Chinese in prison over tainted pork

Chinese in prison over tainted pork

2011-11-26 9:44 PM

BEIJING: China penalised 113 people, including 17 government employees, over a chemical tainted pork scandal, official state media reported today.

The prime suspect, Liu Xiang, received the death sentence with two years’ reprieve on conviction of harming public safety, China Daily said.
Liu’s clandestine workshop producing a carcinogenic chemical clenbuterol, which is added to pig feed to produce leaner pork, was seized in Xiangyang city, Henan province in March. Clenbutoral is banned as livestock feed, as it can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches and heart palpitations in human beings. Liu’s collaborator, Xi Zhongjie, was sentenced to life.

The government employees, including animal health and food safety inspectors, were handed jail sentences ranging from 3 to 9 years.

The 36 pig farmers received lighter sentences, ranging from probation to jail terms under a year. In March, China Central Television reported that clenbuterol was detected in pigs bought by a subsidiary company of Shuanghui Group, China’s largest meat processor.

The investigation revealed that from 2007 to March 2011 the two associates sold over 2,700 kilograms of clenbuterol to pork farmers across eight provinces in China, the state media Xinhua reported.


 http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Chinese+in+prison+over+tainted+pork+&NewsID=310655

GIS not checking travelers’ Yellow Fever vaccination cards despite outbreak

GIS not checking travelers’ Yellow Fever vaccination cards despite outbreak

November 26, 2011, 11:30 pm

It has a high fatality rate, yet it has no cure. In endemic countries of South and sub-saharan Africa, it is difficult to be welcomed as a traveller without the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended vaccination card proving that one has been vaccinated against the deadly yellow fever virus. The conditions are even stricter in Europe and the Americas. Since the reported outbreak of yellow fever in four districts of northern Ghana about a fortnight ago, the Ghana Health Service has been working round the clock to deal with the situation especially following a recorded death last week in the Sawla Kalba District of the Northern Region. According to Dr. Badu Sarkodie of the Ghana Health Service, the GHS has received notice of other probable cases but those cases are yet to be confirmed, hence the need for individuals to protect themselves in the face of the yellow fever outbreak. But, as Ghana battles yet another yellow fever outbreak after a lull, the country’s Immigration Service appears not to be doing much to forestall a further spread of the virus especially from travelers who may be infected. Since Africa falls within the yellow fever endemic zone, most countries on the continent like South Africa, Ethiopia, Cote D’Ivoire and Chad religiously look out for the yellow fever vaccination cards of travelers before allowing them entry into their respective countries but, the Ghana Immigration Service is yet to step up its checks on the vaccination cards at the points of entry into the country – even in the wake of an outbreak. In an interview with Multi TV’s Joy News Channel, Head of the Public Affairs Unit at the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Francis Palmdeti, said his outfit has not been formally instructed by the Ministry of Health to carry out such checks. He explained to Etornam Tsormey Sey of the news team that even if the Immigration Service proactively checked travelers for their vaccination cards before granting them entry permits, there is no quarantine facility in place to control the outbreak. At present, the GHS has embarked on a free national immunization exercise in 43 districts which will end next Monday. Hundreds of people are thus queuing at public health centres to be vaccinated. When the Multi TV news team visited the Ridge Hospital on the fifth day of the national reactive and preventive mass vaccination campaign, the Hospital had vaccinated 6,352 people. Even though majority of people waiting in queues appeared frightened to be poked by the needle, the fright of death was more overpowering. The potentially fatal tropical viral infection is transmitted through a bite from the female aedes mosquito after biting a monkey (which serves as the host for the virus) or an infected migrant. Health officials thus reckon it is dangerous to keep monkeys since they serve as reservoirs for a lot of viruses including the yellow fever virus. Ghana has been recording cases of yellow fever almost on an annual basis with periodic outbreaks in some districts. In the mid 1970s, Ghana recorded huge numbers of yellow fever cases and it is not surprising that it was declared the third yellow fever endemic country in the world. The ongoing preventive exercise is targeted at persons aged ten years and above excluding pregnant women, people allergic to eggs, cancer patients and persons living with HIV/AIDS. In areas where cases have already been recorded however, children aged one year and above will be vaccinated. The vaccine however is not recommended for children under 6 months and it is contra-indicative for babies under four months. It is given together with measles injection at nine months because when given earlier, the disease risk outweighs the benefits. Painting the gloomy picture at hand, the GHS has stated that one out of two persons may die if infected with the disease. In an explosive outbreak, the fatality rate is over 60% whereas about 80% of cases are mild in sporadic situations. Symptoms usually begin to manifest between 3 to 6 days after being bitten by the vector and includes simple ones as headache, muscle and joint aches, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and jaundice with severe ones manifesting as hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever. A person with advanced yellow fever may show signs of liver failure, renal failure, and shock. The Ghana Health Service has indicated that yellow fever will be very difficult to eliminate because of the way it is transmitted. Intervals between vaccinations are normally ten years and the shot cannot be taken twice. The public is thus advised to keep track of when they got the injection and go for a booster ten years after that. The vaccination is free. Travellers from Ghana to other parts of the world must remember that they can only do so ten days after the vaccination because it takes that number of days for the drug to work. http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/77188.php

Nepal: Nawalparasi at high risk of bird flu

November 24th, 2011

Nawalparasi district is said to be at the higher risk of bird flu, among other Terai districts of Nepal.

At an interaction programme on bird flu organized here Tuesday, Dr Uttam Acharya of District Livestock Service Office, Nawalparasi informed the district has been placed at high risk of bird flu when birds and poultry products have been imported to the district from bordering area of India.

The office has conducted various programme to create public awareness on bird flu and put high alert in bordering area, he said.

There are around three hundred poultry farms along the border area, which have been operated without obtaining license, he further said, adding that it should be monitored in a bid to prevent the possible outbreak of bird flu.

India: West Bengal #H5N1 #birdflu in Ducks

Click on image to view:

India: Assam #H5N1 #birdflu in Ducks

Click on image to read:

Mutations I117V and I117M and Oseltamivir Sensitivity of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Viruses

CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases Issue
Suggested citation for this article: Hurt AC, Leang SK, Speers DJ, Barr IG, Maurer-Stroh S. Mutations I117V and I117M and oseltamivir sensitivity of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Dec [date cited].

The neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) oseltamivir and zanamivir have been widely used in many countries to treat infection with influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. Since the start of the pandemic, >27,000 strains have been tested for oseltamivir resistance, of which 383 (1.4%) have contained the H275Y neuraminidase (NA) mutation, the same mutation that was found in oseltamivir-resistant prepandemic seasonal subtype H1N1 viruses that emerged in 2007–08. Apart from the H275Y mutation, a small number of other NAI resistance mutations have been detected in the NA of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses, such as S247N (1), I223V (2), and I223R (3). Another NA mutation, I117M, has also recently been associated with oseltamivir resistance in pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses (4,5). The I117M NA mutation was detected in a virus from South Korea that was isolated from a patient before oseltamivir treatment and then was detected, with the H275Y mutation, in the same patient after oseltamivir treatment, although the dual mutations were not conclusively shown in the same virus (4,5).

In both studies, neither the I117M variant nor the dual I117M + H275Y strain were specifically tested for oseltamivir resistance. Instead, the viruses were assumed to be resistant on the basis of previous studies that described a reduction in oseltamivir sensitivity in influenza A (H5N1) viruses because of an I117V amino acid substitution (6,7), rather than the I117M substitution detected in their studies.

Other studies have documented that different amino acid substitutions at key NA residues can cause considerably different effects on NAI susceptibility and that these mutations can have a variable effect in different NA backgrounds (8). Therefore, we tested the assumption that the I117M mutation confers oseltamivir resistance and investigate the role of the I117M and the I117V mutations with and without the H275Y mutation in pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses.

[click on link for pdf document]

Hundreds of Chicken in Gegerbitung, Sukabumi Positive Bird Flu

Hundreds of Chicken in Gegerbitung, Sukabumi Positive Bird Flu

Saturday, 26 November 2011 21:06 

   KBR68H, Sukabumi - Hundreds of chickens in four villages in the Village District Caringin Gegerbitung, Sukabumi West Java died suddenly. . Head of Sub Department of Animal Health Animal Husbandry Department Winda Sri Rahayu said, hundreds of chickens were tested positive for bird flu virus. . It was based on inspection of samples of blood and dead chickens sent to the Central Veterinary Research Bogor.

  "Then we monitor to it, there are many deaths on the chicken. Then we go balivet. And just yesterday is just received the results, there were indications of the direction of bird flu."

  Head of Sub Department of Animal Health Department Winda farms Sri Rahayu added, to minimize the spread of the virus, the Office vaccinate all poultry farms in four villages until a radius of one kilometer.  The case of poultry died of bird flu virus in this month is the second time, before hundreds of village chickens in the district Parungkuda also tested positive for bird flu.

 

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=id&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://www.kbr68h.com/berita/daerah/15791-ratusan-ayam-di-gegerbitung-sukabumi-positif-flu-burung&usg=ALkJrhiSkVLEX5XRSfKjKm0rs62B3Jq-nw

WHO: Influenza like illness in the United States of America

24 November 2011 - The United States Government has reported three cases of human infection with swine origin triple reassortant Influenza A H3N2. Between 10 and 13 November 2011, three children (aged 11 months, 2 years and 3 years) experienced onset of febrile respiratory illness. All three children had visited the same health care provider in Iowa State. None of them were hospitalized and all three have recovered.

Laboratory testing conducted on 18 November 2011 in the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa showed a swine-origin triple reassortant influenza A (H3N2) (S-OtrH3N2) virus. This was confirmed by sequencing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on 20 November.

The three children attend the same daycare facility. There is an ongoing investigation and to date, no epidemiological link to swine has been identified in any of the three children. Additional investigation is currently underway to identify and characterize the illness in other daycare attendees, family members, or other contacts, and to determine any exposure to swine.

These are 16th, 17th and 18th cases of human infection with swine origin triple reassortant influenza A (H3N2) detected in the United States since 2009, and the 8th, 9th, and 10th cases reported this year.

WHO is closely following the situation with the US Government, CDC and other partners.

Applicability of a sensitive duplex real-time PCR assay for identifying B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineages of influenza virus from clinical specimens

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2011 Nov 24. [Epub ahead of print]

Zhang N, Fang S, Wang T, Li J, Cheng X, Zhao C, Wang X, Lv X, Wu C, Zhang R, Cheng J, Xue H, Lu Z.

Source

Department of Social Medicine, Public Health School, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Type B influenza virus is one of the major epidemic strains and responsible for considerable mortality and morbidity. Rapidly and accurately identifying different influenza B virus lineages, i.e., B/Yamagata (B/Y) and B/Victoria (B/V), is desirable during the flu season. However, the available rapid techniques lack sensitivity, and the usual methods for identifying influenza viruses require expansion of virus in tissue culture or embryonated hen's eggs. Thus, we developed several sets of primer pairs that were able to detect and distinguish B/Y and B/V in a single real-time PCR assay. Used in conjunction with two sets of specific primers that exhibited purine at 3' end of at least one primer targeting on HA gene of B/Y and B/V lineages allows us to accurately identify approximately 10(2) copies per microliter for B/Y and B/V with intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variation (CV) <4%. When it was used to test 17,765 throat swab specimens obtained in the 2006-2010 influenza surveillance season, this method was comparable to hemagglutination inhibition assay in detection, typing and subtyping of influenza viruses with 100% true-negative (specificity) and 100% true-positive (sensitivity). Taken together, this method provides sensitive and robust tool for routine diagnosis and on-time epidemiological examination for WHO decisions on vaccine composition.

Comparative Detection of H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus Using Conventional Rt-PCR and Real Time Rt-PCR

International Journal of Virology, 2012
ISSN 1815-4900/DOI: 10.3923/ijv.2012....
2012 Academic Journals Inc.

N.M. Hagag, A. Arafa, M.A. Shalaby, A.A. El-Sanousi and M.M. Aly
Abstract: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) caused by influenza A H5N1 virus, poses a significant threat to the poultry industry and humans in Egypt. Since it was first recognized in 2006, the disease has become enzootic in poultry throughout Egypt and still circulates in the poultry population, so the ability to rapidly recognize AIVs in biological specimens is critical for limiting further spread of the disease in poultry. Application of molecular methods such as Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Real time RT-PCR (RRT-PCR) as a rapid, specific and sensitive detection methods currently used in national and reference laboratories worldwide. In this study a comparison of the specificity and sensitivity between 2 different formats of conventional RT-PCR (one and two steps) and 3 different formats of RRT-PCR (one step using TaqMan^® probe, two steps using TaqMan^® probe and two steps using hybridization^® probe) were performed and compared as a diagnostic tools for H5N1 virus detection. All these formats of PCRs appeared within the same specificity for H5 gene detection, while they showed difference in sensitivity as the one step conventional RT-PCR showed to be more sensitive than two steps conventional RT-PCR by 10 folds, one step RRT-PCR TaqMan^® probe was more sensitive than two steps RRT-PCR TaqMan^® probe by 10 folds, two steps RRT-PCR hyberidization^® probe is more sensitive than two steps RRT-PCR TaqMan^® probe by 100 folds, finally two step RRT-PCR using hyperidization^® probe is more sensitive than conventional RT-PCR two steps by 1000 folds. Fifty one field samples were further tested by all mentioned PCR formats the results were the same of that obtained in the sensitivity experiment and agreed with them in placing hybridization probe system of higher sensitivity than TaqMan one step than TaqMan two steps and conventional PCR were of the lowest sensitivity although one step showed higher sensitivity than two steps.

Symposium On Avian Influenza: Breaking News, Public Health And Surveillance Readiness

November 26, 2011

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) cordially invite you to attend a symposium providing breaking news on the global spread of avian influenza and assessing public health and surveillance readiness.

World-renowned speakers will include:

* Nancy J. Cox, Chief, Influenza Branch, and Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Control of Influenza, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
* Robert A. Lamb, HHMI Investigator and John Evans Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Northwestern University, Evanston, and Professor of Microbiology-Immunology at Northwestern University School of Medicine;
* Matthew Lorence, Associate Director, Emerging Markets, Affymetrix, Inc.
* Farzad Mostashari, Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Epidemiology Services, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;
* David Nabarro, Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza for the World Health Organization;
* Jeffery K. Taubenberger, Chair, Department of Molecular Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

Speakers will discuss how the 1918 influenza pandemic may serve as a model for understanding the impact of a 21st century global influenza pandemic. Presentations will also address the adequacy U.S. and global public health infrastructure and surveillance systems.

This symposium is the first in a series of sessions examining the current state of the global avian influenza threat and U.S. and international vulnerability to this and other infectious diseases. Subsequent sessions are scheduled for April 6, May 11 and June 8.

If you would like to attend the March 23 symposium, please RSVP by email to biotechcsis with your full contact information. Questions can be directed to Torrey Shallcross at (202) 775-3181.

The Russell Senate Office Building is located Northeast of the Capitol on a site bounded by Constitution Avenue, First Street, Delaware Avenue, and C Street, N.E.

Contact: Jim Keeley
keeleyjhhmi
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Genetically Altered Avian Flu Experiments Under Review by Biosecurity Board – Major Controversy Brewing

November 25, 2011 By Michael Ricciardi

{Rotterdam, The Netherlands}

A genetically altered strain of H5Ni avian influenza A virus (also known as “bird flu”) is under tight security at a medical facility in The Netherlands, pending formal review by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) of a research paper (Fouchier et al) reporting the results of recent animal contagion experiments.

According to reports ahead of publication, the paper details the results of the genetic modification experiments, as well as the fact that, due to this modification, the strain is now “easily transmissible” between ferrets. Ferrets are the ideal animal model for flu studies as their bodies most closely mimic the flu reaction in humans.

The new strain of flu — if it were to be accidentally released — would cause a world-wide influenza pandemic that would likely kill millions, scientist familiar with the project believe.

More Details on the Experiments and Major Concerns

The team of virologists, headed by Ron Fouchier of Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, is preparing itself for a mass media storm of criticism, even while Fouchier, in a recent interview, describes the new strain as “probably one of the most dangerous viruses you can make.” [source: Science Insider] Fouchier also wants the paper published.

Enter the NSABB, which handles only a few such ‘biosecurity risk’, scientific papers each year. This paper has become perhaps its highest priority review in years. This emerging story highlights the growing conflict between scientific and security interests over so-called ‘dual use’ research, wherein a laboratory development/breakthrough has both great scientific utility but also a real potential for use in biowarfare or by bioterrorists.

The title of the paper has not been released to the press, but according to a few earlier news items (in the New Scientist and Scientific American) from a September scientific meeting in Malta, sufficient details of how the strain of H5Ni avian flu was created are included in the paper.

How the Strain was Created

The earlier news items explained how Fouchier, after......

http://planetsave.com/2011/11/25/genetically-altered-avian-flu-experiments-punder-review-by-biosecurity-board-major-controversy-brewing/

Astrha Lord returned the bird flu panic Tani and raises the Egyptians

November 25, 2011


Astrha Lord returned the bird flu panic Tani and raises the Egyptians


- Atmosphere of panic returned to Egyptian control once again, for fear of an outbreak of "bird flu", with the World Health Organization revealed the emergence of new cases of the deadly virus, amid reports about the death of three children from one family, they were suspected of the disease.

The World Health Organization said in a statement on its official, it had received a communication from the Ministry of Health in Egypt, reflecting a new case of human infection with the virus A (H5N1) avian influenza, and said it to a child in the first year, from the center of "camp" province "Western", north of Cairo.
She said that the child developed symptoms on 17 September / September last, and was admitted to the hospital in 21 of the same month, where he underwent treatment with the drug "oseltamivir", and left the hospital on the twenty fifth of the same month, after the completion of treatment until fully recovered.
The statement pointed out that the investigations showed that the child became infected as a result of mixing of poultry are raised near the house of his family, have been confirmed infected with bird flu by the Central Laboratory of the Egyptian Public Health, which is one of the centers of the global network for surveillance of influenza, sponsored by the World Health Organization.
Furthermore, local media reports said the death of three children of one family, aged six years, province of "Fayoum", south of the Egyptian capital, earlier this week, as a result of infection with symptoms similar to gastroenteritis and influenza.
The newspaper "Al Ahram", the leading Egyptian newspaper, that the Directorate of Health to maintain held an emergency meeting Friday to discuss the reasons for the deaths of three children, and symptoms of the disease, which infected, and causes of death, as well as preparations for the Directorate to address the "bird flu", and how to prevent it.
However, the acting director of health in Fayoum, Dr. Anwar Al Swaify, ruled out that these children have died as a result of bird flu, saying the family did not raise birds, and noted that samples were taken from the children for analysis to determine the real cause of death.
According to WHO estimates it out of a total of confirmed cases of bird flu in Egypt so far, and Of the 152 cases, 52 cases of which led to the death.
According to the WHO, in the previous estimates, the virus has infected 565 people in various parts of the world, since its inception in 2003, and led to the deaths of 331 people.
The influenza virus causes images directly and indirectly, in the execution of more than 400 million birds and poultry, causing economic losses estimated at $ 20 billion.  http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ar&tl=en&u=http://www.njomak.com/2011/11/blog-post_8044.html&usg=ALkJrhhRTuoGPBTIvzgRB94bgrOGu557ow

IRAQ #bird flu #h5n1 looks like 2 dead,4 others under observation

 A source in Al Muthanna Health Department for the deaths of two children of one family Basapthma suspected bird flu, also pointed to the existence of four targets with the same symptoms under observation and intensive care.
He said a healthy source of Samawa in the hospital that the two children of one family in every area of ​​the hand Bogerad Suer who died as a result of disease suspected bird flu. He pointed out that Muthanna Health Department did not confirm they got sick himself, but expressed reservations on the subject. مبينا إن حالة الفتاتين اكتشفت بعد انتشار المرض بشكل كامل في أنحاء جسديهما.واوضح المصدر ان الطفلة الاولى كانت تعاني من ارتفاع درجات الحرارة وعجز حاد في الكليتين ما أدى الى وفاتها بعد اجراء عملية الغسل الكلوي لها بساعتين تقريباً.وأشار الى حدوث حالة وفاة بالمنطقة نفسها في ناحية السوير قبل عشرة ايام نتيجة لأعراض مشابهة، كما ان شقيقتها تعاني أيضا هذه الاعراض وهي ترقد بمستشفى الولادة والاطفال في السماوة اضافة الى طفلة اخرى من العائلة نفسها تعاني ايضا من ارتفاع درجات الحرارة لكن حالتها مستقرة الى حدما.وبين أن صحة السماوة حصلت على معلومات من المنطقة بوجود حقل دواجن على مقربة من بيوت تلك العوائل شهد نفوق اكثر من خمسين دجاجة في آن واحد . Indicating that the case of the two girls discovered after the spread of the disease completely in over their bodies. The source said the first child was suffering from high temperatures and deficits in the kidneys, which led to her death after a washing process renal her two hours ago. He pointed to a death in the same area in hand Suer ten days ago due to similar symptoms, and that her sister also suffer these symptoms lying in a hospital birth, and children in Samawa, in addition to another child of the same family also suffer from high temperatures but stable condition, to some extent. and that the health of Samawa got the information from the field region, the presence of poultry houses in the vicinity of these families saw the deaths of more than fifty chickens at the same time.  http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ar&tl=en&u=http://www.albayyna-new.com/news.php%3Faction%3Dview%26id%3D4153&usg=ALkJrhh6d3tvh4yz4RHMRtNaxLRpaWqtCA

#h5n1 Bangladesh-3000 chickens #Birdflu

 3 thousand chickens infected with bird flu death ghiore
\
Killing thousands of chickens infected with bird flu ghiore 3

মানিকগঞ্জ প্রতিনিধি Manikaganja representative

Bird flu-affected areas of a farm manikaganjera baniyajuri by the livestock officer, killing two thousand chickens.  The farm owner, the financial loss of about 0 lakh has been claimed.
..A few days before the diagnosis of bird flu, but the eggs laid by their own initiative malikapaksa muragite destruction of one thousand chickens. Then, last Thursday was the second time in the same layer muragite pharme hold the bird flu.  http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/11/26/119277

2+1 =3..
Mamataja layer poultry farm in the area of ​​baniyajurira ghiora manikaganjera basastyanda nearly two thousand chickens infected with bird flu has been killing last Thursday night. Office sources said the officials ghiora pranisampada, examination of the poultry farm is considered to be infected with bird phlute. The presence of the officers of the executive magistrate pranisampada led by Abdullah Al-mamunera night until about two thousand eight chickens from 1 ২টা pumte off the ground.More farm owner. Hiru Mia said, two years ago, eight million loan from a bank that's on the farm. In the last few days about a thousand chickens died. The officer said he pranisampada said Thursday.

http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-11-26/news/203969

Nov 25, 2011 12:10pm

1039625

CDC Warns of New Swine Flu Strain

 

U.S. health officials remain on the alert for additional cases of a new swine flu strain that infected three Iowa children this month.
Since July, 10 Americans have been sickened by S-OtrH3N2 viruses that picked up a gene from the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The new flu strain combines a rare influenza virus (H3N2) circulating in North American pigs and the H1N1 virus from the 2009 outbreak. New flu strains develop when flu viruses combine in new ways. They can pose health risks because people haven’t yet developed immunity to them.
Of the other seven cases of the new swine flu, three occurred in Pennsylvania, two in Maine and two in Indiana, the CDC reported in a Wednesday dispatch in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In all of those cases, either the patients or close contacts had been recently exposed to pigs. The lack of pig exposure in the three newest cases suggested that the new virus may involve limited person-to-person contact. As part of routine preparedness to counter pandemic threats from new flu viruses, CDC said it had developed a “candidate vaccine virus” that could be used to make a human vaccine against S-OtrH3N2 viruses and has sent it to vaccine manufacturers.

One of the three Iowa children, a previously healthy girl referred to as Patient A, became sick during the second week of November. Her doctor tested her as part of routine surveillance and sent a respiratory sample to the Iowa state laboratory for further analysis. Patient B, a boy, developed a flu-like illnesses two days after the Patient A became ill. A day after Patient B became sick, his brother, Patient C, also became ill. Both tested positive for swine flu. All three children had attended the same small gathering on the first day Patient A was fell ill.
After a detailed investigation, Iowa epidemiologists determined that the gathering was the only common link among the three children’s illnesses. None of their families had recently traveled or attended community events, and none of the three or their families had been exposed to pigs, according to the CDC.
Eight days after Patient A became ill, Iowa state laboratory testing indicated the three might have S-OtrH3N2 influenza. The CDC subsequently confirmed the three youngsters had that strain, which included the so-called matrix (M) gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The new flu strain is resistant to two commonly used antiviral drugs, rimantidine and amantadine, but based upon their genetic structure, would likely respond to osteltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).
CDC scientists said they expected this years’ seasonal flu vaccine to provide adults with limited protection from the new flu virus, but that it wouldn’t help children. They recommended that doctors who suspect swine flu infections in their patients treat them with Tamiflu where appropriate, obtain nose and throat specimens and send them to a state public health labs, which should report them to CDC. CDC also encourages anyone who has contact with pigs and develops a flulike illness to be tested.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/11/25/new-swine-flu-strain/

2,000 chickens culled in Manikganj

2,000 chickens culled in Manikganj #BIRD FLU #H5N1     Fri, Nov 25th, 2011 9:05 pm BdST

Dhaka, Nov 25 (bdnews24.com) – Some 2,000 chickens of a poultry farm have been culled at Ghior upazila in Manikganj district as those were found infected with H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu. The upazila livestock department culled the chickens of 'Mamataz Layer Poultry Farm' of Baniajuri area Thursday night. Upazila livestock official Shahidul Islam told reporters on Friday that the infection was confirmed Thursday morning. Later, the chickens were culled and buried immediately that night in presence of the district's executive magistrate Abdullah Al Mamun and upazila livestock officers. Farm owner Mohammad Hiru Mia claimed that he suffered a loss of around Tk 1.4 million. bdnews24.com/corr/skb/bd/1845h

INDO-Hundreds of birds Dead Due to Bird Flu Chickens

Hundreds Dead Due to Bird Flu Chickens
 

 16/10/2011 10:04

Liputan6.com, Bone: Hundreds of chickens died suddenly in the Village Ponceng, Bone regency, South Sulawesi. Allegedly the chickens died of bird flu that is circulating in the area. Dead chickens salivate.

Chicken deaths suddenly make people uneasy. They are also disappointed that the chickens will be consumed in order to welcome the Hari Raya Iduladha. Related to this issue, the residents asked for help to the agencies concerned.
From the results of the Department of Animal Husbandry, dead chickens tested positive for bird flu. Hundreds of dead chickens were immediately destroyed by fire in the hole ground so as not to infect other chickens that are still healthy.

After doing the burial of the dead chickens, Animal Health Service provide the drug. According to officials, who are still healthy chickens suitable for consumption by humans because it is not harmful to health.

video
http://tv.liputan6.com/main/read/6/1066241/0/ratusan-ayam-mati-akibat-flu-burung

Expert unease over deadly flu virus #H5N1 'created' in Dutch laboratory

Friday 25 November 2011

Dutch scientists have created a flu virus which is so deadly there is doubt about whether the research should be published, the Volkskrant reports on Friday.

The paper says American experts are worried detailed information could fall into the wrong hands and that terrorists could recreate the virus as a weapon. The fears are notable because the work was carried out on behalf of the National Institutes of Health in the US.

The research team, led by Ron Fouchier, professor of virology at Erasmus teaching hospital, was able to create a highly infectious variant of the bird flu virus H5N1. H5N1 is rarely transferred from animal to human, but if it does, the infection is often fatal.

Pandemic

Fouchier was asked to find out if H5N1 could lead to a pandemic and was able to show that a couple of mutations in the virus dna changed it into an extremely virulent form. Japanese researchers have also made similar findings, the paper says.

Fouchier then offered an article on his findings to scientific journal Science which asked a US institute for bio security to examine the result. That institute told the US government the research could be threatening to public health and security.

The Volkskrant says Fouchier is unwilling to comment on the situation because he does not want to prejudice the expert opinion. Both his and the Japanese research are currently being scrutinised.

Togo declared to be free from highly pathogenic avian flu

Oh...that Togo...


2011-11-24
Togo is now free from the Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu (HPAF) which is commonly known as the bird flu (H5N1), according to a report from the country's agriculture ministry which was released to the media on Tuesday in Lome.

The disease was eradicated from the country through disease control measures that were undertaken by the Togolese government with the assistance of the European Union (EU) which has now declared that the disease is no longer in areas where it had been detected.

This situation will now enable Togo to be listed as a country which is free from H5N1 and the ban that had been imposed on her poultry exports to the European Union countries will now be lifted.

The program to fight this disease which was funded by EU to the tune of 2.4 billion Fcfa enabled Togo to put in place measures for early warning system of the disease across the entire national territory, to reinforce the national capacity to detect the disease and coordinate information sharing with development partners.

The program also resulted into intensification of the rapid response and control of national borders, creation of a fund to compensate poultry farmers and at the same time collect data on the impact of the disease as well as improve biosecurity measures in the exploitation of poultry markets.

Mexico Reports New Outbreak of Newcastle Disease

Mexico Reports New Outbreak of Newcastle Disease

ThePoultrySite.com - ‎13 hours ago‎

A total of 30000 broilers were found susceptible to the outbreak. However, no cases were identified. No deaths were recorded, and no birds were destroyed. The pathogenic strain of the Newcastle disease virus was identified through active ...

Two Flocks Reported with Sub-Clinical ND
MEXICO - Evidence has been found of sub-clinical Newcastle disease (ND) in two commercial poultry flocks in the centre of the country.

The veterinary authority sent two Immediate Notification reports dated 22 November to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The first report describes a positive reaction to routine surveillance at a farm at Col. Montoro in the region of Aguascalientes on 26 October. All 850,816 birds were destroyed.

The second report covers another outbreak of sub-clinical disease at a commercial broiler farm at Road Lagos de Moreno-San Luis Potosí in the region of Jalisco, where all 30,000 birds in the flock have been destroyed.

Both reports say that identification of the pathogenic strain of the Newcastle disease virus was made by active epidemiological surveillance and there were no clinical signs of the disease. Both farms have been depopulated and cleaning and disinfection activities have been carried out.  http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/24120/two-flocks-reported-with-subclinical-nd

Egypt : Infection Assistant Secretary for Health

Infection: Talaat Sadat, died upon arrival Cairo hospital where

الأحد 20 نوفمبر - 11:15صباحا Sunday, November 20 - 11:15

 | |

 Infection: Talaat Sadat, died upon arrival Cairo hospital where

 Died this morning after Sadat's sudden heart attack, immediately after his arrival in Cairo hospital Bakrie.

. Dr. Adel infection Assistant Secretary for Health for the medical therapeutic that Talaat Sadat, President of the ruling Egyptian national and a senior opponents in the Egyptian parliament was the face of his Lord after a heart attack is sudden, and the family to call an ambulance and once they reach the hospital was in a coma and was transferred to the hospital of the National Bank, where the medical team tried to save him with electric shocks and recovery procedures but all attempts failed.   http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ar&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://www.el-wasat.com/portal/News-55643115.html&usg=ALkJrhj7SL3RrPCZ7vyhYxAP0Ce4xUoCRw

Destruction BIRD FLU

High rate of mortality of chickens in Syria because of illness Newcastle

High rate of mortality of chickens in Syria because of illness Newcastle



Date of article: 11/24/2011




Recently increased mortality rate of the domestic chicken after being Newcastle disease, and emphasized the veterinarian Chief, Division of poultry Mohammed Qanbar the primary cause of infection in migratory birds carrying the virus, which in turn degrades the poultry feed and the movement of the causative agent of plague-like chicken Newcastle.

For his part, Director of Animal Health thin Abdulkarim Ali, a number of ways to be followed in the event of such cases of poultry deaths, including phase-art of the dead birds and poultry waste and firm application of biosecurity measures through sterilization and application of the vaccine is approved for poultry in a poultry hatcheries and rural areas.

Indicating the Baath newspaper that the Directorate of Animal Health started to deliver vaccine to Newcastle daily instead of weekly cases and mortality in poultry hatcheries in the private and public figure because of the regular vaccination and the inability of migratory birds from entering into an Hncarat chicken.

The increased mortality of chickens adversely affect the prices of chicken and eggs.

Israel Reports Five Newcastle Disease Outbreaks

Israel Reports Five Newcastle Disease Outbreaks

ISRAEL - The Israeli veterinary authorities have reported five new outbreaks of Newcastle disease in Hazafon, Hamerkaz and also in the Jehuda and Samaria region.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received follow-up report no. 3 on Monday, 21 November. The affected population ranges from three to six week old broilers.

In the case of 4-week-old broilers, the disease was diagnosed in two adjacent farms. The birds in the first farm were culled (38,000) and the birds in the second farm were culled on yesterday, 23 November. Regarding 6-week-old broilers, the OIE reports that they will be culled shortly. In the case of 5-week-old broilers divided in two pens, only one pen was affected. The two pens will be culled by today, 24 November. In Jehuda and Samaria, 6-week-old broilers were also affected. The birds will be culled shortly. According to the OIE, it should be noted that this outbreak is located into Israeli Settlements in the West Bank.

All in all, a total of five outbreaks have been identified, out of which 556000 broilers have shown signs of susceptibility and 176000 cases were reported. While a total of 31100 deaths were recorded, 56900 birds were destroyed.

The source of the outbreak remains inconclusive and the the epidemiological investigation is ongoing.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/24124/israel-reports-five-newcastle-disease-outbreaks

Kuwait: Deferred Making Decision on Lifting Ban on Poultry From U.S.

Chairman of the Committee on Food Safety in the municipality of Kuwait, Mohammad Al-Otaibi said the Committee had deferred making recommendations on a number of topics, most notably the lack of lifting the ban on meat from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) pending the receipt of benefit the Public Authority for Industry relating to the proceedings of the Forum on Food Safety Gulf.

Al-Otaibi said (KUNA) yesterday that the committee recommended against lifting the import of poultry meat and products from the United States of America because of bird flu, in addition to non lifting of ban on importation of live animals from France pending the receipt of the reports of the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs in this regard.
He added that the committee recommended the mandated representative of the Ministry of Trade and Industry follow-up to the issuance of the Ministerial Decision on the lifting of the ban on the importation of poultry meat of all kinds and their derivatives and products and table eggs from the Federal Republic of Russia and postponed issuing a recommendation on the imposition of a temporary ban on the import of meat quarterly from Bangladesh because of FMD.

The Al-Otaibi said the meeting was attended by delegations from the embassies of America and the French To view Mttlebatthma and their proposals on the ban on the importation of poultry from bird flu as well as the import of red meat because of mad cow disease.
He noted that the Committee pending the report of the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries with regard to lifting ban the importation of poultry meat and products from the state of Minnesota on bird flu, but for products French, the Committee requested a briefing the Board on its report about the live animals from France, as well as its submission for the proceedings relating to lift the ban on meat from the GCC countries of the Forum on Food Safety Gulf.
He pointed to the mandated representative of the Ministry of Trade and Industry to follow up the issuance of ministerial decision to lift the ban on the importation of meat birds (manufactured - Fresh - refrigerated - frozen) of all kinds and their derivatives and products and table eggs from the Republic of the Russian Federation.
The Committee had deferred the issuance of the decision to lift the ban on the United States of America concerning bird flu, pending the receipt of the report of the Board of Agriculture as well as deferred making a recommendation on the increase temporary ban on the importation of meat species, cows, sheep, goats, deer, products and equipment refrigerated and frozen from Bangladesh because of foot and mouth waiting for the report on this from the Agriculture.
Al-Otaibi said he was reviewing all that came the Book of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research on the project to develop a database of microbial National chicken broiler Kuwait, as introduced by Dr. Samir Zanki representative of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research Committee and the statement of progress of the project and the first progress report in this regard.
and the establishment of poultry slaughterhouses within the borders of plots of agricultural productivity and introduced by the representative of the Agriculture introduced the topic and proposed on the establishment of slaughterhouse central key for the slaughter of birds noted to recommend the request memo from the Commission of Agriculture to study the matter a thorough study and submit to the municipal council.
With regard to the report on the team technical chaired by the Ministry of Health to assess the developments related to the rate of bromate draw Otaibi to delay the report because of the presence of the technical team formed to study this subject.
He said that regarding the letter of the Ministry of Health on that taken by the Oversight Committee of the radiation and the demand to lift the ban on food Japanese origin, the Committee recommended to defer the decision to seek assurances from international organizations, especially for radiation.

Iraq: #H5N1 Suspected Human Cases -

Al Muthanna, Iraq



23/11/2011

Samawa - Shaker Alaaajipa
A source at the Department of Health Muthanna, the death of two children of one family suspected Basapthma bird flu, also pointed to the existence of four goals with the symptoms themselves under observation and intensive care.
The source said in a hospital in Samawah (morning): The «two girls of one family in the area of Al Bogerad of the hand Suer who died as a result of disease suspected bird flu ».
He noted that the Health Department Muthanna did not confirm they got sick himself, but expressed reservations on the subject, noting that the state of the two girls discovered after the spread of the disease completely in over their bodies .
The source explained »The first child was suffering from high temperatures and deficits in the kidneys, which led to her death after a washing process renal her two hours ago.
The source «to a death in the same area in terms of Suer ten days ago due to similar symptoms, as said her sister also suffer these symptoms lying in a hospital birth, and children in Samawa, in addition to another child of the same family also suffer from high temperatures but stable condition, to some extent ».
and said: «We got information from the region have the field of poultry in the vicinity of homes of those families witnessed the deaths of more than fifty chickens at the same time ».
For his part, said Nawaf Almhklari, Director of Health Information Muthanna (morning): «operation room was established under the guidance and supervision of the Director General of Health Muthanna for this purpose at a time when taking a sample of deceased and sent to the Central Health Laboratory in Baghdad to make sure the cause of death.
He said that the first child died after suffering from acute renal failure as initial diagnosis, while suffered the second case of high temperatures, which led to her death within 24 hours, confirming the presence of four cases under the viewing and intensive care and it's stable.

Iraq: The Death of 2 girls in Muthanna suspected #birdflu #H5N1

The independent Iraqi news agency / Samawa / n. G / A source at Al Muthanna Health Department, for the deaths of two children of one family suspected Basapthma bird flu, also pointed to the existence of four goals with Symptoms are the same under observation and intensive care.
The source said in a hospital in Samawah health reporter (independent Iraqi news agency) that «the two children of one family in Each area of ​​the hand Bogerad Suer who died as a result of disease suspected It's bird flu».
He pointed out that Muthanna Health Department did not confirm they got sick himself, but expressed reservations On the subject,
Indicating that the state of the two girls discovered after the spread of the disease completely in Over their bodies.
The sources said the first child was suffering from high temperatures and the inability of Severe in the kidneys, which led to her death after a washing process with renal Almost two hours.
He pointed to a death in the same area in terms of Suer ten Days due to similar symptoms, and that her sister also suffer these symptoms are Lying in a hospital birth, and children in Samawa, in addition to another child of the family Themselves also suffer from high temperatures but stable condition, to some extent.

And that the health of Samawa, obtained information from the region have a field in the vicinity of poultry Homes of those families witnessed the deaths of more than fifty chickens at the same

Iraq: 2 Children of One Family Suspected #Birdflu #H5N1

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 14:55

Muthanna - Iraq News Network - A source in Al Muthanna Health Department for the deaths of two children of one family Basapthma suspected bird flu, also pointed to the existence of four goals with the same symptoms under observation and intensive care. He said a healthy source of Samawa in the hospital that the two children of one family in every area of ​​the hand Bogerad Suer who died as a result of disease suspected bird flu. He pointed out that Muthanna Health Department did not confirm they got sick himself, but expressed reservations on the subject.Indicating that the state of the two girls discovered after the spread of the disease completely in over their bodies. He sources first child was suffering from high temperatures and deficits in the kidneys, which led to her death after a washing process renal her two hours ago. He pointed to a death in the same area in terms of Suer ten days ago due to similar symptoms, and that her sister also suffer these symptoms lying in a hospital birth, and children in Samawa, in addition to another child of the same family also suffer from high temperatures but stable condition, to some extent. and that the health of Samawa, obtained information from the region the existence of a field in the vicinity of poultry houses that families saw the deaths of more than fifty chickens at the same

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 Infection in a Long-Distance Migrant Shorebird under Migratory and Non-Migratory States

Abstract

Corticosterone regulates physiological changes preparing wild birds for migration. It also modulates the immune system and may lead to increased susceptibility to infection, with implications for the spread of pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1. The red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) displays migratory changes in captivity and was used as a model to assess the effect of high plasma concentration of corticosterone on HPAIV H5N1 infection. We inoculated knots during pre-migration (N = 6), fueling (N = 5), migration (N = 9) and post-migration periods (N = 6). Knots from all groups shed similar viral titers for up to 5 days post-inoculation (dpi), peaking at 1 to 3 dpi. Lesions of acute encephalitis, associated with virus replication in neurons, were seen in 1 to 2 knots per group, leading to neurological disease and death at 5 to 11 dpi. Therefore, the risk of HPAIV H5N1 infection in wild birds and of potential transmission between wild birds and poultry may be similar at different times of the year, irrespective of wild birds' migratory status. However, in knots inoculated during the migration period, viral shedding levels positively correlated with pre-inoculation plasma concentration of corticosterone. Of these, knots that did not become productively infected had lower plasma concentration of corticosterone. Conversely, elevated plasma concentration of corticosterone did not result in an increased probability to develop clinical disease. These results suggest that birds with elevated plasma concentration of corticosterone at the time of migration (ready to migrate) may be more susceptible to acquisition of infection and shed higher viral titers—before the onset of clinical disease—than birds with low concentration of corticosterone (not ready for take-off). Yet, they may not be more prone to the development of clinical disease. Therefore, assuming no effect of sub-clinical infection on the likelihood of migratory take-off, this may favor the spread of HPAIV H5N1 by migratory birds over long distances.

Citation: Reperant LA, van de Bildt MWG, van Amerongen G, Buehler DM, Osterhaus ADME, et al. (2011) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 Infection in a Long-Distance Migrant Shorebird under Migratory and Non-Migratory States. PLoS ONE 6(11): e27814. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0027814

Editor: Todd Davis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States of America

Received: July 8, 2011; Accepted: October 25, 2011; Published: November 22, 2011

[click on title for document]

Qinghai Lake on the probe

A snip from a larger story on theQinghai Lake.. 

 ...Qinghai Lake on the probe

    May 2005 in Qinghai Lake outbreak of bird flu, resulting in a large number of migratory birds died, of which the most bar-headed goose, the number of deaths over 6000. Qinghai Lake region of birds migrating north-south and east-west major channel migration routes of migratory birds in Asia Road, crossing from the Qinghai Lake, 80 species of birds, four or five one hundred thousand. Qinghai Lake, the bird flu outbreak was first out in the bar-headed geese, gulls followed in fish, brown-headed gulls and other waterfowl on.
Since 2005, four Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences on "'15 'information science database" application of the model project "diseases such as avian influenza comprehensive information platform and emergency warning system" and explore the e-science environment to carry out interdisciplinary research in the Qinghai Lake area began joint research. Since then, the birds in Qinghai Lake had on there is no "privacy" of life.
Qinghai Lake Nature Reserve Authority Star Chi recalls, "At the time of death of wild birds is particularly serious, and we laid some video on the probe, even to capture the first Qinghai Lake birds suffering from avian influenza disease situation, then We made a record, and in a timely manner to the Qinghai-related disease epidemic prevention and control department to report the situation. "Qinghai Lake outbreak of avian flu this place, when the matter in the world, also caused a sensation, foreign to found in Qinghai Lake This virus is defined as the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, was also called it "Qinghai Lake" virus.
http://www.chinareports.org.cn/Article/NYHB/201111/39005.html

Swine flu virus transmitted fastest in Delhi

Kounteya Sinha, TNN | Nov 22, 2011, 07.14AM IST

NEW DELHI: Transmission of the deadly H1N1 swine flu virus was the fastest in the national capital, while the infection was most fatal in Maharashtra.
The first-of-its-kind analysis to understand the transmission dynamics of the pandemic influenza that hit India has found that the doubling time (time span in which the number of people infected doubled) was the lowest in Delhi (8.89 days), and highest in Rajasthan (25.67 days).
The doubling time was as low as 9.12 days in Tamil Nadu and 9.24 days in Maharashtra, two of the states worst-hit by the flu.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Swine-flu-virus-transmitted-fastest-in-Delhi/articleshow/10824790.cms

Rangpur Zoo

Both of the peacock couple, living at Rangpur Zoo for the last four years, were found dead yesterday morning. They were possibly attacked with a sudden viral disease, said Abul Kashem, curator of the zoo. Earlier on Wednesday, a lioness, inset, of the same zoo succumbed to old age complications.   http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=211089

South Korea warns of new FMD case

South Korea warns of new FMD case
[22 November 2011] South Korea has reported a suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at a farm in Cheongsong. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that 16 pigs at the farm showed symptoms and government officials are conducting quarantine inspections at the site. If confirmed, it will be the first outbreak of FMD in seven months after the latest case occurred at a pig farm in Yeongcheon on April 20 this year. South Korea was forced to kill about 3.5 million livestock, mostly cow and pigs, last winter because of the country's severest outbreak of FMD   . http://www.asian-agribiz.com/display.aspx?PageID=0&MemberID=0&screenheight=768&screenwidth=1366#

STEGH declares outbreak of MRSA and VRE

Contingency plans in place and no visitor/surgery restrictions

St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital staff declared an outbreak of two antibiotic resistant bacteria Friday afternoon on the hospital's second surgical floor but seem to have contained it.

Following four hospital-contracted cases of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE), two more of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and one MRSA infection over the past month and a subsequent consultation with Elgin St. Thomas Public Health, STEGH staff put contingency plans in place and declared the outbreak.

Most of the cases are in a dormant form in which the patient doesn't display symptoms but risks infecting others.

"They (the seven cases) were contracted within the organization and that was where our concern came in," STEGH VP Patient Services Brenda Lambert said.

"We have many patients within the organization who are colonized (with the two organisms) and we isolate them. These individuals, unfortunately, contracted them while they were within our organization...so that the rationale for us declaring the outbreak."

MRSA and VRE, however, are both common, antibiotic-resistant superbugs and it's not unusual for either to be present within a hospital. Patients who are caught with them are isolated to prevent further spread.

STEGH had another upsurge of MRSA a month ago at which time five patients acquired the germs during their stay.

A release from the hospital states the precautions taken to prevent further transmission included: extensive curtain and furniture cleaning and more hand hygiene audits.

Hospital visitors are also being asked to wash their hands before they enter the site as well as when they leave.

Lambert adds there have been no new cases of either since the measures were taken but says they're measures hospital staff will likely continue to enforce as if there was a perpetual outbreak.

"We are going to be continuing to be very stringent with our protocols and really upping the ante on a continual basis to ensure that we can maintain this because our ideal is that absolutely no patients get it while they're in their building," she said.

 

But Lambert says they're precautions they'll likely have to continue forever...

http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3377723