

2/27:
Death #271
31 yo
Date Rptd: 2/27

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Minister of Health
(A. U. A)

The Ministry of Health has announced new deaths have been infected with "H-1 The 1" known as swine flu, bringing the total deaths since the disease appeared in Egypt and so far 271 cases.

The ministry said in a statement that the new death of a woman from the Governorate of Alexandria is 31 years.

hat-tip Twall

Hong Kong: the first time in Influenza A H1N1 influenza virus gene "shuffling" phenomenon

February 27, 2010 Source: China News Net
BEIJING, February 27, according to Xinhua Hong Kong's "Ming Pao" report, the scientific community is concerned about the swine influenza virus gene shuffling appeared in Hong Kong! University of Hong Kong who found a pig swine influenza viruses in general, actually contains the human influenza A H1N1 Influenza (commonly known as the human swine flu) virus genes, University of Hong Kong should be further tests to determine the characteristics of this gene shuffling the virus would be more evil even more toxic. Department of Health is closely monitoring whether it has been caught.

Department of Health pointed out that there are currently no signs that Hong Kong people being infected with the gene variant of the virus, preliminary results show that this virus to Tamiflu No emergence of drug resistance, so the discovery of the current public health impact is not a particular appeal to the public need not worry stressed that pork can still be safe to eat. Hong Kong has been more than a third of persons engaged in the live pig trade influenza A H1N1 influenza vaccine inoculation.

Is responsible for the monitoring plan of Hong Kong microbiology Malik Peiris said that this is the first time they found that the general swine influenza viruses and human influenza A H1N1 influenza virus, a genetic shuffling, but he described the discovery "not unexpected", believe that the world There may also be found throughout the gene shuffling.

Center for Health Protection said that samples of them on a human influenza surveillance, did not find this variant of the virus. According to University of Hong Kong to monitor the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse pig samples collected programs, researchers from the slaughter of pigs has been collected nasopharyngeal samples for testing, thus, the only virus with a gene shuffling pigs, have already sold to the market for human consumption. However, the department reiterated that as long as the pork at 70 ℃ or higher temperature cooking, feeding still safe.

Canada and the U.S. develop a new real-time monitoring system for infectious diseases

February 27, 2010 Saturday, 08:23

加拿大多伦多 大学和美国麻省理工学院等机构的研究人员开发出了一种基于互联网的新型综合实时传染病监测系统。 University of Toronto, Canada and the United States institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have developed a new Internet-based integrated real-time infectious disease monitoring system. 本报多伦多2月24日电（记者杜华斌）该系统使用世界航空客运数据，可协助奥运会和其他大规模人员聚集 活动做好传染病预防监测工作。 Newspaper in Toronto February 24 (Xinhua Du Hua-bin) The system uses the world's air passenger data, can help the Olympic Games and other large-scale personnel do a good job gathering the prevention of infectious diseases surveillance. 相关论文发表 在最新出版的《加拿大医学协会杂志》上。 Related papers published in the latest edition of "Canadian Medical Association Journal," on. 参与研究的医 学专家们表示，随着世界人口总数接近70亿，以及乘坐航空交通工具的人员数字急剧上升，再加上经常举行大规模人员聚集的国际活动，比如穆斯林的麦加朝圣、 温哥华冬季奥运会以及即将在加拿大举行的G20峰会等，由此带来的大批人员乘坐飞机旅行，会加速传染病的传播。 Participated in the study of medical experts say, as the world's population close to 70 million, as well as air transport, ride a sharp rise in the number of personnel, coupled with frequent large-scale international events, gathered, such as the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Vancouver Winter Olympic Games and the upcoming G20 summit held in Canada and so on, and the resulting large number of persons who travel by air will accelerate the spread of infectious diseases. 1991年在 美国举行的特奥会上，就曾发生了麻疹疫情，其根源就在于阿根廷运动员将本国当时正在流行的麻疹传播了开来。 1991 Special Olympics was held in the U.S., there was a measles epidemic occurred, which is rooted in the Argentine player who was the national measles epidemic spread open to. 加美两国研究 人员以本届温哥华冬奥会为案例测试了这种新型模型系统，该系统可在传染病的发源地对传染病进行鉴别，有助于阻止传染病传入大型活动举办地。 Canadian and U.S. researchers to make the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver as a case test of this new model system, the system can be the birthplace of infectious diseases, identification of infectious diseases, help prevent infectious diseases into large-scale events held in. 研究人员在 工作中使用了两种用于全球航空旅行和传染病监测的完全独立的系统模型，并结合每年2月温哥华到港国际航班的历史数据，来预测今年2月冬奥会举行时来温哥华 旅行者的出发地。 The researchers used two kinds of work for global air travel and communicable disease surveillance system model of complete independence, combined with Vancouver to Hong Kong in February each year on international flights of historical data to forecast in February when the Winter Games to be held Vancouver travelers point of departure. 历史数据显 示，旅行者来自于世界上800多个城市，差不多有三分之二的人员来自于研究人员设立的25个中心检测点区域。 Historical data show that travelers from more than 800 cities in the world, nearly two-thirds of officers from the researchers set up 25 central check-point area. 研究人员对这些区域集中进行了实时传染病监测，没有发现有国际性流行传染病对温哥华冬奥会构成严重威 胁。 The researchers will focus on these areas in real-time surveillance of communicable diseases, did not find an international epidemic of infectious diseases pose a serious threat to the Vancouver Winter Olympics. 研究人员认为，将世界航空旅行数据和基于互联网的实时传染病监测结合起来，大大提高了全球传染病形势的 预知能力。 The researchers believe that the world of air travel data and Internet-based real-time surveillance of infectious diseases combined, greatly improving the ability to predict the global infectious disease situation. 他们计划将在今年6月举办的加拿大G20峰会和南非世界杯上再次使用该模型系统，同时对其进行进一步验 证。 They plan to be held in June this year, G20 summit in Canada and South Africa World Cup, again using the model system, while its further validation.

Dengue fever cases double in Brazil in 2010

2010-02-27 08:34:32

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Health Ministry announced on Friday that the number of dengue fever cases registered from Jan. 1 to Feb. 13 in the country reached 108,640, up 109 percent from the same period in 2009.

The number of deaths by dengue fever was 31 in 2009, and 21 in the period of 2010 .

The Health Ministry denied that the country is undergoing a dengue fever epidemic, stating that about 70 percent of the cases are concentrated in only five states, which are Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Goias, in the midwestern region, and Acre and Rondonia, in the northern region.

According to Giovanini Coelho, who coordinates the Ministry's National Program for Dengue Fever Control, the rise in the dengue cases can be attributed to the high temperatures and heavy rains registered in the first six weeks of 2010.

Such weather conditions facilitate the reproduction of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the dengue fever.

Coelho admitted that while Brazil is not facing an epidemic, the situation warrants caution and worry, saying there is a risk of an epidemic this year.

"That is why we must intensify the actions to fight against the disease and warn the population and the governors," he said.

The ministry informed that the northeastern states, which usually register a rise in dengue fever cases from March on, were already alert of the problem and advised to increase prevention programs.

126 people infected with A/H1N1 since outbreak in Myanmar

YANGON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 126 people were infected with new influenza A/H1N1 in Myanmar as of Feb. 20 this year since the outbreak of the disease in the country in June last year, according to a compiled statistical report of the local weekly Voice Saturday.

Quoting the Yangon division administration, the report said of the flu patients, 109 have been discharged from hospitals.

There remains 17 such patients, who are confirmed with carrying the virus, are still receiving treatment in the hospitals, the report added.

During this month, the pandemic struck Chin state's Tiddim township, Shan state's Kyaukme and Yangon division's six townships of Bahan, Tamway, Dagon Myothit (north and east), Shwepyita, Hlaingtharya and Hmawby.

Disease control measures are being taken with added momentum by central and local authorities.

Myanmar reported the first case of new flu A/H1N1 in the country on June 27 last year with a 13-year-old girl who developed the symptoms after coming back home from Singapore a day earlier.

New Inhaled Drug Protects from Flu in Single Dose

Friday, February 26, 2010

WASHINGTON — A single dose of an experimental influenza drug saves more mice from H5N1 avian influenza than the preferred drug Tamiflu, researchers reported on Thursday, and can also protect against infection.

The tests of Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd's CS 8958 or laninamivir show one inhaled dose worked better than Tamiflu to keep mice alive when infected with a normally deadly dose.

The report in the Public Library of Science Journal PLoS Pathogens covers one of the dozens of ongoing studies of a new batch of influenza drugs being developed by a variety of companies.

"Importantly, a single dose of CS-8958 conferred a more potent and long-lasting protective effect to mice against H5N1 influenza viruses than that of oseltamivir phosphate," Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin and colleagues wrote in their report.

They gave a single dose to mice two hours after infecting them with H5N1, which experts fear could cause a pandemic, and also used it to prevent infection. Their report is available here .

"CS-8958 is, therefore, a promising candidate for a new neuraminidase inhibitor to prevent and treat influenza patients infected with H5N1 and other subtype viruses," they wrote.

The study was funded by Daiichi Sanyo and the Japanese government, neither of which had a say in the study's design or publication.

The now-waning pandemic of H1N1 influenza sparked new interest in the development of better drugs to fight flu, which kills 250,000 to 500,000 people globally in a normal year and far more in a severe pandemic.

The World Health Organization said on Tuesday it was premature to declare the H1N1 swine flu pandemic had passed its peak, although the agency noted the virus had not been as severe as was feared.

H5N1 is still circulating and experts say it could also change at any time into a form easily passed from one person to another, and it has been far more deadly than H1N1.

SEEKING TO BRING DRUG TO MARKET NEXT YEAR

Drugs that work against one form of influenza usually work against others and Daiichi Sankyo has said it plans to apply for approval of the drug by next month. It aims to bring it to market by March 2011.

Four drugs are on the market for treating flu but the two older ones, amantadine and rimantadine, are not used because most flu strains resist their effects.

Roche AG and Gilead Sciences Inc's oseltamivir, a pill sold under the brand name Tamiflu, is the favored drug but must be taken quickly to be useful. Flu viruses develop resistance to it quickly.

GlaxoSmithKline's and Biota Inc's zanamivir or Relenza also works against the known circulating flu strains but must be inhaled.

Laninamivir is a long-acting neuraminadase inhibitor. It is in the same class of drugs as Relenza and Tamiflu but persists longer in the body.

Other flu drugs in the works:

* BioCryst Inc's infusable drug peramivir is approved for emergency use in the United States and Japanese drugmaker Shionogi & Co has applied for wider use in Japan.

* Fujifilm Holdings pharmaceuticals unit Toyama Chemical has started Phase II clinical testing of the experimental influenza drug T-705 or favipiravir in the United States. Tests in mice show it may work even when taken three days after flu symptoms begin.

* NexBio Inc's FluDase is also in Phase II trials, the second step of human testing before seeking government licenses.

Single-Dose H5N1 Vaccine Safe and Effective in Adults and Elderly

ScienceDaily (Feb. 26, 2010) — Researchers from Hungary and the UK have developed a single-dose H5N1 influenza vaccine that induces a protective level of immunity against infection in healthy adult and elderly volunteers. The vaccine is the first single-dose regimen to be tested in elderly subjects and it fulfills all European Union and U.S. licensing criteria offering a promising influenza A virus vaccine candidate.

They report their findings in the February 2010 issue of the Journal of Virology.

New cases of human H5N1 infection continue to emerge worldwide resulting in severe illness and high fatality rates. In the case of a pandemic, vaccination is likely to be the most effective approach toward minimizing illness and death. Already a variety of candidate vaccines are being tested, however, most require two-dose regimens to be effective.

In the study researchers developed a whole-virion, inactivated, adjuvanted H5N1 vaccine and tested its safety and efficacy in healthy adult and elderly volunteers. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive one or two doses of 3.5 μg of the vaccine or one dose of 6 or 12 μg of the vaccine. Safety and side effects were monitored following vaccination and blood samples were collected to determine immune response. Occasional injection site pain, fever and fatigue were the only reported side effects and while antibody responses were observed in all the subjects, single doses of 6 μg or more fulfilled the European Union and U.S. licensing criteria.

"We found that the present vaccine is safe and immunogenic in healthy adult and elderly subjects and requires low doses and, unlike any other H5N1 vaccines, only one injection to trigger immune responses which comply with licensing criteria," say the researchers.

Recent Visitors Map

Thank you all for visiting!!

February 26th 2010 08:32:14 AM

Vietnam Summary For 2010

Click on map.

http://tinyurl.com/yace9vw


H5N1 Human Cases

Khanh Hoa Province
From: Village Ninh Thân, District Ninh Hòa, Province Khánh Hòa
Onset: 1/27
Adm: 1/28 General Hospital North Thang Long
Recon: 28 / 1, patients had to visit hospital Ninh Hoa district. Results showed that patients diagnosed with acute respiratory tract.
Confirmed Date: 2/12
Notes: Recovered, Healthy. Nearly a month ago, at the ostrich farm (located near the patient about 1km) with ostrich phenomenon unexplained death. Chi Khanh Hoa Department of Animal Health took samples and handle outbreaks in poultry prescribed.

Tien Giang Province
Name: 38(F)
From: An Thai Trung commune, Cai Be Dist., Tien Giang Prov.
Onset: 2/13
Adm: 2/20 Hosp. Sa Dec, Dong Thap Province.
Confirmed Date: 2/23
Notes:
Reported date: 2/26. Treatment @ home & Comm. Hlth. Ctr.
DOD: 2/23

Vietnam: 1st Death From H5N1

26/02/2010

From 2003 to now, the country recorded 113 people infected with influenza A/H5N1, including 58 deaths.
Afternoon 26/2, Department of Preventive Health and Environment, Ministry of Health for information on deaths in our country in the first year of AH5N1 flu (also called avian influenza).

Case of death has described a female patient, age 38, in An Thai Trung commune, Cai Be district, Tien Giang Province. Illness onset on 13 / 2, patients who have own treatment at home and to commune health treatment but did not help. A week later, the patient more tired, chest pain, difficulty breathing, was taken to the treatment at the Hospital Sa Dec, Dong Thap province.

Here, patients are diagnosed: Pneumonia due to severe virus, shock, severe infection, patients were resuscitation, treatment of active disease but evolutions severe, the patient died on February 23. Same day, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City answered the test results of products disease patients positive for influenza A/H5N1 virus. The competent authority epidemiological investigation to detect patients with a history of slaughtering and processing aquatic birds sick.

Thus, in 2003, the country recorded 113 people infected with influenza A/H5N1, including 58 deaths. Previous 1 month in Khanh Hoa has a 3 years old a child infected with influenza A/H5N1. Patients have recovered health.

Ministry of Health strongly recommends people to discover the birds sick or dead absolutely not slaughter and use that to immediately notify local authorities handled promptly; no shipping, trading and processing Poultry unknown origin, especially in areas with outbreaks. Also, make sure cooked food, drink boiling; wash hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet; when symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath related to avian influenza to date health facilities closest to the examination and treatment in time. /.

Van Hai

Indonesia: Team Doctor to Jangkang

[This is in regards to the 4 suspected cases reported earlier. They are sending in a team of doctors to do more surveillance]


Team Doctor to Jangkang

PANGKALPINANG, BANGKA POS - A number of doctors hospitals Hamzah DEPATI heading Pangkalpinang settlements suspected of four patients suspect bird flu. The team consists of several physician specialists and specialized staff handle patient departed from Pangkalpinang flu burung to Simpang Katis and Sungaiselan, Thursday (25 / 2) at 11.00.

The team is deployed to a location in order to anticipate outbreaks of bird flu in the two regions had. The team will check the blood of some poultry peliaran citizens and residents.

Diterjunkannya team of doctors from this Pangkalpinang because 4 children alleged suspect bird flu had occurred in the first kalainya Bangka Belitung. During this new disease attacking poultry pelharaan citizens. (*)

Vietnam: Thoi Binh: Can Tho City sick children increased mutation

Thứ Năm, 25/02/2010, 19:32 (GMT+7)


TTO - As reported by the Children's Hospital, Can Tho City in two days 23 and 24-2, averaging over 1,000 per day ca medical patients, 250 cases have many other hospital treatment.


BV patients at Children Tho
Number of patients examined and treated in two days nearly doubled the day after Tet. Doctor - Dr Le Hoang Son, director of Children's Hospital, Can Tho City, said after the Lunar New Year this year, the situation of children increased disease sudden, especially respiratory diseases, measles, road digestive ... Especially after Tet measles tends to increase due to changes of weather.

According to General Hospital's Children Can Tho, from 12 to end on 24-2 with more than 8,000 ca medical examination of patients from Mong Tet 6 onwards each day ca 600-700 examination, particularly 23 and 24-2 number of examinations per day increased to 1,000 cases. Number of patients examined increased 19% over the same period last year, patients boarding up 24% over the same period last year.

Vietnam: The physician fight disease

February 24, 2010
(Labor) - 2010, forecast to continue with the hot disease. Health sector will work with the chaos prevention services and the burden that will be pumped up as the physician.
Many service has been controlled and it is working and team doctors in hospitals as well as health workers prevent progress quietly behind the war he.

The physician has to urgently study and treatment of moderate self-protection concerns.

Hard limbs, mental stress

Faculty in almost infectious throughout the hospital (BV) in Hanoi and the Hospital for Tropical Surgeons have many years faced the disease. A "mountain" of work per day when epidemics occur. Translated influenza A/H1N1, dengue fever, acute diarrhea ... raging throughout the years and have tended to back.

For each health personnel working in infectious science have too accustomed to the isolation area must wear protective glasses, gloves, and watertight stew in the N95 mask. Zone isolation is not turned on air conditioning systems, so all member ca, remove maps protective gloves, doctor, nurse, nurse all the sweat soaked wet white blouse, traces how gloves caosu term depth where the wrist.

Perhaps the pressure is larger than those sitting in the clinic doctor. BN east to visit choking, 12 hours night still waiting for medical patients. Listening heart lung, throat soi ...

Service in the past, there have been dozens of health workers were "sticky" A/H1N1 influenza, dengue fever ... spread from the BN. And then the more they understand the concerns of patients and wish to discharge.

Prevention as the war

Each service can not be controlled regardless of the work of prevention services. Whenever patients infected with influenza A/H1N1, dengue fever, acute diarrhea ... to treatment at the medical facility immediately, the room service staff to take the road to the BN for spraying disinfection area and around the house. Health workers communes, wards to take place for the preventive medication, isolation ...

Each service has infected tens of thousands of people, also means that health workers must reserve to the patients for as long as he circled area. Hard than is the epidemiological investigation officers. The first cases were discovered as officials investigate epidemiological must take place to learn, from various forms of water, distributed ... bring test.

Sometimes hundreds of kilometers from the new model and must be careful to keep the booty to find the culprit early access pathogens. A doctor at the Faculty of the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology Epidemiology Surgeons since: When translated acute diarrhea outbreak, to test hundreds of samples distributed. Every step in the examination room wearing a mask second husband can not be drowned out the smell. Sometimes the smell of it to the people around throughout the day.

Work directly with service hotline when chaos is hard. Phone hotline of the Department of Health Preventive Health and Environment hang about influenza A/H1N1 situation does not seem to rest.

Doctor Nguyen Duc Khoa - Control of Infectious Disease Department - said that the day, every 2-3 minutes, a phone call, 1-2 am still the caller, 4-5 o'clock in the morning ringtone Now the phone calls. Phone Now every three hours to charge once. Hotline on people, their lives change as well as flu. Stories such as: The young children, should be closed at night to the room to answer the phone. Social her husband had suspected her husband Bodhi so angry ... Even going to the toilet must also include the phone.

It is hard to tell all the work of the physician against the epidemic and treat the contagious disease. And can not imagine if known disease that occurs absence of the physician.

Egypt: A government study critical of the haphazard management of the bird flu crisis

Thursday, February 25th, 2010 - 13:42

A study issued by the Decision Support Center in Alexandria on the wrong policies pursued by the government and the executive bodies in a pandemic of bird flu in the periods of the spread of disease from 2004 to 2009, where the study pointed out that the intensity and nervous haste and unjustified in the face of the events of avian influenza caused Elimination of livestock and destruction of the economy is already deteriorating, without action to take precautions in the face of a pandemic of avian flu, immune protection and prevention and drug prevention, behavioral, as well as improve the ability of the immune system in birds.

The study pointed out a clear decrease in the number of farms Amiriya district since 2005 and reduced the number of broiler chickens by 6.7% and whites by 0.7%, after registering the largest district of Amiriya the infected because it contains the largest number of broiler farms (239) farm by 73.3% and the farms white (108) farms, which represented 96.4%, followed by a large margin Burj Al Arab, where recorded (55) the percentage of farm broiler farms by 20.4% and white farms (2) by 3.1%.

The study confirmed the absence of national strategy for disaster response, as it was the most important causes of the spread of the disease random establishment of poultry farms and the lack of inventory and lack of their effective application of the fundamentals of bio-security and non-strict in the application of sanitary conditions for the disposal of carcasses and waste, as well as marketing of live birds and the lack of carnage to the extent enough, at a time when the crisis started in other countries, there was plenty of time to prepare the area and the community to deal with the crisis before they appear, but this time used in the government's statements confirm that "everything fully."

The study also noted a lack of coordination of the societal response to the disaster of the private sector and consumer protection associations and chambers of commerce and associations of financial activity, which did not have any financing role or how to get media coverage for women, which have for the birds, poultry and search for the source of income, rather than loss they have suffered heavy upon announcement of the appearance of avian influenza.

The study monitored the decline in the role of clerics in the mosque and church and teachers for education classes, emphasizing the importance of access that information to ordinary people, not received by the press after the disaster, have been better training for nurses the most friction rural housewives to address the crisis. Instead the loose control of the thousands of women follows educate poultry in parts of the country, particularly rural areas in Egypt and also those towers the bathroom, and extended it to the sellers of birds and poultry owners of restaurants, hotels and even shops that use confectionery eggs in the manufacture of sweets as well as the activities of other sectors such as transport sector damaged to prevent transmission of flu in the provinces and manufacture of animal feed.

The study also noted the ineffectiveness of the media in crisis management, which was hosted by non-specialists to share their opinions in the matter like a football match, the result was confusion and uncertainty in the face of a natural disaster with a fixed pattern of presentation of the Media TV programs during a time of crisis, resulting in a lack of awareness of individuals in the environmental disposal of dead poultry in the Nile, canals and drains, which affects the direct use of contaminated water to drink, whether birds or animals or humans or use in washing utensils and other other purposes.

The study recommended the need to establish a national fund for disasters, which draws its items from the budget of the government directly, and some contributions from beneficiaries, and the need to develop the poultry industry by encouraging the establishment of major companies for production, marketing and the arrival of poultry slaughtered and packed to the consumer after a medical examination by the dissemination of culture in the way consumers consume poultry through public information programs designed to raise awareness with the tightening of health and reconsider the tax law to do justice to low-income and progressive tax collection from high income earners to compensate those affected in the event of a disaster.

Indonesia: Pangkalpinang, Bangka-Belitung ::: Four bird flu suspect kids

February 25, 2010

Pangkalpinang – Four kids from Kecamatan Simpangkatis are treated in Depati Hamzah regional hospital, Pangkalpinang. Patients are placed in special unit for bird flu patients.

They were suspected of contracting bird flu infection as they exhibited continuous fever, said Supriyadi, Health Service official of Bangka Tengah. Patients’ family confirmed that they experienced many chicken deaths not long before.

The suspected kids were found during field investigation on people, which is routinely done by Simpangkatis public health centre officers when birds in the area reported to have suddenly died.

To anticipate any possibility of bird flu transmission to human, public health officers referred the four kids of Kecamatan Simpangkatis to Depati Hamzah regional hospital. Medical team of the hospital had collected their blood sample for bird flu test. Laboratory confirmation expected to be issued within a week.

Kecamatan Simpangkatis is one of sub-districts under observation of regional health service because of large bird flu H5N1 outbreak in chickens.

hat-tip Dutchy

Indonesia: Sumatara - 4 Bird Flu Patients in intensive care (suspected)

PANGKALPINANG, Bangka POS -- Four children were suspect bird flu was still receiving the intensive maintenance in RSUD Depati amzah Pangkalpinang. It was not yet known by the development of the health of four patients setelahd itangani by the team of the doctor RSUD Pangkalpinang since, on last Wednesday (24/2).

The "team" of the "doctor was still close, the rest headed towards the person's house tu apasien in Pangkalraya." As far as this is concerned the patient was still receiving the maintenance and was placed in special space, said RSUD Depati Hamzah public relations, Kamsi (25/2).

The four children were expected suspect bird flu that Fn (6), Dn (.17), An (3.2), and Pn (28).

The four children were met by the official of the Simpang Katis Community Health Centre suffered the very high hot fever. Beforehand the resident melaprokan the kept chicken the local resident many that died suddenly.
hat-tip Dutchy

Indonesia: Hundreds Affected by Dengue Fever Outbreaks Across Country

February 24, 2010

Andi Abdussalam

Hundreds Affected by Dengue Fever Outbreaks Across Country

With the rainy season now in full swing, health authorities are on the alert for outbreaks of dengue fever, which has already killed at least 27 people and infected hundreds more.

At least eight people had succumbed to dengue fever in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), while more than 570 had to be hospitalized in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Deaths have also been reported in other provinces, including East Java, Maluku and South and Central Kalimantan. Meanwhile, in Taskimalaya, West Java, local health officials have declared a pandemic.

The most-affected province so far, however, was NTB. Although no deaths have been reported, 571 people have contracted the disease since the beginning of the year.

Dr. Ida Bagus Jelantik, head of NTB’s disease and environmental control office, said the cases had been reported across 10 districts.

The provincial capital, Mataram, saw the biggest number of patients at 368. It was followed by West Lombok with 52, East Lombok with 46, and West Sumbawa with 31.

The latest deaths in NTT were recorded this weekend. They included a 9-month-old girl and another infant in Kobatoma village in East Flores.

Dr Stefanus Bria Seran, head of the province’s health service, said seven of the fatalities so far had been children.

NTT authorities have declared the dengue cases in Kupang city and Sikka district, however, as unusual.

In East Java, dengue fever claimed the lives of at least nine people in Mojokero, Madiun and Kediri.

In Mojokerto alone, dengue fever has killed four residents and infected 125 others, said Dr. Benhardy, head of the district’s disease-prevention and surveillance team.

“The only subdistricts which have remained free from dengue fever are Pacet and Trawas,” he said.

Benhardy said the number of cases had jumped over the past week, from 110 to 125.

“Learning from last year’s experience, dengue fever will remain a threat until May or June, beyond the end of the rainy season,” he said.

In Kediri, dengue claimed at least two lives last week. The victims were identified as Lorde Bintang S and Anggoro.

According to the head of Madiun’s disease-prevention and surveillance office, Sulistyo Widyantono, over the past two months dengue has infected 66 residents, and killed three.

Meanwhile, in West Java, Tasikmalaya’s health authorities declared a pandemic in three subdistricts.

The head of the district’s disease-surveillance and environmental health office, Hasni Mukti, said dengue had affected Tawang, Cihideung and Cipedes. “Most of the dengue fever patients were found in these three subdistricts,” he said.

In January, 97 dengue cases were recorded in the three subdistricts, up from 93 during January last year.

Deaths from dengue were also recorded across Kalimantan.

In South Kalimantan’s provincial capital, Banjarmasin, four people have died from dengue fever this year. All of the victims were children under the age of 5, according to the head of the province’s health service, Diah RP.

Five deaths were recorded in Central Kalimantan, although Wineini Marhaeni Rubay, from the province’s health service, said those were extraordinary cases.

In Manado, North Sulawesi, 40 people have been diagnosed with dengue, while in Ambon, Maluku’s capital, a five-year-old child reportedly died of the disease.



Antara

Hanoi: Poultry live sell-detached

February 24, 2010

The need to use fresh poultry on the chance of people before and after Tet increased mutations, especially those bordering on January culture. Because people are not aware of the high and the authorities lack the power of close coordination should now, in Hanoi, not the live poultry quarantine sold widespread.

Gia cầm sống bày bán vô tư tại chợ Vân Hồ. Live poultry markets in sell-detached Van Lake.

Widespread sell -

Currently, in Hanoi, most markets are selling chicken, duck, ducks do not pre-certified quarantine. It is where where bird life also, the seller offer impartial.

23 / 2, walk around Hanoi markets as markets Nghia Tan, Cau Giay Village, Lake Office, Department for Russia ... From all that appears multiple sales chicken, duck, duck ... life is not the slaughter . Besides poultry slaughter has also sold openly nor certified quarantine.

Besides, in most markets toad, markets temporarily, even in the alley neighbors described as live poultry sold label label. When a customer purchases, sellers ready to slaughter on the spot.

According to records of journalists, at the temporary market in Quan Hoa Ward, Cau Giay district, with dozens of point of sale chickens and ducks live. Someone sell-chickens, ducks live a roadway for sale. Here, people still kill and sell not stubs free and open ...

When asked, Ms. Mai, a specialized wholesale chicken in Thanh Oai district, Ha Noi, said: "What to do is translate that concern. I do not sell on here, just in the morning selling hundreds of chickens. Rest assured, my whole chickens, chicken home, purchase of food at the small ".

As observed, in the markets, almost all have to charge the market, still do not see the ball shape function forces on duty quarantine cattle and poultry.



Difficult to manage

In Hanoi, have established offices in key Veterinary Quarantine. In time, though the agency has started no less functional status for the illegal trade in chickens did not decrease. Chicken unknown origin are usually transported here by the roads, one from Mong Cai, Quang Ninh, Hung Yen swept on to Hanoi, another line from the Bac Giang Lang Son, Bac Ninh to Hanoi.

Despite a ban on transporting, slaughtering cattle in the inner city but hard to control all. Small business households, slaughtering the small alley, corner lot longer exists but can not be checked. This is one of the reasons for HPAI re-export.

Causes of business slaughtering live poultry spontaneous existing level course in the market, beyond the consciousness of people still do bad coordination between functional departments and government facilities not close. Testing, management looks primarily to the forces of veterinary and market management, while the staff is too thin and the local authorities let loose. Currently, the transport controls on animal influenza in Hanoi is not only a lack of manpower but lack the facilities, equipment and techniques very difficult.

To ensure safety on livestock disease poultry and food hygiene during holidays, Tet, need to step up propaganda to raise awareness of people about shipping live animals birds . Sub-Department of Animal Health also focused capacity building and accountability of vets charge for the locality, and seriously implementing the disposal or rotate staff if staff do not perform correctly to quarantine. Besides the increased activity in key sectors related quarantine, in order to minimize the transport of poultry animals, cattle poultry products not qualified to the city.

Hanoi is currently 14 establishments slaughtering cattle and poultry market concentration and 355 related to poultry business. However, due to slaughtering facilities focus and a sense of missing people with bird flu should not trade higher, slaughter poultry have ignored the regulations required.

Vietnam: Continue to generate disease in cattle and poultry in many provinces

3 hours ago
ND - According to Department of Animal Health, Dien Bien province in over a month, in the province translated foot and mouth disease (LMLM) occurred in 18 communes and towns in the district, the city of Dien Bien province, with total nearly 900 children infected cattle, including 745 buffaloes, cows and 150 pigs. Currently there are seven provinces have avian influenza has 21 days including Ca Mau, Dien Bien, Soc Trang, Kon Tum, Quang Tri, Nghe An and Nam Dinh.

Among these local, Nghe An province has continued to generate the new drive on the 500 forums ducks have not been vaccinated bird flu vaccine in Hung Hoa (Vinh). The competent authority has carried out destruction of all of the ducks and implement measures to prevent and combat service as prescribed.

According to Sub-Department of Animal Health in Yen Bai province, far LMLM on disease outbreaks in both Buffalo and Tan Huong Phuc An, Yen Binh district was control: Service not spread to other areas and more than 21 days without family infected animals. Currently, the work of prevention services in the province of Yen Bai is the specialized agencies and localities in the province increased, avoid service LMLM new questions or spread out a large scale.

Sub-Department of Animal Health under Quang Tri province, on 23-2, in the village RO RO, A Vao commune, district Dakrong appear buffaloes and cows died. In total 14 children were cattle disease, cattle have 11 children died before the New Year but people do not tell the local vet. Through investigation, the symptoms of buffaloes, cows can be translated by the infected blood convergence coincide. Veterinary Sub-Department of Quang Tri province has provided 150 doses of vaccine convergence same blood, and sent vets of the province, district coordination with the veterinary On A social conduct vaccination to 70 buffaloes, cows Left RO RO of villages.

Ca Mau is one of the seven provinces where avian influenza has 21 days, but the work of prevention and control of local services subjectivity is ignored. From mid January until now, the avian influenza outbreak in the town Hoi Tran (Tran Van Thoi), Tan Loc Bac, Tan Loc, Tan Phu (Thoi Binh), An Xuyen (TP Ca Mau), with 5500 infected poultry and die. Functional departments have handled the destruction of 4090. Ca Mau Province to direct functional departments to promote the propagation prevention disease of cattle, poultry, termination status subjective as time past.

In Hung Loi hamlet, Long Hung, Chau Thanh (Tien Giang) 32 milk cows nearly a week now salivate symptoms, ulcers appear pitches, blisters in the mouth, tongue, slim legs, difficulty walking, eat less. Some of the forums are not traveling. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Province came to the scene and confirmed the original cow herd infected LMLM so coordinated government zoned Long Hung, spraying disinfectants, pepper poisoning, hygiene cages, bleach uế environment, to avoid spreading the same time requires the destruction of all infected cows.

Egypt Map of Outbreaks around recent Confirmed #103

Click on map. Note the Legend.



http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116313796443585830729.00047fbb94151f87b4861&ll=30.452225,31.173706&spn=0.652294,0.850067&z=10&iwloc=0004805e2f92f307c1b1e

Egypt: Panic among people fearing an outbreak of avian influenza Menoufia

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 - 20:54

Seen some of the villages and the villages of central Quesna Menouf Menofia, the case of mass deaths among domestic birds in the past three days, began the emergence of symptoms peculiar to the presence of chicken blue color known as the chicken and turn to black, followed by the death of birds.

Serious threat is the people's dumping dead chickens in large quantities in the vicinity of their homes, and on the edge of canals, putting children at risk of bird flu.

Dr. Ahmed Fouad, General Manager of Veterinary Medicine Menoufia, it was a medical team to go to the villages which have had cases mortality, to ensure the quality of the disease, whether it is bird flu or not, and in if you are sure will be culling all domestic birds in houses and cleared and then bury the dead them in safe places Sahara, appealing to citizens of the need for the immediate reporting of mortality until they are disposed so as not to return again after the disease have been eliminated.

Egypt: H5N1 Confirmed #103 from Qalubia

24/02/2010

Ministry of Health announced Wednesday in the Egyptian case was found 103 bird flu for a child one year old and two months of milk Qalubia.
The history of the illness of the situation that the onset of symptoms was on February 22 and entered the Banha Fever Hospital in the next day suffering from a high temperature and cough, runny nose and shortness of breath, and after being exposed to birds suspected of being infected with bird flu.
Have been given Tamiflu, the child immediately in a stable condition.
It is said that families in rural areas continue to retain the custom of raising poultry at home, leading to mixing for children and women, the Government is making strenuous efforts to contain the deadly virus and limit its spread, and calls through the media to avoid mixing with any birds, but a final After the adoption of precautionary measures.

Poultry smuggled diaphragm launched!

In City, selling live poultry in markets and public transportation routes, the agency functions powerless. While the country has seven provinces where avian influenza

Official information from the Department of Animal Health, up to 20-2 there are up to seven provinces of Ca Mau, Dien Bien, Soc Trang, Kon Tum, Quang Tri, Nghe An and Nam Dinh with avian influenza has over 21 day. Meanwhile, in the City before and after Tet, the demand for live poultry consumption increased strongly, but the control of functional agencies still very loose. As a result, chickens, ducks live quarantine sell-through is not widespread. Risk of infection of avian influenza in the area is very high TP.



Live poultry for sale at the Cau, the District 12

Right moment, in many markets in the district 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Go Vap ... are sold chickens, ducks do not have the packaging available brands (slaughter chickens smuggled). It will go where live poultry is found, the seller offer impartial. At the regional market Tran Chanh Chieu (District 5), we have recorded dozens of point of sale chickens and ducks live. Right corner of Tran Chanh Screening - Phu Huu have 5-6 people show chickens, ducks live a roadway for sale. Here, we sell the public and also free promotional slaughter ...


Van Thanh market areas (Binh Thanh District) also has nearly a dozen points of sale and slaughter of live poultry on the spot. Mr. Thanh, selling vegetables at this market, said to date from the New Year there are many who sell live chickens, but no one inspection process should also enlist from his chickens and ducks to make more money selling words, each also sold on the dozens of children ...


Similarly, in markets
- City Thi Nghe (Binh Thanh District), markets Tin (District 11), Thao Dien market, markets, Cat Lai (District 2), markets, Binh Hung Hoa, Binh Tri Dong market (Tan Binh ) or Phu Trung, Tan Phu market (Tan Phu) ... We have seen many points of sale chickens and ducks live. However, not to mention the most vibrant areas Go Vap district.





At the Tan Son (Go Vap) previously only five, seven, point of sale is now nearly two dozen locations. The buyer, who semi-detached from morning to afternoon without anyone checking in to remind. Ba Xuyen, sell live poultry markets in this, said: "Before each day I sold a few dozen children, but now more so than the seller selling only ten children. When asked to live without fear of poultry veterinary confiscated? Her indifferent reply: "Yes that" ma "Where does that concern here.

Seafood market in the area on Phan Van Tri (Go Vap) includes a dozen households live poultry, which also suspended the board to use "The selling chickens, ducks live, get slaughter. Here, the business scale over each point should always be the hundred birds live, how many would like to buy also. There are points on Phan Van Tri hanging banners to the "core to stabilize the price of eggs sold Co. Ba Huan" but only a corner selling eggs, the rest sell-chickens, ducks live publicly. Here, the seller brought the slaughter line out the door quickly to market ...


Manager hands?


Discussions with the agency functions related to the work of quarantine, these units are recognized status live poultry business is very complex. A Department of Animal Health officials are concerned: Avian influenza is still complicated development, high risk spread by poultry business sources, transport before and after Tet Tet increased, while prevention and control are part ignored in many places are.


Mr. Phan Xuan Thao, Director Chi Chi Ho Chi Minh City Department of Animal Health, Coal: With the current state, the agency alone can not do veterinary work should have known that the branches and levels, especially local government participation country. He also said that Talk management business poultry illegally, Ho was assigned to the districts to coordinate with functional agencies regularly inspect and handle. For its part, forces vet who has arranged to participate in interdisciplinary groups of districts to check and control ...


However, learn our inspection and control of inter-sectoral groups are very weak. Every year, TP pouring down steering committee prevention services districts for more than 20 billion allocated for prevention services.

However, the last time the steering committee only work on them. Veterinary forces were difficult in the inspection and control by the assignment, the union representing the interdisciplinary local governments of districts as the major, force management market test on paper business licenses, animal health care professional ...

Decision making confiscation, destruction or administrative sanctions as the local government decision ... Sources of funds allocated to the steering committee of local veterinary forces should also not condo that "because there is no funding for the initiative to organize the inspection and control as before.

After H1N1, Researchers Warn of a Potential New Superbug

By Bryan Walsh Monday, Feb. 22, 2010

Indonesian health officials destroy fowl suspected of carrying the avian flu virus in a neighborhood in Badung, Indonesia

Made Nagi / EPA / Corbis

When the 2009 H1N1 flu virus emerged last April, it triggered the first new pandemic in more than 40 years, producing endless headlines and panic. But, now, some 10 months into the pandemic, the public's fear has subsided. H1N1 turned out to be relatively weak, and action by global and national health officials has helped blunt the damage caused by the virus; by mid-February, more than 16,000 people worldwide had died from the new flu, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), but that figure is in line with mortality in a normal flu year.

On Tuesday the WHO will convene a special panel that could begin the process of declaring an official end to the pandemic. "We hope that the worst is behind us and the overall trend will be going down," said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's special adviser to the director-general for pandemic influenza, in a Feb. 18 press conference. (See what you need to know about the H1N1 vaccine.)

But the close of the H1N1 pandemic does not eliminate the long-term threat from influenza. Another pandemic could arise at any time, and a new paper published in the Feb. 22 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) demonstrates that it could even come from an existing flu virus that many of us have forgotten about: the H5N1 bird flu, which has infected 478 people in 15 countries since 2003, with 286 deaths — a fatality rate higher than 50%.

A team of scientists from the U.S., Indonesia and Japan, led by virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka at the University of Wisconsin — Madison, combined a strain of the deadly H5N1 avian virus with strains of H3N2 human seasonal flu, creating 254 new, mutated viruses. By injecting them in lab mice, researchers found that some of the hybrid viruses were both deadly (like bird flu) and transmissible (like seasonal human flu) — the kind of genetically mutated superflu viruses that experts have been warning about for decades.

The reason H5N1, which first cropped up in humans in 1997, has never given rise to a pandemic is that the virus does not appear to spread easily among people. It has been transmitted between humans only in rare cases, usually among family members in close conditions. But the fear has long been that if bird flu genetically mixed with human flu — in a process called reassortment, in which two flu viruses swap genes in an infected cell — it could create a new strain that is both deadly and transmissible, as illustrated by the new PNAS study. That's how many past pandemic viruses, including 2009 H1N1, were created, leading to new strains to which humans have no natural immunity.

In 2008 scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention generated artificially combined H5N1 and H3N2 viruses in a lab, but the resulting hybrids were all less deadly than the original bird flu strain. That led to hopes that the H5N1 virus simply lacked the ability to be a true pandemic killer and that to become more transmissible, it would necessarily have to become less dangerous.

But the PNAS study undermines that hope. The key difference in this study was the presence of a single gene from the H3N2 human virus: the PB2 protein, which gave the hybrid viruses the ability to spread easily among the lab mice. Scientists think the protein may allow hybrid viruses to grow more efficiently in the lower temperatures of the upper respiratory tract, from which the virus can more easily spread to others. (The H5N1 virus tends to infect the lower respiratory tract in humans, where it can't easily get out and spread.)

Nevertheless, in the real world, H5N1 has not yet mutated into a more contagious form, despite having had plenty of chances to mix with human flu viruses. That could mean bird flu will remain a dead end, infecting the occasional unlucky person but never turning into a full-blown pandemic. But the PNAS study suggests that the potential exists, and it gives health officials a surveillance target in the form of the PB2 protein in each human H5N1 infection. Global health experts must always be ready: while the 2009 H1N1 pandemic may be winding down, the next flu war has already been brewing.

Virus hybridization could create pandemic bird flu

[Abstract of this study is in the post below this]

MADISON — Genetic interactions between avian H5N1 influenza and human seasonal influenza viruses have the potential to create hybrid strains combining the virulence of bird flu with the pandemic ability of H1N1, according to a new study.

In laboratory experiments in mice, a single gene segment from a human seasonal flu virus, H3N2, was able to convert the avian H5N1 virus into a highly pathogenic form. The findings are reported the week of Feb. 22 in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Some hybrids between H5N1 virus and seasonal influenza viruses were more pathogenic than the original H5N1 viruses. That is worrisome," says Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a virologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and senior author of the new study.

The H5N1 bird flu virus has spread worldwide through bird populations and has caused 442 confirmed human cases and 262 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. To date, however, bird flu has not been able to spread effectively between people.

"H5N1 virus has never acquired the ability to transmit among humans, which is why we haven't had a pandemic. The worry is that the pandemic H1N1 virus may provide that nature in the background of this highly pathogenic H5N1 virus," says Kawaoka, a professor of pathobiological sciences at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.

Two viruses infecting a single host cell can swap genetic material, or reassort, creating hybrid strains with characteristics of each parent virus.

Before the current study, hybrid viruses generated in lab studies had always been less virulent than parent strains. However, the new findings raise concerns that H5N1 and pandemic H1N1 viruses could reassort in individuals exposed to both viruses and generate an influenza strain that is both highly virulent and contagious.

The increased virulence seen in the new study seems to arise from one of the eight genes in the viral genome, called PB2, which is known to affect how well the bird flu virus grows in mammalian hosts, including humans. When tested in mice, the human virus version of PB2 swapped into H5N1 converted the avian virus to a highly pathogenic form.

The researchers say surveillance of viral populations is critical to monitor the potential emergence of highly pathogenic viral variants due to reassortment of avian and human influenza viruses. Their results, including identification of the PB2 segment as a key to enhanced virulence, offer information likely to be useful in the event of a pandemic caused by a hybrid avian-human influenza strain.

"With the new pandemic H1N1 virus, people sort of forgot about H5N1 avian influenza. But the reality is that H5N1 avian virus is still out there," Kawaoka says. "Our data suggests that it is possible there may be reassortment between H5 and pandemic H1N1 that can create a more pathogenic H5N1 virus."

Reassortment between avian H5N1 and human H3N2 influenza viruses creates hybrid viruses with substantial virulence

Abstract

The spread of avian H5N1 influenza viruses around the globe has become a worldwide public health concern. To evaluate the pathogenic potential of reassortant viruses between currently cocirculating avian H5N1 and human H3N2 influenza viruses, we generated all the 254 combinations of reassortant viruses between A/chicken/South Kalimantan/UT6028/06 (SK06, H5N1) and A/Tokyo/Ut-Sk-1/07 (Tok07, H3N2) influenza viruses by reverse genetics.

We found that the presence of Tok07 PB2 protein in the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex allowed efficient viral RNA transcription in a minigenome assay and that RNP activity played an essential role in the viability and replicative ability of the reassortant viruses. When the pathogenicity of 75 reassortant H5 viruses was tested in mice, 22 were more pathogenic than the parental SK06 virus, and three were extremely virulent. Strikingly, all 22 of these viruses obtained their PB2 segment from Tok07 virus.

Further analysis showed that Tok07 PB1 alone lacked the ability to enhance the pathogenicity of the reassortant viruses but could do so by cooperating with Tok07 PB2. Our data demonstrate that reassortment between an avian H5N1 virus with low pathogenicity in mice and a human virus could result in highly pathogenic viruses and that the human virus PB2 segment functions in the background of an avian H5N1 virus, enhancing its virulence.

Our findings highlight the importance of surveillance programs to monitor the emergence of human H5 reassortant viruses, especially those containing a PB2 segment of human origin.

1. Chengjun Li^a,
2. Masato Hatta^a,¹,
3. Chairul A. Nidom^b,^c,
4. Yukiko Muramoto^d,
5. Shinji Watanabe^a,
6. Gabriele Neumann^a, and
7. Yoshihiro Kawaoka^a,^d,^e,^f,¹

+ Author Affiliations

1. ^aInfluenza Research Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711;
2. ^bFaculty of Veterinary Medicine and
3. ^cCollaborating Research Center-Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Tropical Disease Centre, Airlangga University, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia;
4. ^dDivision of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and
5. ^eInternational Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan; and
6. ^fInfection-Induced Host Responses Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology, Saitama 332-0012, Japan

1. Edited by Robert G. Webster, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, and approved December 14, 2009 (received for review November 5, 2009)

3-year-old girl infected with influenza A/H5N1

Updated at: 9:07 PM, February 22, 2010
3-year-old girls infected with influenza A/H5N1
Care, treatment for patients with influenza A/H1N1 in the General Hospital North Thang Long
22 / 2, the Health Ministry says it has recorded a case of influenza A/H5N1 infection. It was a girl three years old, living in Turkey The village, Ninh Than, Ninh Hoa district, Khanh Hoa

Disease onset on 27/1 with symptoms of fever 39 degrees C, cough, runny nose. 28 / 1, patients had to visit hospital Ninh Hoa district. Results showed that patients diagnosed with acute respiratory tract. 12 / 2, Nha Trang Pasteur Institute confirmed the test results of patients positive for influenza A/H5N1.

Currently girls have recovered, healthy. Epidemiological survey showed that people in the family and no one was around the same disease.

Nearly a month ago, at the ostrich farm (located near the patient about 1km) with ostrich phenomenon unexplained death. Chi Khanh Hoa Department of Animal Health took samples and handle outbreaks in poultry prescribed.

Notified by the Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the country is still seven provinces where bird flu is not over 21 days of Nghe An, Ca Mau, Dien Bien, Soc Trang, Kon Tum, Quang Tri and Nam Dinh.

Progress on influenza A/H1N1, on 15/2 recorded a case of influenza A/H1N1. It is a 75-year-old female patient, living in wards Ly Thai To Street, Hoan Kiem district. Patients with disease onset on February 15, was taken to hospital and then transferred to Vietnamese French hospital central tropical disease treatments, test results positive for influenza A/H1N1.

Currently, patients are treated at the Tropical Disease Hospital in the central state in good health. Thus, as of 19 / 2, the country recorded 11,187 cases positive for influenza A/H1N1, including 58 deaths. /.