Egypt woman critically ill with bird flu

AFP/File – Chicken sit in a farm near Jamasa, Egypt. A 33-year-old woman has contracted bird flu, the 64th recorded …



53 mins ago
CAIRO (AFP) – A 33-year-old woman has contracted bird flu, the 64th recorded case since the first outbreak of the disease in Egypt in 2006, the health ministry announced on Wednesday.
The woman from the Kafr el-Sheikh province of northern Egypt is in critical condition and on an artificial respirator, state-run news agency MENA quoted a health ministry official as saying.

She first showed symptoms of the flu more than a week ago after being exposed to dead fowl thought to have been carrying the disease, the official said.

Egypt has seen an increase in bird flu cases over the past month. The World Health Organisation (WHO) called last month for an investigation into why many of the victims have been young children.

Twenty-three people have died of bird flu in Egypt. Most of the victims have been young girls or women, who are generally in charge of looking after poultry in rural areas.

Egypt hosted an international conference on bird flu in October, when Washington pledged an additional 320 million dollars to the fight against the disease amid fears it may yet escalate into a global pandemic.

The H5N1 strain of the virus that is most dangerous to humans first emerged in Asia in 2003 and has since caused nearly 250 deaths, according to WHO figures.
Scientists fear that a mutation of the bird flu virus resulting in a strain easily transmitted among humans could create a pandemic, potentially affecting up to one-fifth of the world's population.
hat-tip Niman

Chinese woman dies from suspected SARS on Moscow-bound train - 3

21:25 | 15/ 04/ 2009
(Recasts, details nationalities para 2, adds quotes paras 6,7)
MOSCOW, April 15 (RIA Novosti) -

A Chinese woman has died from what may be Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) while traveling on a train from the Far East Russian city of Blagoveshchensk to Moscow, a medical source said on Wednesday.


The train was stopped at the Zuyevka station in central Russia's Kirov Region, and 51 Chinese passengers and two Russian train stewards were sent to a local hospital.

The Kirov Region administration said on its website that the Chinese nationals had been quarantined as "the cause of the death of the young woman has not yet been established."

It also said that "all necessary measures" had been taken to prevent the spread of "possible infection."

"The deceased woman, her husband, mother and father, who were all traveling together for [migrant] work, all had a slight temperature," Russia's chief sanitary official, Gennady Onishchenko, told Vesti-24 during a live television interview in Moscow.

Onishchenko also noted that it was impossible to give a cause for the slight fever that could be down to a number of factors, including a change in climate to being in the train so long.

The train left Blagoveshchensk on April 11.

The carriage in which the 23-year-old woman was travelling was disconnected from the rest of the train, which then continued on its way to the capital. It is due to arrive in north Moscow's Yaroslavl train terminal early on Thursday.

A spokesman for Russia's sanitary watchdog was unable to confirm that the woman had died from SARS.

"Doctors are currently establishing a preliminary diagnosis," he said.

The Chinese embassy in Moscow has said it has no information on the incident.

The first case of SARS was reported in China in November 2002 and some 800 people died of the disease in the following months. In July 2003, the World Health Organization reported that the disease had been contained. The mortality rate for the virus is approximately 4%.
hat tip ironorehopper

Train passengers who died in a china have no symptoms of avian influenza

Google translation from Spanish:

18:56 | 15 / 04 / 2009

Moscow, April 15, RIA Novosti. Passenger train Blagovéschensk (Russian Far East) - Moscow, who died in a china, have no symptoms of avian flu, RIA Novosti reported today to the administration of the province of Kirov (northern Russia).

The wagon at the misfortune that happened was unhooked from the train in Kirov. The passengers were taken to a local hospital.

"They have no symptoms of avian influenza, nor did the panic. They took all the precautionary measures that are usually taken in such situations," said a spokesman of the administration.

"We review them all. The preliminary results will be tomorrow morning, and final, within 24 hours," he added.

The citizens of China will have died of atypical pneumonia. Of the sixty seven internees have fever, told RIA Novosti hospital doctors Kirov.
hat-tip Shiloh

The Russian train Chinawoman died. Suspected SARS

On the train «Moscow-Samara» acquitted 60 people, they are screened in Kirov. This may be a forgotten diagnosis: an ominous «SARS». Wagon disinfect and unhook.

Citizen of China and died, presumably from SARS in a passenger train «Samara-Moscow». Car number 2, where the CP was ottseplen at Zuevka in the Kirov region, the train dropped to 60 people and hospitalized, RIA «News».

«It was cordoned off, 60 people withdrew from the train and taken to a hospital infectious. 7 people with a high temperature, one has died », - told the agency by telephone one of the doctors Kirovsky hospitals. «Opening of the deceased woman revealed that she was sick of atypical pneumonia (SARS)», - said doctors.

At a definitive diagnosis would require about a week. If the data Kirovsky doctors confirmed, this would be the first fatal case of SARS in 2003, when the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared an end to the epidemic of atypical pneumonia that took more than 900 lives.

At the same time, the head of the press service of Gorky Railway Levan Todua argues that no autopsy who died in a train citizen of the PRC did not, because China's embassy did not give this permission. According Todua, doctors managed to conduct only a visual inspection of the body the Chinese, who died in a train «Samara-Moscow». «A medical examination reportedly revealed pulmonary edema, there is a suspicion of atypical pneumonia», - said Todua «Interfax».

According to his data, at the Kirov the train were removed 57 foreign citizens coming from China, and they all moved to the isolation hospital. At the same time, according to the ITAR-TASS news agency, is currently one of the offices of the Kirov infectious hospitals are 53 fellow Chinese, born 1985, who died on the morning of Wednesday on the train «Samara-Moscow». At Zuevka Kirov area were evacuated, all contact with her companion - a group of migrant workers. The doctors acted Antiplague costumes.

«The need for isolation due to the fact that the reason for the sudden death of the girl has not yet been established. She may have died from acute heart failure, and other disease », - told the press center of the Government of the Kirov region. However, due to the fact that China is difficult epidemiological situation, every precaution was taken to exclude the possible spread of infection, said the press center.

«All the Chinese citizens living in the isolation hospital, samples for analysis. Preliminary results will be known on Thursday, and after a few days, doctors will be able to draw definitive conclusions », - told the press center of regional leadership. Head of Territorial Administration Rospotrebnadzor Galyna Gruhina noted that «all necessary measures to control the situation, the danger for the residents of the Kirov region no».

The company confirmed the withdrawal of Russian Railways on Wednesday in Kirov of passengers on the train «Samara-Moscow», after the death of one of the passengers. «In the train was reported death of one of the passengers. Passengers who rode with her in a wagon, taken off the train. Railway have been carried out all necessary activities Disinfection », - said the representative of Russian Railways.

Ill-fated night, waiting for a train in Moscow at the Yaroslavl train station

The train, which were removed dozens of people, to arrive at Moscow's Yaroslavsky Station. Railway police in Moscow region is not taking additional security measures in this regard. No request for assistance in providing additional security from the management of Russian Railways, Rospotrebnadzor and other federal agencies in Moscow traffic controllers in the railway transport has not yet been reported.

In RZhD say that the train N349 Blagoveschensk - Moscow, according to the schedule, due to arrive in Moscow on Thursday at 04:11. However, as explained to the representative of Russian Railways, «due to the fact that the journey had been delayed departure, the train can arrive to Moscow behind schedule».

Onyshchenko calms country

The incident with the death of women on the train «Samara-Moscow» is under the supervision of doctors, said the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Russia Gennady Onishchenko, who cites «Interfax».

«The situation is under full control. There are some complications that cause anxiety for the population of Russia is not », - he said.

As explained by Onishchenko, the second passenger train, in which the dead woman, arrived in one of the hospitals the Kirov region. «Their condition does not cause fear», - said the doctor. In the train were sent medical teams to survey the passengers.

«At the present time, detach the first and the third train. They will be sent to the dead end to health surveys of passengers. Wagons will be provided with all necessary systems - water, electricity and sanitation », - said Onischenko. In the first and third cars, which are sent to the hospital dead end, followed by passengers from China - more than 90 people. 51 passengers and two conductors of the second wagon trains are still in the hospital, Onishenko said.

«The state of all passengers, no fear is. This also applies to relatives of deceased women, who are in hospital », - underlined the chief sanitary doctor.

Help

SARS - a disease appeared in the early twenty-first century and in 2002-2003, spread to several countries in South-East Asia.

The term «SARS» appeared long before the development of the last pandemic, and has been used to describe the lung lesions caused by pneumonia, is not normal, and atypical pathogens, such as legionelly, mycoplasma, chlamydia, viruses. More precisely the peculiarity of the disease reflects the accepted worldwide symbol «severe acute respiratory syndrome» (SARS) and its English synonym for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). SARS is an acute respiratory disease, the disease is very similar at once on influenza, measles, mumps, canine chumku and bronchopneumonia chickens.

The symptoms of SARS are fever, dry cough, difficulty or rapid breathing. Fluorographic examination of the chest shows the picture of pneumonia. Also, you may experience other symptoms - chills, headaches, loss of appetite, malaise and pain in muscles, dry skin and diarrhea.

The peculiarity of this disease is the predominance of the common symptoms of intoxication that marginalize pulmonary manifestations. The course of pneumonia is unpredictable: they may run as malosimptomno, and hard, with the development of life-threatening complications. The disease is difficult to diagnose in early, leaving late, patients come to hospital under the supervision of a specialist.

The incubation period of SARS is 3-6, rarely 10 days. Studies have shown that during the SARS does not depend on sex, but 70% of infections make up a relatively young person to health.

Pathogen SARS is the mutant from the second group coronavirus. The virus is found in many organs and the secrets of people who died of SARS: the lungs, kidneys, sputum, smears from the upper respiratory tract.

The disease is transmitted airborne droplets and by airborne dust. To the virus could enter the body, you'll need is at a distance of no more than 10 cm from its bearer. In addition, the virus can live outside the media about 3-6 hours, so it is possible contamination through the allocation of the patient, as well as objects, which he enjoyed.

Coronavirus found in patients with atypical Asian viral pneumonia, none of the known coronavirus not like - the usual family of viruses that cause 20% of cases of so-called «cold cold», as well as different manifestations of the disease in their pets and birds.

Epidemiologists have found that the source of infection were bats. The outbreak of the disease was observed in areas where these rodents eat. And all cases of illness were associated with household contact with the animal - caring for them, slaughter, cook, etc.

Like any virus, causative agent of SARS has the ability to mutate, that is the difficulty of recruiting the medications. Scientists have identified two types of molecules that stop reproduction of the virus of atypical pneumonia, which will help create a cure for this dangerous disease.
hat-tip ironorehopper

For the first time the disease SARS was noted in November 2002 in the Chinese province of Guangdong. Measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic were not adopted immediately, as the Government of China at first hid the emergence of the disease in the country. However, the epidemic quickly spread to neighboring Hong Kong and Vietnam in late February 2003 and further to other countries and continents. The first officially reported cases of atypical pneumonia was reported in Hanoi, 26 February 2003.

The severity of symptoms, high mortality, the possibility of infected hospital staff led to a strong world community, anxiety, and 12 March 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global alert about the need to stop the spread of this disease. It is recommended to refrain from trips to southern China.

According to WHO, during the epidemic in 30 countries around the world have been registered 8436 cases of SARS, more than 900 deaths, the majority of casualties were reported in mainland China (348 cases) and in Hong Kong (298 cases). Deaths were reported in Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. One case of atypical pneumonia has been registered in Russia - in the Amur region.

Thanks to the use of restrictive measures and the establishment of protective regime of the global community has achieved the first victory over the epidemic of SARS (SARS). In 2003, WHO officially declared an end to the epidemic of atypical pneumonia.

NEWSru.com

Russia: RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service

15/04/2009

A Chinese woman has died from what may be Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) while traveling on a train from the Far East Russian city of Blagoveshchensk to Moscow, a medical source said on Wednesday.


The train was stopped in the central Russian city of Kirov and around 60 train passengers were sent to a local hospital.

Six of them are reported as running fevers, the source said, although Kirov Region officials have said that none of them were suffering from SARS.

The carriage in which the woman was travelling was disconnected from the rest of the train, which then continued on its way to Moscow.

Russia's sanitary watchdog spokesman was unable to confirm that the woman had died from SARS.

"Doctors are currently establishing a preliminary diagnosis," he said. Kirov

Region administration officials said that the final results of the analysis would be ready in 24 hours' time.)
hat-tip Ironorehopper

London flu pandemic could kill 94,000

Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent
15.04.09

EXPERTS are predicting that a London flu pandemic could kill anything from 7,542 people to 94,270 depending on how many “waves” of infection there are.

A 120-page report drawn up for the London Regional Resilience Flu Pandemic Response Plan warns: “The pandemic may occur over multiple waves, of which a second or subsequent wave could be more severe than the first.”

The greatest number of fatalities, in the worst case scenario, is likely to be in Croydon at 4,235, followed by Barnet, 4,113, Ealing, 3,810, and Bromley, 3,749. More than 3,000 people may die in Wandsworth, Southwark, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Lambeth, Hillingdon, Enfield and Brent.

The borough-by-borough figures were drawn up using population data, with larger boroughs having a higher mortality toll, as well as “excess death trends” due to the size of vulnerable groups locally.

Hundreds of thousands of employees are expected to call in sick with others not turning up to work because of fear of being infected. People will be urged to stockpile non-perishable food so that if they fall ill they can minimise contact with others. Victims will be told to stay at home as the virus spreads across the country and could kill up to 750,000 people nationwide.

Experts have already warned that mortuaries will be unable to cope and that hospitals will have to turn ill people away because of the surge in demand.

Schools may be shut as children risk becoming “super spreaders” of the virus. The document for the pandemic response plan stresses that routine flu vaccinations are unlikely to protect against a new strain of the virus and making available sufficient quantities of an effective vaccine could take six months.

A London flu exercise is due to take place in June to develop the emergency response plan. The emergency blueprint has been approved by the London Regional Resilience Forum which is co-chaired by London minister Tony McNulty and local government minister John Healey, with Boris Johnson as deputy chairman.

London has seen cases of typhoid, whooping cough and scarlet fever rise by 166 per cent in the past two years and a 214 per cent increase in cases of mumps.
hat-tip Shiloh

Recombinomics: H5N1 Transmission Denials Raise Pandemic Concerns in Egypt

Commentary

Recombinomics Commentary 15:39
April 15, 2009

Two cases of infection of two brothers in the West, said the four cases were subjected to thorough studies in the central laboratory and the Center for example is 3 and audit by the international reference laboratory of the United Kingdom did not report the results of any mutations in the virus and the infection was caused by infected birds and no cases of infection.

The above translation uses comments from WHO, and sequence data from Mill Hill or Weybridge, to deny human transmission between the toddler cousins (both 2M) in Beheira. Although no sequences from confirmed 2009 cases in Egypt have been released, the sequence data analysis was likely directed at reassortment, which is a pet panemic theory of WHO consultants. They have been trying to identify H5N1 with human flu genes for over a decade, and have no examples. Although reassortment with human flu genes was involved in the emergence of mild pandemics in 1957 and 1968, the sequences from all eight genes from the 1918 pandemic have no evidence of reassortment. Moreover, there have been several acknowledged H5N1 clusters involving human to human to human transmission, and these sequences have no human flu genes, which is also true of dozens of shorter clusters which have the diagnostic gap in disease onset dates.

Instead, those sequences support recombination, which involves exchanges of pieces of genes. Almost all polymorphisms in all eight gene segments from multiple 1918 H1N1 isolates can be found in human H1N1 (A/WSN/33) and swine (A/swine/Iowa/1976/31 or A.swine/Iowa/15/30) H1N1 sequences. Moreover, attempts to create H5N1 reassortant with human flu genes and enhanced transmission have failed. Most reassortants don’t grow or fail to grow in mice, in contrast to H5N1 with 8 avian gene segments, which can grow and kill mice.

The ability of H5N1 to grow and kill mammals, including humans, is linked to the polybasic cleavage site, which was not present in prior pandemic sequences. The components that are lacking are changes in the receptor binding domain which increases transmission efficiency. Such increases are typically characterized by clusters of cases, such as the recent Beheira cluster, or the Qena cluster in 2007. Sequences from the siblings in the Qena cluster have been released, and they contain a deletion of position 129, which interacts with the receptor binding domain. Moreover, analysis of this region matches the profile of H1N1 seasonal flu, which is efficiently transmitted.

Sequences from two of the mild cases in Egypt this season were used in the HA phylogenetic tree in the WHO report on vaccine targets. The position of the 2009 isolates on the tree suggests these sequences are closely related to the sequences from the Qena cluster, that contain the deletion. This deletion is also acquire via recombination. The same deletion is in clade 7 sequences from Shanxi and Hunan provinces in China.

Moreover, the WHO updates of these clusters have significant omissions. The disease onset date of the index case in Qena was withheld, and the symptomatic relatives were not mentioned. Similarly, the Beheira cousins were said to be infected by dead or dying poultry, but no confirmed H5N1 cases have been reported in the area. Moreover, the fact that the two confirmed toddlers were cousins and next door neighbors were also omitted. This relationship, and the four day gap in disease onset dates strongly suggests that these cases involved human to human transmission. Moreover, WHO has failed to confirm H5N1 in poultry in the area.

However, the relationship between the two H5N1 confirmed toddlers raises enhanced transmission concerns, even if both cousins were independently infected over a four day period. These concerns of increased transmission efficiencies are increased by the concentration of mild cases in toddlers this year, in contrast to the concentration in children in the spring of 2007.

This change in target population raises concerns that the spread of H5N1 in the human population was much greater than the small number of confirmed cases. Less than 1% of hospitalized suspect cases are PCR confirmed and the cases in the Spring of 2007 and 2009 were mild and could reflect a large population that either tests negative or is not tested at all because of resolution without treatment, or treatment as seasonal flu.

The above data raises concerns over reliance of lack of human flu genes as evidence for a lack of human transmission, and the failure to understand how influenza evolves and expands its host range.

Media Links

Avian flu alert lowered

April 15, 2009

Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow today scaled down the response level for avian influenza from 'serious' to 'alert'.

The Government raised the level after detection of the H5 avian influenza virus among chickens in a Yuen Long farm on December 9.

The Food & Health Bureau later formed an investigation group on epidemiological study. The group suggested in March chicken farms improve their biosecurity measures.

The index farm adopted improvement measures and the sentinel chickens there passed tests for the H5 virus, leading the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department to lift the ban on the farm last week.

Samples collected from chickens at farms, the wholesale market and retail outlets since December 10 have all tested negative for the H5 virus.

To cope with bird flu: حملات مكثفة علي الأسواق بالغربية وحظر دخول الدواجن بالفيوم Intensive campaigns on the market and meeting Sunday attended by the

2009 ابريل April 15 15

West Fayyoum Ahmed Talaat Ahmed Abu Shanab:The villages and towns in the province of West intensive campaigns daily, from all the organs concerned, the markets and shops and the critical response to the perpetrators of crimes, commercial fraud, as well as to combat the sale of live birds at markets and shops, to cope with bird flu.

This was stated by Mr. Abdul Hamid, the governor of West Shanawi. He said he has been the development of an integrated plan for the control of markets and the tightening of control, in order to preserve the lives of citizens and public health, in particular, after showing some of the infected bird flu in A number of other provinces, pointing out that the 3410 samples were taken from domestic birds in the past year, where 89 suspected cases, 67 of which proved negative, while 22 were positive cases.

And Dr. Ahmed Al-Said, the Undersecretary of the Ministry for veterinary medicine, it will be continuously withdrawing samples from the farms and breeding domestic, to follow up the virus, in coordination with the General Authority for Veterinary Services, National Laboratory of Veterinary poultry production, and projects of the Food and Agriculture Organization. He added that the influenza vaccination campaigns are continuing domestic cow to maintain free of charge, every six months, will also be vaccinated day-old chicks Palmfarrakat municipal and semi-automatic cycle to maintain the existing, throughout the year, would be vaccinated 10 million annually chick. pointing out that taking a sample of 960 domestic birds, since the beginning of the year 2009, and the result has been 24 suspected cases of bird flu, including the case of 20 negative and 4 positive.

The Directorate of Veterinary Medicine is an intensive campaign for the early detection of the disease, and educate citizens through prevention.

The governor issued Fayyoum Dr. Galal Mostafa Saeed decision to ban entry of poultry to the province of Fayoum, to maintain the production of poultry for the day of exposure to bird flu.

The Governor said that Fayyoum produce about 27 million of which 17 million chick production farm spread of the preservation of 550 farms and 17 million project to maintain the production of poultry production.

The Director General Mohamed Al-Fayoum was the security of the establishment and processing of control points on all roads at the entrances to the province on the path of Assiut and Cairo-Fayoum and Beni Suef, Fayoum, equipped with surveillance cameras and computers to check the security of the suspects.


تشهد قري ومدن محافظة الغربية حملات مكثفة يومية‏,‏ من كافة الاجهزة المعنية‏,‏ علي الاسواق والمحال والتصدي الحاسم لمرتكبي جرائم الغش التجاري‏,‏ بالاضافة الي مكافحة بيع الطيور الحية بالأسواق والمحال‏,‏ لمواجهة مرض انفلونزا الطيور‏.‏

صرح بذلك السيد عبد الحميد الشناوي محافظ الغربية‏.‏ وأضاف انه تم وضع خطة محكمة‏,‏ للسيطرة علي الاسواق وإحكام الرقابة عليها‏,‏ حفاظا علي أرواح المواطنين والصحة العامة لهم‏,‏ خاصة بعد أن ظهرت بعض حالات مصابة بمرض انفلونزا الطيور في عدد من المحافظات الأخري‏,‏ مشيرا الي أنه تم أخذ‏3410‏ عينات من الطيور المنزلية خلال العام الماضي‏,‏ حيث تبين الاشتباه في‏89‏ حالة‏,‏ ثبت سلبية‏67‏ منها‏,‏ في حين جاءت‏22‏ حالة ايجابية‏.‏

وأكد الدكتور أحمد السعيد‏,‏ وكيل الوزارة لقطاع الطب البيطري‏,‏ أنه يتم بصفة مستمرة سحب عينات من المزارع والتربية المنزلية‏,‏ لمتابعة فيروس المرض‏,‏ وذلك بالتنسيق مع الهيئة العامة للخدمات البيطرية والمعمل القومي للرقابة البيطرية علي الانتاج الداجني‏,‏ ومشروعات منظمة الأغذية والزراعة العالمية‏.‏ وأضاف أن حملات تحصين الطيور المنزلية مستمرة بقري المحافظة بالمجان‏,‏ كل ستة أشهر‏,‏ كما يتم تحصين الكتاكيت عمر يوم بالمفرخات البلدية ونصف الآلية الموجودة بدائرة المحافظة‏,‏ وذلك طوال ايام السنة‏,‏ علي ان يتم تحصين‏10‏ ملايين كتكوت سنويا‏.‏ مشيرا إلي أنه تم أخذ‏960‏ عينة من الطيور المنزلية‏,‏ منذ بداية العام الحالي‏2009,‏ وكانت النتيجة‏24‏ حالة يشتبه في اصابتها بانفلونزا الطيور‏,‏ منها‏20‏ حالة سلبية و‏4‏ ايجابية‏.‏ وأكد أن مديرية الطب البيطري تقوم بحملات مكثفة للاكتشاف المبكر للمرض‏,‏ وتوعية المواطنين بطرق الوقاية‏.‏


ومن ناحية أصدر محافظ الفيوم الدكتور جلال مصطفي سعيد قرارا بحظر دخول الدواجن الي محافظة الفيوم للحفاظ علي الانتاج الداجني للفيوم من التعرض لمرض انفلونزا الطيور‏.‏

وقال المحافظ ان الفيوم تنتج حوالي‏27‏ مليون كتكوت منها‏17‏ مليونا من انتاج المزارع المنتشرة بالمحافظة البالغ عددها‏550‏ مزرعة و‏17‏ مليونا من انتاج مشروع المحافظة لانتاج الدواجن‏.‏

وقال اللواء محمد السعيد مدير امن الفيوم انه تم انشاء وتجهيز نقاط مراقبة علي كل الطرق علي مداخل المحافظة من علي طريق اسيوط والقاهرة ـ الفيوم والفيوم ـ بني سويف مجهزة بكاميرات مراقبة واجهزة كمبيوتر للفحص الامني للمشتبه فيهم‏.‏

The conclusion of the work of the Commission on Livestock in the "cooperation"

15/04/2009

Muscat, "the Gulf":

تختتم بوزارة الزراعة اليوم الأربعاء - أعمال الاجتماع الثاني والعشرين للجنة الدائمة للثروة الحيوانية في دول مجلس التعاون، التي تستضيفها السلطنة ليومين، بمشاركة مختصين في الصحة البيطرية والثروة الحيوانية من الدول الأعضاء في المجلس . Conclude the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday - the work of the twenty-second meeting of the Standing Committee of the animal wealth in the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is hosted by the Sultanate for two days, with the participation of specialists in animal health and livestock from the Member States of the Council. يناقش الاجتماع آخر تطورات مرض أنفلونزا الطيور، والشراء الجماعي للأدوية البيطرية والمواد المستخدمة في المجال الزراعي، والدليل الاسترشادي المختصر للأمراض والأوبئة المشتركة بين الإنسان والدواجن، كما ستتم مناقشة مسودة اللائحة التنفيذية لقانون مهنة الطب البيطري، ومركز موحد للإنذار المبكر لمكافحة الأوبئة بدول المجلس وملاحظات السلطنة حوله، وكذلك مسودة اللائحة التنفيذية لقانون الرفق بالحيوان وقانون الإجراءات الوقائية من الأمراض، إضافة إلى نموذج مذكرة التفاهم حول إجراءات استيراد الحيوانات الحية بين دول المجلس ودول التصدير والتعديلات التي تمت عليها، ونموذج الشهادة الصحية المرتبطة بتنقل الخيول الرياضية بين دول المجلس، ومسودة قانون تسجيل المستحضرات البيطرية واللائحة التنفيذية . The meeting discussed the latest developments of bird flu, the collective purchase of veterinary medicines and materials used in the agricultural field, as evidenced by the abbreviation indicative of disease epidemics and common between human and poultry, will also be discussion of the draft the Regulations on the Law of the profession of veterinary medicine, the status of a common early warning to the control of epidemics in the GCC States and the Sultanate's observations about , as well as the draft of the Regulations for the Law of Animal Care and the Law of preventive measures of diseases, in addition to the model memorandum of understanding on the procedures for the importation of live animals between the States of the Council and the States of export and the amendments made by, and a model health certificate associated with the movement of horses between the GCC sports, and the draft Law on the registration of veterinary products and the Regulations.

Chinese vaccines cause the spread of avian flu in Egypt

Sunday, April 12, 2009



The spread of the virus in Egypt indicates the risk of

Dr. Hussein Mansour, head of food safety, the bird flu is changing its lineage from one country to another, and that the virus genes in Egypt quite different from those in any other country, so the vaccines used in the flu vaccine is not effective, and Mansour acknowledged that the officials who have committed many errors in the onset of the disease for a period of 6 months, because of the use of a taste of Chinese does not have any effect on the virus, which has led to the spread of the disease significantly.

Mansour accused the program "90 Minutes" broadcast channel axis of space, big farms and waste, causing the transfer and dissemination of the disease, not peasants, as the Government contends, pointing out that the remnants of one gram of these farms is transferred Ferro million, and pointed out that small farmers and breeders victims of the disease and not the cause of the spread, and most farms are large and scattered at random by the sale of birds at the discovery of cases and is not executed, which helps the spread of the disease in a large outbreak of the disease.

Mansour said that the disease has so far not reached an epidemic, because it did not spread from person to person, but deaths which occurred in the recent period, most of the victims of large farms that could double, if not the implementation of the plan is good and new to combat the disease.

Mansour noted that the elimination of the disease requires a safety plan in the bio-intensive farms and the execution of all the birds.

For his part, admitted that Fattuh Darwish Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine bad situation in Egypt for reasons related to breeding birds in the style of houses and farms and the extensive spread of stores that sell live birds, pointing out that the disease is endemic in Egypt, a dangerous sign, especially if the virus mutates.

واتهم منصور فى برنامج "90 دقيقة" الذى تبثه قناة المحور الفضائية، المزارع الكبرى ومخلفاتها، بالتسبب فى نقل ونشر المرض، وليس الفلاحون، كما تدعى الحكومة، مشيراً إلى أن الجرام الواحد من مخلفات هذه المزارع ينقل مليون فيرو، وأشار إلى أن الفلاحين والمربين الصغار ضحايا للمرض وليسوا سبباً فى انتشاره، كما أن معظم المزارع الكبرى والمنتشرة بشكل عشوائى تقوم ببيع الطيور عند اكتشاف حالات إصابة بها وليس إعدامها، وهو ما يساعد على انتشار المرض بشكل كبير على تفشى المرض.

وأكد منصور أن المرض حتى الآن لم يصل إلى وباء، لأنه لم ينتقل من إنسان إلى إنسان، ولكن حالات الوفاة التى وقعت فى الفترة الأخيرة، وأغلبها ضحايا المزارع الكبيرة يمكن أن تتضاعف، إذا لم يتم تنفيذ خطة جيدة وجديدة لمكافحة المرض.

وأشار منصور إلى أن القضاء على المرض يستلزم إتباع خطة الأمان الحيوى فى المزارع المكثفة وإعدام جميع الطيور بها.

ومن ناحيته، اعترف الدكتور فتوح درويش مدير إدارة الطب الوقائى بسوء الوضع فى مصر لأسباب لها علاقة بأسلوب تربية الطيور فى المنازل والمزارع المكثفة وانتشار محلات بيع الطيور الحية، مشيراً إلى أن توطن المرض فى مصر مؤشر خطير، خاصة إذا تحور الفيروس.

Eight pre-schoolers in Depok were affected by Singapura Flu

Tuesday, 14 April 2009

Depok (THE) – After bird flu (Avian Influenza/AI) could become an epidemic in the Depok City, currently the turn of Singaporean flu attacked the Depok resident. Till yesterday, was recorded by the resident's eight pre-schoolers of Housing of Bella Cassa RT 001 and 002/008, the District of Tirtajaya,Kecamatan Sukmajaya, suffered the Singaporean flu illness that spread through air.

The medical official who was led by the Head of the Community Health Centre of Sukmajaya Linda Patrias at once entered to the field visited the casualties who by chance remained at one bloc. The official carried out the epidemiology inspection in and around Housing of Bella Cassa. Pemeriksaan was carried out to see the development of the illness.

Further, the official of the community health centre brought the sufferer to RS Hermina Depok. ”Ta you-sign of the affected child flu singapura, mereka was affected by the high fever between 38–39 the Celsius level. Moreover, the other sign namely the existence of the sign of the red spot on all over the body was accompanied by the thrush on the mouth that almost was similar like jamur,”papar Linda. (sazili mustofa)

The Special Capital District Alert Flu Singapore

[Article also contains statistics for Special Capital District of Jakarta, for DBD, 2009. We like to have these for comparison purposes]

Tuesday, 14 April 2009

Jakarta (THE) – Dinas Kesehatan (Dinkes) the Special Capital District of Jakarta guarded against the spreading of flu Singapura, caught spread him this illness in Depok, Jawa Barat. This illness fast spread and was difficult to be controlled. The Head of Sector Kesehatan of the Community of Dinkes Special Capital District OF Jakarta Tini Suryanti said, although not yet having the resident in Jakarta that contracted this illness, his side instructed so that all the community health centre is on the alert against the spreading of the virus that came from Singapore. ”Within his spreading day could one of RW,” kata Tini yesterday. Generally the illness that was caused by four virus kinds, that is coxackievirus A and B, echo the virus, as well as entero this virus usually attacks age children under 10 years. The sign of the illness that was known with Hand, Foot, of Mouth Disease this was fever, and afterwards emerged spotty red like the smallpox, on the mouth, the tongue, the hands palm, and foot to the child. The pattern of the spreading of the illness could through air, the hands, the sprinkling of the saliva, breath. Based on the data that was owned Dinkes Special Capital District OF Jakarta, at least had two cases in 2008 then.

In 2004 then, Singaporean flu could experience the status of the abnormality in Southern Jakarta. Moreover, one of the international schools that was in this location must be isolated to prevent the spreading of this virus. ”Biasa him this illness was spread by them who just came home from Singapura,”tutur him. Although having the sign that almost resembled dengue fever dengue fever (DBD) namely the fever and spotty red, this illness not turn off.

”Mengantisipasi him was by guarding the pattern of the life bersih,”tutur him. When being touched on by the matter of the illness DBD,Tini said that when against the month beforehand, the decline in the number of patients happened. Last March, the number of sufferers reached 3,242 patients, whereas at this time only 159 patients. ” Penurunannya was drastic enough to be compared the month sebelumnya,” he explained. While being based on the data that was owned since January till April 14, was recorded by 9,574 patients with casualties died reached 21 of orang. Perinciannya, Jakarta Pusat 1,181 pasien, meninggal 3 people; Jakarta Utara totalling 1,971 patients, with casualties died 2 people. Jakarta was Barat totalling 1,064 pasien,meninggal 4 people; Southern Jakarta totalling 2,443 patients, died 5 people. The sufferer DBD most in Jakarta Timur until reaching 2,915 patients, with casualties died 7 people.

Tangerang Also was on the alert Bird Flu

[title is incorrect. This article is about the Singapore Flu, not Avian Influenza, H5N1]

Rabu, 15 April 2009
Officially Kesehatan of the Tangerang Regency guard against spread him the case of Singaporean flu that currently becomes an epidemic in Depok and surrounding area.

Vigilance was increased by carrying out the preventive step through the Community Health Centre and schools. ”Kami dismissed edaran and the brochure about the introduction to the illness that was caused by the virus itu,” said the Head of the Pemberantasan Field of the Prevention of the Illness and Lingkungan Dinas Kesehatan Sanitation of the Regency Tangerang Yully Soenar Dewanti to the Time, on Wednesday (15/5).

According to Yully, his side appealed to all of Community Health Centers to alert and preceptive in the handling of the case of the illness that was caused by the Voksakie virus and introvirus this. ”Lembaran contained about the illness, the cause, the process of the spread and the incubation period him has been spread by us, basically the obligatory Community Health Centre handled the case that was reported masyarakat,” he said.

For schools, said Yully, his side has co-operated with the Kesehatan Unit of their respective School to know the characteristics and the spread of this illness. ”If was found by the student who experienced this illness, immediately reported to Community Health Center or the Service Health,” he said.

Yully also ask for to the school side to do sterilization the school environment if being found had the student was entrolled in school this that was affected by the illness that spread quickly that. ”When/If needed the school furloughed,” he said.

In Tangerang, said Yully, the case of Singaporean flu began to be detected since 2005 that was suffered by two age children under 10 years. Till this 2009, according to Yully, the number of cases of Singaporean flu was in Tangerang recorded by four children. ”Rata-level they from the circle was and often went on a trip went out negeri,” he said.

Surprising diversity found in H5N1 in Asian chickens

Robert Roos News Editor

Apr 14, 2009 (CIDRAP News) – H5N1 influenza viruses found in chickens seized at Vietnam's border with China in 2008 show a surprising level of genetic diversity, suggesting that the viruses are evolving rapidly and raising questions about disease surveillance and the effectiveness of prepandemic H5N1 vaccines, according to a team of Vietnamese and US scientists.

The findings suggest that the subgroup of viruses identified in the study has been circulating in the region either undetected or unreported for a "considerable amount of time," the report says. The viruses are in clade 7, a group that has not been found in an outbreak since one in China's Shanxi province in 2006.

Also, given the degree of difference between these clade 7 viruses and those used to make human H5N1 vaccines, "it is unclear whether or not humoral antibodies elicited by current vaccine candidates will have cross-neutralization activity against the new viruses," says the report, published recently in Virology.

The study was conducted by scientists from Vietnam's National Center for Veterinary Diagnostics in Hanoi and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the CDC's Ruben O. Donis as the senior author.

Vietnam bans the importation of poultry from H5N1-infected countries. The viruses analyzed in the study came from imported illegal chickens seized at border control stations in Vietnam's Lang Son province, on the Chinese border. Authorities confiscated 495 chickens at the border stations in the first 5 months of 2008 and tested them for avian flu. Fifteen birds were found infected with H5N1 virus, and two others had an H9N2 virus.

The authors extracted RNA from the 15 H5N1 isolates, amplified it, and analyzed the sequence of the hemagglutinin (HA) genes. They found that all 15 HA genes fit within a subgroup of previously identified clade 7 viruses. They determined that 13 of the 15 HA genes fell into two further subgroups, which they labeled A and B.

The isolates within groups A and B were very closely related, but the groups differed considerably from each other, with an average divergence of 4.05% in HA nucleotide sequences and 5.69% in amino acid sequences, the report says. The authors also determined that the isolates differed by an average of 3.67% and 5.81% from the most closely related previous clade 7 isolate, which came from a chicken in China's Shanxi province in 2006.

In comparing the viruses with representatives of other H5N1 clades, the investigators found they were most closely related a clade 4 virus (a 2006 isolate from Guiyang province of China) and most distantly related to a clade 1 virus, a 2004 isolate from Vietnam. The respective differences in amino acid sequences were 8.20% and 9.07%.

The genetic distance between the HAs of these clade 7 viruses and the isolates used to make prepandemic vaccines raises doubt as to whether antibodies generated by the vaccines would react with the clade 7 viruses, the authors write. They say the viruses used in the vaccines represent clade 1 (from Vietnam, 2004), clade 2.1.3 (Indonesia, 2005), clade 2.2 (Qinghai province, China, 2005), and clade 2.3.4 (Anhui province, China, 2005).

The authors used ferret serum samples to test whether antibodies generated against five of the clade 7 viruses would cross-react with viruses from other clades and vice versa. Using hemagglutination inhibition assays, they found that samples (antisera) with antibodies against clades 1 and 2.3.4 did not cross-react with a clade 7 virus, and antisera against that same clade 7 virus did not react with clade 1 and clade 2.3.4 viruses. Also, antisera to the clade 7 virus showed limited cross-reactivity with each of four other clade 7 isolates, suggesting "some, albeit minimal" antigenic similarity among the viruses.

The authors write that the identification of two distinct subgroups (groups A and B) of clade 7 viruses "may suggest that these viruses originated from two distinct regions or host populations isolated from each other."

They say the isolates they analyzed were remarkably diverse, given that other studies of H5N1 viruses in a single clade have shown a nucleotide divergence of no more than 1.5%. They also observe, "The high degree of genetic divergence from previously identified clade 7 viruses also indicates that this subgroup of viruses has likely been circulating undetected or unreported for a considerable amount of time as poultry outbreaks caused by clade 7 H5N1 viruses were last reported in Shanxi province, China in 2006."

The findings point up the need for border controls and strong virologic surveillance to detect and prevent the spread of "exotic" H5N1 viruses from country to country, the authors conclude.

Dr. Les Sims of Australia's Asia-Pacific Veterinary Information Services called the study "an important piece of work" that offers another sign of gaps in avian flu surveillance systems in Asia.

"Unexplained gaps in the evolution of H5N1 virus HA genes suggest that surveillance systems have not been able to detect all cases of infection," Sims, who is a consultant to the United National Food and Agriculture Organization, told CIDRAP News by e-mail.

Other signs of holes in surveillance efforts include the detection of H5N1 virus in humans before finding it in nearby poultry, finding the virus in intermittent testing in poultry markets, and infected dead poultry washing up on Hong Kong's beaches, Sims said.

Clade 7 viruses have been found in various places in China, including Shanxi, Yunnan, and Hebei provinces, he reported, adding, "One of the recent human cases in Jiangsu was apparently due to a clade 7 virus, based on newspaper reports."

"The antigenic variation is not surprising given that clade 7 viruses have been shown to be antigenic variants previously," Sims said. But the findings from the ferret sera should be tested further with challenge trials in poultry vaccinated with existing vaccines, he added.

The difference between a 2006 clade 7 virus found in China—cited in the study as the closest previously identified relative of the viruses the authors analyzed—and existing vaccine antigens "led to the incorporation of a new antigen into some Chinese poultry vaccines," he said. "These vaccines containing a clade 7 antigen have been used extensively in China." He added that there have been no reports of vaccine failures in Vietnam resulting from antigenic variants.

Sims said the antigenic changes in the clade 7 virus might potentially have been spurred by poultry vaccination efforts. "We need to balance measures to reduce the amount of circulating virus, which vaccination of poultry can do, against the potential 'harm' that might occur if antigenic variants emerge," he stated. "We should expect antigenic variants to emerge and ensure that appropriate measures are in place to detect these at an early stage."

Nguyen T, Davis CT, Stembridge W, et al. Characterization of a highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus sublineage in poultry seized at ports of entry into Vietnam. Virology 2009 (early online publication) [Abstract]

hat-tip Sally

Riau: Suspect Bird Flu died because of the Inflammation of the lungs

[This is the first mention of this person. We have very quick results. Yet, in West Sumatra, Fitri is still waiting on those results, after being admitted on 4/5.....]

Rabu, 15 April 2009
Was based on the direct checking to the field that was carried out by the Surveilance Team from the Health Service of the Pekanbaru City, Gusti Iman Hulu (2.9) the resident Street Yos Sudarso Rumbai that was expected suspect bird flu died not was caused by bird flu but because of the inflammation of the lungs. That was explained by Kasi Pengamatan of the Illness of Bencana/Wabah Dinas of the Pekanbaru Health, M. Napiri to Riau Pos, on Tuesday (14/4) in his office. He explained, in accordance with the last diagnosis and direct observation to the field by the Dinas Team of the Health, was learnt that casualties died as a result of the inflammation of the lungs (bronchi) and dengue fever (DBD). It was related that that more Napiri, after the direct checking to the field beforehand approximately a previous month, in the sufferer's house was received by the chicken that died suddenly but also the environment of the sufferer's house was received by the processing of bricks/bedeng. [bedeng = shed; hut; barn, dirt embankment]

‘’Victim died not because of bird flu and in accordance with results of direct observation to the field and was carried out by the diagnosis tarnyata casualties died resulting from the inflammation of the lungs (bronchi) and DBD,’’ clear Napiri.

Regarding that was explained also that, beforehand to 4 Apri then, fever casualties, the cough and pilek and took medicine to the doctor's clinic 24 hours. On April 5, casualties and his friend played wild birds that were sick. On April 11, casualties were increasingly breathless and struck 12,00 WIB, casualties were carried to RSUD Arifin Achmad. On April 12, struck 01,00 WIB, casualties died. ‘’Berdasarkan results of the direct field cheque by the Dinas Team of the Health, before dying casualties were sick the fever, and took medicine to the doctor's clinic 24 hours produced by the RSUD Arifin Achmad diagnosis, casualties suffered bronchi and DBD,’’ jelasnya. (cr4/hen)

H5N1 Receptor Binding Domain Changes In Egypt

Dr. Niman wrote a commentary from this document, that was posted previously here at the blog:

http://pandemicinformationnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/characterization-of-conserved.html

and I also posted some excerpts from it here:

http://pandemicinformationnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/excerpts-from-characterization-of.html

Commentary

H5N1 Receptor Binding Domain Changes In Egypt
Recombinomics Commentary 04:27
April 15, 2009

Similarly the results of H5N1 strains from Egypt (Figure 2) may be indicative of a possible viral evolution towards receptor usage similar to that of H1N1 viruses, which efficiently replicate in the upper respiratory tract. The protein domain, which seems to be involved in this subtle change, corresponds to amino acid domain 99-132.

The above comments, from “Characterization of conserved properties of hemagglutinin of H5N1 and human influenza viruses: possible consequences for therapy and infection control” describe a subset of H5N1 sequences from Egypt that have chacteristics that match H1N1 seasonal flu. These matches include sequences from the Ghabiya cluster, as well as two Qena siblings with mild H5N1 in the spring of 2007. The sequences from the siblings had a 3 BP deletion that produce S129del, which is within the region listed above, Although the disease onset date of the index case was withheld from the WHO update, the hospital admission dates were four days apart, signaling the infection of the brother (4M) by his sister (6F). The sequences from the Qena siblings were identical, further supporting H2H transmission. Moreover, additional family members had symptoms, but tested negative.

This year there has been another cycle of mild cases in Egypt, but instead of affecting children between the ages of 3 and 10, like the siblings above, 10/12 cases are toddlers. However, like the cases in the spring of the 2007, the case fatality rate is low (in 2007 only 1/17 died, and this year 0/12 have died) and most patients did not develop pneumonia. These mild cases, coupled with the younger age group, raise concerns that H5N1 spread in the past two year was far more extensive than indicated by the confirmed cases, and were missed by current testing, which requires a poultry contact for H5N1 PCR testing.

Although NAMRU-3 has not released any human or poultry sequences this year, the first two human isolates were represented in a recent HA tree of vaccine targets. Although public sequences are not on the branch with the 2009 isolates, the location of the branch suggests these isolates also have the 3 BP deletion and are closely related to the sequences in the siblings from 2007.

The four day gap in admission dates for the Qena siblings, matches the four day gap in the disease onset dates for two cousins (both 2M) from Beheira. The cousins are next door neighbors, and the four day gap also indicated human to human transmission, further supporting the spread of mild H5N1.

The 3 BP deletion produces S129del and position 129 is in the receptor binding domain. This deletion maps to the region in H5N1 with similarities with H1N1, suggesting more efficient transmission, consistent with the clusters in Qena and Beheira.

Release of the sequences from the H5N1 cases this year would be useful. If these sequences have the same deletion as seen in the Qena cluster, an extensive screening of toddlers without a poultry connect is critical.

The failure to recognize the significance of the mild cases in 2007 is cause for concern. The failure to aggressively act at this time is beyond scandalous, and is hazardous to the world’s health.
Media Links

Veterinary Unit in the "injustice" and exclude the existence of a "bird" flu zone

Ruled out the injustice in the veterinarian to be cases of bird flu in the region after the death of 20 birds from migratory birds, these assurances came after growing concerns of the population of a village in the north of the injustice and those who told the authorities that the dead migratory birds developed some strange symptoms before they died which casts doubt on the positive for bird flu.

The dissemination of avian influenza among children of Trustees of the orders of the police

المصريون : بتاريخ 14 - 4 - 2009 Egypt: On 14-4 - 2009

Focus after the discovery of avian flu, Helwan governorate, parallel in other parts of the hearts of two of the Trustees of the police of any mercy or humanity, They ordered the children to keep working to get microbuses poultry infected with the disease, although doctors caution that the approach of infected poultry without the use of tools and protective

NEWS AND STAVROPOL STAVROPOL TERRITORY

Stavropol is struggling with the illegal street vendors
Yesterday, 09:56
In accordance with the Law of the Stavropol region «of Administrative Violations in the Stavropol region», to the citizens of trading in undesignated places, measures of administrative influence.

Only in February and March this year estimated 70 minutes at the citizens, merchants in undesignated areas, and work to combat and eradicate illegal street trading will continue until the establishment in the city of the civilized market of goods and services, today reported IA «Tatar-inform» press Service Administration Stavropol.

To ensure people living in areas with poor infrastructure, with the March administration of the city began to organize «Fair Weekend», with the producers and the city of the province, as well as wholesale businesses.
In addition to the urban markets for summer residents and citizens who want to realize a surplus of fruits and vegetables, there are places to trade.

Unauthorized trading constitutes a threat to life and health of the population, leading to contamination of urban streets, restricts the movement of pedestrian flows. Citizens engaged in trade on the streets, sell the goods without documents confirming the origin and quality of products. Often the trade is from the ground, cardboard boxes, boxes with the violation of sanitary norms and rules.

When purchasing meat, milk, eggs, fish, vegetables of unknown origin in the street, people are at risk of contracting diseases common to humans and animals, such as salmonellosis, leptospirosis, avian influenza, brucellosis, etc.

Our recent management Rospotrebnadzor of Stavropol Krai considered a resident of the city complain about the acquisition of live fish with worms. Foods should be sold in major markets where they are tested in the veterinary and sanitary laboratories.

To organize a system for the elimination of street vendors increased the number of offshore teams from the staff of the Committee for Economic Development and Trade, the structural divisions of administration and operational areas of the district departments of the Interior of the city. Approved schedules and routes of infiltration.

Russia: In the Kirov region will be the first for 16 years, the regional law on veterinary medicine

14.04.2009 / 17:21
Reads: 19 CONFIRMED
After 16 years since the adoption of a federal law on veterinary medicine in the Kirov region will own. April 14, the government approved a bill area and referred it to the deputies Zaksobraniya.

The draft law includes 12 articles, establishes the legal basis of the veterinarians, their credentials, as well as funding various programs. According to the head of the Department of Agriculture and Food Alexei Kotlyachkova, the need for adoption of the law justified the emergence of natural foci of rabies in the southern parts of the Kirov region, as well as the emergence of the need to protect our region from the arrival of an African plague, avian influenza and the need to impose tighter controls over imported products.

This Alexey stresses that since 1993 Kirovske veterinarians treated the rules of federal law, but among others there is a need to define the responsibilities of legal entities, individual entrepreneurs and citizens to ensure the welfare of epizootic area, and security in the veterinary and sanitary products of animal husbandry.

Similar laws adopted in 50 regions of Russia, told Kotlyachkov.

AVIAN INFLUENZA, POULTRY VS MIGRATORY BIRDS (02): ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSMISSION

A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: 14 Apr 2009
Source: PLoS Computational Biology [edited]
<http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/...l.pcbi.1000346>


The Role of Environmental Transmission in Recurrent Avian Influenza Epidemics
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract
--------
Avian influenza virus (AIV) persists in North American wild
waterfowl, exhibiting major outbreaks every 2-4 years. Attempts to
explain the patterns of periodicity and persistence using simple
direct transmission models are unsuccessful. Motivated by empirical
evidence, we examine the contribution of an overlooked AIV
transmission mode: environmental transmission. It is known that
infectious birds shed large concentrations of virions in the
environment, where virions may persist for a long time. We thus
propose that, in addition to direct fecal/oral transmission, birds
may become infected by ingesting virions that have long persisted in
the environment. We design a new host-pathogen model that combines
within-season transmission dynamics, between-season migration and
reproduction, and environmental variation. Analysis of the model
yields 3 major results. 1st, environmental transmission provides a
persistence mechanism within small communities where epidemics cannot
be sustained by direct transmission only (i.e., communities smaller
than the critical community size). 2nd, environmental transmission
offers a parsimonious explanation of the 2-4 year periodicity of
avian influenza epidemics. 3rd, very low levels of environmental
transmission (i.e., few cases per year) are sufficient for avian
influenza to persist in populations where it would otherwise vanish.

Citation: Breban R, Drake JM, Stallknecht DE, Rohani P (2009) The
Role of Environmental Transmission in Recurrent Avian Influenza
Epidemics. PLoS Comput Biol 5(4): e1000346.
doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000346

--
Communicated by:
ProMEDmail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[It is nice to see a past LSU graduate student, David Stallknecht,
returning to the topic of his dissertation (1989) which was on the
shedding of LPAI wild viruses by migrating ducks. After presenting an
analysis of the very large number of isolates he had obtained by
cloacal swabbing of ducks shot by hunters, he was asked how long did
the virus survive in the fresh and brackish waters where these birds
fed and slept. To cut a long story short, at the right water salinity
and temperature they were immortal. The moral of this story is beware
of simple questions posed by your professors. The above paper is
worth reading in its entirety. - Mod.MHJ]

Training courses to combat bird flu Cairo International Airport

الأحد، 29 مارس 2009 - 19:12

Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 19:12

مطار القاهرة ينظم دورات تدريبية لمواجهة فيروس أنفلونزا الطيور

Cairo Airport, organize training courses to address the avian influenza virus

كتبت إحسان السيد

Mr. Ahsan wrote

جوى فى منع انتشار فيروس أنفلونزا الطيور، بدأت اليوم أولى الدورات التدريبية لمواجهته، حيث تقام بمستشفى معهد ناصر وتستمر حتى غد الاثنين، بينما تقام الدورة التدريبية الثانية فى يومى 5،6 أبريل المقبل بحضور بعض العاملين بالحجر الصحى بالمطار.

In the framework of the efforts of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Department of quarantine in Cairo Airport to prevent the spread of bird flu, the first day of training courses to address it, there are Nasser Institute Hospital, and will continue until Monday, while the second training session will be held on April 5,6 the presence of some of the airport quarantine.

hat-tip Sally

Russia: In the Rostov region abolished duck hunting because of the danger of avian flu

14.04.09

Rostov Region is one of the regions, which could threaten the bird flu. In this regard, canceled duck hunting, are monitoring the study. Spring waters at the edge of the Don stop after a long flight of thousands of birds nest and local. Any of these birds may be infected with the virus H5N1.

Find out whether the bird was sick, you can only conducting the monitoring study. Those employees engaged in the regional department of the protection of animals. To do so, a shooting birds, after which the material is studied in the laboratory. The virus could be migratory birds from North and East Africa and infect the local cruise. So this year, even duck hunting banned.

Since the beginning of March until mid-April, during the migration of birds, Rostov Region, as well as the Krasnodar Region and Dagestan, is among the regions at risk of avian influenza. Therefore, the monitoring carried out almost all year round, except summer months, when the young. During the first quarter has already surveyed more than 200 wild waterfowl, may have a dangerous special virus detected.

Spread of the virus from wild birds to the home can be avoided only prevention. On poultry farms, and farms are regularly carried out checks on compliance with veterinary requirements. The owners of poultry in the season of migration recommend include chickens and ducks in enclosed spaces.

....Announced the idea of...

The World Health Organization ..announced its support for the idea of an inquiry into the growing seriousness of bird flu in Egypt,..
Sometimes these translated stories bring out the plain truth in a story.

So glad they decided to join the party.

The death of 20 birds in the darkness of immigrants and veterinary exclude «flu»

[A continuation of this story]

The number of deaths of birds and poultry injustice North

18 Rabi II 1430 is identical April 13, 2009
Eid Al-Otaibi - injustice

A source in the branch of agriculture the status of the injustice he received a communication by a group of citizens to serve the relevant points of the number of deaths of migratory birds and poultry in a northern abandonment injustice, which casts doubt on bird flu virus after it emerged that some strange symptoms and subsequently confirmed by the source of the communication has been received Citizens Task Force has been sent by the branch of agriculture as the injustices of samples taken from dead birds were sent to a branch of agriculture in the province of Taif after transfer to the laboratories in Jeddah and to ascertain the cause of death and awaiting the final results to the Ministry of Agriculture to provide a mobile veterinary clinic, supported by veterinary Btbibin driver with all test equipment and veterinary medicines, and to inspect the conditions of livestock Ahilan village - north of injustice in order to diagnose diseases of livestock and the disclosure and exchange of needed medications.

April 14, 2009
Mohammed bin Hras injustice:
استبعدت الوحدة البيطرية بظلم أن تكون هناك حالات لمرض أنفلونزا الطيور بعدما وردهم بلاغ يفيد بنفوق 20 طيرا مهاجرا شمال ظلم وتحديدا في مركز الرفائع وقد جرى تشكيل لجنة بإشراف الدكتور حشر البقمي وبمتابعة مدير الوحدة البيطرية بظلم الاستاذ عبدالله راشد الشهراني وقد اتضح من المعاينة الأولية وجود كسور في أجنحة تلك الطيور وآثار دم ومن الأرجح انها تعرضت لمطاردة من هواة الصيد خصوصا انها تهاجر هذه الايام بحثا عن الأجواء الباردة. Veterinary Unit unjustly excluded that there will be cases of bird flu after the death of beneficial response communication 20 birds immigrants north, specifically in the injustice of the status of Alrvaia has been to set up a committee under the supervision of Dr. Hasher Baqmi and follow-up to the injustices of the unit director of veterinary professor Abdullah Al-Shahrani was clear from the initial inspection and a broken wings of birds and that the effects of the blood is more likely she was to chase the fishing enthusiasts, especially these days, they migrate in search of a cold climate. كما جرى أخذ عينة من تلك الطيور لارسالها للمختبر ومعرفة النتائج النهائية وأكد الدكتور البقمي أنه سبق وأن حدثت حالة مماثلة في العام الماضي واتضح بعد التحليل أنها مصابة بمرض (النيوكاسل). It was also taking a sample of those birds to be sent to a lab and see the final results, Dr. Baqmi that had occurred in a similar situation last year, after analysis found infected with the (Newcastle). وأكد أنه جرى توفير عيادة بيطرية متنقلة مدعومة بطبيبين بيطريين وسائق ومزودة بجميع أجهزة الفحص والأدوية البيطرية اللازمة. He emphasized that the provision was supported by a mobile veterinary clinic, veterinary Btbibin driver with all the organs of examination and the necessary veterinary medicine.

World Health Organization to support an investigation on the spread of bird flu in Egypt

14/04/2009

.. وتؤكد أن بقاء المصابين علي قيد الحياة ينذر بتحول المرض إلي وباء And confirms that the survival of the persons under life threatening disease to shift and B

كتب - أحمد بدر: Books - Ahmed Badr:

أعلنت منظمة الصحة العالمية عن دعمها فكرة إجراء تحقيق حول تزايد خطورة مرض إنفلونزا الطيور في مصر بعدما ازدادت حالات الإصابة به في الفترة الأخيرة بشكل ملحوظ، ونقل موقع «كونتينوتي فورم» الطبي الأمريكي تأكيد المنظمة ضرورة إجراء هذا التحقيق مع مسح شامل لعدد حالات الإصابة وكيفية حدوثها وفترة العلاج في مصر. The World Health Organization announced its support for the idea of an inquiry into the growing seriousness of bird flu in Egypt, the incidence increased in the recent period has increased dramatically, and the transfer of the site «Contnote Forum» U.S. medical organization to confirm the need for such an investigation with a thorough survey of the number of cases and how they occur and the period of treatment in Egypt.
وقال الموقع الطبي الأمريكي إن منظمة الصحة العالمية تحاول جاهدة أن تحد من مخاطر المرض في كل دول العالم خاصة مصر التي تثير المخاوف بسبب انتشار المرض فيها بشكل ملحوظ إلي درجة يشبه معها الوباء، The Web site said that the American Medical World Health Organization is trying hard to reduce the risk of the disease in all countries of the world, particularly Egypt, which has raised fears over the spread of the disease which is marked to the extent that it resembles the epidemic,

وأكدت منظمة الصحة العالمية أن هناك أمرًا طيبًا وهو أن معظم الحالات المصابة في مصر مازالت علي قيد الحياة ولكن هذا الأمر يعتبر - إكلينيكيًا- خبرا غير مبشر. The WHO has confirmed that there is a good thing is that most of the cases infected in Egypt is still alive, but this is - clinically - a promising non-story. وفسرت المنظمة ما تعنيه بقولها إنه أمر غير مبشر بأن الحالات المصابة بمرض إنفلونزا الطيور تعاني حاليا أعراضًا تقل في حدتها عن الأعراض التي تسببها الإصابة بالفيروس، وبالتالي فإن فيروس إنفلونزا الطيور أصبح قادرًا علي تطوير نفسه ليصبح أقل حدة، ويعني في الوقت نفسه قدرته علي تطوير قدراته وأعراضه لينتشر ويصبح وباءً. And I explained what the organization is not saying that the missionary that the cases infected with bird flu symptoms are suffering less from the severity of symptoms caused by HIV infection, and therefore the bird flu virus become able to develop itself to become less acute, which means at the same time, his ability to develop its The symptoms of the spread and become epidemic. وقال الموقع الأمريكي إن هذا التطور في خواص الفيروس المسبب لمرض إنفلونزا الطيور قد يكون مقدمة واضحة لمرحلة أكثر تطورًا، فشراسة أعراض الفيروس في البداية كانت أحد العوامل التي قللت من الإصابة به، أما الآن فإن أعراضه الأقل قد تمكنه من الانتشار والتوسع بين الناس، بمعني أنها قد تصبح عملية تبادلية، ففي حين تقل حدة الأعراض تتزايد احتمالات انتشار الفيروس بشكل أكبر. The Web site said that the U.S. development of the properties of the virus that causes bird flu could be a prelude to a clear and a more advanced stage, Fsharasp symptoms of the virus at the outset was one of the factors that reduced the infection, but now the symptoms may be less able to spread and expansion among the people, the sense that they may become a reciprocal process, while less severe symptoms, increasing the risk of further spread of the virus. وأكد الموقع الطبي المعروف أن انخفاض حدة الفيروس في مصر تعني أنه قادر علي تطوير نفسه بشكل فردي، فالشائع أن الفيروس يسبب وفيات كما حدث في الصين التي مات فيها 57% من المصابين به بينما ماتت كل الحالات التي أصيبت في فيتنام، أما في مصر فإن الاثنتي عشرة حالة التي أصيبت نجت كلها من الوفاة، وهو أمر قد يبدو مبشرًا من الناحية النظرية، الا أنه يقلق من ناحية تطوير الفيروس لنفسه ولقدراته. The site known to the medical unit reduced the virus in Egypt means that it is able to develop the same individual, the virus that causes Vahaia mortality as was the case in China, where he died 57% of the patients died, while all cases that have been in Vietnam, while in Egypt, the viral ten the case that have been spared all of the death, which may seem promising in theory, but is concerned that the development of the virus on the one hand for himself and his abilities.

Indo: The patient Threaten came home

[This is Fitri Oktavianti, from Dharmasraya, West Sumatra. She had the onset of symptoms somewhere during the week of March 30 - April 4th. She was admitted on April 5th. They still have not sent in the results of the lab tests.]
April 14, 2009

A week got the maintenance in RSUP M. Djamil Padang, the patient's family suspect ”FO” bird flu from Kenagarian Timpeh began to be restless. His article, till at this time did not yet have the clarity about the assurance of the illness that was suffered by ”FO”. The only assurance produced by the laboratory inspection RSUP M. Djamil Padang, ”FO” positive suffered pneumonia (the acute infection in the lungs). ”Belum had the explanation from the doctor about whether positive not him my child suffered the bird flu illness. Besides this, the condition for our finance was limited. Everything had a basis information of a nurse, the family will be affected by the burden of the maintenance cost if the patient did not suffer flu burung,” said parents “FO”, Marsiah. The ”FO” condition, according to Marsiah still was weak, the temperature of his body tended unstable. Even so with the breath, often experienced crowded suddenly and still needed help of oxygen. Moreover, the hospital was still giving help of the liquid and medicine through the infusion.

The head of the Layanan Medis RSUP Field M. Djamil Padang, Irayanti said, his side also still was waiting for results of the PCR inspection and Swap the throat from Balitbang Department of Health RI. Jika the positive patient contracted bird flu, results would fast was known. However if results were initially negative, will be repeated again by his Labor Party inspection. It was related that the assurance whether the patient must pay the maintenance cost, if the patient was stated by the negative suffered bird flu, Irayanti stated the free patient the maintenance cost.

Circulated, Surat People's Representative Council Minta Namru-2 was opened by Kembali

[The link shows a picture of the letter]
Selasa, 14/04/2009

Naval Medical Research Unit (Namru) -2 were still being stopped now by the government because controversial. However, the People's Representative Council (the People's Representative Council) ask for Namru-2 was opened again.

This People's Representative Council request was included from the letter that circulated in the mass media circle. The letter that headed People's Representative Council was numbered PW.01/1173/DPR RI/II/2009 and was aimed at the Foreign Affairs Minister. The letter that was made in February 19 2009 that was signed by Vice Chairman DPR Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno . And ditembuskan to headed by the People's Representative Council, Pimpinan of the Commission of I People's Representative Council, the Health Minister, and RI People's Representative Council Secretary General. His contents stated that the Commission of I People's Representative Council met the Association Pegawai Indonesia Namru -2 on February 5.

In this audience was sent concerning the stopping of the research activity and the activity in the project Namru-2, that had an impact on the development of the research in the health field as well as continuation of the status of the Indonesian civil service of the researcher's staff in Namru-2, was like this the opener paragraph that was included in the letter. Afterwards, the People's Representative Council then ask for to the government about 3 matters. Basically, the People's Representative Council ask for so that the activity Namru-2 was opened, although the agreement or negotiations that were carried out by the government with Namru-2 was going.

Along with the contents of this letter:

Firstly, asked that the government sped up talks MoU Namru-2 with the mutually beneficial principle and closed the gap that contained the damaging potential for the national Indonesian interests.

Secondly, while talks took place so that the activity Namru-2 in the research field/the training of the health continued to be carried out by continuing to make full use of and increase the researcher's Indonesian professionalism.

Thirdly, so that the Government cq the Foreign Affairs Department extended permission remained and worked for the American researchers in Namru-2 until had the other provisions that were produced from talks MoU this.

Beforehand, Namru-2 was frozen by his activity by the government last by mid 2008. Namru-2 was pointed out stole the sample of the bird flu virus strain Indonesia by taking the resident's Indonesian blood that infected without the existence of permission from the authority of the Indonesian health, in this case the Department of Health.

The ease of access was to this resident increased by the position Namru-2 that was directly joined with the Body of Penelitian Dan Pengembangan Department of Health in Street Percetakan Negara, Jakarta Pusat.

Namru-2 also asked for the addition of diplomatic immunity for all of his foreign researchers, although not undertaking the diplomatic mission. In fact, the immune status diplomatic has been obtained headed by Namru-2. The existence Namru-2 below Department of Health RI was also questioned, because in the United States (the USA), the laboratory belonging to the US Navy the identity under the Department of the Defence (Dephan) the USA. The government froze Namru-2 and evaluated him whether being closed or continued. When being continued by the government asked the condition to be more just and mutually beneficial for Namru-2 and RI.

Scientists rule out spreading of bird flu by migrant birds in India

NEW DELHI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- International researchers have recently ruled out the spreading of avian influenza or bird flu virus by migratory birds through a review of migratory bird movement, reported local daily Mail Today Tuesday.

All samples studies for virus strain H5N1 on migrant birds so far were found to be negative, said the report.

The researchers monitored in real time the movement of migratory birds from India in a northward direction using satellite tracking technology. They ruled out the possibility of involvement of migratory birds in avian influenza spreading in India, said the report.

The satellite monitoring gave valuable data about the movement of migratory birds in the region and has enabled scientists to determine whether the locations of these birds and outbreaks of bird flu are related along the birds' migratory pathways, according to the report.

The project began last December when scientists captured, sampled and marked 70 water birds with "satellite tags" at Chilika Lagoon in India, where over 8,900,000 migratory and resident water birds used to live as their temporary or permanent residence, said the report.
hat-tip mixin

The government recognizes: the financial and human resources allocated to the fight against avian influenza is not sufficient

2009/04/13 02:24:50 pm


Asked Dr. Ahmed Nazif, Prime Minister, leaders of the General Authority for services of veterinary re-evaluation of the plan in place to cope with bird flu and to identify deficiencies and strengthen the positive to be able to surround the disease, which is heading to the epidemiological situation in Egypt.
-snip-
He added that the immunization is not considered a factor in the eradication of the disease, but a factor of resistance.
-snip-
The home of the first and is the reason behind the spread of hot and sick all of the demands raised in the memorandum submitted by the High Commission of bird flu, which, in turn, presented to the Prime Minister

وأضاف: "طالبنا بشراء 1350 سيارة جديدة علاوة علي 170 سيارة قمنا بشرائها لدعم فرق المكافحة". He added: "We called for the purchase of 1350 new cars in addition to 170 car, we buy to support the teams control."

وكشف سماحة أن عمل فرق المكافحة يعتمد علي البلاغات التي نتلقاها من المواطنين ومن وزارة الصحة التي تبلغنا بحالات اشتباه. The generosity that the work of the task control depends on the communications received from citizens and the Ministry of Health, which inform us of cases of suspicion.

وأكد أن الهيئة رصدت 53 بؤرة مرضية منذ بداية هذا العام منها 50 بؤرة في التربية المنزلية و3 بلاغات مضبوطات سيارات فيها طيور الرومي وتم تحليل العينات واكتشفنا أنها ايجابية. The body 53 is made the focus of a satisfactory since the beginning of this year, including 50 in the center of home communications, and 3 birds in which seizures cars turkey samples were analyzed and found to be positive.