DECEMBER 10, 2012
Indonesian Poultry Society Federation (FPMI) states, since the discovery of the virus of avian influenzaor bird flu, better known, commercial poultry animal health began to tighten security. Especially in broiler chicken farms.
"We seek improved biosecurity on commercial farms. We anticipate the spread of bird flu in chickens with increased officer training at home, "said Chairman Don P. FPMI Utoyo when contacted by Tempo , Monday, December 10, 2012.
Biosecurity chicken farms are safeguards to prevent the spread of avian viruses. This is done through various means, such as spraying disinfectant, hand washing behavior, change clothes before and after direct contact with poultry, wild birds and not let into the ranch.
"Ranch commercial, both small and great, anticipating tight. First duck is still resistant to the virus, but apparently no change in nature so that it now can make dead duck, " Utoyo added.
Till today, he added, the farmers always make sure there are no chickens were infected with this virus. Healthy chickens are also guaranteed to be cut at the slaughterhouse. Therefore, he was not worried about the demand for chicken will be reduced.
broiler production averaged 36-38 million birds a week. The production came from farms in Lampung, North Sumatra, Palembang, South Sulawesi, Bali and Java. While the biggest chicken consumption is the Greater Jakarta area.
"Jabodetabek consumption is one third of the production. The rest of Java and outside Java than Jabodetabek, "he said.
recently, discovered hundreds of thousands of ducks owned poultry farmers in Java sudden death.Most duck deaths occurred in four provinces, namely East Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and West Java.
http://www2.tempo.co/read/news/2012/12/10/090447029/Peternak-Ayam-Boiler-Perketat-Pengamanan-Kesehatan
Monday, December 10, 2012
The new type of bird flu virus found in Indonesia 2.3.2 Strain
[You can look to the right side-bar for more information on the 2.3.2.1 strain.]
10 December 2012
Hundreds of thousands of birds in some regions ducks died from bird flu strain recently discovered in Indonesia.
Director of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, told Radio Australia Pujiatmoko explaining Ministry have detected the presence of a new type derived from bird flu since last September.
10 December 2012
Hundreds of thousands of birds in some regions ducks died from bird flu strain recently discovered in Indonesia.
Director of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, told Radio Australia Pujiatmoko explaining Ministry have detected the presence of a new type derived from bird flu since last September.
Certainty new type of bird flu virus in the world known as Avian Influenza after passing through a series of tests in a laboratory involving researchers.
The Ministry of Agriculture said the bird flu virus newly discovered variant of the H5N1 strain.
"Sub her type 2.3.2 which is a new finding in Indonesia different from AI virus that has been there, of 2.1," said Pujiatmoko.
He continued finding new types of bird flu in Indonesia is expected because of the bird flu virus mutation that still do detailed research.
Another possibility that is due to the introduction of bird flu virus outside of migratory birds such as wild ducks and poultry imports from abroad.
For the prevention of the spread, the Ministry has been instructed to do persiapaan genocide and Local Government advised not maintain ducks unite with other types of birds to the farmers.
"We will also coordinate with the Ministry of Health about the findings of a new type of AI that the findings in humans, " said Pujiatmoko.
So far there have been no reports of a new type strain of bird flu in humans in Indonesia.
Type of bird flu virus has previously been found in India, Vietnam and China.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association of Local Poultry has reported more than 300 thousand ducks died last week.
Death ducks recently discovered in four provinces of the island of Java, West Java, Central Java, East Java and Yogyakarta.
"We are asking the Government to stop the import ban breeding ducks and duck mixing seeds with less local and offshore," said Ade Zulkarnaen Businessmen's Association Local Poultry Indonesia.
Researchers Avian Influenza from Airlangga University, Surabaya, CA. Nidom states government needs to do a thorough research related to these new findings, especially related problems that usually survive death duck and Cuma is a carrier of the virus alone.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/indonesian/2012-12-10/jenis-baru-virus-flu-burung-ditemukan-di-indonesia/1058696
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/indonesian/2012-12-10/jenis-baru-virus-flu-burung-ditemukan-di-indonesia/1058696
Indonesia: 2.3.2 Strain of #H5N1 Found In Indonesia
December 10, 2012
Excerpt:
Not long ago, discovered hundreds of thousands of ducks owned poultry farmers in Java sudden death. Most duck deaths occurred in four provinces, namely East Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and West Java.
Ministry of Agriculture to make sure the case death of thousands of ducks in some areas due to avian influenza virus or better known as the bird flu (H5N1). However, a virus that attacks the duck comes from a variant or a group of viruses is different from before.
Variants of the virus that attacks the ducks coded 2.3.2 is similar to the bird flu virus that originated from a number of countries. The similarity of the virus that initially attacks the chicken's lot was already there in Vietnam, China, Laos, Thailand.
Idaho: Seasonal Flu Update: 3 Deaths
From the Dept. of Health & Welfare:
NEWS RELEASE--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Dec. 3, 2012 Contact: Niki Forbing-Orr Public Information Officer (208) 334-0693 Health officials report first flu-related deaths this year in Idaho Public health officials are reporting this week that three women have died from influenza-related causes; one from Southeast Idaho and two from Southwest Idaho. All three were over the age of 50 and are the first reported flu-related deaths in Idaho this year.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the
people who died from complications of the flu,” said Dr. Kathryn
Turner, PhD, Communicable Disease Prevention Bureau Chief at the Idaho
Department of Health and Welfare. “With the holiday season fast
approaching, we strongly urge people to be vaccinated for flu so they
and their loved ones remain healthy through the season.”
This years’ influenza season has hit
earlier than in previous years, making it even more critical to get the
vaccine as soon as possible. It is especially important that people at
high risk for complications from the flu and anyone in close contact to
those people are vaccinated. People at higher risk include infants,
pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma,
diabetes, or heart disease, and people 65 and older.
The flu vaccine protects against three
different strains of the flu that public health monitoring has indicated
are likely to be circulating, so even if you’ve had the flu, you are
still vulnerable to other strains of the virus. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months older and older
should be vaccinated unless they have a severe allergy to chicken eggs
or have had a severe reaction to the flu vaccine in the past.
“This years’ flu vaccine is a great match
to the circulating strains,” Turner said. “However, it takes about two
weeks before peak antibody levels are reached and the vaccine’s
protection is maximized. Unfortunately, only about a third of adults and
40 percent of children have received the flu vaccine so far this
season. We’d really like to see an increase in vaccinations so people
have a better chance at staying healthy.”
Most people who
get influenza recover after a few days, but it is possible to develop
serious complications and die from the virus. One of the most serious
flu-related complications is bacterial pneumonia, caused by the
bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, another vaccine-preventable
respiratory illness. Those over the age of 65 and people with certain
chronic illnesses or weakened immune system are at a high risk for this
illness and should receive a pneumonia shot at least once. The pneumonia
shot can be given at the same time as the flu shot. Talk to your
healthcare provider about what shots are right for you.
This week is National Influenza
Immunization Week, which is a good time to remember that the influenza
virus and other respiratory illnesses usually spread person-to-person
through coughing and sneezing. People are urged to:
· Cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to prevent infecting other people.
· Avoid people who appear sick.
· Stay home from work when sick,
· Wash their hands frequently,
especially after being out in the public. Avoid touching their eyes,
noses and mouths until they have washed their hands.
· Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, eat nutritious foods and take part in physical activity to stay healthy.
For information about influenza and how to stay healthy, please visit www.cdc.gov/flu. For information about bacterial pneumonia, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/streppneum_t.htm
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New Zealand: Laboratory ready for any pandemic
December 10, 2012
Press Release – Waikato District Health Board
The high-tech lab service, which carried out more than 7 million tests last year and is now capable of far more, includes a special containment lab for testing suspected infectious samples. It’s one of only two PC3 labs in New Zealand hospitals.Media Release
10 December, 2012
Laboratory ready for any pandemic
Waikato Hospital’s redeveloped laboratory will have a pivotal role in any national pandemic.
The high-tech lab service, which carried out more than 7 million tests last year and is now capable of far more, includes a special containment lab for testing suspected infectious samples. It’s one of only two PC3 labs in New Zealand hospitals.
It is currently used for the testing of tuberculosis but could quickly become a national testing base in an emergency, such as a bird flu or SARS outbreak.
The laboratory has had a $10 million revamp in the past four years, with a new open plan layout developed, paving the way for a major upgrade of the main biochemistry analysers for testing blood samples. That went hand-in-hand with a new lab information system which together set up the laboratory to cope with future demands.
“There’s been a real change in the way we work and in our processes,” says group manager for Clinical and Support Services, Melinda Ch’ng.
“This has been an investment in front-end technology which will take us into the future.”
The new part-robotic testing system has been the baby of Mark Jones, a medical lab scientist in charge of automation. He says the improvements in productivity and efficiency are an immediate payback.
“It’s been a success from day one.”
None of the redevelopment came easily. The laboratory runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, employing 170 staff, so testing work had to continue while the build and installation went on.
Other DHBs have been taking an interest in the new lab setup, while the National Health Board has been “tremendously supportive”, Melinda says.
Laboratory Services manager Kay Stockman says there’s still scope for further refinement of the information system. “This is the most advanced laboratory information system in New Zealand and will allow further technological advances when fully developed.”
The information system, the first of its kind in Australasia, had modifications to meet Waikato and national requirements and follows the DHB’s “paperlite” principle with most requests scanned in and results sent out electronically.
The laboratory, which also has outposts at Thames, Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui hospitals, does specialist testing for the Midland region, works closely with the privately owned Pathlab in Hamilton, doing after-hours work, and can support Auckland labs when required.
Melinda says the five Waikato DHB labs now function seamlessly under the new integrated process.
“The laboratory is a complex business and the new information system, analysers and refurbishment support, streamline and strengthen work processes,” she says.
ENDS
Press Release – Waikato District Health Board
The high-tech lab service, which carried out more than 7 million tests last year and is now capable of far more, includes a special containment lab for testing suspected infectious samples. It’s one of only two PC3 labs in New Zealand hospitals.Media Release
10 December, 2012
Laboratory ready for any pandemic
Waikato Hospital’s redeveloped laboratory will have a pivotal role in any national pandemic.
The high-tech lab service, which carried out more than 7 million tests last year and is now capable of far more, includes a special containment lab for testing suspected infectious samples. It’s one of only two PC3 labs in New Zealand hospitals.
It is currently used for the testing of tuberculosis but could quickly become a national testing base in an emergency, such as a bird flu or SARS outbreak.
The laboratory has had a $10 million revamp in the past four years, with a new open plan layout developed, paving the way for a major upgrade of the main biochemistry analysers for testing blood samples. That went hand-in-hand with a new lab information system which together set up the laboratory to cope with future demands.
“There’s been a real change in the way we work and in our processes,” says group manager for Clinical and Support Services, Melinda Ch’ng.
“This has been an investment in front-end technology which will take us into the future.”
The new part-robotic testing system has been the baby of Mark Jones, a medical lab scientist in charge of automation. He says the improvements in productivity and efficiency are an immediate payback.
“It’s been a success from day one.”
None of the redevelopment came easily. The laboratory runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, employing 170 staff, so testing work had to continue while the build and installation went on.
Other DHBs have been taking an interest in the new lab setup, while the National Health Board has been “tremendously supportive”, Melinda says.
Laboratory Services manager Kay Stockman says there’s still scope for further refinement of the information system. “This is the most advanced laboratory information system in New Zealand and will allow further technological advances when fully developed.”
The information system, the first of its kind in Australasia, had modifications to meet Waikato and national requirements and follows the DHB’s “paperlite” principle with most requests scanned in and results sent out electronically.
The laboratory, which also has outposts at Thames, Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui hospitals, does specialist testing for the Midland region, works closely with the privately owned Pathlab in Hamilton, doing after-hours work, and can support Auckland labs when required.
Melinda says the five Waikato DHB labs now function seamlessly under the new integrated process.
“The laboratory is a complex business and the new information system, analysers and refurbishment support, streamline and strengthen work processes,” she says.
ENDS
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Kathmandu: Nimbus announces bird flu relief fund
KATHMANDU, Dec 9: Nimbus, a
leading producer of farm inputs, has announced Bird Flu Relief Fund
worth Rs 7.5 million to provide compensation to farmers facing huge loss
due to the outbreak of avian influenza.
Ananda Bagaria, managing director of Nimbus, said the firm would also launch free insurance scheme for poultry farmers. “Only the farmers buying Shakti pellet feeds for at least six months will be eligible for the compensation,” said Bagaria.
Jagadish Agrawal, chairman of the firm, unveiled the fund, which is a part of its Nimbus Helping Hand -- an integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign.
“We have been extending support in agriculture, education, health and social service for the past few years as part of our social responsibility. We established the fund, keeping in view our responsibility toward farmers who are the major buyers of our products,” Agrawal told a press meet on Sunday.
Through the fund, the firm, which produces Shakti brand of pellet feed for poultry, plans to compensate the farmers if they face loss due to outbreak of the deadly disease in their farms.
“We will provide the amount equivalent to the compensation provided by the government to the affected farmers within a week of the assessment of loss,” Dr Sital Kaji Shrestha, senior manager of Nimbus, told the press meet.
Ananda Bagaria, managing director of Nimbus, said the firm would also launch free insurance scheme for poultry farmers. “Only the farmers buying Shakti pellet feeds for at least six months will be eligible for the compensation,” said Bagaria.
Jagadish Agrawal, chairman of the firm, unveiled the fund, which is a part of its Nimbus Helping Hand -- an integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign.
“We have been extending support in agriculture, education, health and social service for the past few years as part of our social responsibility. We established the fund, keeping in view our responsibility toward farmers who are the major buyers of our products,” Agrawal told a press meet on Sunday.
Through the fund, the firm, which produces Shakti brand of pellet feed for poultry, plans to compensate the farmers if they face loss due to outbreak of the deadly disease in their farms.
“We will provide the amount equivalent to the compensation provided by the government to the affected farmers within a week of the assessment of loss,” Dr Sital Kaji Shrestha, senior manager of Nimbus, told the press meet.
WHO: 80% of China Deaths from Non-Communicable Diseases
December 7, 2012
World Health Organization officials are urging China to reduce the country’s high rates of non-communicable diseases, warning that medical costs and productivity losses stemming from those diseases will amount to significant economic losses for the world’s second-largest economy.
Heart disease, strokes, diabetes and chronic lung disease are mounting in China, accounting for 80% of deaths and more than 70% of the country’s health expenditures, said Michael O’Leary, the WHO representative to China, in a press briefing Friday. By 2015, a decade of costs tied to health care and losses of productivity from diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are expected to reach as high as $550 billion, Mr. O’Leary said
Continued: http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/12/07/who-80-of-china-deaths-from-non-communicable-diseases/
World Health Organization officials are urging China to reduce the country’s high rates of non-communicable diseases, warning that medical costs and productivity losses stemming from those diseases will amount to significant economic losses for the world’s second-largest economy.
Heart disease, strokes, diabetes and chronic lung disease are mounting in China, accounting for 80% of deaths and more than 70% of the country’s health expenditures, said Michael O’Leary, the WHO representative to China, in a press briefing Friday. By 2015, a decade of costs tied to health care and losses of productivity from diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are expected to reach as high as $550 billion, Mr. O’Leary said
Continued: http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/12/07/who-80-of-china-deaths-from-non-communicable-diseases/
North Carolina: Seasonal Flu Update: 3 Deaths
By Michael Abramowitz
The Daily Reflector
Sunday, December 9, 2012
With the flu season fully under way, there were nearly as many confirmed reports of the disease at one Pitt County health facility in one day this week as all of last year.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza can peak any time between October and May, but this season, Vidant Medical Center is seeing an early start to the flu season.
The hospital had its first positive flu case of the season on Nov. 1, according to Bill Cleve, Vidant public health epidemiologist. Since then, the number of cases has steadily increased the past four weeks.
State health officials reported the state’s first two deaths of the 2012-13 flu season. Both victims were adults from the Triad region. According to State Health Director Laura Gerald, one of the individuals was at higher risk for complications from flu because of advanced age and pre-existing medical conditions, but the other had no known risk factors for severe influenza illness. Neither had received the flu vaccine.
http://www.reflector.com/news/flu-hitting-early-and-hard-1509199
And like South Carolina (posted below), they are having restrictions at the hospital:
The sharp increase in influenza cases in the Triad, including two deaths in Forsyth County, has led one hospital to begin visitor restrictions for the second time in four flu seasons.
High Point Regional Health System started Thursday not allowing visitors younger than 18 to enter patient rooms, lobbies and waiting areas.
“This decision is based on recommendations from the health system’s infection control committee to combat the spread of influenza among patients,” said Dr. Dale Williams, chief medical officer at High Point Regional.
The state agency’s flu website – www.flu.nc.gov – lists a third death in the state. It reports 113 confirmed cases through the first eight weeks of the flu season, or as of Dec. 1, all but four being the A (H3) subtype.
Some 23 cases have been reported in the Triad and Northwest N.C.: nine in Guilford, five in Forsyth, four in Watauga, and one each in Alamance, Davidson, Randolph, Rockingham and Stokes.
http://tinyurl.com/cwo99jk
Here is the Chart mentioned above at www.flu.nc.gov that lists 3 deaths:
Wisconsin Seasonal Flu #H3N2 Total of 4 Deaths Thus Far
Wisconsin has not posted their Week 48 data. As of the reporting period of Week 47, which ends November 23rd, they have NOT had any deaths yet (since October 5th), so all 4 of their deaths had to occur in the last week.
Here are a few articles I found:
December 9, 2012
Excerpts:
More, from the article
Excerpts:
Influenza-associated pediatric deaths (October 5, 2012-present)
Week 12-47 Total to Date
Wisconsin 0 0
United States 0 2
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/influenza/Reports/2012_47_SurveillanceReport.pdf
Here are a few articles I found:
December 9, 2012
Excerpts:
The state Division of Public Health reported four flu-related deaths and 26 hospitalizations as of Dec. 4. No hospitalizations had been reported by this time last year.
There have been 113-laboratory confirmed influenza cases reported in Wisconsin so far this season, compared to seven by this time in 2011
The dominant flu strain this year is H3N2, a more severe strain that has been around since 1968, according to Dr. Ed Belongia, director of the Epidemiology Research Center at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation.
About five times more influenza tests have been performed at the Clinic so far in 2012 than were performed by the same time in 2011. http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/flu-season-starts-out-early-deadly-gj7t0ec-181941371.html
More, from the article
Excerpts:
Public health officials aren't sure what's behind the uptick in hospitalizations so early in the season.
A previously seen influenza A H3N2 strain - the dominant strain so far this flu season - appeared to be a good match for the current vaccine, said Paul Biedrzycki, director of disease control and environmental health for the Milwaukee Health Department. "However, you can't rule out a possible mutation in the flu virus," Biedrzycki said Monday. "Flu viruses change unexpectedly and arbitrarily."
During the 2003-'04 flu season, more than 48,000 people died nationwide. The dominant flu then is the same dominant strain seen so far this season - A/H3N2 (the same subtype as Hong Kong flu) - according to the CDC. This influenza strain generally causes more severe flu seasons. It's related to the Hong Kong pandemic strain, which caused nearly 34,000 deaths in the United States in 1968 and 1969. That was the last pandemic before the 2009 swine flu pandemic (also known as H1N1).
Scientists are now investigating whether the genes of the seasonal A/H3N2 could have mutated, resulting in a more severe and/or more easily transmissible flu not covered exactly by the flu vaccine developed six to eight months ago, Biedrzycki said. "It has to be a change in the bug or a change in susceptibility, which could include low vaccination rates," he said. Of the first 12 influenza-related hospitalizations this season in Wisconsin, three-fourths had not received flu shots, Haupt said. Four of the 12 were ages 18 to 49, two were ages 50 to 64, and six were 65 or older. Those who did get the shot but developed flu complications anyway did not gain full protection from the flu shot. Information on the 14 others hospitalized was not immediately available.
http://tinyurl.com/b52xsfx
South Carolina Season Flu Update Week 48: 5 Pediatric Deaths
For the weekend ending December 1, the CDC reports 5 deaths during the last week, since the last report. The first death this year from seasonal flu, specifically H3N2 most likely, was confirmed on November 26th. That was 13 days ago. It was in Barnwell County, which is Region 5, midland section of the State.
October 19th, was the start of the "official flu season in South Carolina, with 3 cases reported:
By November 28th, they had a confirmed death, reported on the 26th, and the flu was widespread:
The Regional Medical Center, is restricting visitation by children 12 years old and younger:
December 8th:
And I just found this bit of information:
October 19th, was the start of the "official flu season in South Carolina, with 3 cases reported:
Three cases of the flu have been reported in South Carolina at the start of the official influenza season, according to the S.C. Department of Environmental Health and Control.
http://tinyurl.com/ces3w9r
By November 28th, they had a confirmed death, reported on the 26th, and the flu was widespread:
Widespread cases of the virus have been reported across the state with the peak of flu season still three months away in the heart of winter.
http://tinyurl.com/aemdhe3
The Regional Medical Center, is restricting visitation by children 12 years old and younger:
December 8th:
Because of the early outbreak of the flu, the Regional Medical Center has restricted visitation throughout the hospital by children 12 and younger.
“The flu season has started early and we have seen a relatively large number of cases in this area already this year,” said RMC Infectious Disease Specialist John Samies, MD. “For the safety of small children and to reduce the spread of flu germs, all children who are 12 and under are not allowed as visitors in the hospital at this time.”
Samies added, “If you are older than 12 and you have cold or flu-like symptoms, please do not visit the hospital until you are better.”
“Newborns do not fight infections well and children are often contagious for several days before they have symptoms. To reduce the possibility of our newborns being exposed to flu, we are asking that young children not visit Her Place until after flu season is over. This policy is consistent with hospitals in areas where there is a high volume of flu cases,” RMC Pediatric Hospitalist Charles Kilgore, MD, said.
“This is something that we are taking very seriously,” Samies said. “The Center for Disease Control has reported that there have been five deaths in South Carolina so far this flu season.
“We hope that individuals understand that this policy is needed to protect our patients.”
http://tinyurl.com/dxygov8
And I just found this bit of information:
South Carolina's health department shows five influenza deaths in that state, two children under age 4, one middle aged adult and two elderly adults.
http://www.examiner.com/article/influenza-threat-highest-across-south
South Carolina: Seasonal Flu Update
On the right side-bar of this blog, located at the very bottom is the category "Worldwide Update on Influenza Activity". It is there that you can be kept up-to-date on the weekly reports of flu activity.
South Carolina caught my eye this past week. Here are a few excerpts:
From the CDC - Seasonal Influenza Weekly Report for Week 48: (click on chart to enlarge)
South Carolina caught my eye this past week. Here are a few excerpts:
“Our big concern right now is that the flu virus is very active at this time in South Carolina, resulting in widespread activity in the state showing a significant increase in the number of cases being reported to us,” DHEC’s Beasley said earlier this week. “Considering that between Sept. 30 and all the previous weeks, we had been reporting rapid flu tests had totaled around 700 and then last week (Nov. 24) we reported 1,200, more than the previous weeks combined, definitely showed we had a significant increase statewide.”
As of Dec. 1, five people have died from the flu in South Caroilna, 131 have been hospitalized, 5,922 positive rapid tests and 85 positive lab-tested specimens have been reported. The 2011-2012 season had a total of 2,552 positive rapid antigen tests and one death. The 2010-2011 season saw a total of 47,106 positive rapid antigen tests and 20 deaths.
These numbers, as well as influenza-like illnesses seen by doctors and positive lab-tested specimens, are reported to DHEC weekly.
According to the CDC’s Nov. 24 influenza surveillance report, activity is most intense in the south-central and southeast portion of the country right now, with most of the infections stemming from the H3N2 viruses, a strain typically associated with more severe seasons.
From the CDC - Seasonal Influenza Weekly Report for Week 48: (click on chart to enlarge)
South Carolina: Between October 1, 2012 and December 1, 2012, 417 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations were reported. This is a rate of 1.5 per 100,000 population. Among all hospitalizations, 319 (76.5%) were associated with influenza A, 90 (21.6%) with influenza B; there was no virus type information for 8 (1.9%) hospitalizations. Among hospitalizations with influenza A subtype information, 85 (96.6%) were attributed to H3 and 3 (3.4%) were attributed to 2009 H1N1. The most commonly reported underlying medical conditions among hospitalized adults were metabolic conditions, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and chronic lung disease (excluding asthma).
Saturday, December 8, 2012
H3N2 strain of the flu expected to make people sicker this year
By
December 6, 2012
The flu hasn’t quite hit central Pennsylvania yet, but medical professionals are gearing up for what could be a bad year.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen significant increases in flu cases in the past couple of weeks, especially in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee.
The strain of flu that seems to predominate this year — the H3N2 strain of influenza A — was last seen nearly a decade ago. It is a strain that has tended to make people sicker, with higher fever, more respiratory distress and other symptoms more likely to send them to a doctor or land them in a hospital.
It will likely be hitting Pennsylvania soon, according to John Goldman, an infectious disease specialist with PinnacleHealth.
As of Dec. 1, the state Department of Health reported some increase in flu cases, especially in the western part of the state. Cases have been reported in 53 of 67 counties.
John Messmer, a family practitioner with the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said it is hard to predict the severity of a flu season because the virus tends to mutate. Sometimes a slight change in the strain can make a big difference in the body’s reaction to it.
“The message is, you just don’t know,” he said.
It’s always best to get a flu shot to be safe, he said. There are plenty available.
Goldman said he has seen a couple of cases of flu so far, and the flu season seems to be starting earlier than normal. Once it starts in one part of the country, it usually spreads quickly, he said.
Nationwide, two children have died of the illness this year. The last time the H3N2 strain struck, more than 48,000 people died in one of the most lethal seasons in the past 35 years, according to the CDC.
But Goldman said there is an advantage this year compared to the 2003-04 flu season. This year, the type of vaccine matches well with the strains of virus. That was not the case nine years ago.
The CDC recommends flu shots for everyone over six months old, and says they are particularly important for pregnant women, anyone with a chronic illness, anyone over 65, children under 5 and people living with the elderly or others at high risk of developing complications.
More than 200,000 people are hospitalized every year due to complications of the flu, according to the CDC.
Flu vaccines are readily available. Many employers provide them, and they are available at doctors’ offices, walk-in clinics and many pharmacies.
Patient First runs 42 clinics in three states, including clinics in Mechanicsburg and the Colonial Park area. It offers flu shots on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
So far, the clinics are delivering about the same number of vaccines as last year, according to spokeswoman Dara Rees. But the numbers have increased by 73 percent this week compared to last week, after the CDC promoted National Influenza Vaccination Week Dec. 2 to Dec. 8.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/12/flu_season.html?Public Health Chiefs, Drs. Frieden And Fauci, Discuss Flu Season And Vaccines On C-SPAN
[bolding is mine]
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
With flu season upon us already, and most state health departments issuing advisories warning about influenza, Americans are in for a long season.
In an interview on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal Dec. 8, Dr. Anthony Fauci, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases Director and Dr. Thomas Frieden, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Director discuss the role and state of public health in America with a strong emphasis on the current flu season.
How well is America prepared for the flu season?
Dr. Fauci says we are in the beginning of the 2012-13 flu season and we are seeing a “tick-up” earlier this year. Flu season generally kicks off during the late December to January months.
Fauci does say although we are off to an early start, the flu strain circulating (H3N2) is very well matched to the flu vaccine, in which 112 million doses have already been administered. In addition, this strain is not showing resistance to antiviral flu drugs like Tamiflu.
CDC Director Frieden also sounds optimistic on preparations for this flu season; however, he did express some concerns.
The vaccination rate of allied health care workers and nursing home workers are below 50 percent, becoming a risk both to themselves and to the patients they treat.
Pregnant woman and the flu is also an area of concern, Frieden states. Pregnant women who contract the flu can get very ill and even die from the viral illness.
Frieden stresses, “the single most important factor in determining if a pregnant woman gets vaccinated is whether her obstetrician offers the vaccine in his or her office.” If the OB doctor does offer it, Frieden says that there is a 75 percent that she will get the vaccine.
Making getting the flu vaccine easier is a key to getting the population vaccinated.
Fauci says that the likelihood of flu mutation or development of resistance to antivirals this year is small.
Frieden says that influenza, which can be mild most people, sends hundreds of thousands of people to the hospital annually and kills thousands. In fact, Frieden reports several deaths in children already.
“Anyone six months or older should get vaccinated”, says Frieden. In addition, children with special needs should receive treatment quickly.
Should parents be concerned giving the flu vaccine to their children?
Fauci unequivocally says no. “On the contrary, they should be encouraged to give their children the vaccine”.
He says the vaccine had decades of safety experience plus if you keep infections low among children, the elderly grandparents are less likely to contract the flu. The elderly are also particularly susceptible to the flu.
The flu vaccine typically takes roughly two weeks to induce a good immune response and in about a month excellent protection.
Fauci also states that it is a myth that people get sick from the flu shot. Typically what happens is people get the flu before the vaccine take effect or possibly its just the common cold.
Frieden says that the billion dollar question concerning the flu is, could there be a repeat of 1918 pandemic?
“Of all the infectious disease threats, I still think its still influenza that makes a most concerned because a severe pandemic is still possible”, he said.
A global warning system is in place just for this reason. Frieden says we have to be ready for something like this because if not, it’ll be very costly in terms of economics and lives.
Frieden and Fauci also discuss other areas of public health to include HIV/AIDS in the interview. To view the entire 1 hr. 20 min interview, click here.
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Study finds influenza C in kids hospitalized with pneumonia
CIDRAP:
Lisa Schnirring 
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Dec 7, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – Influenza C generally isn't thought to
be a cause clinically significant disease, but a study in Italian
children who were seen in the emergency department for pneumonia found
the virus in five children, with a disease severity that resembled
influenza A.
The study evaluated data from four flu seasons from 2008-09 to
2011-12 at a pediatric clinic in Milan and appeared today in an early
online edition of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses.
Influenza C can infect humans and pigs, and infections are rare compared with influenza A and B.
The researchers included healthy children from ages 1 month to 14
years who were seen because of fever and lower respiratory tract
symptoms and whose chest radiographs suggested community-acquired
pneumonia. Respiratory swabs and sera were collected, and researchers
noted patients' clinical information and whether each child was
hospitalized.
Respiratory samples were tested for influenza A, B, and C, and the
samples that tested positive were tested for several other viral
coinfections. Researchers sequenced the positive influenza C samples to
determine the lineage.
Of 391 children included in the study, influenza C was identified
in 5 (1.3%). Influenza A was detected in 26 children, and influenza B
was found in 3. Influenza C was found only during two of the four
seasons: 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Four of the children with influenza C were younger than 3 years
old, and one was 14 years old. No viral coinfections were found in the
children who had influenza C.
All of the children with influenza C infections were hospitalized,
but their clinical symptoms improved a few days later. Researchers
observed that the severity of influenza C symptoms was similar to those
for influenza A, but worse than in kids with pneumonia related to
influenza B. All children with influenza C pneumonia recovered with no
disease recurrence, according to the study.
Phylogenetic analysis showed that the five influenza C viruses
clustered in two of the six lineages: Kanagawa/1/76 and Sao
Paulo/378/82.
The group wrote that the study is the first that they know of that
gauges the importance of influenza C in pediatric community-acquired
pneumonia. However, they noted that further study is needed to determine
what role influenza C plays during other parts of the year, given that
previous studies have shown that the virus doesn't have the same
seasonal pattern as the other two flu types.
Though the similar clinical pictures between influenza A and
influenza C have been found in other studies, the role of influenza C is
notable, especially since it can be an important cause of
community-acquired pneumonia in kids, the authors write.
The findings of the study have parallels to a 2006 study on
hospitalized Spanish infants conducted from September 1999 through July
2003, which found influenza C infections in six of 706 children.
Three of the six, however, had viral coinfections, and the earlier
study did not focus exclusively on community-acquired pneumonia. As
with the Italian study, though, the influenza C infections in the
Spanish study were clinically similar to influenza A infections.
Principi N, Scala A, Daleno C, et al. Influenza C virus-associated community-acquired pneumonia in children. Influenza Other Respi Viruses 2012 Dec 7 [Abstract]
See also:
October 2006 Emerg Infect Dis letter
European labs use novel coronavirus tests, devise new ones
CIDRAP:
Robert Roos News Editor
News Editor
Dec 7, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – Diagnostic tests for the novel
coronavirus (CoV) that recently emerged in the Middle East are being
deployed rapidly in Europe, and about 250 patients have already been
tested for the virus, according to the European Centre for Disease
Prevention and Control (ECDC).
An ECDC survey revealed that a screening test for the virus is
available in 23 of 46 responding countries in the World Health
Organization's (WHO's) European Region, according to a report yesterday
in Eurosurveillance. Those include 19 of 30 countries in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).
Confirmatory testing of positive screened samples is available in
22 of 46 responding countries, including 18 of 30 EU and EEA countries,
according to the survey. Six EU and EEA countries reported that they had
tested about 250 patients who met the WHO surveillance criteria, the
ECDC said.
The available screening test was the upE RT-PCR
(reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) assay, while
confirmatory testing involved ORF1b RT-PCR or other target RT-PCR assays
with sequence analysis, the report said.
Nine novel CoV infections, with five deaths, have been identified in the world so far.
In a companion report, a German team describes a new confirmatory
test for the novel CoV and a serologic test to detect antibodies to the
virus. The authors say the recent investigation of a cluster of novel
CoV cases in Saudi Arabia suggested that RT-PCR testing may miss cases
in patients with symptoms and epidemiologic links to known cases.
The team used samples from a patient who was treated in Germany to
develop their tests. (The WHO reported on Nov 23 that a Qatari man had
been flown to Germany for treatment and recovered there.) The new
confirmatory test is described as a "rigorously validated and highly
sensitive" real-time RT-PCR assay targeting the ORF1a gene, called the
1A assay, which can be used in combination with the previously reported
upE assay.
The authors describe their serologic test as a biologically safe
immunoflorescence assay, but they note that it is unknown to what extent
novel CoV antibodies cross-react with those against common human
coronaviruses such as OC43 and HKU1.
They suggest that the serologic test might be used for
confirmatory testing of persons epidemiologically linked to novel CoV
cases. In addition, the scientists describe two other new RT-PCR assays
for sequencing, targeting the novel CoV RdRp gene and N gene.
Palm D, Pereyaslov D, Vaz J, et al. Laboratory capability
for molecular detection and confirmation of novel coronavirus in Europe,
November 2012. Euro Surveill 2012 Dec 6;17(49):pii=20335 [Full text]
Corman VM, Muller MA, Costabel U, et al. Assays for
laboratory confirmation of novel human coronavirus (hCoV-EMC)
infections. Euro Surveill 2012 Dec 6;17(49):pii=20334 [Full text]
U.S. Dept. of Ag.: Cuba Considered High Risk Source for High Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Caracas,
Saturday, December 8,2012
Miami Man Guilty of Smuggling Birds from Cuba After 16 "Negritos de Cuba" Found in His Pants.
Alberto Diaz Gonzalez pled guilty to attempting to import undeclared wildlife from Cuba after a total of 16 Cuban bullfinches (Melopyrrha nigra) or “Negritos de Cuba” were found concealed in his pants.
MIAMI -- Alberto Diaz Gonzalez, 76, of Miami, pled guilty today in Miami, for his involvement in an attempt to import undeclared wildlife from Cuba, in violation of the federal anti-smuggling statute, Title 18, United States Code, Section 545, according to Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Resident Agent in Charge David Pharo, United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Alysa Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, and Vernon Foret, Director of Field Operations, Miami Field Office, Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard accepted the plea of guilty and scheduled sentencing for February 25, 2013 at 2:00 pm. At sentencing, Diaz Gonzalez faces a possible maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
-snip-
Under federal law, all wildlife, including birds, being imported into the United States must, before being released for lawful entry, first be made available for inspection and properly declared to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Customs and Border Protection, pursuant to Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 14.52 and 14.61. Some wildlife is also subject to quarantine before they can be released into the country. The purpose of the quarantine regulations are, in part, to protect both commercial and wild species of avians in the United States from possible exposure to diseases such as Newcastle’s and other maladies against which they would have no natural immunity. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cuba is considered a high-risk source country for high pathogenic avian influenza and exotic Newcastle’s disease.
Full article: http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=654482&CategoryId=14510
Saturday, December 8,2012
Miami Man Guilty of Smuggling Birds from Cuba After 16 "Negritos de Cuba" Found in His Pants.
Alberto Diaz Gonzalez pled guilty to attempting to import undeclared wildlife from Cuba after a total of 16 Cuban bullfinches (Melopyrrha nigra) or “Negritos de Cuba” were found concealed in his pants.
MIAMI -- Alberto Diaz Gonzalez, 76, of Miami, pled guilty today in Miami, for his involvement in an attempt to import undeclared wildlife from Cuba, in violation of the federal anti-smuggling statute, Title 18, United States Code, Section 545, according to Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Resident Agent in Charge David Pharo, United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Alysa Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, and Vernon Foret, Director of Field Operations, Miami Field Office, Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard accepted the plea of guilty and scheduled sentencing for February 25, 2013 at 2:00 pm. At sentencing, Diaz Gonzalez faces a possible maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
-snip-
Under federal law, all wildlife, including birds, being imported into the United States must, before being released for lawful entry, first be made available for inspection and properly declared to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Customs and Border Protection, pursuant to Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 14.52 and 14.61. Some wildlife is also subject to quarantine before they can be released into the country. The purpose of the quarantine regulations are, in part, to protect both commercial and wild species of avians in the United States from possible exposure to diseases such as Newcastle’s and other maladies against which they would have no natural immunity. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cuba is considered a high-risk source country for high pathogenic avian influenza and exotic Newcastle’s disease.
Full article: http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=654482&CategoryId=14510
Taiwan: H5N2 Confirmed in Poultry Penghu Island
2012/12/08 19:16:08 Taipei, Dec. 8 (CNA) Outlying Penghu Island has reported the first highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak and all chickens on the affected farm have been destroyed, an official from the Council of Agriculture (COA) said Friday.
Huang Kuo-ching, deputy director of the COA’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, said the owner of the chicken farm first detected a massive die-off of 150 chickens Nov. 19 and alerted the health authorities.
Another 50 chickens died the next day and test results obtained Nov. 22 showed that H5N2 was to blame, prompting the Penghu county government to order the surviving 431 chickens killed.
According to scholars, the H5N2 virus is normally low pathogenic, but the latest outbreak was caused by a highly pathogenic strain that they said could be a mutation of the virus.
Huang said the farmer had bought chickens at an auction in Chiayi Nov. 14 and speculated that the outbreak was caused by these birds.
There are three other chickens farms around the affected one, but the bureau said it had detected no abnormalities so far, although it added that safety can only be assured after a three-month observation period.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
European Revised Plans For Pandemic Preparedness, Workshop Held 5-7 December 2012
Revising pandemic influenza preparedness strategies
16-11-2012
Evaluations of the response to the 2009 pandemic have shown that the world is ill-prepared to respond to a severe influenza pandemic or to any similar global, sustained and threatening public health emergency.
From the lessons learned it can be concluded that existing country pandemic plans have a number of gaps. Member States are in the process of revising their pandemic plans and 4 countries of the WHO European Region have published their revised plans.
A key activity of WHO/Europe in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is to provide a strong and clear guide, so that all countries of the Region can revise their pandemic influenza preparedness strategies. To this end, the existing European guidance is being revised in line with revisions from the WHO global pandemic guidance. This new version of the European guide will be discussed during a workshop on pandemic preparedness that will be held 5-7 December 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark for countries of the South-eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN), newly independent states, Switzerland and Turkey.
The meeting is organized in collaboration with the SEE Regional Health Development Centre for Communicable Diseases Surveillance in Tirana, Albania and will be facilitated by experts from WHO collaborating centres at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom and the University of Geneva, Switzerland as well as WHO headquarters.
Experts from ECDC and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Central Asian Region, Almaty, Kazakhstan will also participate.
For more information please contact: influenza@euro.who.int
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