| OUR BUREAU | ||
Dec. 11: Dispur today sounded a grim warning over the probable spread of avian influenza to humans, saying the state was not equipped to handle such a health scenario. The alert came in the wake of 82 cases of upper respiratory track infections in humans that were reported from six districts affected by bird flu. However, it was not yet confirmed whether these were bird flu-related cases. An infection in the upper respiratory track is one of the symptoms of the disease in humans. “If human beings are affected it would be a bigger disaster than floods or blasts,” health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told mediapersons here today. He said that the health department could only handle 100 to 200 cases if the disease were to be transmitted to humans. “Central teams under the regional director for health and family welfare are monitoring the situation in areas where the outbreak of the disease has been reported,” the minister said. “The people are taking the matter very lightly without realising the consequences. There are allegations of chicken and ducks being kept away from culling.” The minister urged the people to co-operate with veterinary officials as a precaution. Sarma said culling operations were on in full swing with over three lakh poultry lined up for the purpose within the next few days. He said the figures were likely to go up after the outbreak in Dibrugarh and Chirang yesterday. Barpeta, Kamrup (rural), Kamrup (metro) and Nalbari have already been affected by the flu. Close to 2.5 lakh poultry has been culled so far. The ban on sale and movement of poultry and poultry-related products from affected areas has been imposed. Culling operations will begin in Dibrugarh town tomorrow morning, two days after a case of avian flu was detected there. Dibrugarh deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri said all necessary arrangements had been completed for the operations and rapid response teams were ready to carry out the drive. The focal point in Dibrugarh town from where the bird flu case was detected as positive is ward number 6 under Dibrugarh Municipal Board. The 3km radius would cover the entire township, including Dibrugarh University and its adjoining areas. The positive case was detected after poultry retailer Biswajeet Das from the Chiring Chapori area reported to the local veterinary department officials that around 120 of his birds had died all of a sudden on November 6. “We had collected the samples of the dead birds and sent them for tests to the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Thereafter, we received a report from the laboratory confirming the case as positive”, a veterinary department official said. To compound matters, shortage of trained veterinary staff slowed down the culling of birds at Khanapara in the capital city which began this morning after the bird flu outbreak was confirmed at a government-run chicken rearing farm there yesterday. “We have engaged five culling teams overnight after bird flu was confirmed at Khanapara. The areas within 3km of the epicentre has been declared as alert zone or high risk zone where culling will be carried out,” a government official supervising the operations said. The alert zone in the city comprises Jawahar Nagar, Beltola, Six Mile, Rukminigaon, Dispur, Ganeshguri, parts of Hatigaon and Panjabari, among others. The official admitted that their efforts had been impeded by shortage of trained staff for culling in the city as most of them were engaged in similar operations in other affected areas of the state. |
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Dispur sounds health alert
HK begins mass cull of birds at market, screens virus
Huang Yiquan counter-attacks coughs crazily scares reporter
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Caption: Huang Yiquan defends the equipment to stand complete before the chicken house gate, narrated after this becomes the victim and the loss serious, suffers the feeling which again discredits.
More pictures
The human bumps into angrily can also be unconventional. Liufu Mountain chicken house field host Huang Yiquan who is made a sneak attack the bird flu, is New Territory raises chickens same business meeting director, and the active field leads the chicken farmer to resist the authority many times to strangle raises chickens industry. This is accused to doubt smuggling fertilization egg bringing about bird flu calamity Lian Quanxing, was still excited immediately in chicken house isolation's Huang Yiquan opens reporter to refute, because actually Lao Qi once forgot puts on protects the clothing, pouring out one's grievances period coughs again and again, wants a numerous media entire journey maintains the distance with him, provides against contingencies. Had an accident the chicken house six workers still to accept the isolation quarantine in the hospital, field host Huang Yiquan and the wife must keep in the chicken house to observe for one week. Huang Yi who is bored to death in the chicken house entire, in the morning sets on fire the sundry goods which the overburning plans to abandon, afternoon only then arrives at the floodgate to have a look at reporter's interview joining-up to be in question asked that but at that time he did not have any protective gear, for fear that the media his sputtering, namely reminded him to put on the mouthpiece, he often “is not also good by me 咁” reminds himself not to be possible to leave the chicken house scope.
Too Lao Qi once forgot to put on protects the clothes
Has stood after floodgate Huang Yiquan learned about that because is accused the smuggling fertilization egg has an accident the ten points “the fatigue to be mad”, yelled that “not raises chickens the o already person to accuse depending on Mie Oye to raise chickens o already!”
Again decision in 3:00 pm opens reporter to respond publicly temporarily, but he always exchanges on protects the clothing to think otherwise, finally before the press conference starts, the yellow suitable versatile person exchanges the white protection gown and puts on the mouthpiece.
Short 20 minute the press conference, Huang Yiquan coughs unceasingly, numerous media maintain ten feet distances subconsciously with him, but he threatened that he 絕 is impossible to receive infects, stressed only because is answers the media to hit unceasingly inquires the smuggling fertilization egg telephone, responds when the event is too excited only then the meeting “is 咁 coughs”. Newspaper reporter http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/translate_url_content?.intl=us&lp=zh_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwap.on.cc%2foncc%2fportal%2fnews%2flocalNews%2fDetail.do%3ftype%3dodn%26id%
Caption: Huang Yiquan defends the equipment to stand complete before the chicken house gate, narrated after this becomes the victim and the loss serious, suffers the feeling which again discredits.
More picturesThe human bumps into angrily can also be unconventional. Liufu Mountain chicken house field host Huang Yiquan who is made a sneak attack the bird flu, is New Territory raises chickens same business meeting director, and the active field leads the chicken farmer to resist the authority many times to strangle raises chickens industry. This is accused to doubt smuggling fertilization egg bringing about bird flu calamity Lian Quanxing, was still excited immediately in chicken house isolation's Huang Yiquan opens reporter to refute, because actually Lao Qi once forgot puts on protects the clothing, pouring out one's grievances period coughs again and again, wants a numerous media entire journey maintains the distance with him, provides against contingencies. Had an accident the chicken house six workers still to accept the isolation quarantine in the hospital, field host Huang Yiquan and the wife must keep in the chicken house to observe for one week. Huang Yi who is bored to death in the chicken house entire, in the morning sets on fire the sundry goods which the overburning plans to abandon, afternoon only then arrives at the floodgate to have a look at reporter's interview joining-up to be in question asked that but at that time he did not have any protective gear, for fear that the media his sputtering, namely reminded him to put on the mouthpiece, he often “is not also good by me 咁” reminds himself not to be possible to leave the chicken house scope.
Too Lao Qi once forgot to put on protects the clothes
Has stood after floodgate Huang Yiquan learned about that because is accused the smuggling fertilization egg has an accident the ten points “the fatigue to be mad”, yelled that “not raises chickens the o already person to accuse depending on Mie Oye to raise chickens o already!”
Again decision in 3:00 pm opens reporter to respond publicly temporarily, but he always exchanges on protects the clothing to think otherwise, finally before the press conference starts, the yellow suitable versatile person exchanges the white protection gown and puts on the mouthpiece.
Short 20 minute the press conference, Huang Yiquan coughs unceasingly, numerous media maintain ten feet distances subconsciously with him, but he threatened that he 絕 is impossible to receive infects, stressed only because is answers the media to hit unceasingly inquires the smuggling fertilization egg telephone, responds when the event is too excited only then the meeting “is 咁 coughs”. Newspaper reporter http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/translate_url_content?.intl=us&lp=zh_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwap.on.cc%2foncc%2fportal%2fnews%2flocalNews%2fDetail.do%3ftype%3dodn%26id%
B.C. lab to provide quick, secure testing for animal diseases such as avian flu
THE CANADIAN PRESS
11/12/2008 2:37:00 PM
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - The doors will open early next year on a new lab that can test for diseases such as avian flu, mad cow disease and West Nile virus.
Agriculture Minister Stan Hagen said Thursday it's the only such facility in Canada that's associated with a provincial veterinary lab to diagnose diseases that can transfer from animals to humans.
Hagen said the lab "ensures we are fully prepared to identify and respond to incidents of animal disease faster and more efficiently. This proactive step benefits animals, industry and the public."
The lab's advanced testing means fewer samples will need to be sent to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's lab in Winnipeg, he said.
The lab, which will open early in the new year, is an addition to the existing Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford, B.C., the hub of the Fraser Valley agricultural area.
The area was the hardest hit in Canada when fears of a human avian flu outbreak were at their peak several years ago.
Two people were infected in a 2004 bird flu outbreak at Fraser Valley poultry farms.
They suffered only mild flu-like symptoms but hundreds of thousands of birds were culled and the province's $350-million-a-year industry was devastated. Up to 1,700 jobs were lost.
Thousands more birds were culled during a 2005 avian flu outbreak over fears the disease could transfer to humans.
The new $14-million testing facility will provide more protection for lab workers from diseases that may infect people as well as animals, Hagen said.
It will feature unbreakable glass and other measures to prevent disease-causing agents from being reintroduced into the environment.
Garnet Etsell, chairman of the B.C. Agriculture Council, said he is pleased the province's diagnostic capabilities will expand when it comes to threatening diseases.
"This new laboratory will help ensure B.C.'s producers have access to some of the best animal health diagnostic services in the country," he said in a statement.
11/12/2008 2:37:00 PM
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - The doors will open early next year on a new lab that can test for diseases such as avian flu, mad cow disease and West Nile virus.
Agriculture Minister Stan Hagen said Thursday it's the only such facility in Canada that's associated with a provincial veterinary lab to diagnose diseases that can transfer from animals to humans.
Hagen said the lab "ensures we are fully prepared to identify and respond to incidents of animal disease faster and more efficiently. This proactive step benefits animals, industry and the public."
The lab's advanced testing means fewer samples will need to be sent to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's lab in Winnipeg, he said.
The lab, which will open early in the new year, is an addition to the existing Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford, B.C., the hub of the Fraser Valley agricultural area.
The area was the hardest hit in Canada when fears of a human avian flu outbreak were at their peak several years ago.
Two people were infected in a 2004 bird flu outbreak at Fraser Valley poultry farms.
They suffered only mild flu-like symptoms but hundreds of thousands of birds were culled and the province's $350-million-a-year industry was devastated. Up to 1,700 jobs were lost.
Thousands more birds were culled during a 2005 avian flu outbreak over fears the disease could transfer to humans.
The new $14-million testing facility will provide more protection for lab workers from diseases that may infect people as well as animals, Hagen said.
It will feature unbreakable glass and other measures to prevent disease-causing agents from being reintroduced into the environment.
Garnet Etsell, chairman of the B.C. Agriculture Council, said he is pleased the province's diagnostic capabilities will expand when it comes to threatening diseases.
"This new laboratory will help ensure B.C.'s producers have access to some of the best animal health diagnostic services in the country," he said in a statement.
Minister Request Monitoring of the Virus was changed
Health Minister Fadilah Supari asked for the Organisation of the Health of the World (WHO) made the change significant in the distribution and the monitoring of the virus avian influenza (H5N1) in the system on the world body. This matter was sent by Siti Fadilah in the Meeting opening of the Antarnegara Continuation- preparations for the Influenza Pandemic that took place from 7 to December 13 in Geneva, Swiss, as being launched in the press release that was accepted yesterday. At this time Indonesia refused to send the sample H5N1 that came from the bird flu sufferer in the country. The government pointed in several cases that were recorded when the Indonesian virus kind was included in the application submission of the company's United States patent. Several matters it was thought as proof that the available system at this time no longer functions as it should be and damages the developing country, as the place of the virus came.
Indo-Demak: 7,707 tails of the Positif AI Poultry
[Demak is in Central Java. Map: http://tinyurl.com/54rn4g]
DEMAK—Dinas Pertanian (Dispertan) Demak recorded, for 2008, 30 cases of bird flu happened. Finally, this December, 1 case in the Jetis Sari Hamlet, Desa Katonsari, Kecamatan Demak Kota. From the chicken population discussed as many as 40 tails, 3 including dying suddenly. Beforehand, to 22 and last November 29, also the case of bird flu in the Betokan District, Kecamatan Demak Kota and the Kalitengah Village, happened Kecamatan Mranggen. In Betokan, from the chicken population discussed as many as 35 tails, 5 including dying. Whereas in the Kalitengah Village, from the chicken population discussed as many as 10 tails, four including dying was affected by bird flu.
It was related that this case, Dispertan did not carry out the extermination of the poultry. “Upaya that was carried out by us was spraying of disinfectant as well as isolated the poultry. Afterwards the poultry that still was living was forbidden to be cut off or sold at least in time of two bulan,” revealed Kasubdin Peternakan in the Pertanian Service (Dispertan) Demak went through Kasi Kesehatan of the Animal drh Sudaryanti. According to Sudaryanti, the case of bird flu in the Demak Regency still must be guarded against. Because in extension in January till December 2008 (a tar-final year), 30 cases happened. This case resulted in the poultry of various kinds with the population totalling 16,552 tails, 3,656 including dying. His side was forced to destroy the positive poultry was affected by Avian Influenza (AI) totalling 7,707 tails.
Prevented the occurrence of the pandemic, his side appealed to the community mengkandangkan his poultry was separated from the house. Moreover, the community must also maintain the cleanliness of the environment. Because of all the cases of bird flu that happened, the majority was in the location of the dirty environment. Prevention efforts, Dispertan was still having stock of disinfectant 576 litre.
DEMAK—Dinas Pertanian (Dispertan) Demak recorded, for 2008, 30 cases of bird flu happened. Finally, this December, 1 case in the Jetis Sari Hamlet, Desa Katonsari, Kecamatan Demak Kota. From the chicken population discussed as many as 40 tails, 3 including dying suddenly. Beforehand, to 22 and last November 29, also the case of bird flu in the Betokan District, Kecamatan Demak Kota and the Kalitengah Village, happened Kecamatan Mranggen. In Betokan, from the chicken population discussed as many as 35 tails, 5 including dying. Whereas in the Kalitengah Village, from the chicken population discussed as many as 10 tails, four including dying was affected by bird flu.
It was related that this case, Dispertan did not carry out the extermination of the poultry. “Upaya that was carried out by us was spraying of disinfectant as well as isolated the poultry. Afterwards the poultry that still was living was forbidden to be cut off or sold at least in time of two bulan,” revealed Kasubdin Peternakan in the Pertanian Service (Dispertan) Demak went through Kasi Kesehatan of the Animal drh Sudaryanti. According to Sudaryanti, the case of bird flu in the Demak Regency still must be guarded against. Because in extension in January till December 2008 (a tar-final year), 30 cases happened. This case resulted in the poultry of various kinds with the population totalling 16,552 tails, 3,656 including dying. His side was forced to destroy the positive poultry was affected by Avian Influenza (AI) totalling 7,707 tails.
Prevented the occurrence of the pandemic, his side appealed to the community mengkandangkan his poultry was separated from the house. Moreover, the community must also maintain the cleanliness of the environment. Because of all the cases of bird flu that happened, the majority was in the location of the dirty environment. Prevention efforts, Dispertan was still having stock of disinfectant 576 litre.
Recombinomics Commentary: H5N1 Spreads To Nine Distrcts in Assam India
H5N1 Spreads To Nine Distrcts in Assam India
Recombinomics Commentary 13:01
December 11, 2008
Cases of bird flu virus attack on poultry was detected in the municipal ward number six of Dibrugarh town, about 400 km from Hajo near Guwahati.
the virus was also found at state Veterinary Department-run Khanapara Central Seed Rearing Farm of the Veterinary Department here, Nilibari village of Chirang district and Jalah village of Kamrup (Rural) district. The virus has also spread to Nalbari, Barpeta and Baksa districts, sources said.
The above comments describe the spread of H5N1 to nine districts in Assam (see update map). H5N1 has been confirmed in six districts (Kamrup – rural, Kamrup – metro, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Dibrugarh), as described at the government website, and three districts (Baksa, Bongaigon, Goalpara) which have been described in media reports, including the comments above.
The rapid spread in Assam from the northwestern district of Chirang and the northeastern district of Dibrugah suggest the spread is via wild birds and not limited to the borders of Assam, or the one confirmed outbreak in Bangladesh. Media reports cite additional unreported outbreaks in West Bengal and Bangladesh, the site of last year’s outbreaks.
Projected culling levels are 300,000 birds, but the districts and levels increase almost daily, so more spread is expected.
Media Links
H5N1 Spread To Rangpur Bangladesh
Commentary
The above comments are from a WHO situation update for Bangladesh. Although the update did not yet have the sub-type, the unusual mortality, positive influenza A (H5?), location (see updated map), and date of outbreak strongly suggests these are confirmed H5N1 outbreaks (number culled farms for Rangpur was increased from 7 on March 10, 2008 to 9 on December 3, 2008).
These outbreaks are about 100 miles from the closest outbreak in Assam and support the comments from Meghalaya on additional outbreaks in Bangladesh and rumored outbreaks in West Bengal.
The outbreaks in Bangladesh are also near the rumored outbreaks in West Bengal and close to the western border of Meghalaya.
Thus, the outbreaks in Bangladesh are not a surprise, and more outbreaks in Bangladesh and West Bengal are expected.
H5N1 Spread To Rangpur Bangladesh
Recombinomics Commentary 13:01
December 11, 2008
The above comments are from a WHO situation update for Bangladesh. Although the update did not yet have the sub-type, the unusual mortality, positive influenza A (H5?), location (see updated map), and date of outbreak strongly suggests these are confirmed H5N1 outbreaks (number culled farms for Rangpur was increased from 7 on March 10, 2008 to 9 on December 3, 2008).
These outbreaks are about 100 miles from the closest outbreak in Assam and support the comments from Meghalaya on additional outbreaks in Bangladesh and rumored outbreaks in West Bengal.
The outbreaks in Bangladesh are also near the rumored outbreaks in West Bengal and close to the western border of Meghalaya.
Thus, the outbreaks in Bangladesh are not a surprise, and more outbreaks in Bangladesh and West Bengal are expected.
H5N1 Spread in Bangladesh
Commentary
H5N1 Spread in Bangladesh
Recombinomics Commentary 07:35
December 11, 2008
Stray cases of bird flu have recently been detected in Assam's Kamrup district, West Bengal and in several districts of Bangladesh which shares a vast border with West Garo Hills district.
The above comments from a Meghalaya alert indicate H5N1 in Bangladesh has spread beyond the confirmed outbreak described in an OIE report filed last month. That outbreak began in October on a commercial poultry farm, and additional outbreaks have not been reported. In contrast, H5N1 has recently rapidly spread across Assam and confirmed cases stretch from Chirang in the northwest to Dibrugarh in the northeast (see satellite map).
Although these recent confirmed outbreaks are unlikely to link directly to Bangladesh (the confirmed outbreak in Dibrugarg is more than 400 miles from the confirmed outbreak in Bangladesh or 200 miles from the nearest Bangladesh border - see updated map), they do suggest significant levels of H5N1 are circulating in the region. The Meghalaya alert also suggests that unreported H5N1 is also in West Bengal.
Last season H5N1 in West Bengal and Bangladesh were not extensively reported until January / February, but villagers in West Bengal indicated poultry began to die in December and there were rumors that unreported outbreaks in Bangladesh in the same time frame were widespread.
Recent alerts by West Bengal and Tripura claim that last year's outbreaks were linked to smuggling from Bangladesh, but the earlier outbreaks were associated with deaths of resident and migratory birds, as well as birds of prey, dogs, and jackals, which would likely spread H5N1, even after borders were sealed.
Therefore, additional outbreaks in Bangladesh are likely at this time, and such outbreaks are likely to increase as the temperature falls. These seasonal changes will to move the H5N1 to the south via migratory birds, and Calcutta has already issued an alert that focused on spread by wild birds.
In the past, H5N1 in West Bengal and Bangladesh has been the Qinghai strain (clade 2.2) and more detailed analysis has indicated the H5N1 in the region (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India) has been the sub-clade 2.2.3.
Human cases have been reported in Pakistan and Bangladesh in association with outbreaks last year, although the human H5N1 sequences have not been released, which is also true for avian H5N1 from the outbreaks last season or this season.
Release of these sequences, as well as more information on the recent outbreaks cited above, would be useful.
H5N1 Spread in Bangladesh
Recombinomics Commentary 07:35
December 11, 2008
Stray cases of bird flu have recently been detected in Assam's Kamrup district, West Bengal and in several districts of Bangladesh which shares a vast border with West Garo Hills district.
The above comments from a Meghalaya alert indicate H5N1 in Bangladesh has spread beyond the confirmed outbreak described in an OIE report filed last month. That outbreak began in October on a commercial poultry farm, and additional outbreaks have not been reported. In contrast, H5N1 has recently rapidly spread across Assam and confirmed cases stretch from Chirang in the northwest to Dibrugarh in the northeast (see satellite map).
Although these recent confirmed outbreaks are unlikely to link directly to Bangladesh (the confirmed outbreak in Dibrugarg is more than 400 miles from the confirmed outbreak in Bangladesh or 200 miles from the nearest Bangladesh border - see updated map), they do suggest significant levels of H5N1 are circulating in the region. The Meghalaya alert also suggests that unreported H5N1 is also in West Bengal.
Last season H5N1 in West Bengal and Bangladesh were not extensively reported until January / February, but villagers in West Bengal indicated poultry began to die in December and there were rumors that unreported outbreaks in Bangladesh in the same time frame were widespread.
Recent alerts by West Bengal and Tripura claim that last year's outbreaks were linked to smuggling from Bangladesh, but the earlier outbreaks were associated with deaths of resident and migratory birds, as well as birds of prey, dogs, and jackals, which would likely spread H5N1, even after borders were sealed.
Therefore, additional outbreaks in Bangladesh are likely at this time, and such outbreaks are likely to increase as the temperature falls. These seasonal changes will to move the H5N1 to the south via migratory birds, and Calcutta has already issued an alert that focused on spread by wild birds.
In the past, H5N1 in West Bengal and Bangladesh has been the Qinghai strain (clade 2.2) and more detailed analysis has indicated the H5N1 in the region (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India) has been the sub-clade 2.2.3.
Human cases have been reported in Pakistan and Bangladesh in association with outbreaks last year, although the human H5N1 sequences have not been released, which is also true for avian H5N1 from the outbreaks last season or this season.
Release of these sequences, as well as more information on the recent outbreaks cited above, would be useful.
Bird flu spreads its wings, affects nine Assam districts
Guwahati, Dec 11: With the avian influenza spreading to fresh areas, nine Assam districts are now bird flu affected and Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday warned that it could become a major human disaster. The affected districts were Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro), Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Baksa, Dibrugarh, Goalpara and Bongaigaon, official sources said.Sale of poultry and eggs, either cooked or raw, has been banned in Guwahati and Kamrup (Metro) district which comprises Guwahati and adjoining areas.
Culling of poultry, ducks and other birds has been continuing in the affected districts with over 1.5 lakh birds killed so far, the sources said.
"People are taking the disease very casually. Chicken and ducks are being kept away from culling without realising the seriousness of the disease," Sarma told reporters here.
"We will not be able to handle it, if the disease spreads to humans from the birds. The way the disease is spreading, it will be a greater disaster than bomb blasts or floods," Sarma said.
"The human disaster will be immense. The health department is very worried about human transmission of the disease as it is not 100 percent equipped to handle a largescale outbreak as there are no isolation facilities here," he said.
The disease, starting from Hajo revenue circle in Kamrup(Rural) district about 20 km from here on December 2 and spread to Guwahati in Kamrup (Metro) district, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, Bongaigaon and Goalpara districts in Lower Assam spreading to Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam.
Meghalaya prepares for cullingTaking in view that the bird flu is spreading to new areas in neighbouring Assam, Meghalaya banned the entry of poultry and poultry products from Assam and Bangladesh.
"The ban comes into force with immediate effect. However, the ban does not imply to the sale of poultry and poultry products produced within the state," a Veterinary Department release here said.
A senior Veterinary official told media that they were preparing to cull birds and poultry in the bordering areas with Assam as soon as the Centre asks to do so.
"Normally culling operations are done in a radius of 3 km of the place of disease outbreak. With the bird flu outbreak in Assam's Khanapara, lying along Assam-Meghalaya border, it is likely that culling would be done in the bordering areas of Meghalaya too," he said.
Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi district that borders Khanapara in Assam's Kamrup (Rural) district is on a visit to the bordering areas along with a team of Veterinary officials to take stock of the situation.
The government has set up control rooms in all districts to facilitate information to the poultry farms.
Veterinary officials have been regularly adopting measures to prevent spread of the disease into the state and Deputy Commissioners of all the districts have been alerted, sources said.
Meghalaya already has in place 150 rapid response teams along with 2,170 personnel protective equipment that were constituted last year after the outbreak of avian flu in West Bengal.
hat-tip Niman
India: Respiratory tract infection cases coming in
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 11 – “The State Health Department is not fully equipped to meet a situation if the bird flu transmits to humans in a full-fledged manner. If it turns to be a disaster, we don’t have the facilities to face it,” said Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at a press conference here this morning.
“Once the disease transmits to humans in a full-fledged manner, then there will be a major disaster,” he warned and made an appeal to the poultry farmers not to take the phenomenon casually, expressing concern over the indifference shown to it by some farmers. The poultry farmers should cooperate with the Veterinary Department in tackling the situation, he urged.
Apprising the newspersons that reports of cases of upper respiratory tract infections (URI) have started coming, the Minister said it was a matter of concern. The URI cases have come to the knowledge of the authorities due to the surveillance undertaken by the ASHA and Health Department workers.
However, the Minister said, Central Government teams of doctors comprising physician, epidemiologist, microbiologists and public health experts, under the Regional Director of Health and Family Welfare, are stationed in the affected areas of Hajo, Rani and Rampur Development Blocks in Kamrup District and affected areas of Barpeta and Nalbari Districts. Teams for other affected areas are being readied. The situation is being monitored on a daily basis, he said.
Isolation facilities have been strengthened to admit and treat suspected cases and 10,000 capsules of Tamiflu, 6,000 surgical masks, 600 personal protective equipment, 200 N-95 masks and two ventilators have been supplied to the State by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while additional logistics are also being mobilised, said the Minister.
The communication materials developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the UNICEF in Assamese for both the print and electronic media have been sipplied to the State Government, he said.
Giving details of the URI cases found so far in the State, the Minister said that in the Hajo Development Block of Kamrup District, a human population of 23,473 in the 0-3 km radius area around the affected area, spreading over 25 villages, is under active surveillance. Of which, a population of 21,412 was covered under surveillance on December 10. In the 3-10 km radius area, out of 1,08,416 people, 32,929 have been covered.
Four cases of URI with fever were reported from the area, but no case of influenza like illness with history of contact with infected poultry has been detected in them. Moreover, five cases of URI have been identified in the out patient department of the identified hospital, but none of them has any history of exposure to sick or dead poultry, said the Minister.
In the Rampur Development Block of the district, a population of 39,830 has been covered in the 0-3 km radius area by active surveillance. A total of 30 cases of URI and fever have been detected. None of these has, however, a history of exposure to infected poultry. In the 3-10 km radius area, of the affected area of the block, active surveillance has covered a population of 18,916, he said.
While conducting the passive surveillance in the health facilities, 14 cases of URI and fever have been detected and none of them has any history of exposure to infected poultry, said the Minister.
In the Azara Development Block of Kamrup District, out of a total population 8,572 in 24 villages in the 0-3 km radius, a population of 7,222 has been covered. In the 3-10 km radius area around the affected part of the block, a population of 5,608 has been covered by the surveillance programme, the Minister said.
Two cases of fever and URI are identified in the 0-3 km radius area around the affected part of the block. In the 3-10 km radius area, six cases of fever with URI and fever have been identified. But none of them has any history of exposure to sick or dead birds. The identified hospitals of the block, have reported a total of 23 fever and URI cases. But none of them has any history of exposure to infected poultry.
In Barpeta District, out of the total population of 33,934 in the 0-3 km radius area from the affected area, a population of 6,032 have been surveyed and the surveillance in the 3-10 km radius area from the affected area is being initiated. So far, 60 cases of fever with URI have been detected in the 0-3 km radius area. None of them has, however, any history of exposure to the infected birds, the Minister said.
In Nalbari district, the surveillance programme has covered a population of 7,761, out of the total population of 34,627 in the 0-3 km radius area. One case of fever with URI has been detected in the 0-3 km radius area. However, the patient has no history of exposure to diseased birds, said the Minister.
hat-tip Niman
GUWAHATI, Dec 11 – “The State Health Department is not fully equipped to meet a situation if the bird flu transmits to humans in a full-fledged manner. If it turns to be a disaster, we don’t have the facilities to face it,” said Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at a press conference here this morning.
“Once the disease transmits to humans in a full-fledged manner, then there will be a major disaster,” he warned and made an appeal to the poultry farmers not to take the phenomenon casually, expressing concern over the indifference shown to it by some farmers. The poultry farmers should cooperate with the Veterinary Department in tackling the situation, he urged.
Apprising the newspersons that reports of cases of upper respiratory tract infections (URI) have started coming, the Minister said it was a matter of concern. The URI cases have come to the knowledge of the authorities due to the surveillance undertaken by the ASHA and Health Department workers.
However, the Minister said, Central Government teams of doctors comprising physician, epidemiologist, microbiologists and public health experts, under the Regional Director of Health and Family Welfare, are stationed in the affected areas of Hajo, Rani and Rampur Development Blocks in Kamrup District and affected areas of Barpeta and Nalbari Districts. Teams for other affected areas are being readied. The situation is being monitored on a daily basis, he said.
Isolation facilities have been strengthened to admit and treat suspected cases and 10,000 capsules of Tamiflu, 6,000 surgical masks, 600 personal protective equipment, 200 N-95 masks and two ventilators have been supplied to the State by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while additional logistics are also being mobilised, said the Minister.
The communication materials developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the UNICEF in Assamese for both the print and electronic media have been sipplied to the State Government, he said.
Giving details of the URI cases found so far in the State, the Minister said that in the Hajo Development Block of Kamrup District, a human population of 23,473 in the 0-3 km radius area around the affected area, spreading over 25 villages, is under active surveillance. Of which, a population of 21,412 was covered under surveillance on December 10. In the 3-10 km radius area, out of 1,08,416 people, 32,929 have been covered.
Four cases of URI with fever were reported from the area, but no case of influenza like illness with history of contact with infected poultry has been detected in them. Moreover, five cases of URI have been identified in the out patient department of the identified hospital, but none of them has any history of exposure to sick or dead poultry, said the Minister.
In the Rampur Development Block of the district, a population of 39,830 has been covered in the 0-3 km radius area by active surveillance. A total of 30 cases of URI and fever have been detected. None of these has, however, a history of exposure to infected poultry. In the 3-10 km radius area, of the affected area of the block, active surveillance has covered a population of 18,916, he said.
While conducting the passive surveillance in the health facilities, 14 cases of URI and fever have been detected and none of them has any history of exposure to infected poultry, said the Minister.
In the Azara Development Block of Kamrup District, out of a total population 8,572 in 24 villages in the 0-3 km radius, a population of 7,222 has been covered. In the 3-10 km radius area around the affected part of the block, a population of 5,608 has been covered by the surveillance programme, the Minister said.
Two cases of fever and URI are identified in the 0-3 km radius area around the affected part of the block. In the 3-10 km radius area, six cases of fever with URI and fever have been identified. But none of them has any history of exposure to sick or dead birds. The identified hospitals of the block, have reported a total of 23 fever and URI cases. But none of them has any history of exposure to infected poultry.
In Barpeta District, out of the total population of 33,934 in the 0-3 km radius area from the affected area, a population of 6,032 have been surveyed and the surveillance in the 3-10 km radius area from the affected area is being initiated. So far, 60 cases of fever with URI have been detected in the 0-3 km radius area. None of them has, however, any history of exposure to the infected birds, the Minister said.
In Nalbari district, the surveillance programme has covered a population of 7,761, out of the total population of 34,627 in the 0-3 km radius area. One case of fever with URI has been detected in the 0-3 km radius area. However, the patient has no history of exposure to diseased birds, said the Minister.
hat-tip Niman
Bird Flu Wreaks Havoc In Assam, Spreads To New Areas
11-12-2008 13:51:03 IST
The deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus which causes bird flu is spreading to new areas of Assam. Official report says that in the past two weeks over 200,000 poultry have been culled in various affected areas of the state but the disease is griping up new areas, every day. Interacting with the media, Parthajyoti Gogoi, a central health ministry official said that maximum health alert has been sounded in the state following the unstoppable spread of bird flu virus.
According to Gogoi, teams of doctors and paramedics in the state are taking precautionary measures so that humans do not get affected by bird flu virus. Reports confirm that bird flu has engulfed a total of six districts of Assam. A state veterinary official revealed that about 150,000 more poultry would be culled in coming days. The districts of Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta and Chirang were hit by bird flu. Culling is being carried out in about 200 villages in the six districts.
After the outbreak of bird flu in Assam, the state authorities have imposed a ban on sale of poultry and poultry products in most parts of the state. Apart from it, bird flu menace has injected a sense of fear in the minds of the people of Assam. Informing about the culling of poultry, the state veterinary official said that about 100 rapid response teams have been given the responsibility to flush out the affected poultry of the region.
The outbreak of bird flu was declared after laboratory tests found strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza. The World Health Organization fears that the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted between humans and spark a pandemic. The state authority has instructed veterinary and animal husbandry department to maintain strict surveillance on farms, with veterinarians carrying out checks on all poultry.
hat-tip Niman
The deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus which causes bird flu is spreading to new areas of Assam. Official report says that in the past two weeks over 200,000 poultry have been culled in various affected areas of the state but the disease is griping up new areas, every day. Interacting with the media, Parthajyoti Gogoi, a central health ministry official said that maximum health alert has been sounded in the state following the unstoppable spread of bird flu virus.
According to Gogoi, teams of doctors and paramedics in the state are taking precautionary measures so that humans do not get affected by bird flu virus. Reports confirm that bird flu has engulfed a total of six districts of Assam. A state veterinary official revealed that about 150,000 more poultry would be culled in coming days. The districts of Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta and Chirang were hit by bird flu. Culling is being carried out in about 200 villages in the six districts.
After the outbreak of bird flu in Assam, the state authorities have imposed a ban on sale of poultry and poultry products in most parts of the state. Apart from it, bird flu menace has injected a sense of fear in the minds of the people of Assam. Informing about the culling of poultry, the state veterinary official said that about 100 rapid response teams have been given the responsibility to flush out the affected poultry of the region.
The outbreak of bird flu was declared after laboratory tests found strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza. The World Health Organization fears that the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted between humans and spark a pandemic. The state authority has instructed veterinary and animal husbandry department to maintain strict surveillance on farms, with veterinarians carrying out checks on all poultry.
hat-tip Niman
Bird Flu Can Get Bigger Than Bomb Blasts
Guwahati, December 11 (PTI)
Rapid Response Team (RRT) killing chickens infected with bird flu virus
With the avian flu spreading to nine districts in Assam, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday warned that the disease could become a major disaster for human beings if poultry are not allowed to be culled.
The minister said, "active surveillance of the population was on in the nine affected districts."
As many as 82 cases with people having upper respiratory infection (URI) were reported since the outbreak of the disease early this month, but were not stated be be bird flu cases. URI is one of the symptoms of the disease," the minister said.
"Though they were ruled out to be suffering from the disease, the symptoms are alarming and all the people with URI were being scrutinised," he added.
"People are taking the disease very casually. Chicken and ducks are kept away from culling without realising the implications of the seriousness of the disease," Sarma told reporters.
"We will not be able to handle if the disease spreads to humans from the birds on a full-fledged level. The way the disease is spreading, it will be a major disaster than bomb blasts or floods," Sarma asserted.
"The human disaster will be immense. The health department is ready to handle 100 to 200 cases. The department is very worried about human transmission of the disease as it is not 100 per cent equipped to handle a largescale outbreak as there are no isolation facilities here," he said.
"Therefore, people and poultry farmers, who may also be affected, should cooperate to prevent spread of the disease by allowing the culling of their birds," he appealed.
Though Tamiflu was the prescribed medicine for bird flu treatment in humans, Sarma said, only 40 per cent to 50 per cent people responded to the treatment leaving the rest to be victims of the fatal disease.
The affected districts are Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro), including Guwahati, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Baksa, Dibrugarh, Goalpara and Bongaigaon.
The disease, starting from Hajo revenue circle in Kamrup (rural) district, about 20 km from here, on December 2, had spread to Guwahati in Kamrup (Metro) district, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, Bongaigaon and Goalpara districts in Lower Assam spreading to Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam.
The Department of Animal Husbandry had notified avian influenza in the districts where sale, purchase and movement of poultry were banned, the minister said.
During active surveillance of the population in the affected areas, Sarma said, the cases of URI with fever were reported, but no cases of influenza such as illness with history of contact with infected or dead poultry have been detected.
Regarding URI cases, he said, in worst affected Kamrup (rural) district 4 cases were reported in Hajo block, 14 cases in Rampur block, 2 in Azara/Rani block, besides 60 in Barpeta district and two in Nalbari district.
"Therefore, people and poultry farmers, who may also be affected, should cooperate to prevent spread of the disease by allowing the culling of their birds," he appealed.
hat-tip Niman
Rapid Response Team (RRT) killing chickens infected with bird flu virus
With the avian flu spreading to nine districts in Assam, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday warned that the disease could become a major disaster for human beings if poultry are not allowed to be culled.
The minister said, "active surveillance of the population was on in the nine affected districts."
As many as 82 cases with people having upper respiratory infection (URI) were reported since the outbreak of the disease early this month, but were not stated be be bird flu cases. URI is one of the symptoms of the disease," the minister said.
"Though they were ruled out to be suffering from the disease, the symptoms are alarming and all the people with URI were being scrutinised," he added.
"People are taking the disease very casually. Chicken and ducks are kept away from culling without realising the implications of the seriousness of the disease," Sarma told reporters.
"We will not be able to handle if the disease spreads to humans from the birds on a full-fledged level. The way the disease is spreading, it will be a major disaster than bomb blasts or floods," Sarma asserted.
"The human disaster will be immense. The health department is ready to handle 100 to 200 cases. The department is very worried about human transmission of the disease as it is not 100 per cent equipped to handle a largescale outbreak as there are no isolation facilities here," he said.
"Therefore, people and poultry farmers, who may also be affected, should cooperate to prevent spread of the disease by allowing the culling of their birds," he appealed.
Though Tamiflu was the prescribed medicine for bird flu treatment in humans, Sarma said, only 40 per cent to 50 per cent people responded to the treatment leaving the rest to be victims of the fatal disease.
The affected districts are Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro), including Guwahati, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Baksa, Dibrugarh, Goalpara and Bongaigaon.
The disease, starting from Hajo revenue circle in Kamrup (rural) district, about 20 km from here, on December 2, had spread to Guwahati in Kamrup (Metro) district, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, Bongaigaon and Goalpara districts in Lower Assam spreading to Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam.
The Department of Animal Husbandry had notified avian influenza in the districts where sale, purchase and movement of poultry were banned, the minister said.
During active surveillance of the population in the affected areas, Sarma said, the cases of URI with fever were reported, but no cases of influenza such as illness with history of contact with infected or dead poultry have been detected.
Regarding URI cases, he said, in worst affected Kamrup (rural) district 4 cases were reported in Hajo block, 14 cases in Rampur block, 2 in Azara/Rani block, besides 60 in Barpeta district and two in Nalbari district.
"Therefore, people and poultry farmers, who may also be affected, should cooperate to prevent spread of the disease by allowing the culling of their birds," he appealed.
hat-tip Niman
Hong Kong and then the outbreak of bird flu
[This is an article that is more easily understood, regarding translations, and covers all the issues]
December 10, 2008
By Dec. 10 (Bloomberg reporter Cher Wu, Zheng Li Ju, Liang Hong Kong reports) an Yuen Long, New Territories of Hong Kong chicken farms in the outbreak of bird flu, the government yesterday decided to cull the emergency farm and 3 km from the other chickens Total market a total of 80,000 live chickens, as well as the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Market of the remaining more than 10,000 birds, a total of just over 90,000. This is the farm for the first time in 6 years, the outbreak of bird flu. At the same time, the Government will change the bird sensor-level alert level from elevated to a serious level, real-time ban on exports of live chickens in local farms, also prohibits the import of live poultry for 21 days.
From today there will be no supply of live chickens in the market, this year, the public will not buy live chickens from the winter solstice. People who hold different views on measures to kill the chickens, and some can not think of a few and kill all the infected chickens, but also in favor of the view that members of the public to avoid bird flu as SARS as the outbreak of large-scale, human infection.
For a vaccine to fight the chickens infected with bird flu, experts say the situation is not unusual, the need to conduct a comprehensive survey as soon as possible, because the virus may mutate, the vaccine or in the production process does not meet the required standards.
(more)
Fung Kong Tsuen, Yuen Long farm disease
Food and Health Secretary York Chow said yesterday, Fung Kong Tsuen, Yuen Long, a field of farm owners, to the authorities Monday reported 60 dead chickens were abnormal, and government officials arrived at the scene seized 3 dozens of dead chickens and chicken manure Samples. Yesterday morning, come to a quick test shows positive for the H5 confirmed that chickens infected with avian flu. Government response mechanism immediately upgraded from alert level upgraded to serious levels.
According to Dr farm owner said that Monday was found more than 20 for chicken breeding, as well as to monitor the health status of the sentinel chickens unusual chicken deaths, authorities have been notified immediately.
Director of Agriculture, Fisheries yesterday announced that chicken farms for epidemic disease, as well as chicken farms within 3 km range of areas classified and arranged for the destruction of all chickens in infected areas, two farms about 80,000 chickens. The other areas of the farms were found infected chickens.
AFCD staff put the chickens into plastic bins and then inject carbon dioxide, the chickens will be killed. (Information Services Department)
To suspend live poultry import 21
At the same time, the authorities announced the suspension of local chicken farms out of 21, as well as to suspend all import of live poultry and Guan Shangniao 21, and the Chinese mainland imported poultry are also included, but can continue to import chilled chickens. AFCD staff would inspect all farms during the period, the samples for testing to ensure the virus did not spread and the department will be in all major markets for cleaning.
York Chow stressed that if the farms have a problem, it is possible in Hong Kong more than 60 million chickens were slaughtered needs.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Center for Health Protection dozens of officers, 4:00 p.m. yesterday to put on protective clothing and wearing masks, entered the outbreak of bird flu for the destruction of farms and testing. AFCD staff to carry out disinfection before entering the chicken slaughter of live chickens, dead chickens in the body sprinkled disinfectant powder, and then into a black plastic bag into the trash can where it is taken away. Due to insufficient lighting at night, the slaughter of chickens in the 20 o'clock suspended for the time being to kill about one-third of the chickens, will continue operations. In addition, once the importation of chickens in two farms in the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market with more than 10,006 birds, will be destroyed today.
Center for Health Protection yesterday evening sent two ambulances to the outbreak of bird flu farms, farm owners and other workers rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital 6 tests, found no symptoms temporarily.
Accident at farms within 3 km radius of the Yuen Long Park Tower birds yesterday immediately closed until further notice.
The disease is the chicken farm to retail markets, York Chow said that as the market daily policies clearance, which should be all the chickens have been slaughtered in the previous two days ago, and the farm the day before yesterday and yesterday did not chicken out, so the risk of the spread of bird flu Is not high.
Hong Kong chicken farms in the last large-scale outbreak of bird flu in February 2002, when the Kam Tin area farms within a month a total of more than 860,000 chickens, compensation amounting to 26,000,000 yuan.
In January 2003, the number of farms in Yuen Long has confirmed that chickens infected with H5 virus, the Government Zaisha 10,000 live chickens.
AFCD staff at the outbreak of bird flu spreading the farms sterilization powder, for a thorough disinfected. (Information Services Department)
York Chow: Great opportunity for migratory birds spread the disease
Regarding the source of the outbreak of the bird, York Chow said the first farms in the incidence of death of some chicken, and with no impact on the vaccination of sentinel chickens, but there are a small number of vaccinated chickens are infected, so do not Rule out the virus.
He said: "We may not know for certain that the chickens were infected at the same time or late infection, we have to do more research before we can do. This must be done and the gene sequencing research can be sure that we have in the past, whether or wild birds, for example, this year we have 5 On the virus found in the market, found a similar gene sequencing South China in this regard over the years the virus, so we will see this virus with our last test of whether or not similar, we have to look at whether the use of the vaccine for their effective . "
York Chow, but that there may be a farm security issues, including the farms into the wild, or have no intention of the staff will be brought into the field, such as chicken guano, which causes infected chickens over the possibility of Great.
Experts: or variants of the virus involved
The University of Hong Kong Director of the Center for Infection and what al infectious diseases, said that the H5 flu virus into the chickens have been vaccinated, including chickens, the situation is not unusual, the need to conduct a comprehensive survey as soon as possible, because the virus may mutate, or In the vaccine production process has not reached the required standards.
Government measures to deal with bird flu, the Chinese University Associate Professor of the Department of Biochemistry Chen-ming has said that it was confident that the problem is with the Government in the end what the vaccine. He questioned whether Hong Kong is still suitable for chicken.
Chen Ming was of the view that non-implementation of central slaughtering, once and for all will not be able to solve the problem of avian flu. He criticized the Government for the implementation of central slaughtering the pace is too slow, too easy on the incident.
For each of the chickens have been culled, compensation will be 30 yuan. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department destroyed the incidence of chicken farms close to 60,000 live chickens, chicken farms led to the loss of more than 2,000,000 yuan. Mr Wong said the main market: "heavy, heavy is sure, their property, their own efforts to do so, the end can not escape this fate."
Wearing a full set of protective equipment for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department staff, entered the farm chickens culled before disinfection. (AFP)
People who hold different views on the slaughter of chickens
As the year is the Winter Solstice on the 21st of this month, in a three-week period, there will be no supply of live chickens.
Tsing Yi, New Territories, who lives in the Zhengtai Tai said: "I will be the Government's 80,000 chickens were killed by a non-recognition, because only 3 chickens have bird flu, 20 stool samples of chickens have bird flu, but other chicken is no problem, why should Kill them? Whether or not this can be resolved once and for all solve the problem? The present government of doing things are not filtered. "However, she did not live to eat that winter has not affected, you can eat the other.
But there is also a housewife, said: "The winter has always been more traditional chicken, and delicious, a bit disappointed not to eat chicken, or would consider buying instead of chilled chickens."
Public money to his wife, said: "I think we should kill those chickens, because you do not know which place, although not tested, but in order to prevent this is good. If you like SARS that year on a terrible, if You do not control the source, when anything happens to everyone are the first to be affected. This is not to eat chicken is no way, the most important thing is not to H5N1 have occurred. "
There are also people are very frustrated. Tuen Mun, who lives in the Miss Peng said: "it does not matter, it is when you eat less, in any case is now the financial tsunami, the economy is not good, eat more vegetables, fresh meal or a street, Suan La!"
There are also people can not prevent avian flu was disappointed, but also a lot of food were found to have unsafe ingredients containing said he was worried about.
In response to the outbreak of the Yuen Long farm bird flu, the Hospital Authority announced that restrictions on the time to visit the wards, but also pay attention to the poultry trade upper respiratory tract infection cases, and the Department of Health will be notified by letter and private medical practitioners to monitor the case and urged the public not to Authorization to carry live poultry to Hong Kong and to avoid contact with live chickens, wash your hands after contact with live chickens, live chickens to eat only thoroughly cooked before. ◇ (http://www.dajiyuan.com)
December 10, 2008
By Dec. 10 (Bloomberg reporter Cher Wu, Zheng Li Ju, Liang Hong Kong reports) an Yuen Long, New Territories of Hong Kong chicken farms in the outbreak of bird flu, the government yesterday decided to cull the emergency farm and 3 km from the other chickens Total market a total of 80,000 live chickens, as well as the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Market of the remaining more than 10,000 birds, a total of just over 90,000. This is the farm for the first time in 6 years, the outbreak of bird flu. At the same time, the Government will change the bird sensor-level alert level from elevated to a serious level, real-time ban on exports of live chickens in local farms, also prohibits the import of live poultry for 21 days.
From today there will be no supply of live chickens in the market, this year, the public will not buy live chickens from the winter solstice. People who hold different views on measures to kill the chickens, and some can not think of a few and kill all the infected chickens, but also in favor of the view that members of the public to avoid bird flu as SARS as the outbreak of large-scale, human infection.
For a vaccine to fight the chickens infected with bird flu, experts say the situation is not unusual, the need to conduct a comprehensive survey as soon as possible, because the virus may mutate, the vaccine or in the production process does not meet the required standards.
(more)
Fung Kong Tsuen, Yuen Long farm disease
Food and Health Secretary York Chow said yesterday, Fung Kong Tsuen, Yuen Long, a field of farm owners, to the authorities Monday reported 60 dead chickens were abnormal, and government officials arrived at the scene seized 3 dozens of dead chickens and chicken manure Samples. Yesterday morning, come to a quick test shows positive for the H5 confirmed that chickens infected with avian flu. Government response mechanism immediately upgraded from alert level upgraded to serious levels.
According to Dr farm owner said that Monday was found more than 20 for chicken breeding, as well as to monitor the health status of the sentinel chickens unusual chicken deaths, authorities have been notified immediately.
Director of Agriculture, Fisheries yesterday announced that chicken farms for epidemic disease, as well as chicken farms within 3 km range of areas classified and arranged for the destruction of all chickens in infected areas, two farms about 80,000 chickens. The other areas of the farms were found infected chickens.
AFCD staff put the chickens into plastic bins and then inject carbon dioxide, the chickens will be killed. (Information Services Department)
To suspend live poultry import 21
At the same time, the authorities announced the suspension of local chicken farms out of 21, as well as to suspend all import of live poultry and Guan Shangniao 21, and the Chinese mainland imported poultry are also included, but can continue to import chilled chickens. AFCD staff would inspect all farms during the period, the samples for testing to ensure the virus did not spread and the department will be in all major markets for cleaning.
York Chow stressed that if the farms have a problem, it is possible in Hong Kong more than 60 million chickens were slaughtered needs.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Center for Health Protection dozens of officers, 4:00 p.m. yesterday to put on protective clothing and wearing masks, entered the outbreak of bird flu for the destruction of farms and testing. AFCD staff to carry out disinfection before entering the chicken slaughter of live chickens, dead chickens in the body sprinkled disinfectant powder, and then into a black plastic bag into the trash can where it is taken away. Due to insufficient lighting at night, the slaughter of chickens in the 20 o'clock suspended for the time being to kill about one-third of the chickens, will continue operations. In addition, once the importation of chickens in two farms in the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market with more than 10,006 birds, will be destroyed today.
Center for Health Protection yesterday evening sent two ambulances to the outbreak of bird flu farms, farm owners and other workers rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital 6 tests, found no symptoms temporarily.
Accident at farms within 3 km radius of the Yuen Long Park Tower birds yesterday immediately closed until further notice.
The disease is the chicken farm to retail markets, York Chow said that as the market daily policies clearance, which should be all the chickens have been slaughtered in the previous two days ago, and the farm the day before yesterday and yesterday did not chicken out, so the risk of the spread of bird flu Is not high.
Hong Kong chicken farms in the last large-scale outbreak of bird flu in February 2002, when the Kam Tin area farms within a month a total of more than 860,000 chickens, compensation amounting to 26,000,000 yuan.
In January 2003, the number of farms in Yuen Long has confirmed that chickens infected with H5 virus, the Government Zaisha 10,000 live chickens.
AFCD staff at the outbreak of bird flu spreading the farms sterilization powder, for a thorough disinfected. (Information Services Department)
York Chow: Great opportunity for migratory birds spread the disease
Regarding the source of the outbreak of the bird, York Chow said the first farms in the incidence of death of some chicken, and with no impact on the vaccination of sentinel chickens, but there are a small number of vaccinated chickens are infected, so do not Rule out the virus.
He said: "We may not know for certain that the chickens were infected at the same time or late infection, we have to do more research before we can do. This must be done and the gene sequencing research can be sure that we have in the past, whether or wild birds, for example, this year we have 5 On the virus found in the market, found a similar gene sequencing South China in this regard over the years the virus, so we will see this virus with our last test of whether or not similar, we have to look at whether the use of the vaccine for their effective . "
York Chow, but that there may be a farm security issues, including the farms into the wild, or have no intention of the staff will be brought into the field, such as chicken guano, which causes infected chickens over the possibility of Great.
Experts: or variants of the virus involved
The University of Hong Kong Director of the Center for Infection and what al infectious diseases, said that the H5 flu virus into the chickens have been vaccinated, including chickens, the situation is not unusual, the need to conduct a comprehensive survey as soon as possible, because the virus may mutate, or In the vaccine production process has not reached the required standards.
Government measures to deal with bird flu, the Chinese University Associate Professor of the Department of Biochemistry Chen-ming has said that it was confident that the problem is with the Government in the end what the vaccine. He questioned whether Hong Kong is still suitable for chicken.
Chen Ming was of the view that non-implementation of central slaughtering, once and for all will not be able to solve the problem of avian flu. He criticized the Government for the implementation of central slaughtering the pace is too slow, too easy on the incident.
For each of the chickens have been culled, compensation will be 30 yuan. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department destroyed the incidence of chicken farms close to 60,000 live chickens, chicken farms led to the loss of more than 2,000,000 yuan. Mr Wong said the main market: "heavy, heavy is sure, their property, their own efforts to do so, the end can not escape this fate."
Wearing a full set of protective equipment for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department staff, entered the farm chickens culled before disinfection. (AFP)
People who hold different views on the slaughter of chickens
As the year is the Winter Solstice on the 21st of this month, in a three-week period, there will be no supply of live chickens.
Tsing Yi, New Territories, who lives in the Zhengtai Tai said: "I will be the Government's 80,000 chickens were killed by a non-recognition, because only 3 chickens have bird flu, 20 stool samples of chickens have bird flu, but other chicken is no problem, why should Kill them? Whether or not this can be resolved once and for all solve the problem? The present government of doing things are not filtered. "However, she did not live to eat that winter has not affected, you can eat the other.
But there is also a housewife, said: "The winter has always been more traditional chicken, and delicious, a bit disappointed not to eat chicken, or would consider buying instead of chilled chickens."
Public money to his wife, said: "I think we should kill those chickens, because you do not know which place, although not tested, but in order to prevent this is good. If you like SARS that year on a terrible, if You do not control the source, when anything happens to everyone are the first to be affected. This is not to eat chicken is no way, the most important thing is not to H5N1 have occurred. "
There are also people are very frustrated. Tuen Mun, who lives in the Miss Peng said: "it does not matter, it is when you eat less, in any case is now the financial tsunami, the economy is not good, eat more vegetables, fresh meal or a street, Suan La!"
There are also people can not prevent avian flu was disappointed, but also a lot of food were found to have unsafe ingredients containing said he was worried about.
In response to the outbreak of the Yuen Long farm bird flu, the Hospital Authority announced that restrictions on the time to visit the wards, but also pay attention to the poultry trade upper respiratory tract infection cases, and the Department of Health will be notified by letter and private medical practitioners to monitor the case and urged the public not to Authorization to carry live poultry to Hong Kong and to avoid contact with live chickens, wash your hands after contact with live chickens, live chickens to eat only thoroughly cooked before. ◇ (http://www.dajiyuan.com)
The latest bird flu vaccine available
2008 on 12 years 11 on 12:25
Evening hearing today, told reporters, Lau Fau Shan in Hong Kong outbreak of bird flu, the U.S. company Baxter is now the number will be 1,000,000 CELVAPAN of bird flu vaccine to the government all over the world. Recently, in Foshan City, Guangdong Province of China held in the General Assembly vaccine, the General Assembly, the report revealed that 37 kinds of Chinese legal report infectious diseases have been 22 vaccine-preventable.
The report of the General Assembly, in June this year, Baxter CELVAPAN in the bird flu vaccine and the preparation of the Vero cell vaccine technology platform on the achievements made by the world's leading science and technology journal "New England Journal of Medicine" certainly. With the traditional egg cultivation technology, Baxter is a vaccine against the bird flu virus strain naturally play a role, experts said that the bird flu vaccine CELVAPAN is expected to become the global fight against bird flu, one of the options.
The report of the General Assembly, is an immune planning to put in the minimum, the most effective disease prevention work. At present, 37 kinds of Chinese legal report infectious diseases, there are 22 kinds of diseases can be prevented through vaccination, there are at least 3 of the disease vaccines being developed. In addition, if an AIDS vaccine, cervical cancer vaccine, Helicobacter pylori vaccine, such as a large number of new vaccines are being developed.
Evening hearing today, told reporters, Lau Fau Shan in Hong Kong outbreak of bird flu, the U.S. company Baxter is now the number will be 1,000,000 CELVAPAN of bird flu vaccine to the government all over the world. Recently, in Foshan City, Guangdong Province of China held in the General Assembly vaccine, the General Assembly, the report revealed that 37 kinds of Chinese legal report infectious diseases have been 22 vaccine-preventable.
The report of the General Assembly, in June this year, Baxter CELVAPAN in the bird flu vaccine and the preparation of the Vero cell vaccine technology platform on the achievements made by the world's leading science and technology journal "New England Journal of Medicine" certainly. With the traditional egg cultivation technology, Baxter is a vaccine against the bird flu virus strain naturally play a role, experts said that the bird flu vaccine CELVAPAN is expected to become the global fight against bird flu, one of the options.
The report of the General Assembly, is an immune planning to put in the minimum, the most effective disease prevention work. At present, 37 kinds of Chinese legal report infectious diseases, there are 22 kinds of diseases can be prevented through vaccination, there are at least 3 of the disease vaccines being developed. In addition, if an AIDS vaccine, cervical cancer vaccine, Helicobacter pylori vaccine, such as a large number of new vaccines are being developed.
York Chow: Hong Kong to the mainland using H5N1 bird flu vaccine
A farm in Yuen Long has found that chickens infected with avian flu, the Hong Kong market on December 10 provisional supply of live chickens. China issued photo Tan Tat-ming
BEIJING, Dec. 11, according to Xinhua in Hong Kong "Ta Kung Pao" reported that the Hong Kong outbreak of avian flu crisis, the people of Hong Kong without live chicken to eat. Food and Health Secretary York Chow admitted that Hong Kong is now used in vaccines against H5N2 virus, more than 6 years, during which a virus or a slight change in general to Hong Kong and the Mainland study whether to adopt the mainland for the H5N1 vaccine.
It is learned that the Cheung Sha Wan and Yuen Long farm were destroyed 74,700 chickens.
10, York Chow admitted in the Legislative Council, the HKSAR Government has all along been used in the Netherlands is made against an H5N2 avian influenza vaccine, but because of the virus in the past 6 years, a slight change, so have asked the University of Hong Kong and the Mainland to conduct research, The need to switch to the mainland for the current H5N1 bird flu vaccine.
York Chow said, H5N2 vaccine in 2003, is considered to be the most effective vaccine and the current avian flu virus has not changed adult-human transmission, or worse. He disclosed that the mainland is to improve the work done on the vaccine, so the Hong Kong found that the avian influenza virus, will be handed over to China-related laboratory research, that if the H5N1 vaccine now in Hong Kong found that the virus effectively, as well as Hong Kong's chicken Only more protective, the SAR government will be chosen to try out some of the pilot.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said that as at 17:00 on on the 10th only, the Yuen Long farm to be destroyed 65,000 chickens, and the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market in 9700 chickens have been destroyed. 50 AFCD staff on the 10th in the morning to continue to Yuen Long chickens were found infected with bird flu death to kill a chicken farm, in charge of the staff are wearing protective clothing and wear face masks. The day before yesterday the department had destroyed an infected chicken farm in 3000, killing all 60,000 chickens will go to another nearby site, where the destruction of about 20,000 chickens, York Chow is expected to be up this week完成.
Another group of AFCD staff on the 10th to the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market, the destruction of suspected bird flu infection in chickens, a group of about 30 people in cleaning chickens before and took away some samples of chicken blood as a test of chicken Only the bird flu vaccine have no antibodies have to check the adequacy of weight, etc., and then chicken into plastic drums, baked into the carbon monoxide death, and then put a black plastic bag, then by the crane to help transport Go.
When asked about Hong Kong, there are 600,000 farms have not been affected by the events of chickens, worried that they will grow up through 21, will re-emergence of bird flu, and whether it will consider compensation to chicken farmers, said York Chow , The data show that over the next three weeks for the sale of chickens is about 10,000 more than 10. He said that a few months ago Hong Kong's supply of chicks too much, not a lot of chickens. He also said that many chickens were ready to launch the Chinese New Year when the market for sale.
Hong Kong and Kowloon Poultry Dealers and Workers union on behalf of the retail Ma Ping-lung said that the Government does not want to stop the supply of live chickens as long as 21 days. He said that bird flu was found in Yuen Long where the farm rather than retail outlets. Ma Ping-lung of the view that markets and wholesale markets have been enough 3 days cleaning, to stop selling live chickens will be reduced by 70% in business this month.
Koreans Warned of Asian Bird Flu Wave
[Poultry not Humans]
Dec.11,2008 10:03
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday warned of bird flu spreading in some Asian countries including Hong Kong, and advised tourists leaving for these countries to take extra caution.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, patients came down with avian influenza in Vietnam on Oct. 30, in Laos on Nov. 8, in Thailand on Nov. 10, in India on Nov. 21, in Bangladesh on Dec. 2, and in Hong Kong on Dec. 9. So far, a total of 38 people contracted bird flu overseas this year, and 29 of them died.
Dec.11,2008 10:03
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday warned of bird flu spreading in some Asian countries including Hong Kong, and advised tourists leaving for these countries to take extra caution.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, patients came down with avian influenza in Vietnam on Oct. 30, in Laos on Nov. 8, in Thailand on Nov. 10, in India on Nov. 21, in Bangladesh on Dec. 2, and in Hong Kong on Dec. 9. So far, a total of 38 people contracted bird flu overseas this year, and 29 of them died.
Ministry of Health to deploy a comprehensive human bird flu prevention and control work
2008-12-11 9:10:06
For a chicken farm in Hong Kong outbreak of avian flu, the Ministry of Health said yesterday, according to experts on risk assessment of the epidemic, the epidemic situation this year, and individual cases of human infection can happen. At present, the Ministry of Health has been on the national prevention of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza to carry out the work of a comprehensive plan.
The Ministry of Health spokesman Mao Qun'an said at present, the Ministry of Health has been on the national prevention of human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza, including the patient's diagnosis, treatment, as well as the standard of epidemic monitoring, reporting, the deployment of a comprehensive and based on the past The actual situation on the management of some of the requirements have been adjusted.
This year, in the past on the basis of the increase of human infection of highly pathogenic avian flu monitoring efforts. For a number of suspicious, unexplained pneumonia cases, will report in a timely manner, and to organize expert consultations and to identify in a timely manner. Once people are infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza cases will be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the bird flu epidemic to take corresponding measures.
The Ministry of Health reminded the public, especially poultry and have contact with the staff, and to minimize the poultry, particularly poultry died of exposure. Once the abnormal situation should be timely to the health and agriculture departments of the report. In addition, children in rural areas to minimize contact with poultry to reduce the contact is to reduce the bird flu infection were the most effective preventive measure.
For a chicken farm in Hong Kong outbreak of avian flu, the Ministry of Health said yesterday, according to experts on risk assessment of the epidemic, the epidemic situation this year, and individual cases of human infection can happen. At present, the Ministry of Health has been on the national prevention of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza to carry out the work of a comprehensive plan.
The Ministry of Health spokesman Mao Qun'an said at present, the Ministry of Health has been on the national prevention of human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza, including the patient's diagnosis, treatment, as well as the standard of epidemic monitoring, reporting, the deployment of a comprehensive and based on the past The actual situation on the management of some of the requirements have been adjusted.
This year, in the past on the basis of the increase of human infection of highly pathogenic avian flu monitoring efforts. For a number of suspicious, unexplained pneumonia cases, will report in a timely manner, and to organize expert consultations and to identify in a timely manner. Once people are infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza cases will be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the bird flu epidemic to take corresponding measures.
The Ministry of Health reminded the public, especially poultry and have contact with the staff, and to minimize the poultry, particularly poultry died of exposure. Once the abnormal situation should be timely to the health and agriculture departments of the report. In addition, children in rural areas to minimize contact with poultry to reduce the contact is to reduce the bird flu infection were the most effective preventive measure.
ICT applied in avian flu control
(KPL) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Application in Controlling Avian Influenza Outbreak Programme was officially launched here Monday.
The project is financed with grant assistance from the Japanese government through ASEAN Fund.
The ASEAN Fund has earmarked USD 1 million for the project implementation in the Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam to promote information exchange on avian flu between the three regional countries through information and communication technology (ICT) system.
Under the programme, an ICT system linking together between the Science and Technology Agency, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will also be established in the near future to facilitate the co-operation of relevant officials.
SMS avian flu alert system will also be established to better the co-operation and efforts of relevant organisations and officials in tackling avian flu.
The project is financed with grant assistance from the Japanese government through ASEAN Fund.
The ASEAN Fund has earmarked USD 1 million for the project implementation in the Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam to promote information exchange on avian flu between the three regional countries through information and communication technology (ICT) system.
Under the programme, an ICT system linking together between the Science and Technology Agency, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will also be established in the near future to facilitate the co-operation of relevant officials.
SMS avian flu alert system will also be established to better the co-operation and efforts of relevant organisations and officials in tackling avian flu.
Hong Kong confirms H5N1 bird flu at chicken farm
Thursday December 11, 2008
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong on Thursday confirmed an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu on a chicken farm.
Hong Kong, a former British colony which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, has culled 65,000 chickens in the affected farm since Tuesday after it was found that dozens of chickens on the farm had died from the H5 virus.
"It has been confirmed as H5N1," said a government spokeswoman citing an Assistant Director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Thomas Sit.
Hong Kong's health chief said the outbreak likely came from an external source, while pledging to investigate claims that smuggled eggs from mainland China might be the cause.
Since the H5N1 virus resurfaced in Asia in 2003, it has killed more than 200 people in a dozen countries, according to the World Health Organisation.
Experts fear the constantly mutating H5N1 virus could change into a form easily transmitted from person to person. This could sweep the world, killing millions.
WHO: Bird flu still a threat
Dec 11, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR - A WORLD Health Organisation official urged Asian governments on Thursday not to let down their guard against bird flu, saying a new outbreak in Hong Kong shows the disease still poses a threat.
WHO Western Pacific Director Shigeru Omi said Hong Kong authorities have responded well by suspending poultry imports for 21 days and starting the slaughter of 80,000 birds after three chickens found dead at a farm on Monday tested positive for the H5 virus group.
Further tests are being conducted to see if they had the deadly H5N1 strain.
'This is an indication that we have to remain vigilant,' Mr Omi said on the sidelines of a WHO book launch in Malaysia. 'Constant vigilance is the key.'
Mr Omi said the outbreak in Hong Kong was 'not unexpected because the virus is still circulating in the world, and certainly in this part of the world.' At least 246 people have died of bird flu worldwide since 2003, according to WHO.
Twenty countries had outbreaks of the disease during the first nine months of 2008, down from 25 during the same period last year, UN officials have said.
Some officials worry that the public has largely lost interest because the virus has not mutated into a much-feared form that could spread easily among people.
It remains hard for people to catch, with most human cases linked to contact with infected birds. -- AP
KUALA LUMPUR - A WORLD Health Organisation official urged Asian governments on Thursday not to let down their guard against bird flu, saying a new outbreak in Hong Kong shows the disease still poses a threat.
WHO Western Pacific Director Shigeru Omi said Hong Kong authorities have responded well by suspending poultry imports for 21 days and starting the slaughter of 80,000 birds after three chickens found dead at a farm on Monday tested positive for the H5 virus group.
Further tests are being conducted to see if they had the deadly H5N1 strain.
'This is an indication that we have to remain vigilant,' Mr Omi said on the sidelines of a WHO book launch in Malaysia. 'Constant vigilance is the key.'
Mr Omi said the outbreak in Hong Kong was 'not unexpected because the virus is still circulating in the world, and certainly in this part of the world.' At least 246 people have died of bird flu worldwide since 2003, according to WHO.
Twenty countries had outbreaks of the disease during the first nine months of 2008, down from 25 during the same period last year, UN officials have said.
Some officials worry that the public has largely lost interest because the virus has not mutated into a much-feared form that could spread easily among people.
It remains hard for people to catch, with most human cases linked to contact with infected birds. -- AP
Update: The Efficacy Of Hong Kong’s Bird Flu Vaccine Questioned
This week’s bird flu outbreak is the first incident of this type on a Hong Kong farm since 2003, when nearly a million birds were slaughtered after dozens died of the flu. No human cases were reported that year in Hong Kong.
Up to 60 dead chickens were discovered in a Hong Kong poultry farm and tests showed that the birds died after being infected with the H5 virus. The area surrounding the farm and the farm itself were declared as part of an infected area.
To prevent the spread of the deadly virus, more than 80,000 chickens within a three-kilometre radius of the infected farm will be culled.
Hong Kong will also suspend poultry imports for 21 days.
No humans are known to have been infected in the current outbreak, the officials said.
The outbreak is alarming because some of the chickens that were killed by the virus appear to have been vaccinated against it. Infectious disease experts say that Hong Kong uses an older version of the H5 vaccine than mainland China, where there are more frequent outbreaks and farmers vaccinate poultry specifically against the H5N1 strain of the virus.
Last year, in early September a bird flu outbreak in south China’s Guangzhou led to the death of more than 9,000 ducks. Then, the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory confirmed the outbreak as a sub-type of H5N1 bird flu and the government had culled more than 50,000 fowls in the infected region. In 1997, the H5N1 strain adapted to humans and killed six people – it was Hong Kong’s biggest outbreak of the bird flu.
Therefore, Hong Kong’s government said it was looking at whether there was a need to change the vaccine used to protect chickens against avian flu after the latest outbreak.
The bird flu virus has mutated over the last few years, although it may take some time before it turns into a human-to-human type of virus.
Speaking to reporters, health secretary York Chow said the H5N1 vaccine currently used on chickens is manufactured in the Netherlands and was considered to be effective, but because of the mutation of the virus, the government has asked the University of Hong Kong and the mainland to conduct research in order to see if there is a need to replace the vaccine or to look for a more appropriate one. However, he said it is too premature to decide on that.
According to the Word Health Organization, there have been 382 human cases of infection with the H5 virus since 2003, 241 of them fatal. The highly pathogenic Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 is causing global concern as a potential pandemic threat. Health experts fear that the co-existence of human flu viruses and avian flu viruses will provide an opportunity for genetic material to be exchanged, creating a new influenza strain that may cause fatal human infections.
Up to 60 dead chickens were discovered in a Hong Kong poultry farm and tests showed that the birds died after being infected with the H5 virus. The area surrounding the farm and the farm itself were declared as part of an infected area.
To prevent the spread of the deadly virus, more than 80,000 chickens within a three-kilometre radius of the infected farm will be culled.
Hong Kong will also suspend poultry imports for 21 days.
No humans are known to have been infected in the current outbreak, the officials said.
The outbreak is alarming because some of the chickens that were killed by the virus appear to have been vaccinated against it. Infectious disease experts say that Hong Kong uses an older version of the H5 vaccine than mainland China, where there are more frequent outbreaks and farmers vaccinate poultry specifically against the H5N1 strain of the virus.
Last year, in early September a bird flu outbreak in south China’s Guangzhou led to the death of more than 9,000 ducks. Then, the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory confirmed the outbreak as a sub-type of H5N1 bird flu and the government had culled more than 50,000 fowls in the infected region. In 1997, the H5N1 strain adapted to humans and killed six people – it was Hong Kong’s biggest outbreak of the bird flu.
Therefore, Hong Kong’s government said it was looking at whether there was a need to change the vaccine used to protect chickens against avian flu after the latest outbreak.
The bird flu virus has mutated over the last few years, although it may take some time before it turns into a human-to-human type of virus.
Speaking to reporters, health secretary York Chow said the H5N1 vaccine currently used on chickens is manufactured in the Netherlands and was considered to be effective, but because of the mutation of the virus, the government has asked the University of Hong Kong and the mainland to conduct research in order to see if there is a need to replace the vaccine or to look for a more appropriate one. However, he said it is too premature to decide on that.
According to the Word Health Organization, there have been 382 human cases of infection with the H5 virus since 2003, 241 of them fatal. The highly pathogenic Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 is causing global concern as a potential pandemic threat. Health experts fear that the co-existence of human flu viruses and avian flu viruses will provide an opportunity for genetic material to be exchanged, creating a new influenza strain that may cause fatal human infections.
Inspections Strengthened Amid AI Cases Abroad
2008-12-11 10:20:21
Medical inspections will be stepped up for travelers entering Korea from bird flu-hit nations.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that they will more thoroughly inspect travelers upon their return from these regions. The move comes as a multitude of human cases of bird flu infection have been reported in Hong Kong and Vietnam in recent days.
The disease control centers urged travelers to such regions to refrain from visiting poultry farms and markets where poultry products are sold.
Meanwhile, quarantine officials in Hong Kong have culled 80-thousand chickens within a three-kilometer radius from a site where 600-thousand chickens suddenly died after being infected with the virulent H5N1 strain.
Twenty human cases of bird flu infection have been confirmed in Hong Kong, with seven of the cases resulting in death.
Cases of bird flu have also recently been reported in Vietnam, Thailand, India and Laos.
Medical inspections will be stepped up for travelers entering Korea from bird flu-hit nations.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that they will more thoroughly inspect travelers upon their return from these regions. The move comes as a multitude of human cases of bird flu infection have been reported in Hong Kong and Vietnam in recent days.
The disease control centers urged travelers to such regions to refrain from visiting poultry farms and markets where poultry products are sold.
Meanwhile, quarantine officials in Hong Kong have culled 80-thousand chickens within a three-kilometer radius from a site where 600-thousand chickens suddenly died after being infected with the virulent H5N1 strain.
Twenty human cases of bird flu infection have been confirmed in Hong Kong, with seven of the cases resulting in death.
Cases of bird flu have also recently been reported in Vietnam, Thailand, India and Laos.
Ministry of Health to respond to the epidemic in Hong Kong: Bird flu likely
2008-12-11 9:11:04
Ye Zhou) for a Hong Kong outbreak of avian flu in farms, yesterday, the Ministry of Health said that according to experts on risk assessment of the epidemic, the epidemic situation this year, and individual cases of human infection may have occurred, of which animal bird flu occurred More likely.
The Ministry of Health said that the reduction is to reduce the exposure of human infection with bird flu the most effective preventive measure.
The Ministry of Health reminded the public to minimize the poultry and, in particular, the opportunity to contact the dead poultry found abnormal situation should be timely to the health and agriculture departments of the report.
It is reported that on December 9 a chicken farm in Hong Kong avian flu epidemic, but no one infected with bird flu. It is understood that Hong Kong has decided to public hospitals in the area of preparedness for avian flu strain level to enhance the level of serious strain.
Ye Zhou) for a Hong Kong outbreak of avian flu in farms, yesterday, the Ministry of Health said that according to experts on risk assessment of the epidemic, the epidemic situation this year, and individual cases of human infection may have occurred, of which animal bird flu occurred More likely.
The Ministry of Health said that the reduction is to reduce the exposure of human infection with bird flu the most effective preventive measure.
The Ministry of Health reminded the public to minimize the poultry and, in particular, the opportunity to contact the dead poultry found abnormal situation should be timely to the health and agriculture departments of the report.
It is reported that on December 9 a chicken farm in Hong Kong avian flu epidemic, but no one infected with bird flu. It is understood that Hong Kong has decided to public hospitals in the area of preparedness for avian flu strain level to enhance the level of serious strain.
Authorities prepare to deal with avian influenza virus
2008-12-11 (13:28)
The bird flu virus mutate so that the live vaccine may be ineffective, the Department of Health says there will be a two-handed preparation.
Director of Health Lam Ping-yan, referring to the current vaccine may be too early to say invalid, but the authorities have prepared, including to see whether the vaccination of chickens in sufficient, if less, of course, the future will have to review the number of injections would be sufficient; In addition, if the vaccine Really null and void, such as the vaccine is effective in the Mainland authorities will also investigate.
In addition, AFCD staff continue to kill a chicken farm in Yuen Long. Staff put on protective equipment to the outbreak of bird flu farms in Lau Fau Shan, 3 km from another farm chickens.
The bird flu virus mutate so that the live vaccine may be ineffective, the Department of Health says there will be a two-handed preparation.
Director of Health Lam Ping-yan, referring to the current vaccine may be too early to say invalid, but the authorities have prepared, including to see whether the vaccination of chickens in sufficient, if less, of course, the future will have to review the number of injections would be sufficient; In addition, if the vaccine Really null and void, such as the vaccine is effective in the Mainland authorities will also investigate.
In addition, AFCD staff continue to kill a chicken farm in Yuen Long. Staff put on protective equipment to the outbreak of bird flu farms in Lau Fau Shan, 3 km from another farm chickens.
Wholesale sales last farm outbreak 7.5 million chickens
December 11, 2008
Yuen Long farm the day before the outbreak of bird flu, the Hong Kong Government ordered the immediate sale infected farms and the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Poultry Market, about 90,000 chickens, yesterday estimated that a total of 24-pin about 75,000 live chickens.
A large number of AFCD staff yesterday put on a full set of protective clothing, respectively, at the outbreak of chicken farms in Lau Fau Shan, Yuen Long and Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Poultry Market, "chickens", and sent the crane into the farm, away Filled with bags of dead chickens in black garbage bags.
Since the outbreak of live chickens into the farm had the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Market, yesterday morning, authorities sent dozens of officers wearing white protective clothing market to "kill a chicken." AFCD staff first 10-20 to catch live chickens into a green plastic drums, closed heads, and then baked carbon monoxide into the dead chickens only. In the market are about 10,000 live chickens have been sold yesterday .
The remaining 10,000 chickens infected sell this
Another group of about 50 AFCD staff, about 11 o'clock in the morning, arrived at the outbreak farms in Lau Fau Shan, Yuen Long. They put on protective gear to walk through the door to place the disinfection of farms barrels soles disinfected before entering the chicken "to kill a chicken." Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said that farms with about 65,000 live chickens were sold whole . Today will be another infected farms to sell about 10,000 live chickens.
If other farms Baoyihuosha chickens in Hong Kong
Food and Health Secretary York Chow said he hoped yesterday and today to be completed in two farms in Yuen Long areas sell live chickens. He said that if other chicken farms in Hong Kong is also the outbreak of bird flu, would not rule out the possibility of Hong Kong were slaughtered 680,000 chickens.
Yuen Long farm the day before the outbreak of bird flu, the Hong Kong Government ordered the immediate sale infected farms and the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Poultry Market, about 90,000 chickens, yesterday estimated that a total of 24-pin about 75,000 live chickens.
A large number of AFCD staff yesterday put on a full set of protective clothing, respectively, at the outbreak of chicken farms in Lau Fau Shan, Yuen Long and Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Poultry Market, "chickens", and sent the crane into the farm, away Filled with bags of dead chickens in black garbage bags.
Since the outbreak of live chickens into the farm had the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Market, yesterday morning, authorities sent dozens of officers wearing white protective clothing market to "kill a chicken." AFCD staff first 10-20 to catch live chickens into a green plastic drums, closed heads, and then baked carbon monoxide into the dead chickens only. In the market are about 10,000 live chickens have been sold yesterday .
The remaining 10,000 chickens infected sell this
Another group of about 50 AFCD staff, about 11 o'clock in the morning, arrived at the outbreak farms in Lau Fau Shan, Yuen Long. They put on protective gear to walk through the door to place the disinfection of farms barrels soles disinfected before entering the chicken "to kill a chicken." Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said that farms with about 65,000 live chickens were sold whole . Today will be another infected farms to sell about 10,000 live chickens.
If other farms Baoyihuosha chickens in Hong Kong
Food and Health Secretary York Chow said he hoped yesterday and today to be completed in two farms in Yuen Long areas sell live chickens. He said that if other chicken farms in Hong Kong is also the outbreak of bird flu, would not rule out the possibility of Hong Kong were slaughtered 680,000 chickens.
H5N2 vaccines have been most effective internationally recognized
December 11, 2008
Newly discovered infectious diseases of animals and members of the Scientific Committee on Lo Wing-lok said that in Hong Kong in 2003 to combat avian flu started to vaccinate local chickens, and to Mexico by the research and development of vaccines for H5N2 vaccine designated. At that time, Mexico's largest farm outbreak of avian flu, a serious situation almost to the Mexican farm will be destroyed , Mexico for the development of H5N2 vaccine to help themselves. In Hong Kong in 2002 to prepare for local chickens were vaccinated before the experiment had confirmed H5N2 vaccine to protect and begin to adopt the role so far.
Food and Health Bureau said that the Netherlands has been used in the manufacture of H5N2 vaccine, the vaccine in 2003 is considered to be the most effective, as the bird flu virus in the past 6 years, a slight change, although there was no person to person, or become even more poisonous The virus, but there is still a certain degree of change, it will examine the need to convert the new vaccine.
Newly discovered infectious diseases of animals and members of the Scientific Committee on Lo Wing-lok said that in Hong Kong in 2003 to combat avian flu started to vaccinate local chickens, and to Mexico by the research and development of vaccines for H5N2 vaccine designated. At that time, Mexico's largest farm outbreak of avian flu, a serious situation almost to the Mexican farm will be destroyed , Mexico for the development of H5N2 vaccine to help themselves. In Hong Kong in 2002 to prepare for local chickens were vaccinated before the experiment had confirmed H5N2 vaccine to protect and begin to adopt the role so far.
Food and Health Bureau said that the Netherlands has been used in the manufacture of H5N2 vaccine, the vaccine in 2003 is considered to be the most effective, as the bird flu virus in the past 6 years, a slight change, although there was no person to person, or become even more poisonous The virus, but there is still a certain degree of change, it will examine the need to convert the new vaccine.
Government study vaccine was approved for use late H5N2 avian vaccines around the chicken more than H5N1 transfection
December 11, 2008
Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Poultry Market, put on protective equipment will bare hands to catch live chickens into the green plastic buckets, plastic barrels from the carbon monoxide into the hole, suffocated to death by chickens.
Yuen Long farm bird flu outbreak in parts of the chickens injected with a vaccine can not escape death, caused by the use of the vaccine in Hong Kong over the years have lapsed into question. World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) statistics show that in 2008 the global total of 28 local outbreak of avian flu, 27 of them, including four in Hong Kong from the Mainland, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Cambodia and Vietnam, Russia to the north, Ukraine and other regions of the cases were found to have H5N1 virus (see table right), but it still is not widely used in recent years against the H5N2 vaccine.
"The new infectious disease of animals and found that the Scientific Committee" (hereinafter referred to as the Science and Technology Council) member Lo Wing-lok said earlier this year, the Committee was meeting to ask the Government whether the H5N2 vaccine effective, to replace the need for vaccines, but the reply was "still valid" He may say that if the government failed to prepare for the replacement of vaccine, is "trying to be."
Food and Health Secretary York Chow said yesterday that Hong Kong used in vaccines against H5N2 virus has been 6 years, during which the virus or change, the Council has asked the Mainland, Hong Kong and Japan to study, to observe whether there is a need to use vaccines against H5N1.
York Chow: there is a change in the virus or with the Mainland
Hong Kong University microbiology professor Yuen Kwok-yung visit to this paper revealed that in June this year in the Sham Shui Po chicken stalls in the market to find the bird flu virus samples belonging to H5N1, in October this year in the Sham Shui Po seized the crow family birds within the body also have H5N1, At present, it is manufactured in the Netherlands in use Farms H5N2 vaccine, vaccine effectiveness of the decline is not surprising.
He was referring to the infected chicken farm is a signal that the authorities should consider the need to convert the vaccine, and the development of the mainland's vaccine against the H5N1 virus genotype, with the recent discovery of more together, it could be considered, but to determine the vaccine The effectiveness of how much he mean to test the complex, as a result of Hong Kong to prevent the whole South China's bird flu epidemic.
Lo Wing-lok believe that the virus will mutate, a vaccine I can not, from time to time he would ask the Government whether H5N2 vaccine is still effective, is the answer to be degrees of serum resistance of more and more weak, Science and Technology Commission will meet at the beginning of this year, the government still says H5N2 An effective vaccine.
Food and Health Bureau spokesman denied late, York Chow has also pointed out that the mainland as a result of the virus, North and South are also other, the mainland is to improve the work done, once the virus found in Hong Kong and the Mainland together will be handed over to the Mainland Laboratory studies suggest that the H5N1 vaccine for chickens in Hong Kong is more protective, Hong Kong will be chosen to pilot trial, H5N1 and H5N2 vaccines cheaper than the price.
Director-General of the World Organization for Animal Health Adviser Tillman (Dr Alex Thierman) long-distance telephone interview with this paper that popular around the world to H5N1 avian influenza virus mainly, but both H5N1 and H5N2 vaccines are cross-protective effect, as Which vaccine injection, the region will depend on the outbreak of the avian influenza virus which belongs to type, can not be generalized.
Experts: to monitor the vaccine before six months
Tillman said that if the vaccine began to fail to consider the conversion of new vaccines, but preparation before moving on to new vaccines, the department must test the farm for six months or closely monitor the situation, a new understanding of the effectiveness of vaccines in poultry, only to replace The new vaccine. OIE recommends that only the outbreak of bird flu high-risk areas, or a threat to adjacent areas of poultry vaccinated. It is understood that Japan not to vaccinate poultry, Vietnam is promising to vaccinate poultry.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong chicken farms continue to take samples to determine whether other farm chickens infected with avian flu. The virus is being propagated to the current testing chickens to prevent the effectiveness of the vaccine, it takes one to two months.
Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Poultry Market, put on protective equipment will bare hands to catch live chickens into the green plastic buckets, plastic barrels from the carbon monoxide into the hole, suffocated to death by chickens.
Yuen Long farm bird flu outbreak in parts of the chickens injected with a vaccine can not escape death, caused by the use of the vaccine in Hong Kong over the years have lapsed into question. World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) statistics show that in 2008 the global total of 28 local outbreak of avian flu, 27 of them, including four in Hong Kong from the Mainland, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Cambodia and Vietnam, Russia to the north, Ukraine and other regions of the cases were found to have H5N1 virus (see table right), but it still is not widely used in recent years against the H5N2 vaccine.
"The new infectious disease of animals and found that the Scientific Committee" (hereinafter referred to as the Science and Technology Council) member Lo Wing-lok said earlier this year, the Committee was meeting to ask the Government whether the H5N2 vaccine effective, to replace the need for vaccines, but the reply was "still valid" He may say that if the government failed to prepare for the replacement of vaccine, is "trying to be."
Food and Health Secretary York Chow said yesterday that Hong Kong used in vaccines against H5N2 virus has been 6 years, during which the virus or change, the Council has asked the Mainland, Hong Kong and Japan to study, to observe whether there is a need to use vaccines against H5N1.
York Chow: there is a change in the virus or with the Mainland
Hong Kong University microbiology professor Yuen Kwok-yung visit to this paper revealed that in June this year in the Sham Shui Po chicken stalls in the market to find the bird flu virus samples belonging to H5N1, in October this year in the Sham Shui Po seized the crow family birds within the body also have H5N1, At present, it is manufactured in the Netherlands in use Farms H5N2 vaccine, vaccine effectiveness of the decline is not surprising.
He was referring to the infected chicken farm is a signal that the authorities should consider the need to convert the vaccine, and the development of the mainland's vaccine against the H5N1 virus genotype, with the recent discovery of more together, it could be considered, but to determine the vaccine The effectiveness of how much he mean to test the complex, as a result of Hong Kong to prevent the whole South China's bird flu epidemic.
Lo Wing-lok believe that the virus will mutate, a vaccine I can not, from time to time he would ask the Government whether H5N2 vaccine is still effective, is the answer to be degrees of serum resistance of more and more weak, Science and Technology Commission will meet at the beginning of this year, the government still says H5N2 An effective vaccine.
Food and Health Bureau spokesman denied late, York Chow has also pointed out that the mainland as a result of the virus, North and South are also other, the mainland is to improve the work done, once the virus found in Hong Kong and the Mainland together will be handed over to the Mainland Laboratory studies suggest that the H5N1 vaccine for chickens in Hong Kong is more protective, Hong Kong will be chosen to pilot trial, H5N1 and H5N2 vaccines cheaper than the price.
Director-General of the World Organization for Animal Health Adviser Tillman (Dr Alex Thierman) long-distance telephone interview with this paper that popular around the world to H5N1 avian influenza virus mainly, but both H5N1 and H5N2 vaccines are cross-protective effect, as Which vaccine injection, the region will depend on the outbreak of the avian influenza virus which belongs to type, can not be generalized.
Experts: to monitor the vaccine before six months
Tillman said that if the vaccine began to fail to consider the conversion of new vaccines, but preparation before moving on to new vaccines, the department must test the farm for six months or closely monitor the situation, a new understanding of the effectiveness of vaccines in poultry, only to replace The new vaccine. OIE recommends that only the outbreak of bird flu high-risk areas, or a threat to adjacent areas of poultry vaccinated. It is understood that Japan not to vaccinate poultry, Vietnam is promising to vaccinate poultry.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong chicken farms continue to take samples to determine whether other farm chickens infected with avian flu. The virus is being propagated to the current testing chickens to prevent the effectiveness of the vaccine, it takes one to two months.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Saudi Arabia: ‘No outbreak of diseases reported’
 Thursday 11 December 2008 (13 Dhul Hijjah 1429) Saeed Al-Khotani | Arab News |
MINA: Health Minister Hamad Al-Manie announced yesterday that there was no report of outbreak of any infectious disease during this year’s Haj. “Speaking at a press conference in Makkah yesterday he said that the reports from field surveillance and followup activities showed that there was no outbreak of any infectious disease at the holy sites during the Haj. Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Mirghalani told Arab News that the prevention of infectious and communicable diseases would not have been possible without the efforts of Saudi diplomatic missions abroad that strictly implemented the Haj health requirements of pilgrims by working with health authorities in the countries where they are based. The Saudi missions abroad ensured that meningitis shots are taken by pilgrims and the requirement of flu vaccines was also met where necessary, he said. “Contributing to the success of this year’s Haj was the enormous resources the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah had put at the disposal of the authorities to provide health care services during this Haj. These resources included mobilizing around 10,000 health care workers to serve pilgrims at 24 hospitals and 188 primary health care centers,” Mirghalani said. He said that Al-Manie discussed with Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal the preparations for the opening of King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC) in Makkah, scheduled for the middle of 2009. “It is expected that the KAMC will begin to render medical services in the second half of next year,” said Mirghalani. The KAMC will have 1,500 beds at three hospitals on 250,000 sq. meters. There will be a 500-bed new specialist hospital; a 500-bed maternity and children hospital; and the 500 bed Al-Noor hospital that still exists and which will be part of the new city. The hospitals would be instrumental in treating future pilgrims at the holy city. According to Ministry of Health plan, the city will later develop into a regional center for excellence in health care provision as well as a medical tourism attraction spot for patients from outside the Kingdom,” Marghalani pointed out. |
Indo: Guard against the HEALTHY CHICKEN- EVIDENTLY brought the VIRUS H5N1
Guard against the HEALTHY CHICKEN
EVIDENTLY brought the VIRUS H5N1
On December 10 2008
The Government co-operated with several researchers of the bird flu illness in Indonesia increasingly concern combatted the illness that was caused by the virus H5N1 this. One among them by continuing to trace the existence of this quite deadly virus.
From January to August 2008, the government with the illness researcher who was spread through this poultry active entered the wet or traditional markets both in Surabaya and Jakarta that were the terminal for the chicken and the other kind of the living poultry.
The researcher the Illness of Avian Flu Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan Universitas Airlangga Surabaya Dr Khairil Anwar Nidhom said, the still normal community bought the living chicken in the market was asked for more was again on the alert.
Because of the chicken that was seen healthy precisely it was considered brought the virus. The chicken that we the isolation evidently brought the virus.
The mutation model of his virus has changed from that was previous. Indeed this needed the further study.
This virus group did not infect the chicken but the virus group that infected humankind.
Hopefully this not the horrifying mutation but the normal mutation, said Dr Khairil Anwar Nidhom, on Wednesday (10/12).
Dr Khairil Anwar added, already during him the wet markets were done by the restructuring especially for the trader of the living poultry.
This was carried out so that the traditional market in Surabaya and Jakarta and other areas became far clean.
hat-tip Shiloh for the link
EVIDENTLY brought the VIRUS H5N1
On December 10 2008
The Government co-operated with several researchers of the bird flu illness in Indonesia increasingly concern combatted the illness that was caused by the virus H5N1 this. One among them by continuing to trace the existence of this quite deadly virus.
From January to August 2008, the government with the illness researcher who was spread through this poultry active entered the wet or traditional markets both in Surabaya and Jakarta that were the terminal for the chicken and the other kind of the living poultry.
The researcher the Illness of Avian Flu Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan Universitas Airlangga Surabaya Dr Khairil Anwar Nidhom said, the still normal community bought the living chicken in the market was asked for more was again on the alert.
Because of the chicken that was seen healthy precisely it was considered brought the virus. The chicken that we the isolation evidently brought the virus.
The mutation model of his virus has changed from that was previous. Indeed this needed the further study.
This virus group did not infect the chicken but the virus group that infected humankind.
Hopefully this not the horrifying mutation but the normal mutation, said Dr Khairil Anwar Nidhom, on Wednesday (10/12).
Dr Khairil Anwar added, already during him the wet markets were done by the restructuring especially for the trader of the living poultry.
This was carried out so that the traditional market in Surabaya and Jakarta and other areas became far clean.
hat-tip Shiloh for the link
Chicken prosecute the source of the bird again to plug loopholes in the chicken were to be separated as soon as possible to implement central slaughte
Editorial
Lau Fau Shan Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long a chicken farm found to have died of bird flu, the authorities have to sell accident farms and chicken farms in the vicinity of a total of 80,000 chicken (another of the Cheung Sha Wan wholesale market of about 10,000 chickens, Have to sell ), the matter should be attached great importance to the authorities because it is close to 6 years, Hong Kong's chicken farms found to have died of bird flu for the first time. In Hong Kong for many years to build the impregnable fortress has been described as preventive measures for bird flu, but chicken farms in the link be broken, the authorities must find out the origin of the virus and take measures to strengthen the block.
Avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong, began in 1997. Large-scale outbreak of avian influenza that year, 18 people were infected, of which 6 people were killed and the Hong Kong government slaughtered 1,300,000 chickens; Since then, bird flu has become endemic in Hong Kong, found that over the years a number of bird chicken, most recently this year June found a number of markets, chickens, and trigger the implementation of the Government's commitment to the retail level does not sell live chickens. However, the most recent bird found in Hong Kong chicken farms, to be traced back to January 2003, when the Yuen Long farm there are a number of chickens infected with avian virus, the Government sales of 10,000 live chickens.
Vaccinated chickens are still infected
Unusual state of affairs
The Government has formulated a series of strict measures to prevent local and mainland chickens imported bird. The local chicken farms, provide for the installation of protective nets, the free vaccinations for chicken, chicken farms have strict health requirements. As in 2001 after the implementation of the quarantine system for live chickens from the Mainland, including to Hong Kong to the mainland registered farms; chicken export to Hong Kong to be vaccinated; chicken arrived at Lok Ma Chau and Man Kam To, to detect serum and chicken from the anus to make a quick test of the sample; Chicken wholesale markets and market reach, the point of re-sampling; wholesale market and monthly cleaning. The above measures has been described as a block of avian flu in Hong Kong impregnable fortress, in July this year to strictly implement the "day-ching", not to live chickens in markets overnight, the stronger should be the impregnable fortress.
However, Yuen Long chicken farm after the bird was found to show that there are loopholes in the impregnable fortress. The outbreak of the epidemic of poultry farms, dead chickens, not including the vaccination of chicken, "sentinel chickens" and the injection of chicken vaccine. It is understood that the breeder has not vaccinated, "sentinel chickens" for monitoring the epidemic has hit poultry farms in the benchmark, in their bird flu death, it is understandable; injected with a vaccine but also because of the chickens infected dead birds, On the state of affairs appears to be unusual. If the cross infection of the virus, the vaccine led to the failure, situation will be more serious because the current vaccine can not make chicken immunity, unless immediate and effective to find new vaccines, or the threat of avian flu is more severe. I hope the authorities through gene sequencing, as soon as possible to find reasons to take effective measures to correspond.
The outbreak of the epidemic of poultry farms, is considered among the better facilities, strict management, the virus was still "into" kill a chicken, the chicken can be seen very high risk. At present, the most important thing is to know the origin of the virus in order to suit the remedy. In June this year, the avian virus found in a number of markets, ultimately did not know the origin of the virus, believed to be the only illegal smuggling of chicken to Hong Kong caused the accident chicken farms in Hong Kong, and if the root cause of the origin of the virus or not check out, Ultimately nothing will not help to strengthen measures to prevent.
Another point worth noting is that the owner of the farm accident that may have been caused by migratory birds and the relevant quarter. It is North birds flying south of the cold season, they went all the way to Hong Kong before, are in many parts of the Mainland; if North birds with the avian virus to the south, the affected area should be not only in Hong Kong, southern China at least will There are like . In recent months, they are not aware of infected birds found in the mainland, the mainland has strengthened measures to prevent avian disease outbreak, which is on the down, if no infected birds is the result of a mix of other factors, and that is another matter.
Reduce the size of the investment attractiveness by
Government finance the construction of the Central Housing chicken
On live chickens in Hong Kong, in late September this year after the completion of cross-licensing scheme, 56% of the chicken farmers, about 70 wholesale chicken stalls, about 72% of the chicken stalls and around 80 vehicles transported the chicken business has a license to produce, receive compensation , To cease operation. As for the government over the years to encourage local chicken farmers to build part of the chicken brand, including "the United States and Kerry chicken" and "Tai-chicken", due to the efforts of chicken farmers, some already have laid the foundation. This is the rare brands that if the farm industry, management in line with the Government's strict requirements do not stifle public health, these brands chicken, the Government should not drive people out, but chicken farmers should be encouraged to continue operating indefinitely, to Hong Kong trade of live chickens left behind the first-line high-quality incense.
Hong Kong people to separate the chicken did not achieve a comprehensive, but progress has been made clear, on the left to the market, if there are still people eat live chickens, the sheer number of live chicken industry also makes room for survival, the Government should also provide The necessary facilities to complete the chickens were separated ─ ─ the last part of the central slaughtering.
Now the city of Hong Kong's daily live chicken should be about more than 10,000 pieces per day had up to 6-10000-scale slaughter of chickens in the Central, of course, is no longer necessary, officials have said that due to a substantial reduction in the size, "the central large-scale chicken Housing "can be advanced to 2010 or 2011. Due to the size of the fine, reduce the attractiveness to investors. Since it is impossible to make a comprehensive live away from Hong Kong, the Government should put in more resources to the construction of a central slaughtering facilities. Implementation of the chickens were separated, "the central large-scale chicken room" is the only choice should be implemented as soon as possible.
Lau Fau Shan Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long a chicken farm found to have died of bird flu, the authorities have to sell accident farms and chicken farms in the vicinity of a total of 80,000 chicken (another of the Cheung Sha Wan wholesale market of about 10,000 chickens, Have to sell ), the matter should be attached great importance to the authorities because it is close to 6 years, Hong Kong's chicken farms found to have died of bird flu for the first time. In Hong Kong for many years to build the impregnable fortress has been described as preventive measures for bird flu, but chicken farms in the link be broken, the authorities must find out the origin of the virus and take measures to strengthen the block.
Avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong, began in 1997. Large-scale outbreak of avian influenza that year, 18 people were infected, of which 6 people were killed and the Hong Kong government slaughtered 1,300,000 chickens; Since then, bird flu has become endemic in Hong Kong, found that over the years a number of bird chicken, most recently this year June found a number of markets, chickens, and trigger the implementation of the Government's commitment to the retail level does not sell live chickens. However, the most recent bird found in Hong Kong chicken farms, to be traced back to January 2003, when the Yuen Long farm there are a number of chickens infected with avian virus, the Government sales of 10,000 live chickens.
Vaccinated chickens are still infected
Unusual state of affairs
The Government has formulated a series of strict measures to prevent local and mainland chickens imported bird. The local chicken farms, provide for the installation of protective nets, the free vaccinations for chicken, chicken farms have strict health requirements. As in 2001 after the implementation of the quarantine system for live chickens from the Mainland, including to Hong Kong to the mainland registered farms; chicken export to Hong Kong to be vaccinated; chicken arrived at Lok Ma Chau and Man Kam To, to detect serum and chicken from the anus to make a quick test of the sample; Chicken wholesale markets and market reach, the point of re-sampling; wholesale market and monthly cleaning. The above measures has been described as a block of avian flu in Hong Kong impregnable fortress, in July this year to strictly implement the "day-ching", not to live chickens in markets overnight, the stronger should be the impregnable fortress.
However, Yuen Long chicken farm after the bird was found to show that there are loopholes in the impregnable fortress. The outbreak of the epidemic of poultry farms, dead chickens, not including the vaccination of chicken, "sentinel chickens" and the injection of chicken vaccine. It is understood that the breeder has not vaccinated, "sentinel chickens" for monitoring the epidemic has hit poultry farms in the benchmark, in their bird flu death, it is understandable; injected with a vaccine but also because of the chickens infected dead birds, On the state of affairs appears to be unusual. If the cross infection of the virus, the vaccine led to the failure, situation will be more serious because the current vaccine can not make chicken immunity, unless immediate and effective to find new vaccines, or the threat of avian flu is more severe. I hope the authorities through gene sequencing, as soon as possible to find reasons to take effective measures to correspond.
The outbreak of the epidemic of poultry farms, is considered among the better facilities, strict management, the virus was still "into" kill a chicken, the chicken can be seen very high risk. At present, the most important thing is to know the origin of the virus in order to suit the remedy. In June this year, the avian virus found in a number of markets, ultimately did not know the origin of the virus, believed to be the only illegal smuggling of chicken to Hong Kong caused the accident chicken farms in Hong Kong, and if the root cause of the origin of the virus or not check out, Ultimately nothing will not help to strengthen measures to prevent.
Another point worth noting is that the owner of the farm accident that may have been caused by migratory birds and the relevant quarter. It is North birds flying south of the cold season, they went all the way to Hong Kong before, are in many parts of the Mainland; if North birds with the avian virus to the south, the affected area should be not only in Hong Kong, southern China at least will There are like . In recent months, they are not aware of infected birds found in the mainland, the mainland has strengthened measures to prevent avian disease outbreak, which is on the down, if no infected birds is the result of a mix of other factors, and that is another matter.
Reduce the size of the investment attractiveness by
Government finance the construction of the Central Housing chicken
On live chickens in Hong Kong, in late September this year after the completion of cross-licensing scheme, 56% of the chicken farmers, about 70 wholesale chicken stalls, about 72% of the chicken stalls and around 80 vehicles transported the chicken business has a license to produce, receive compensation , To cease operation. As for the government over the years to encourage local chicken farmers to build part of the chicken brand, including "the United States and Kerry chicken" and "Tai-chicken", due to the efforts of chicken farmers, some already have laid the foundation. This is the rare brands that if the farm industry, management in line with the Government's strict requirements do not stifle public health, these brands chicken, the Government should not drive people out, but chicken farmers should be encouraged to continue operating indefinitely, to Hong Kong trade of live chickens left behind the first-line high-quality incense.
Hong Kong people to separate the chicken did not achieve a comprehensive, but progress has been made clear, on the left to the market, if there are still people eat live chickens, the sheer number of live chicken industry also makes room for survival, the Government should also provide The necessary facilities to complete the chickens were separated ─ ─ the last part of the central slaughtering.
Now the city of Hong Kong's daily live chicken should be about more than 10,000 pieces per day had up to 6-10000-scale slaughter of chickens in the Central, of course, is no longer necessary, officials have said that due to a substantial reduction in the size, "the central large-scale chicken Housing "can be advanced to 2010 or 2011. Due to the size of the fine, reduce the attractiveness to investors. Since it is impossible to make a comprehensive live away from Hong Kong, the Government should put in more resources to the construction of a central slaughtering facilities. Implementation of the chickens were separated, "the central large-scale chicken room" is the only choice should be implemented as soon as possible.
Proprietors to take biological security measures
Center for Health Protection in the evening to send two ambulances to the outbreak of bird flu farms, farm owner Philip and the whole number of workers were taken to hospital for detailed examination. (Yip Hon-hua)
outbreak of the bird flu farms, by the New Territories Chicken Breeders Association chairman Dr whole operation. He was later exclaimed, farm biosecurity measures have been done, even near the migratory season before thickening and the replacement of anti-bird nets, disinfection of farms to strengthen the facilities, but still farms the avian virus Invasion, he puzzled.
Staff separation 7 days
He said the farm was found Monday morning with more than 100 chickens died of the disease, in addition to these "sentinel chickens" death, even playing a vaccine is still a dead chicken, even with his wife from today to accept the 7-day Self-isolation.
Dr the whole farm covers an area of 150,000 square feet, the father of a total of 6-70000 live chickens, mainly for the "three yellow", there is a small portion of the test are cultivated varieties. One morning this week, he found more than 10 dead chickens, including sentinel chickens and ordinary chicken, then immediately report to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. AFCD staff to the scene to investigate, seize-the-spot 3 dead chickens and 120 chicken samples for laboratory testing.
It is reported that the department has long been at the farm last four weeks to deploy until the test results would be an immediate action, rapid test results indicate that the chicken was infected with H5 avian influenza have died, wearing full protective clothing the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and Food Officers immediately entered the chicken, bring along a large garbage bags, disinfectant and carbon dioxide equipment slaughtered chickens. Slaughter of chickens until 20 o'clock, as the night lighting systems do not have enough staff to suspend operations until today to complete the remaining work to kill the chickens.
Sentinel chickens criticized the lack of system
Dr said that life and death, hence making it acceptable to the authorities decided to kill a chicken, but he stressed that he had called on the authorities to respond to a number of bio-security procedures, such as thickening of anti-bird nets, a new disinfectant, health tips to enhance staff, but Baimiyishu still.
He criticized the system of sentinel chickens is still not perfect, as a result of bird flu can be transmitted through the air, do not chicken Sentinel resistance, a real-time incidence of infection will affect other healthy chickens.
Sentinel chicken vaccine can not hit the door
"sentinel chickens" refers to the epidemic prevention departments for monitoring, warning, farm birds test laboratories or whether there was contamination of the virus, will be in place to place within any part of the injection is no vaccine for healthy chickens, "striker "Once the virus from entering the premises by, to take the lead in the sentinel chickens will be the first" dead "to prove that the virus is still in place; On the other hand if the sentinel chickens and healthy life, and the extraction of the blood or liquid through the throat virus isolation and confirmed that detection of virus-free After infection, epidemic prevention departments can be found in the place is clean zone.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department spokesman explained that since Hong Kong in 1997 after the introduction of "sentinel chickens" system will be in the entrance of each batch of chickens or chicks in the selection of 60 chicken as "sentinel chickens."
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department spokesman explained that since Hong Kong in 1997 after the introduction of "sentinel chickens" system will be in the entrance of each batch of chickens or chicks in the selection of 60 chicken as "sentinel chickens."
4, Richard aspects of smuggling of chicken manure sole source of the vaccine
Hong Kong farms have been 6 years found no bird flu so far this summer, coupled with the global outbreak of bird flu cases lower than last year, the Lau Fau Shan Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long farm model of the outbreak of bird flu, has become more intriguing. Head of the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong Yuen Kwok-yung said that the farm biosecurity measures have been very tight, do not rule out the virus with the objects in the farms go, destroyed farms, bio-security measures. This newspaper has learned that the Government will follow the chicken farm into smuggling, migratory birds droppings, workers on the sticky soles virus and vaccine failure, and so to trace the source of the drug broadcast, and the smuggling of chickens into the outbreak of bird flu risk will be one of the priorities of the investigation.
Last year, bird flu outbreaks around the world, as far away as Britain, Russia, Hungary, Africa and Nigeria has not been spared, at least 16 the number of the outbreak. But so far this summer, moderated the epidemic, bird flu broke out around the 10 cases not enough (see Figure), mainly in Asia. Hong Kong has always been a high degree of bio-security model farms in a sudden move, it is difficult to understand.
Yuen Kwok-yung Yuen Long farm do not want to comment on the reasons for the outbreak of the bird, but he said that the farm biosecurity measures are very tight, the virus does not easily imported. Unless there are objects with the virus enter and leave the farm, including the transportation means of transport workers sticky soles virus or droppings of migratory birds, and whether there will be mixed with the smuggling of chicken farms, it is likely that the virus outbreak on a farm.
Comprehensive views of the parties that because of a few more than 10 days is the Chinese people have always attached great importance to the winter, most people are willing to buy live chickens over the winter, did not rule out based on business incentives that will encourage the smuggling of chickens into the outbreak of bird flu risk factors.
Yuen Kwok-yung of the view that the vaccine failure and the outbreak of bird flu farms do not have any relations, foreign farm biosecurity measures are very strict, so foreign non-vaccinated birds. As long as farm biosecurity measures fully comply with the provisions of the farm operations to fully comply with regulations to deal with, even if the vaccine will not expire outbreak of bird flu.
Yuen Kwok-yung: vaccine failure is not surprising
He said Hong Kong had been detected in wild birds and chicken stalls in the market samples of the bird flu gene is H5NI, but the vaccine in Hong Kong in 2001, the use of H5N2, it is also not surprising that failure to start the vaccine. He suggested that the Government discuss with the mainland authorities in Hong Kong can follow the example of the use of the Mainland H5NI vaccine to prevent bird.
Last year, bird flu outbreaks around the world, as far away as Britain, Russia, Hungary, Africa and Nigeria has not been spared, at least 16 the number of the outbreak. But so far this summer, moderated the epidemic, bird flu broke out around the 10 cases not enough (see Figure), mainly in Asia. Hong Kong has always been a high degree of bio-security model farms in a sudden move, it is difficult to understand.
Yuen Kwok-yung Yuen Long farm do not want to comment on the reasons for the outbreak of the bird, but he said that the farm biosecurity measures are very tight, the virus does not easily imported. Unless there are objects with the virus enter and leave the farm, including the transportation means of transport workers sticky soles virus or droppings of migratory birds, and whether there will be mixed with the smuggling of chicken farms, it is likely that the virus outbreak on a farm.
Comprehensive views of the parties that because of a few more than 10 days is the Chinese people have always attached great importance to the winter, most people are willing to buy live chickens over the winter, did not rule out based on business incentives that will encourage the smuggling of chickens into the outbreak of bird flu risk factors.
Yuen Kwok-yung of the view that the vaccine failure and the outbreak of bird flu farms do not have any relations, foreign farm biosecurity measures are very strict, so foreign non-vaccinated birds. As long as farm biosecurity measures fully comply with the provisions of the farm operations to fully comply with regulations to deal with, even if the vaccine will not expire outbreak of bird flu.
Yuen Kwok-yung: vaccine failure is not surprising
He said Hong Kong had been detected in wild birds and chicken stalls in the market samples of the bird flu gene is H5NI, but the vaccine in Hong Kong in 2001, the use of H5N2, it is also not surprising that failure to start the vaccine. He suggested that the Government discuss with the mainland authorities in Hong Kong can follow the example of the use of the Mainland H5NI vaccine to prevent bird.
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