Wild Ducks in Siberia Found to Carry H5N1 Viruses

GLOBAL - Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the H5N1 sub-type have been found in the nesting lakes of migratory water birds in Siberia by researchers in Japan. The newly identified virus type appeared to be non-pathogenic in chickens, ducks and quail.

Naoki Yamamoto of Hokkaido University and colleagues there and at Japan Science and Technology Agency have published a paper in Virology Journal on their work characterising a non-pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus isolated from a migratory duck flying from Siberia in Hokkaido, Japan, in October 2009.

Infection with H5N1 HPAI viruses of domestic poultry and wild birds has spread to more than 60 countries in Eurasia and Africa, according to the researchers. This has raised concerns that HPAI viruses may be perpetuated in the lakes in Siberia where migratory water birds nest in summer.

To monitor whether HPAIVs circulate in migratory water birds, intensive surveillance of avian influenza has been performed in Mongolia and Japan in autumn each year. Until 2008, there had not been any H5N1 viruses isolated from migratory water birds that flew from their nesting lakes in Siberia. However, in autumn 2009, A/mallard/Hokkaido/24/09 (H5N1) (Mal/Hok/24/09) was isolated from a faecal sample of a mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) that flew from Siberia to Hokkaido, Japan. The isolate was assessed for pathogenicity in chickens, domestic ducks, and quails and analysed antigenically and phylogenetically.

Results

No clinical signs were observed in chickens inoculated intravenously with Mal/Hok/24/09 (H5N1). There was no viral replication in chickens inoculated intranasally with the isolate. None of the domestic ducks and quails inoculated intranasally with the isolate showed any clinical signs.

There were no multiple basic amino acid residues at the cleavage site of the haemagglutinin (HA) of the isolate. Each gene of Mal/Hok/24/09 (H5N1) is phylogenetically closely related to that of influenza viruses isolated from migratory water birds that flew from their nesting lakes in autumn. Additionally, the antigenicity of the HA of the isolate was similar to that of the viruses isolated from migratory water birds in Hokkaido that flew from their northern territory in autumn and different from those of HPAIVs isolated from birds found dead in China, Mongolia, and Japan on the way back to their northern territory in spring.

Conclusion

Mal/Hok/24/09 (H5N1) is a non-pathogenic avian influenza virus for chickens, domestic ducks and quails, and is antigenically and genetically distinct from the H5N1 HPAIVs prevailing in birds in Eurasia and Africa, concluded Yamamoto and co-authors.

H5 viruses with the HA gene of HPAI virus had not been isolated from migratory water birds in the surveillance until 2009, indicating that H5N1 HPAI viruses had not become dominant in their nesting lakes in Siberia until 2009.

Reference

Yamamoto N., Y. Sakoda, M. Motoshima, F. Yoshino, K. Soda, M. Okamatsu and H. Kida. 2011. Characterization of a non-pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus isolated from a migratory duck flying from Siberia in Hokkaido, Japan, in October 2009. Virology Journal, 8:65. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-8-65

Vietnam-Avian influenza return in birds

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Tuesday, 15/02/2011, 00:07 (GMT +7)
(SGGP) .- On 14-2, Hoang Van Nam, Director General of Animal Health (MARD), said it has identified bird flu reappeared in two family farms in the commune of Minh Son (Huu Lung, Lang Son), to more than 2,000 chickens died.

DAH warnings, usually following the traditional Lunar New Year, demand, transportation of poultry increased again, particularly as a source of poultry smuggled into Vietnam, China flooding, increase the risk of outbreaks avian influenza.

Meanwhile, foot and mouth epidemic is still raging on the herd. Currently, 14 provinces nationwide have foot and mouth outbreak, mainly in the north, including Son La, Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Thai Nguyen, Ha Giang, Kon Tum, Nghe An, Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai and Quang Ngai.

Poultry culled in Gaibandha

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Monday, February 14, 2011
National

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha
Around a thousand poultry of a private farm were culled following detection of Avian Influenza at village Enayetpur under Sadullapur upazila Saturday night.
Upazila livestock office sources said a few poultry of Moinul Hossain's farm died in the last 3-4 days. Suspecting outbreak of bird flu disease Sadullapur upazila livestock officer Dr Rahamat-un-Nabi collected samples of dead poultry birds and sent them to Gaibandha regional animal disease diagnosis centre and it tested positive.
On confirmation of bird flu attack, a special team led by district livestock officer Dr Md Jahanur Rahman rushed to the farm and culled nearly a thousand poultry birds.

N. Korea's FMD outbreak spreads across country: report

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has spread across many parts of the country after the first case was confirmed in the capital city on Dec. 25, a U.S. broadcaster said Sunday.

Radio Free Asia (RFA), quoting a report by the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health, said the communist country confirmed that since the first case hit a small cattle farm in Pyongyang, the highly contagious animal disease has spread to at least five provinces.

While there are no reports of animals being culled and buried to control further spreading of the disease, North Korea said 11,165 animals have been infected so far. Of these, 8,640 pigs have died along with 15 cattle, it said.

RFA also said that quarantine authorities had moved to vaccinate animals, but the locally produced drugs used had little effect in slowing down the disease. It added that emergency quarantine measures have been ordered to combat the spread of the animal disease that can be transmitted through the air.

FMD affects all cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, deer, goats and buffalo and is classified as a "List A" disease by the OIE.

Pyongyang first reported outbreaks to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization earlier in the week.

Related to the outbreaks in the North, Seoul said that it has tightened decontamination and inspections on cars and personnel coming over the demilitarized zone that separates the two countries. Belongings of people are being checked more thoroughly and decontaminated since they can carry the animal virus.

South Korean quarantine officials said the two transit offices along the eastern and western coasts have upgraded decontamination levels as of Friday, although no FMD outbreaks have been reported at the Kaesong industrial park and the Mount Kumgang resort.

Both the health ministry and the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service have checked procedures to make certain that tighter measures are followed, sources said.

The North Korean outbreaks, meanwhile, come as South Korea is trying to contain the severest FMD onslaught in its history. Seoul has ordered the culling of 3.30 million livestock, including 150,000 heads of cattle and 3.15 million pigs, since Nov. 29 when the first case was confirmed.

Gyeonggi-do 'AI human infection task force' configuration

Article Date 11/02/2011 20:25:55

The obvious and zoonotic infectious disease in Pyeongtaek as avian influenza occurs, Gyeonggi Institute of Health and Environment Unit, Human infection with the AI chose to run. Health and Environmental Research Institute in Tokyo and nine times a week a partnership has been treated in hospital patients with respiratory AI decided to check whether human infection

Bird flu bouts ring health alarms

Fri, Feb 11th, 2011 8:18 am BdST

Nurul Islam Hasib, Senior Public Health Correspondent Dhaka, Feb 11 (bdnews24.com)—Frequent bird flu outbreaks in the poultry farms in Dhaka and on the outskirts of the capital have stoked fears of a serious health threat to Bangladeshis. Altogether 12 bird flu attacks in a week in Dhaka district, from where the country's only human avian influenza case was detected in May 2008, have the health experts on the edge. "The virus (H5N1) can pass on to humans from poultry any time given the present situation. It's a public health concern," says Dr ASM Alamgir, an influenza expert with the World Health Organization's Dhaka office. He says in areas currently experiencing avian influenza outbreaks in poultry, the practice of marketing live birds may pose a significant risk to the people involved. "Even people should try to avoid coming into close contact with pigeons and crows unnecessarily, as lab tests found the presence of H5N1 in crows during the mass death in 2008 in Dhaka and Chittagong." He suggests people consume well-cooked poultry products and maintain bio-security in farms. Avian flu has so far killed 306 people out of 518 infected in 15 countries and most of these cases have been linked to close contact with infected poultry or their secretions. Bangladesh can be a hot spot for emerging infectious and costly diseases such as bird flu because of population growth and movement, urbanisation, changes in food production and other factors, researches show. The 15-month old Bangladeshi boy who survived the deadly flu got the virus when his mother slaughtered a chicken at their home in Dhaka's Kamalapur slum and later cuddled him (boy) with unwashed hands. The Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) advises doctors to take history of exposure to sick poultry while seeing patients with serious respiratory illness, who might have contracted the deadly strain of human avian influenza virus. The virus normally spreads between sick poultry but it can sometimes spread from poultry to humans. It does not spread easily between humans, differing in that respect from the milder H1N1 bird flu virus. "H5N1 (virus) has the potential to cause severe illness in human with a high fatality rate," Alamgir says, but the strain (clade 2.2) of H5N1 which circulates in Bangladesh is less virulent. "It causes relatively less infection to humans," he says, adding it can be changed into another class (2.1), which is highly infectious to human. Livestock experts say maintaining bio-security in poultry farms is the key to stave off the avian influenza that also brings colossal damage to the poultry industry with each strike. Zahin Hasan, director of Kazi Farms Limited, says all of their workers live inside the farm compound and shower before they go to the chicken sheds. "But for some farms it will not be enough as all village households have backyard chickens and workers living in their village homes can carry the virus to the farm," he says. Even at a larger farm with standard bio-security, according to Hasan, there is the risk that dogs, goats or backyard chickens may sneak in through gaps in the boundary fence. To prevent such unwanted entry, Hasan says, poultry owners are now double-fencing every farm –an outer fencing at the boundary and an inner fence around the poultry sheds to prevent dogs, goats or backyard chickens entering the sheds. "Around the sheds, we kill the grass with chemicals as it provides hiding places for rats, which can also spread the bird flu virus." He said bird flu outbreaks are disastrous for the poultry industry in that entrepreneurs do not want to invest fearing heavy losses. Rafiqul Islam, professor of veterinary of Bangladesh Agricultural University, urged the government's livestock department to heighten its surveillance to find out where the virus hides after winter. He suggests 'one health' approach. "Livestock department is battling to stop the spread of the disease by culling poultry, but the challenges remain elsewhere. "Community people should be involved in the process of eliminating bird flu from Bangladesh." The world's first outbreak of bird flu among humans occurred in Hong Kong in 1997, when it claimed six lives. That outbreak was linked to chickens and classified as H5N1. Bangladesh has recorded 375 outbreaks in poultry in 49 districts since the first outbreak in March 2007. Different avian influenza studies show that almost all parts of an infected bird are contaminated with the viruses that thrive in low temperature; only 70 degrees Celsius is enough to kill the virus. The virus can be found inside and on the surface of eggs and can survive in droppings too for at least 35 days in low temperatures. It was suspected that the mass deaths of crows in 2008 were because they ate the carcasses of H5N1-infected chicken, thrown away by people in the dustbin or open places. Experts say people should wear protective gear and practise measures in the outbreak areas to prevent personal contamination while slaughtering chickens and handling dead chickens. They advise people cough into the crook of elbow and wash hands with soap often to reduce the spread of influenza virus at home or in the community

Scattered incidents of Nipah continue

BSS, Rangpur

Scattered incidents of Nipah virus infection are still continuing till 4 pm on Friday, officials sources said.
Four more Nipah virus infected patients were admitted to the RMCH during the period.
Divisional Director of Health Dr Shahadat Hossain said that the main thrust of Nipah virus infections in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat district is already over and some scattered incidents of infections were still being reported from the other areas.
Senior Scientific Officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Dr Mostaq Hossain with other officials and experts have been investigating the situation in every spot of infection in these districts, he said.
He said that the doctors, health workers, officials, administrations and other organisations have been working to contain Nipah virus infections through preventive, measures and building awareness in the affected areas.
"We have engaged our best efforts and are closely monitoring the situation round the clock in all of the affected areas to check further spread of Nipah virus as spate of infection of the virus has been reducing now," Dr Shahadat said.

Growing number of farm animals spawn new diseases

Click on title for article

Egypt: The death of a citizen of bird flu in Menoufia

02/10/2011

Seen Monofia, yesterday, the death of a new case of bird flu to a person named Mr. Gomaa Gomaa «43 years», agricultural workers, from the village center built Gheryan Quesna.

وقال الدكتور هشام عطا، وكيل وزارة الصحة بالمحافظة، إن الضحية كان تم احتجازه بمستشفى صدر شبين الكوم منذ يومين بعد ظهور أعراض المرض عليه من ارتفاع فى درجة الحرارة وآلام بالمفاصل، مشيراً إلى أنه تم أخذ عينات من أقاربه وبيان ما إذا كانوا قد أصيبوا بالمرض من عدمه وتم تطهير منزله بالمطهرات.

Dr. Hisham Atta, Deputy Minister of Health, the government, said that the victim had been detained a hospital Shebin two days ago after the onset of symptoms of the disease with a high temperature and pain of joints, pointing out that the samples were taken from his relatives and indicate whether they had contracted the disease from whether or not to have been cleared of his house with disinfectant.

N. Korea notifies U.N. agency of foot-and-mouth outbreak: report

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SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korea reported to a U.N. food agency that foot-and-mouth disease -- rampantly spreading in South Korea -- has broken out on its soil as well, a U.S. broadcaster said Thursday.

Radio Free Asia (RFA), quoting an unidentified United Nations official, said that the communist country notified the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of an outbreak in a letter on Wednesday but did not provide details.

An email to the Rome-based U.N. agency seeking confirmation was not immediately returned while its South Korean office said it had no details. An official at South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles affairs involving North Korea, said on condition of anonymity that the report "appears true considering intelligence that foot-and-mouth disease has recently hit the North."

RFA said in its report from Washington that the FAO will send experts to North Korea "at an appropriate time" to help the communist country contain the highly contagious disease.

South Korea has been battling the disease that has spread nationwide in the last three months and caused over 3 million livestock to be culled. It remains unclear whether foot-and-mouth disease, if confirmed in the North, has spread from the South.

In 2007, North Korea suffered outbreaks of the disease, prompting South Korea to dispatch a team of animal health experts amid a mood of reconciliation.

Citing recent visitors to the impoverished neighbor, South Korean officials said last month that the North is believed to be stepping up its quarantine efforts after outbreaks were reported.

South and North Korea are divided by one of the world's most heavily fortified borders. Most cross-border exchanges have come to a halt over the last three years.

Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious and affects cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, pigs, deer, goats and sheep. The disease causes blisters on the mouth and feet of livestock and leads to death. It is rarely transmitted to humans.

North Korea has banned the inflow of pork and beef from South Korea since late last year for fear that the disease may spread there.

WHO: Avian influenza – situation in Cambodia

Avian influenza – situation in Cambodia

9 February 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Cambodia has announced a new confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The 5 year old female, from Prek Leap village, Sangkat Prek Leap, Khan Reussey Keo, Phnom Penh, developed symptoms on 29 January, was admitted to a hospital on 3 February and died 12 hours following admission. The presence of H5N1 virus in nasopharyngeal specimens was confirmed by Institut Pasteur, the National Influenza Centre in Cambodia. The case had been in contact with sick poultry during the 7 days before onset of symptoms.

The Ministry of Health has been coordinating the response. Actions have included contact tracing, collecting specimens from suspected cases, and providing oseltamivir prophylaxis to close contacts; active surveillance and joint investigation with animal health authorities; community education; and public communications coordination with the assistance of WHO.

Of the 11 cases of human H5N1 virus infection confirmed since 2005 in Cambodia, 9 have been fatal.

Bird flu strikes Bangladesh, nearly 50,000 chickens culled

2011-02-09 16:51:06

by Naim-Ul-Karim

DHAKA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's authorities have culled nearly 50,000 chickens so far this year following fresh outbreak of bird flu last month, an official said Wednesday.

The government's bird flu control room official told Xinhua Wednesday, "Some 46,387 chickens were culled so far this year after detecting avian influenza in 16 commercial farms."

Fresh outbreak of bird flu was detected in Bangladesh in the first week of January with arrival of winter season when the official, who preferred to be unnamed, said some 17,723 chickens were culled in four commercial farms including one near to capital Dhaka.

Apart from this, he said 9,769 birds died of the avian influenza in the 16 flu hit firms until Tuesday since January this year. "A total of 65,481 eggs were also destroyed during the same time," he added.

Against this backdrop, Bangladesh's Fisheries and Live Stock Department has strengthened its surveillance to contain further spread of the infectious disease -- H5N1.

"We've taken special steps like motivating farmers to adopt preventive measures since the disease found to reemerge last month to contain its outbreak," Director of the government's Influenza Preparedness and Response Project, Nazrul Islam, said.

He said bird flu has so far spread to four districts of the South Asian country including its capital Dhaka this year since its resurrection last month.

"We've instructed our field level officials for proper culling, destruction, disposal and decontamination immediately after diagnosis," he added.

Islam further said they have also asked the authorities concerned for more vigilance at the border entry points as there are reports of bird flu outbreak in some neighboring countries.

A few months back bird flu outbreak was reported in Bangladesh' s neighboring India and very recently it has also been reported in Nepal.

Bangladesh's bird flu control room official, however, expected that there will not be massive outbreak of the disease this time as dangerous period meaning winter season, which is the high time for outbreak of the disease, nears to end in the country.

The bird flu was first detected in Bangladesh in a poultry farm near capital Dhaka in March 2007. The situation deteriorated later on as the virus spread fast across the country which was reported in 47 districts between December 2007 and March 2008.

About 50 percent of the country's 150,000 poultry farms were closed and more than 1.5 million chickens, ducks and pigeons were culled as of the end of March, 2008 in which the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association estimated a loss of about 75 billion taka (about 1.07 billion U.S. dollars).

Bangladesh's poultry farmers during winter season in 2009 also suffered to some extent from the out break of the disease.

The first bird flu in human body in Bangladesh was detected on May 21, 2008. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, diagnosed a 16-month-old Bangladesh child as being infected with H5N1 who later recovered.

Young girl dies of H5N1 in Cambodia

2011-02-09 12:30:31

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Health and World Health Organization announced Wednesday that a young girl had died of respiratory complication caused by H5N1.

The joint statement sent out to the media on Wednesday said a 5- year-old girl from the capital city died on Feb. 4 as a result of respiratory complications after contracting human avian influenza virus H5N1.

The girl is the eleventh person in Cambodia to become infected with the H5N1 virus and the ninth death case.

"Avian influenza H5N1 is still a threat to the health of Cambodians - I urge communities to be on the look-out for respiratory infection with history of contact with dead or sick poultry to promptly seek medical attention at the nearest health facilities," said Mam Bun Heng, minister of health.

The statement said as part of the Ministry of Health's routine outbreak response measures, governmental Rapid Response Teams (RRT) are now in the area conducting field investigations to identify the girl's close contacts and to initiate preventive treatment as required.

A public health education campaign is being conducted to inform families on how to protect themselves from contracting avian influenza.

# Indonesia -Bird Flu Preparedness

Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 09:08:00
Andy Jap


WK Health DEPARTMENT direct coordination with the Department of Veterinary and Animal-related cases of bird flu in Pontianak regency. This is to anticipate the transmission to humans. "We are also coordinating with the local health office," said Chief Medical Officer of West Kalimantan, Andy Jap in the Governor's Office on Monday (7 / 2) siang.Menurut Andy, he has received information about the death of tens of thousands of tail of type broiler chickens, free-range chicken and chicken in the District Mempawah arabic. Kalbar Veterinary laboratory test results already declared dead chickens infected with H5N1 positive result aka bird flu.

Suspected transmission of H5N1 virus to birds in Pontianak regency derived from rooster purchased from Rasau Jaya residents. Allegations are being traced by monitoring the competent authority to Rasau Jaya. "Agencies we also collect information and conduct field monitoring," said Andy.Andy also had warned the local Health Office in anticipation of transmission to humans. "We also coordinate with the hospital there, if anything suspicious related to bird flu Sudarso immediately referred to hospitals," he said.

Nipah virus under control, claim health officials

08/02/2011 00:45:00 Admin

Staff Correspondent
Four people from Rangpur and Nilphamari are admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital with symptoms similar to nipah infection, director general of directorate of health services Khandaker Shefayet Ullah said on Monday.
Shefayet Ullah, who visited the northern division on Monday, told New Age, ‘Based on symptoms, the doctors assumed that they might be nipah infected. The patients are being treated in isolation. But we can confirm about the infection after laboratory tests.’
He said panicked people who had left Hatibandha in fear of the ‘mystry disease’ might be spreading the virus in the other Upazilas.
Shefayet Ullah said they were working to restore confidence in the community people. ‘Frightened people left their homes in panic. Now we are working to involve the local people including the rural elite and political leaders to fight the epidemic.’
He also said that the emergency units at the government hospitals were not well equipped. He said that the government has planned to develop the emergency units of all the district hospitals and hospitals besides the highways.
There was no fresh case of nipah infection at Hatiban-dha in the last couple of days, he said adding it seemed that the situation is now under control at the Upazila.
Institute of Epidemiology, Diseases Control and Research senior scientific officer Mushtak Hossain told New Age that there was no death caused by nipah virus on Monday.
‘But we examined a new patient at Hatibandha who has some symptoms like nipah virus infection,’ said Mustak.
He said they had provided training to the health workers of the area so that they can handle the cases of nipah infection.
Death toll from encephalitis caused by nipah virus at Hatibandha in Lalmonirhat reached 25 till Monday, according to local sources.
However, the IEDCR confirmed the death of 17 people out of 24 nipah infected patients in the area.
The outbreak of the virus was first marked a week back in Hatibandha. IEDCR laboratory reports later confirmed it was virus nipah.
The government has, meanwhile, intensified surveillance and measures including distribution of leaflets and closing down of all educational institutions in the Hatibandha Upazila for a week to check the spread of the virus.

Nipah kills another in Rangpur

Nipah encephalitis claimed one more life in Rangpur yesterday raising the death toll to 25.

Moyez Uddin, 45, of Annodanagar in Pirgachha upazila, died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital around 5:00am. He was admitted to the hospital on Saturday.

In Kurigram, two people are suspected to have died from the virus on Sunday.

The deceased are Anwarul Islam, 16, of Hemerkuthi village of sadar upazila and one-year-old Moon of Gharial Danga union of Rajarhat upazila.

Anwarul was admitted to Kurigram Sadar Hospital with high fever on Sunday around 6:00pm, said Nazrul Islam, residential medical officer of the hospital.

"A medical team led by Civil Surgeon, referred Anwarul to Rangpur Medical College Hospital suspecting it a case of Nipah encephalitis," he added.

Bangladesh-5,000 chicken culled in Gazipur

Tue, Feb 8th, 2011 12:14 am BdST

Gazipur, Feb 7 (bdnews24.com)–Some 5,000 chickens of a poultry farm in Gazipur have been culled which were found infected with H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu virus. District livestock department official Mohammad Shamsur Rahman told bdnews24.com that they were confirmed about the infection on Monday evening. According to reports, chickens of Khorshed Agro Farm at Konabari were dying of H5N1 virus over the last few days.

abangladesh-8,500 chickens infected with H5N1 virus in N'ganj

Mon, Feb 7th, 2011 9:42 pm BdST

Narayanganj, Feb 7 (bdnews24.com) – Some 8,500 chickens of two poultry farms in Narayanganj have been found infected with H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu virus. According to reports, around 200 chickens of the two farms in Batenpara area of Siddhirganj under Sadar Upazila died on Monday morning. The infection was confirmed when the officials of the Upazila livestock department, sent a sample of the tissue to the Central Diseases Investigation Laboratory (CDIL) in Dhaka for analysis. District livestock department official A K M Ariful Islam told bdnews24.com that some chickens of the twin farms had died over the last few days. The owners of the farms, Abdul Hai and Younus Mia, had brought it to the notice of the local livestock department. The livestock officials visited the farms on Monday and sent the sample of the tissue to CDIL to establish whether it was H5N1 virus infection. "The bird flu was confirmed in scrutiny. Later, we sealed one kilometre area surrounding the poultry farms," Islam added. Narayanganj Sadar Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Mohammad Mothahar Hossain told bdnews24.com that there was nothing to panic due to bird flu virus, as the infected chickens would be culled. "The culled chickens will be buried immediately, so that the disease does not spread to other nearby farms," the UNO added. Meanwhile, Officer-in-Charge of Shiddhirganj Police Station S M Badrul Alam told bdnews24.com that policemen were sent to the spot and that the infected chickens would be culled around 11pm on Monday. On February 3, some 8,000 infected chickens of a poultry farm in Kishoreganj were culled.

Bangladesh-Countrywide alert for Nipha Virus

Health Ministry has given countrywide warning for Nipah virus naturally carried by Bats. Letters has already sent to Nipha-affected Lalmonirhat areas.

Health Minister Dr. AFM Ruhul Haque told this at a meeting with the journalists on Saturday and urged all to remain cautioned over the virus.

The disease caused by Nipah virus known as Encephalitis could preliminarily be indentified as the patient suffers from high fever with headache and vomiting. Nipah-affected-patient would have possibilities to die within 8 to 10 days by heart attack.

The disease causes inflammation of brain. The virus can transmit among humans through the saliva, urine and stools of infected bats. Experts are in opinion that boiled date-juice can be taken.

Nipah was first reported in the country in 2001 while a total of 152 people have been infected from 2001 to January 31, 2011. Of the infected, 113 people died. In Bangladesh, two types of encephalitis--Japanese and Nipah--are common, experts said.

Bird flu, initial recruitment of 900 staff in County

Sun June 02, 2011

900 Hashimoto Masa governor county officials in the initial press conference on bird flu yesterday, as the initial structure in case of bird flu in the province, prefecture officials to mobilize 900 people, 10 million birds in a day about chickens revealed that the killing can be ordered.


After the list of 900 people in two days, which assumes that the advance disposal 24 hours a day divided into three groups of 300 each. Governor Hashimoto is "the last (2005 outbreak) is considering measures based on the experience," he said.

4 more die of encephalitis

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Source: WikipediaStar Online Report
Nipah encephalitis claimed four more lives in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat Friday night and Saturday, raising the death toll from the disease to 24.

The deceased are Mansur Ali, 42, Swarna, 4, daughter of Jahangir, and Mahbub, 16, son of Nozir Ali of Dakshin Goddimari village in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat and Insan Ali of Mirbag in Kaunia upazila of Rangpur.

Mansur was first taken to a local clinic, Modern Clinic, but was denied admission. Then he was rushed to Rangpur Medical College Hospital where he died at about 7:10pm.

Swarna died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital at 9:00pm Friday while Mahbub at 12:30pm Saturday, RMCH director Toufiqur Rahman confirmed it to The Daily Star.

Insan Ali breathed his last at his Mirbag residence at about 4:30am, said the local health officer.

Meanwhile, local administration has declared all the schools of Hatibandha upazila closed for six days from Saturday to control the spread of the disease.

Hospital sources said 24 encephalitis-infected people are now undergoing treatment at RMCH, Gangachara Upazila Health Complex of Rangpur and Hatibandha Upazila Health Complex of Lalmonirhat at present.

Condition of two patients admitted to RMCH is said to be critical, hospital sources said.

The government has confirmed the disease as Nipah encephalitis after a laboratory test, which mainly spread to the two districts.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), advised caution while drinking raw date juice as bats, which are natural hosts of the disease, usually drink date juice at night

Nipah turns nightmare

Sat, Feb 5th, 2011 7:49 pm BdST

Nurul Islam Hasib Dhaka, Feb 5 (bdnews24.com) — Nipah has become a nightmare in border district Lalmonirhat of northern Bangladesh as experts grapple to arrest its spread. Death toll of the fatal virus climed to 16 on Saturday from 14, although no new cases have been reported till evening. People are still deserting their homes in panic while the local authorities shut down all primary schools at Hatiabandha upazila, which has witnessed the recent outbreak. "Even ambulance drivers fled the village. We are trying to convince people aking them not to panic and stop drinking raw palm or date sap," said Dr Farhana Haque, an investigator of the government's team despatched to the upazila on February 2 soon after the outbreak. The government sent more scientists to the affected area soon after the cause behind what was being called 'mystery fever' was ascertained by the Institute of Epidemiology and Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). But people's long-standing practice and beliefs are making the task of this team rather difficult. "We have to keep an eye on everybody who drank raw sap in the last one month," said the team leader Subodh Kumar Kundo. The virus usually takes eight to 12 days between exposure and manifesting symptoms — fever, altered mental status and seizure. But sometimes it can take unusual time, said Kundo, adding that those who handled corpses are also under observation. Tracking the history of nipah virus in Bangladesh, bdnews24.com found that it is highly contagious and may be passed on with minimal human-to-human contact. Deaths in Faridpur in January 2010 showed that the victims were infected because they were not careful while caring for patients. A joint investigation of the epidemiology institute and the diarroehal disease centre (ICDDR,B) showed a man, who cared for his infected friend and shared the bed, was found to have become infected. A wife also got the virus while caring, feeding, comforting, transporting her husband. An uncle of a deceased got the virus as he hugged the corpse. A neighbour who washed a Nipah affected corpse, cleaned the frothy discharge and excreta also got the virus. An intern doctor in Faridpur Medical College Hospital also died as he conducted physical examination of the two confirmed Nipah cases. But such infection can be prevented by washing hands frequently, not sharing the same food and remaining at least three feet away from patients while caring for them. The caregivers should also wear masks as they treat the patients, experts say. "Health care providers should wash hands and use personal protective equipment while caring for severely ill patients in Nipah prone area." He said they would continue strong monitoring in Hatibandha even 21 days after the outbreak stops. But he cautioned that 'over enthusiasm' can trigger further panic. "School closure was not necessary as there is nothing related to school boys," said Rahman, adding that the virus had not begun spreading from person to person contact. "Such a decision (school closure) can only generate panic among the people," he said urging local administration to take decision consulting with the government experts posted there. Kundo said they are getting response from different organisations. Local NGOs, as well as development agencies joined hands in distributing leaflets with awareness messages. He said as there is no specific treatment, medical attention could save patients that infuse negative impression among the people of the affected areas. "We are disseminating general information and also trying to make them understand through different modes of communication." "Our anthropologists are working to learn in-depth about their perception and beliefs. We are talking with community leaders, religious leaders, teachers, and families," he said. Anthropologists say people generally believe that evil spirit has entered their community causing the illness. They interpreted the illness as 'asmani bala' (divine burden). Some people of the community even have the perception that bats cannot contaminate raw date or palm sap. And do not believe it could be transmitted from person to person. "We have to develop a rapport and earn their trust. We let them to talk first and give them space to express their emotions or complaints," said ICDDR,B anthropologist Shahana Parveen. "With the respect of cultural norms and local practice, we make people understand what it actually is and what they should do." "We held a courtyard meeting today to sensitise the idea that germs were responsible for the illness and deaths, using local terms and familiar examples," Farhana Haque said, adding that the participants responded positively after being given an explanation with evidence. The first case of the recent outbreak was reported on January 31 with deaths from mystery fever.

Nipah Virus in Bangladesh-20 die in 4 days in Lalmonirhat

IEDCR says encephalitis caused by nipah virus

Sajia Afrin
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research on Friday identified the disease that killed three more people in Lalmonirhat on the day as encephalitis, acute brain inflammation, caused by nipah virus. So far 20 people died of the disease in the place in four days, according to an unofficial figure.
The IEDCR director, Mahmudur Rahman, said, ‘After a laboratory test, we have confirmed that the people were suffering from encephalitis caused by nipah virus.’
The IEDCR, however, said 22 people were infected with the virus and 14 of them died till Friday.
Death rate of nipah virus is very high, said Mahmudur Rahman adding that three in four such patients died from the infection.
Reports from Hatibandha in the district said that more than 50 others, mostly children, contracted the disease, panicking people in the locality.
The people who died on Friday were Bacchu Mia, 57, of Baraipara, Asadul Islam, 18, of Gendukuri and Joynal, 42, of Dakkhin Goddimari in the upazila.
An eight-member IEDCR team was visiting the area. The team leader Subodh Kumar Kunda, principal scientific officer at the IEDCR, said that it is a contagious disease and has no specific treatment.
The local people on Friday morning, meanwhile, organised a human chain in front of the upazila health complex demanding immediate identification of the disease and take steps against the disease.
ASM Alamgir, senior scientific officer at the IEDCR, said there is no effective medicine or vaccine available to treat the patient infected by nipah virus. Creating awareness of the disease is main step which can prevent the disease.
Symptoms appear with fever followed by altered mental status, seizure and death, IEDCR experts said. They suggested that people in affected areas with such symptoms should see doctors.
The virus is highly infectious and has the potential to pass from person to person, they added.
The IEDCR experts advised people in the areas where nipah infection was prevalent areas not to eat fruit bitten or half-bitten by fruit bats, or drink raw juices of palm and date trees. They also suggested that date juice should not be collected in open pitchers.
According to experts, most of the nipah infection cases were reported between January and May. This is the breeding period of fruit bats and pregnant bats harbour the virus and possibly transmit it to humans.
When children collect fruits and eat them without washing, the virus discharged from bat’s saliva is transmitted to them.
Experts also urged the parents of the nipah-prone areas not to allow their children to play under fruit trees.
Five people were infected with the virus in January and four of them died according to the IEDCR.
One hundred and fifty-two cases of nipah infection were reported in the country after 2001 and 113 of them died, IEDCR officials said.

Bangladesh-Crows dying, poultry culled

Friday, February 4, 2011

Fear of fresh round of bird flu grips Barisal, Kishoreganj

A few of the several hundred crows that met sudden death due to unknown diseases in and around Barisal city during the last two days, right, workers of Kishoreganj district livestock office culling bird flu infected hens at Bogadia village in Sadar upazila yesterday. Photo: STARStar National Desk

Barisal city and adjoining areas saw sudden death of a large number of crows in last two or three days while authorities destroyed at least seven thousand bird flu infected hens in Kishoreganj Sadar upazila yesterday.

Hundreds of crows that died at Girzamahalla, Medical College area, Sadar Road, Bells Park and Kirtonkhola riverbank areas in Barisal city during last two or three days are rotting in the open, reports our correspondent.

The crows were seen falling from trees and dying after a while, witnesses said.

Abdul Jabbar, Barisal district livestock officer, said their staffs are collecting samples for laboratory tests in Barisal and Dhaka to detect the disease that caused the massive deaths of crows.

“The crows may have died after eating some infected items,” said Dr Md Shawkat Ali, principal officer of Regional Livestock Disease Investigation Laboratory in Barisal.

“During the last few days, similar incidents have been reported from Patuakhali and Bhola towns. After laboratory test of the samples of dead crows sent from Patuakhali, no virus of avian influenza was found. The crows died due to eating of dead chickens infected with 'ranikhet' disease, not avian influenza,” he said.

Although he advised locals to bury the dead crows, the situation has raised a fear of fresh round of bird flu among them.

Livestock officials urged people to remain watchful of the situation and inform local livestock officials if unusual deaths of crows is seen anywhere.

Our Kishoreganj correspondent adds: District livestock officials destroyed around 7,000 avian influenza (bird flu) infected hens of Bhai Bhai Farm owned by Muzammel Huq at Bogadia village in Kishoreganj Sadar upazila yesterday.

Informed that some hens of the farm died of unknown diseases during the last few days, Dr Bahadur Ali, veterinary surgeon of district livestock office, visited the spot.

After primary examination of some collected samples, he detected those as affected by bird flu.

The report was sent to Dhaka central office from where a letter confirming the case as bird flu came on Wednesday night.

District Livestock Officer Nousad Hossain in presence of administration officers and police personnel arranged destroying the hens of the farm yesterday morning.

Farm owner Muzammel said the price of the hens would be around Tk 14 lakh.

Quarantine: Central Airport PR - Branch Ministry of Agriculture / Aichi

FMD in South Korea (decayed to this), but in Southeast Asia due to the outbreak of bird flu highly pathogenic Branch Chubu Airport Animal Quarantine Station Ministry of Agriculture, the Chinese Lunar New Year (February 3) active movement of people in East Asia by January 31 - February 4, a, a publicity campaign conducted by the Central Japan International Airport.

Who leave the country, know that the livestock are restricted from bringing in affected countries, careful not to intrude on livestock farms. For people entering the golf shoes with dirt on the farm or if intrusive, hiking boots if you have asked to stop animal quarantine counter. Shoes are disinfected.

In addition, a thorough disinfection of soles sole disinfectant mats laid before the booth doing the usual quarantine.

UNDIAGNOSED ENCEPHALITIS - BANGLADESH (02): (RANGPUR) NIPAH VIRUS CONFIRMED

Date: Fri 4 Feb 2011
Source: The Daily Star [edited]



The government on Friday [4 Feb 2011] confirmed the disease as Nipah
virus encephalitis that claimed at least 21 people over the last few
days in Lalmonirhat and Rangpur. It means inflammation of brain and
infected rats [sic; bats] are the carrier of the disease, said
doctors at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research
(IEDCR). They cautioned about drinking raw date juice and about bats,
saying rats [sic; bats] usually drink date juice at night. "The
laboratory test has confirmed the virus as Nipah," said Prof Mahmudur
Rahman, director of the IEDCR.

Meanwhile, 4 more people, including a 14-year-old girl, died in an
outbreak of encephalitis in northern parts of the country Lalmonirhat
and Rangpur Thursday night and Friday [3 and 4 Feb 2011], taking the
death toll to 21, report our correspondents in Lalmonirhat and Rangpur.

2 more people -- ages 15 and 2, residents of South Kolkond village in
Gangachara upazila, Rangpur -- contracted the disease on Friday [4 Feb 2011].

The IEDCR director said the virus spreads through the saliva, urine
and stools of the infected rats [sic; bats].

The latest deceased were identified as a person aged 56, of Baraipara
village; a person age 42, of South Goddimari; and a 3rd person age
18, of Gendukuri, village in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat and a
4th person age 14, of South Kolkan village under in Gangachara
upazila of Rangpur.

A 3-member medical team led by civil surgeon of Rangpur Rejaul Karim
visited the house of one victim in the morning.

The residents of Hatibandha and Gangachara upazilas have been
terrified with the outbreak of the virus and many of them left their houses.

--
Communicated by:
Health Map Alerts via ProMED-mail


[This is the annual Nipah virus transmission season. Unsurprisingly,
the "unknown disease" has now been confirmed as due to Nipah virus
infections. Now there are cases of Nipah virus infection with deaths
going on in 2 localities in Bangladesh. Clearly, a public education
campaign is needed in villages to keep fruit bats away from palm
juice and discourage people (especially children) from eating fruit
on which bats have been feeding.

Mod.CP provided a good summary of Nipah virus transmission and
epidemiology in ProMED-mail archive number 20100122.0250. Unlike the
initial Nipah outbreak in Malaysia, human cases in Bangladesh do not
involve pigs, transmission being from _Pteropus_ fruit bats to humans
via contaminated fruit or palm juice.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Bangladesh

Information received on (and dated) 3 Feb 2011 from Dr Muhammad Abdul
Baqi, director general, Department of Livestock Services, Ministry of
Fisheries and Livestock, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Summary
Report type: follow up report no. 27
Outbreak location: Jobayda poultry farm, Lambadaradi, Bandar,
[Narayanganj], Dhaka division [map included]
Date of start of the outbreak: 24 Jan 2011
Outbreak status: resolved (25 Jan 2011)
Epidemiological unit: farm
Affected animals:
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Destroyed / Slaughtered
Birds / 9993 / 1500 / 1500 / 8493 / 0
Affected population: a commercial poultry farm

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

******
[2] Kishoreganj district
Date: Fri 4 Feb 2011
Source: The Daily Star [summ., edited]
<http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/print_news.php?nid=172776>


District livestock officials destroyed around 7000 avian influenza
(bird flu) infected hens of [a farm] at Bogadia village in Kishoreganj
Sadar upazila [Dhaka division] yesterday [3 Feb 2011].

Informed that some hens of the farm died of unknown diseases during
the last few days, Dr Bahadur Ali, veterinary surgeon of district
livestock office, visited the spot. After primary examination of some
collected samples, he detected those as affected by bird flu.

The report was sent to Dhaka central office from where a letter
confirming the case as bird flu came on Wednesday [2 Feb 2011] night.

District Livestock Officer Nousad Hossain in presence of
administration officers and police personnel arranged destroying the
hens of the farm yesterday [3 Feb 2011] morning.

The first day of New Year Mao: The country does not happen Translation

5:52 PM, 04/02/2011
Right 2/2/2011, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology is testing a suspected influenza A (H5N1) from the infectious disease hospital national patient received a 62-year-old Tran Thi Binh, resident Shareholders, Lan Vien, Vinh Yen, Vinh Phuc. 03/02/2011 results today confirmed patients with negative results with both Influenza A (H5N1) and Influenza A (H1N1).

India: Gujarat/Ahmedabad: Congo virus circulating for some time, but detected only now: NIV director

Kounteya Sinha, TNN, Feb 3, 2011, 12.13am IST

NEW DELHI: The virus causing the deadly Crimea Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Ahmedabad has jumped from infected ticks to local cattle like sheep, goat and cows.

Cattle samples collected from six villages around ground zero -- Kolat village in Sanand whose resident Amina Momin was the first human in India to get infected with CCHF and die on January 3 -- have tested positive for high viral load.

Speaking to TOI, director of Pune's National Institute of Virology Dr A C Mishra said, "20% of the samples from six villages show positive CCHF infection. This means the virus has been circulating for some time in India and has just recently been detected."

Mishra added, "We are therefore setting up a diagnostic laboratory in Ahmedabad to test human samples for CCHF. At present, by the time the samples reach NIV, we lose a day. Three experts from Gujarat are being trained at NIV on safe handling of the human samples and how to interpret the results. Quick diagnosis is crucial with this virus. It kills most infected humans."

NIV has also picked up samples from rodents to check for the virus.

"We have to immediately cut transmission of the virus from ticks to cattle by intensifying operation pesticide, cleaning the cattle and their sheds. If even 50% of the ticks are destroyed from the body of the host, the transmission can be halted," Mishra added.

So does this mean the cattle infected have to be culled just like chicken were during the bird flu outbreak in India?

No, said Mishra. "Once the H5N1 virus infected poultry or birds, it killed them. That's how we knew where to look for the virus and killed all poultry around the site to stop transmission. In case of CCHF, the virus sits inside an animal's body but does not harm it. So we can't collect samples from all animals in Gujarat looking for the virus. Culling is, therefore, not recommended. We have to just break the cycle of the virus jumping from ticks to cattle," he added.

TOI had first reported how NIV last week found that a particular variety of ticks, Hyalomma, were carrying high quantities of CCHF virus in Ahmedabad, proving that the virus wasn't imported.

"Our main recommendation, therefore, is to reduce tick population which can circulate the virus in the environment for many years. They lay their eggs and transfer the virus into it. The egg hatches and continues to infect animals," Mishra added.

The CCHF virus is noted by the Union health ministry as a bio-safety level IV agent -- of maximum danger.

This is for the first time that India has reported human infection with CCHF by coming in direct contact with blood or other infected tissues from livestock. Human mortality rate is a high as 90%. The CCHF virus has been reported from Africa, the Balkans, West Asia and Pakistan.

"If the virus is present in the cattle, it could have spread from them as in villages, humans and cattle live in close proximity. Cutting meat infected with the virus or handling infected animal urine could lead to its spread to humans," Mishra added.

Bangladesh: 8,000 Chickens Culled - Confirmed

Thu, Feb 3rd, 2011 5:21 pm BdST


Kishoreganj, Feb 3 (bdnews24.com) – Some 8,000 chickens of a poultry farm, infected with the H5N1 virus, in Kishoreganj have been culled.

The culled chickens, from Mozammel Haque's poultry farm at Bagadia village of Sadar Upazila, were buried on Thursday noon under the supervision of the district livestock department.

District livestock officer A S M Naushad Hossain told bdnews24.com that they took the step to check the spread of the disease, which was a subtype of the Influenza A virus and could cause illness in humans and many other animals.

The bird flu infection was confirmed when the livestock department sent a sample of the tissue to the Central Diseases Investigation Laboratory in Dhaka on Wednesday after some of the chickens of the farm had died.

Later, the local administration took the initiative to have the chickens culled.

Hossain said the affected farm owner would be given financial assistance, as per the government policy.

The farm owner said the culling caused him a loss of around Tk 1.4 million. "However, the government has assured me of providing Tk 150 for each chicken, which will help me recover my losses a little bit."

CIDRAP: Experts detail Egypt's H5N1 challenges

The endemic status of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in Egypt is overwhelming the country's control efforts, and more global cooperation is needed to prevent more damage to Egypt's poultry industry and reduce the threat of a flu pandemic, two veterinarians with close knowledge of the country's disease situation reported today. They published their review in Epidemiology and Infection. Since the virus first emerged in Egypt in 2006, poultry outbreaks and human infections have become year-round occurrences, even in summer months. The article says several factors could be impacting the epidemiology of the disease, such as free access of dogs and wild birds to carcasses of culled H5N1-infected poultry. Human infections are becoming more common in children, but experts aren't sure why. Two main factors that could drive genetic changes in H5N1 viruses circulating in Egypt are (1) incomplete poultry vaccination strategies that don't include regular surveillance and (2) continuous and inter-species circulation of the virus. Oseltamivir-resistance changes seen in a 2007 family illness cluster and an amantadine-resistant marker isolated from chicken isolates remain rare, the authors noted. The government is working to phase out live poultry markets and is considering ending routine poultry vaccinations, but it is having a difficult time enforcing biosecurity standards, especially at unregistered small and medium-size commercial farms.
Feb 1 Epidemiol Infect abstract

Miyazaki To dispose of 190,000 birds

。 Poultry farms in Miyazaki, new problems found in chickens suspected of bird flu, test results, the bird flu virus has been detected. Miyazaki Prefecture has decided to dispose of about 190,000 chickens have been raised in this poultry farm.

Thousands of Chickens Die Sudden, Kerinci Bird Flu Preparedness

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 8:02
[JAMBI] regency government (Pemkab) Kerinci, Jambi Province set the alert status of bird flu (avian influenza), following a widespread outbreak of bird flu disease in the area. Outbreaks of bird flu in Kerinci until Tuesday (2 / 2) has spread to six villages. While the number of chickens that died of bird flu disease in the thousands
tail.

Head of Animal Husbandry Department of Health Kerinci District, who was contacted in Sungaipenuh Ariyan, Kerinci, Wednesday (2 / 2) explains, it asked residents in the area of bird flu alert because of the spread of the disease quickly spread. In this week, an outbreak of bird flu has spread to six villages in the district Sitinjaulaut. Each Village Sebukar, red, Middle Pendung, Cape Mudo, Seleman and New Koto Hiang.

Described, based on the results of the monitoring officer Kerinci Animal Husbandry Department in the six villages, the number of chickens that died suddenly due to bird flu reaches the tail 4164. Chickens that died of bird flu in the village most Sebukar, which is about 2,000 birds. Then the chickens that died in the village of around 1101 Seleman tail.

According Ariyan, bird flu outbreaks in Kerinci quickly expanded because citizens do not know the symptoms and treatment. Most of the residents affected chicken bird flu in the region was thrown into a river. Should chickens affected by bird flu must be destroyed by burning or burying. In addition, residents also did not immediately report to the livestock department officials when they are a lot of dead chickens
sudden.

"Even more worrying again, the people who have chickens are not willing when we asked for chicken they are exposed to bird flu destroyed. So to control the bird flu, we ask citizens alert and quick to report if the bird flu contagious to humans, "he said.

Meanwhile, Head of Animal Health Animal Husbandry Department of Jambi Province, Jambi H Yudi on Wednesday (2 / 2) confirms bird flu outbreak in Kerinci. To control the bird flu outbreak, the institute has asked Animal Husbandry Department Kerinci spraying the chicken coop and chicken culling in bird flu-affected area.

Described, most frequently attacked Kerinci Regency outbreak of bird flu since 2005. Every rainy season, in an area that always happens with bird flu. It happened because of lack of awareness masuh breeder chickens in Kerinci spraying and vaccination of poultry cages.

Originally Mugirejo, Entered in Hospital Isolation Room Sjahranie AW

Wednesday, February 2, 2011




SAMARINDA. Danger spread of the H5N1 virus that carries the disease of bird flu, is now not only threaten the poultry farms. Especially chicken. But also citizens.
A 5 year old girl, was rushed to hospital with suspicion AW Sjahranie deadly infectious disease, on Monday (31 / 1) at around 14:09 pm.
The boy whose name was withheld, came Mugirejo Village, District of North Samarinda. Initially he was taken to a private hospital. Complaints of high fever accompanied by cough and swallow pain for about five days.
Because of characteristics such as faced boy with bird flu patients, he was directed to work at AW Sjahranie the referral hospital transmitted infections continues that originated from these birds.
"Patient (boy 5 years old, Red) did have complaints of high fever above 38 degrees Celsius. It's been going on for several days. According to history, was previously no chickens died suddenly in the vicinity of the patient's home," said hospital spokesman Dr. AW Sjahranie Nurliana Adriati Noor or that it is familiarly called Nana dr.
As a step of treatment, the hospital entered the boy into the isolation room. Special place for people with bird flu during a period of treatment and healing.
"In the isolation room, we do some action against the patient's treatment. Initially we attempt to treat the symptoms of an attack patients," added Dr Nana.
In addition, to further ascertain whether the boy was positive bird flu or not, hospital officials also have taken samples of fluids in her body for examination.
"We really have to take fluid from the nose and throat and serum in the patient's body to be investigated. Later than the results of new research that could be ascertained, whether he is positive of bird flu or just people with respiratory disorders (ARD) normal," said Dr Nana.
But the research body fluids of victims, not necessarily known. Because the fluid samples are sent to specialized laboratories in Jakarta. "If you can fast the results came back, the better. But in the meantime we continue to seek the best treatment for patients who are still in the isolation room," said Dr. Nana.
As one of efforts to prevent and guard against the spread of bird flu, called upon the residents to pay attention to environmental hygiene. "When you find there are chickens died suddenly in the vicinity of the house, should immediately report to the Department of Animal Husbandry," he said.
Then when there was a history of contact with chickens that died suddenly, and then a few days later attacked by some of the symptoms commonly attack the bird flu patients, to conduct the examination to the nearest health center. (Rin)

Japan: Cold snap 'forced flu-carrying birds south'

Tue, Feb 01, 2011
The Yomiuri Shimbun/Asia News Network


A wave of extremely cold weather this winter is a suspected factor behind the ongoing spread of avian flu in Japan, according to ornithologists.

Flocks of migratory birds infected with an avian flu virus may have arrived in parts of the nation after advancing farther south than in an average year, instead of wintering on the Korean Peninsula. Their arrival may have been an attempt to avoid a wave of cold weather in continental Asia that has intensified since the beginning of this year, experts said.

"The spread [of avian flu] may have become even greater as a result of these birds arriving in this nation after migrating through such highly virus-dense areas as Siberia, China and Mongolia," Hiroyoshi Higuchi, a professor of ornithology at the University of Tokyo, said.

The highly virulent H5N1 avian flu has spread nationwide. Cases of bird flu infection have been found in nine prefectures, including those that have come to light in four prefectures since early this year.

-snip- -click on title for full article -

AI Landa Prabumulih

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 14:17 pm


PALEMBANG - MICOM: Disease bird flu hit eight villages in the District Prabumulih, South Sumatra.

As a result, the Head of Estates Department of Agriculture Livestock Forestry and Fisheries (PPKPP) Prabumulih, RA Hanunah impose standby status which is a preventive for diseases caused by the H5N1 virus is not contagious to humans.

"In conditions like this, we continue to disseminate to the public, especially in endemic areas," he said.

In addition, it also asks the public for the maintenance of pet mengkandangkan for easy monitoring, not as long as it is released at will. However with the stable, to reduce the risk of transmission.

"Actions taken against endemic areas ranging from cleaning cages to the culling of poultry," he said while adding a chicken poultry, including geese and their chicks

eggs that allegedly attacked immediately destroyed.

Villages are attacked by the bird flu, among others, Village Prabumulih, Sukajadi, Wonosari, Cambai, Small Monument, Mount Ibul, and last Mangga Besar.

In Palembang after the death of dozens of chickens in the area of Kemang Sweet, District I West Ilir Palembang, related agencies do persuasive measures such as cleaning cages poultry within a radius of 1 kilometer.

While in the city of Palembang, about 25 chickens were found dead and declared bird flu positive. As stated by Head of Department of Agriculture and Forestry perikanann Sudirman Palembang Teguh, Tuesday (1 / 2).

"We've done a further step in a radius of 1 kilometer in the region," said Sudirman kala confirmed via telephone.

The same is done in some places, particularly centers such as the sale of poultry in the region of Palembang Palembang Bird Market. According to Sudirman, it also anticipate steps to tighten the spread of bird flu with the entry of poultry to Kilkenny by forming a task force.

"On the entry of poultry to Kilkenny we will bekerjasam with Pehubungan Office, the task force in some places more people are expected to report the incident proaktiv that exist," he said. (OL-12).

Suspected Bird Flu, Isolated Boy 5 Years

Tuesday, 01/02/2011 16:10 pm
Robert - detikNews

Bird Flu Response Simulation Samarinda - AF (5) have to undergo treatment in isolation rooms in hospitals Abdul Wahad Syachranie. Foreign citizens Boy Pinang River, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, allegedly contracted the H5N1 virus that no other source of bird flu on poultry animal.

"She was our patient handling standard isolation with bird flu patients. Patients with suspected H5N1," said Dr. Noor Nurliana Adriati on Bird Flu Space Special Care Hospital Syachranie Abdul Wahab, Jl Red Cross, Samarinda, on Tuesday (01/02/2011).

According to the Head of Public Relations Abdul Wahab Syachranie hospitals, patients in the name of AF included in the isolation treatment on Monday (1/31/2011) at 02.09 pm. Previous AF treated in general ward after suffering a fever accompanied by cough for 5 days.

"Patients also suffer pain when swallowing," explained Nurliana.

Not yet known for sure the medical history of AF before experiencing a fever. But the results of observation and interviews with families of patients in mind that in his neighborhood had previously been found cases of bird flu.

"History does not clear contacts. But about 1-2 miles from home no previous poultry and there is also a chicken that died suddenly," added Nurliana.

Medical acts committed against them are AF fluid sampling (swap), throat and nose. From the results of laboratory analysis will then be known whether AF was infected with H5N1.

"Swap sent to Research and Development Department of Health in Jakarta. This is the first patient treated by us in the last 2 years. The patient was last in 2008, the WNA Norway and positive bird flu," lid Nurliana.

Observations AFP reporter, AF treated at the Tulip Room Floor 2 and was accompanied by Agus Astiono (28), his father. Agus claimed lives in a housing in Mugirejo Village, Pinang River District.

"I do not keep chickens. But beyond housing many chicken farms. There is also that died suddenly," said Agus.

Bird flu ruled out in duck deaths

Monday, 31 January 2011 15:03

Kim Yuthana

About 600 ducks died this month in Banteay Meanchey province from stress, not bird flu, provincial health officials said yesterday.

Huy Touch, director of Banteay Meanchey provincial department of animal health and production at the Ministry of Agriculture, said yesterday that a laboratory at Phnom Penh’s Calmette hospital had tested a sample of ducks that died inexplicably over the course of three days in Mongkol Borei and Sisophon districts.

“We got the results of the examination on Friday, which confirmed that the dead ducks had no H5N1,” Huy Touch said.

“The deaths were caused by stress because those ducks were sent from place to place while the weather was cool.”

Huy Touch said he initially suspected the ducks had died from a combination of cholera, changes in the weather and a lack of farm sanitation or use of vaccinations.

He added that his officers had told villagers in the province to be careful with their poultry and not to eat ducks that had been sick or died without explanation.

Ly Sovann, deputy director of the Department of Communicable Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, could not be reached for comment.

Ly Sovann told a reporter from The Post on January 14 that “so far there have been no [bird] flu cases found in Cambodia this year”.

DeLauro Probes USDA on Chinese Poultry Policy

by Helena Bottemiller Feb 01, 2011

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Friday asking him for details on the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)'s new interim rule to loosen restrictions on poultry imports from countries, like China, that have faced avian influenza in the past. DeLauro is concerned

DeLauro's office said the interim rule "represents a significant step towards importing poultry products from China into the United States," which has been essentially banned since 2004.

Initially the ban was put in place over avian flu fears, but an Agriculture Appropriations bill, authored by the congresswoman, has kept the ban in place by not allowing any funding for USDA to go forward on a rule to allow the poultry. The World Trade Organization ruled in September that the ban was illegal around the same time U.S. lawmakers had worked out a compromise on appropriations language that would allow USDA funds to promulgate or implement a rule allowing the imports of Chinese poultry, but only after meeting certain conditions.

In her letter to Vilsack, DeLauro said she's concerned APHIS' interim rule could be too lax.

"While APHIS claims that this rule would prevent H5N1 from being introduced in the U.S.," writes DeLauro. "I am concerned that this rule actually would ease APHIS prohibition on any poultry products coming in from countries that have had H5N1 outbreaks."

Instead of banning most poultry products from countries where Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 is considered present, the interim rule would allow for certain countries to export to the U.S. as long as the poultry is thoroughly cooked. (The rule calls for 165 degrees, processed in only eligible facilities.)

DeLauro asked Vilsack a number of questions. She wants to know what science the department is using to back up the new policy, how much staffing will be required to monitor poultry temperature at processing plants in China, and whether the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) might be better suited for the job.

Iraq: Confirmed #H5N1 in Hilla - Poultry

Sign in case of bird flu in Babylon

الأحد 30 ك2 2011 Sunday, 30 k 22 011
السومرية نيوز/ بابل Alsumaria News / Babylon
أكد مصدر في مستشفى الحلة البيطري بمحافظة بابل، الأحد، أن اللجنة المشكلة من قبل الشركة العامة للبيطرة كشفت حالة إصابة بمرض أنفلونزا الطيور"H5N1"، بعد إجرائها فحوصات طبية على بعض الدواجن في الأسواق المحلية.

A source at the Veterinary Hospital of Hilla, Babil province, Sunday, that the committee formed by the State Company for Veterinary revealed cases of bird flu, "H5N1", after conducting medical tests on poultry in local markets.

وقال المصدر في حديث لـ"السومرية نيوز"، إن "نتائج التحاليل، التي أجرتها مستشفى الحلة البيطري، بينت بأن العينات المرفوعة إليها من اللجنة المشكلة من قبل الشركة العامة للبيطرة والتي أجرتها على الدواجن في سوق علاء القاضي وسط مدينة الحلة، أظهرت وجود حالة واحدة لمرض أنفلونزا الطيورH5N1".

The source said in an interview for "Alsumaria News", "The results of tests, conducted by the hospital in Hilla, the vet showed that the samples submitted to it by the committee formed by the State Company for Veterinary and carried out on poultry in the market Ala Judge central city of Hilla, revealed the presence of one case of avian influenza H5N1 ".
وأضاف المصدر، الذي طلب عدم الكشف عن اسمه، ان "اجتماعا سريا جرى، أمس السبت، في الشركة العامة للبيطرة ببغداد، تم خلاله بحث حلول للحد من انتشار المرض".

The source, who requested anonymity, said that "a secret meeting took place, on Saturday, at the General Company for Veterinary Baghdad, during which they discussed solutions to reduce the spread of disease."

وكان مصدر في وزارة الصحة العراقية كشف في 15، من الشهر الحالي في حديث لـ"السومرية نيوز"، عن وجود حالة لأنفلونزا الطيور"H5N1" في العاصمة بغداد، مؤكدا في الوقت نفسه ظهور نتائج ايجابية بعد حملة تنفذها فرق وزارة الزراعة الفنية للحد من انتشار الوباء.

A source in the Iraqi Ministry of Health revealed in 15, this month in an interview for "Alsumaria News", a case of bird flu "H5N1" in the capital, Baghdad, stressing at the same time, the emergence of positive results after a campaign carried out by teams of the Ministry of Agriculture technical limit the spread of epidemic.

ويوجد في محافظة بابل وحسب مامسجل لدى مديرية زراعة بابل 665، قاعة لتربية الدواجن المنتشرة في مركز واقضية ونواحي المحافظة.

There are in the province of Babylon, according to the Agriculture Department Mamsgel Babylon 665, Hall of poultry deployed in the center and the districts and the areas of the province.

Iraq: H5N1 in Poultry - 50 Miles So. of Baghdad

Baghdad, January 30 / Qena / announced here today on the detection of cases of bird flu, "H5N1", in Babil province south of Iraq.

Medical sources said that the results of tests carried out on poultry in the market / Ala Judge / central city of Hilla, revealed the presence of a single case of bird flu.