SINGAPORE. — Asia faces twin health problems of infectious diseases stemming from animals and the emergence of drug-resistant strains of viruses that make treatment difficult, a World Health Organisation official said.
Henk Bekedam, head of WHO’s health sector development, said 75 percent of new diseases such as H1N1, H5N1 and SARS stem from animals and the best way to prevent the spread is to properly separate animals and human beings.
"In China, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, animals are still very close to people," Bekedam told Reuters in an interview yesterday on the sidelines of a health conference in Singapore. These are issues we need to continue taking up, and after SARS, we know the need to share information." The close proximity between humans and animals allows viruses and other micro-organisms to jump the species barrier. One example of this is the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus, which spreaded around the world in 2003, killing more than 800 people.
Experts have long feared the avian H5N1 flu virus would trigger a pandemic, even though it is still a disease mostly confined to birds. The close proximity between chickens and people has allowed H5N1 to jump the species barrier and infect humans, who suffer a death rate of 60 percent from the virus. — Reuters.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Hong Kong: Suspected H5N1 in Swallow, Yuen Long
Nancy suspected with bird flu virus
[Date :2010-3-31 7:10:36]
Reader's Li Yuan, Shenzhen, reports a spokesman for the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said yesterday, according to preliminary tests, one in Yuen Long Barn seized H 5 suspected of carrying bird flu virus, authorities are continuing to further confirmatory tests.
The dead bird was found on March 26, Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, Mai Po was seized, swallow normally visit in spring and summer.
The spokesman said, "As a precautionary measure, the Mai Po Nature Reserve temporarily closed from 31, 21, we will closely monitor the situation due to review the closure period should be." It is understood, Fisheries and Conservation Department has been closely monitoring the area in Mai Po Nature wild birds, from the beginning the winter of 2002, and collected faecal samples for bird flu tests H 5.
The spokesman said the dead bird was found within three kilometers of where there are five chicken farms, the department has sent staff to inspect the farm and found no abnormal mortality or symptoms of any bird flu. AFCD will step up monitoring on the farms.
The spokesman said "In response to this case, the AFCD has phoned poultry farmers reminding them to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against avian influenza. In addition to poultry farmers, we have to remind bird shop owners, license holders of pet poultry and racing pigeons to take appropriate precautions. "
The spokesman said the department will step up inspections of poultry farms, wholesale market and the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, and to remind the industry to health, to take appropriate measures against avian influenza. AFCD will continue to closely monitor the wild birds.
Suspected of carrying bird flu received the Barn body, the Hong Kong authorities have to act. FEHD will monitor the import of live poultry and live poultry retail outlets, and to remind stall operators to maintain health. Department of Health will continue to implement public health education and distribute health advice leaflets. AFCD, FEHD, the Customs and Police, will continue its efforts to intercept illegal import of poultry to reduce the inspection and quarantine of the birds did not bring the risk of avian influenza outbreaks.
The spokesman reminded the public to observe good personal hygiene, avoid contact with wild birds and live poultry and their droppings, and should wash their hands thoroughly after contact with poultry, poultry meat and egg consumption should be thoroughly cooked. If they find dead or sick birds, including wild birds and poultry carcasses can contact the 1823 Call Center Department.
[Date :2010-3-31 7:10:36]
Reader's Li Yuan, Shenzhen, reports a spokesman for the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said yesterday, according to preliminary tests, one in Yuen Long Barn seized H 5 suspected of carrying bird flu virus, authorities are continuing to further confirmatory tests.
The dead bird was found on March 26, Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, Mai Po was seized, swallow normally visit in spring and summer.
The spokesman said, "As a precautionary measure, the Mai Po Nature Reserve temporarily closed from 31, 21, we will closely monitor the situation due to review the closure period should be." It is understood, Fisheries and Conservation Department has been closely monitoring the area in Mai Po Nature wild birds, from the beginning the winter of 2002, and collected faecal samples for bird flu tests H 5.
The spokesman said the dead bird was found within three kilometers of where there are five chicken farms, the department has sent staff to inspect the farm and found no abnormal mortality or symptoms of any bird flu. AFCD will step up monitoring on the farms.
The spokesman said "In response to this case, the AFCD has phoned poultry farmers reminding them to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against avian influenza. In addition to poultry farmers, we have to remind bird shop owners, license holders of pet poultry and racing pigeons to take appropriate precautions. "
The spokesman said the department will step up inspections of poultry farms, wholesale market and the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, and to remind the industry to health, to take appropriate measures against avian influenza. AFCD will continue to closely monitor the wild birds.
Suspected of carrying bird flu received the Barn body, the Hong Kong authorities have to act. FEHD will monitor the import of live poultry and live poultry retail outlets, and to remind stall operators to maintain health. Department of Health will continue to implement public health education and distribute health advice leaflets. AFCD, FEHD, the Customs and Police, will continue its efforts to intercept illegal import of poultry to reduce the inspection and quarantine of the birds did not bring the risk of avian influenza outbreaks.
The spokesman reminded the public to observe good personal hygiene, avoid contact with wild birds and live poultry and their droppings, and should wash their hands thoroughly after contact with poultry, poultry meat and egg consumption should be thoroughly cooked. If they find dead or sick birds, including wild birds and poultry carcasses can contact the 1823 Call Center Department.
Egypt: Swine flu cases continue to drop substantially
26 March 2010
CAIRO: Swine flu in Egypt has substantially declined, announced the Central Operation Room of Crisis and Disaster Management at Information and Decision Support Center at the Cabinet of Ministers.
CAIRO: Swine flu in Egypt has substantially declined, announced the Central Operation Room of Crisis and Disaster Management at Information and Decision Support Center at the Cabinet of Ministers.
The Ministry of Health has announced that the number of swine flu cases in Egypt is substantially declining by nearly half.
The number of cases is now 16,164, according to the latest swine flu report; of these cases 15,891 have received treatment and recovered, which is 98.3 percent.
These include 5,615 cases reported in schools and 865 reported in universities. Due to the decline of the virus, during the second semester of the academic year, there will be no shutting down of any classrooms where the H1N1 virus appears. Precautionary measures will be limited to giving the student who exhibits swine flu symptoms one week off.
On the other hand, the death toll from the H1N1 virus has reached 273 with one swine flu related death during the past two weeks.
But despite the substantial decrease in the number of new swine flu cases since the beginning of February, the Ministry of Health still advises all citizens to take all the precautionary measures against he virus.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has announced one death from bird flu, a four-year-old boy from the Bani Suef, raising the death toll from the virus to 33 since it first appeared in Egypt in 2006.
Inspection committees are currently going around the country inspecting bird farms at the different governorates which led them to discover bird flu centers, according to the IDSC.
New and old diseases straining healthcare in Asia
AFP - Wednesday, March 31
SINGAPORE, March 31, 2010 (AFP) – Asia's healthcare systems are straining under the weight of lifestyle ailments linked to rising affluence while confronting new and old infectious diseases like bird flu and tuberculosis.
A rapidly ageing population, expensive medical technologies and more demanding patients are adding to the burden, said experts attending a regional healthcare conference this week in Singapore.
Budgetary constraints are hobbling government spending, but allowing the private sector to lead could take medical care further beyond the poor's reach, the experts said.
"Non-communicable diseases have become the leading cause of death in Asia," said the Economist Intelligence Unit in a study circulated at the conference, which was organised by the EIU, a sister company to The Economist magazine.
Heart disease is either the leading or second biggest cause of death in 11 Asian economies -- China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Cancer is now among the top three killers in eight out of the 11 economies.
Meanwhile governments still have to deal with emerging diseases like avian flu and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and age-old ailments that are re-emerging such as malaria and TB.
Analysts said Asia's economic transition from rural to wealthier urban life was bringing a resurgence of diseases normally associated with grinding poverty and lack of hygiene.
"Tuberculosis, malaria -- they are all coming back with a vengeance... It's quite frightening," said Phua Kai Hong, an associate professor on health policy and management at Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
"No country is an island and diseases respect no boundaries," he said.
In addition, healthcare systems must cater to the needs of Asia's fast-greying population.
Phua said Asian governments must learn to manage their healthcare systems better. This includes balancing the role of the government and private sector so that treatment remains affordable, he and other experts said.
Reforms should also ensure that healthcare programmes deal not only with vaccination and sanitation issues but also educate people about their diets, lifestyles and exercise habits.
China now has a diabetes "epidemic" as obesity rates rise on the back of growing affluence, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine said last week, with one in 10 Chinese adults now afflicted.
The hard-fought passage of US President Barack Obama's healthcare reforms has put the spotlight on the need for health insurance, but Phua said Asian governments should not view government insurance as a "magic bullet".
State subsidies for health insurance will strain budgets unless they cover the "risks of very low probability but high-cost catastrophic illnesses" and long-term care, he told reporters at the conference.
"Unfortunately, many governments look upon insurance to solve all the problems. They cover everything under the sun so there's not enough (money)."
Healthcare spending as a percentage of gross domestic product in the 11 Asian economies ranged between 3.3 and 6.3 percent for 2010, compared with 16 percent in the United States and 10.3 percent in Western Europe, the EIU said.
Arthur Higgins, chairman of the executive committee at pharmaceutical giant Bayer Healthcare, said Asia can learn from the mistakes of Europe and the United States.
The region should put more emphasis on disease prevention -- an area in which he said the West has "failed miserably".
CIDRAP: WHO reports 2 more Egyptian H5N1 cases, 1 fatal
Lisa Schnirring 
Mar 30, 2010 (CIDRAP News) – The avian H5N1 influenza virus has infected two more people in Egypt, one of them fatally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported today.
The two cases were reported by Egypt's health ministry over the last week, when flu blogs picked up on and circulated the foreign-language news reports. The two new cases, including the death, raise Egypt's H5N1 toll to 108 cases, of which 33 have been fatal.
The first case, announced by Egypt's health ministry on Mar 28, is a 30-year-old woman from Damietta governorate who was hospitalized on Mar 24 and is in critical condition. The second case, announced by the health ministry on Mar 21, is a 4-year-old boy from Beni Suef governorate who was hospitalized on Mar 18, where he received oseltamivir (Tamiflu). He died on Mar 24. The WHO report did not say when the patients got sick.
Investigations into the source of the patients' infections revealed that both had been exposed to sick and dead birds.
Egypt, in a recent update on the Strengthening Avian Influenza Detection and Response (SAIDR) Web site, has reported 70 H5N1 outbreaks in birds from Mar 1 through Mar 21. Thirteen of the outbreaks occurred at farms, and the rest involved household birds.
So far this year Egypt has reported 18 human H5N1 cases, 6 of them fatal. The number of deaths has already surpassed the country's annual totals for the disease in 2008 and 2009, which each had 4. Last year the WHO confirmed 39 Egyptian H5N1 cases, the country's highest year.
Egypt is one of three countries, along with Indonesia and Vietnam, to report H5N1 infections this year. Eight countries have reported outbreaks in poultry this year. Last week the WHO warned that H5N1 still poses a global health threat and that countries should not to let down their guard.
Briefing by Government of Viet Nam and UN System Coordinator on Influenza on Upcoming Ministerial Conference
Senior officials of the Government of Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the UN System Senior Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, Dr. David Nabarro, will hold a briefing on the “International Ministerial Conference on Animal and Pandemic Influenza: The Way Forward” (IMCAPI) at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, 1 April 2010, at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel in Bangkok.
IMCAPI, which takes place from 19 to 21 April in Hanoi, is expected to bring together Ministers of Agriculture (or Livestock) and Ministers of Health from around the world, as well as leaders from a range of international organizations. It is expected to set a new global milestone by providing a way forward on animal and pandemic influenza, and endorsing the need for further international collaboration to address emerging health threats arising at the interface between animals, humans and our changing environment. Ministers are expected to issue a Ministerial Declaration that will guide future cooperation and coordination among countries and international organizations in 2010 and beyond.
IMCAPI follows six previous high-level international conferences over the past four years which have been held to provide a platform to share experiences, identify challenges, develop solutions and provide support to respond to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and prepare for a possible pandemic.
The conference is being organized by the Government of Viet Nam in coordination with the European Union and the United States, with the support of the UN System Influenza Coordination (UNSIC) and key international agencies in animal and human health.
Those interested in attending the briefing are kindly requested to register by 31 March by sending an email to unisbkk.unescap@un.org.
The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel is located at Sukhumvit Soi 22, in Bangkok near the Phrom Phong BTS skytrain.
Refreshments will be served.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Michelle Delaney, Communication and Coordination Officer, UN System Influenza Coordination (UNSIC), by phone in Thailand on +66-81-822-8667, in Vietnam on +84-1202-011844, or by email at email: delaneym@un.org
Mr. Mitch Hsieh, UN ESCAP Information Services, by phone +66-2-288-1862, by mobile +66-81-835-8664, or by email at hsieh@un.org
- For further information on IMCAPI, go to www.imcapi-hanoi-2010.org
- For a biography of Dr. David Nabarro, go to www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=50
- For further information on UNSIC, go to www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=21 and also www.un-influenza.org/
IMCAPI, which takes place from 19 to 21 April in Hanoi, is expected to bring together Ministers of Agriculture (or Livestock) and Ministers of Health from around the world, as well as leaders from a range of international organizations. It is expected to set a new global milestone by providing a way forward on animal and pandemic influenza, and endorsing the need for further international collaboration to address emerging health threats arising at the interface between animals, humans and our changing environment. Ministers are expected to issue a Ministerial Declaration that will guide future cooperation and coordination among countries and international organizations in 2010 and beyond.
IMCAPI follows six previous high-level international conferences over the past four years which have been held to provide a platform to share experiences, identify challenges, develop solutions and provide support to respond to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and prepare for a possible pandemic.
The conference is being organized by the Government of Viet Nam in coordination with the European Union and the United States, with the support of the UN System Influenza Coordination (UNSIC) and key international agencies in animal and human health.
Those interested in attending the briefing are kindly requested to register by 31 March by sending an email to unisbkk.unescap@un.org.
The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel is located at Sukhumvit Soi 22, in Bangkok near the Phrom Phong BTS skytrain.
Refreshments will be served.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Michelle Delaney, Communication and Coordination Officer, UN System Influenza Coordination (UNSIC), by phone in Thailand on +66-81-822-8667, in Vietnam on +84-1202-011844, or by email at email: delaneym@un.org
Mr. Mitch Hsieh, UN ESCAP Information Services, by phone +66-2-288-1862, by mobile +66-81-835-8664, or by email at hsieh@un.org
- For further information on IMCAPI, go to www.imcapi-hanoi-2010.org
- For a biography of Dr. David Nabarro, go to www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=50
- For further information on UNSIC, go to www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=21 and also www.un-influenza.org/
Monday, March 29, 2010
Bulgaria - Varna - H5N1 in Buzzard
Dead bird in Bulgaria’s Varna expected to test positive for H5N1
29 March 2010 | 17:31 | FOCUS News Agency
Sofia. The regional laboratory for influenza diagnosis among birds in the coastal city of Varna has established a positive result for H5N1 flu in a Common Buzzard, the National Veterinary Service announced.
Veterinary inspectors found the bird dead in Konstantin and Elena resort in the district of Varna while carrying out monitoring on influenza among domestic and wild birds in Bulgaria.
Samples have been sent to the National Diagnosis and Research Veterinary Institute in Sofia for confirmation. The results are expected at the beginning of next week. DG SANCO has been notified.
hat-tip Dutchy
29 March 2010 | 17:31 | FOCUS News Agency
Sofia. The regional laboratory for influenza diagnosis among birds in the coastal city of Varna has established a positive result for H5N1 flu in a Common Buzzard, the National Veterinary Service announced.
Veterinary inspectors found the bird dead in Konstantin and Elena resort in the district of Varna while carrying out monitoring on influenza among domestic and wild birds in Bulgaria.
Samples have been sent to the National Diagnosis and Research Veterinary Institute in Sofia for confirmation. The results are expected at the beginning of next week. DG SANCO has been notified.
hat-tip Dutchy
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Egypt: H5N1 Bird Flu Case #108, Damietta Governorate
The Ministry of Health on Sunday said the discovery of new human case of bird flu, bringing the total number of cases in Egypt since the emergence of the disease and so far 108 cases.
The ministry said in a statement that the new situation of a woman from Damietta Governorate at the age of 30 years and in critical condition.
The statement added that Ms. Damietta was entered hospital on March 25 this suffers from high temperature, cough and difficulty in breathing, following exposure to household birds, believed to be infected with avian influenza.
The statement pointed out it was given Ms. drug (Tamiflu) was transferred to the hospital was the Abbasid to complete treatment.
hat-tip Sally
وأوضحت الوزارة فى بيان لها أن الحالة الجديدة لسيدة من محافظة دمياط تبلغ من العمر 30 عاما وحالتها حرجة.
The ministry said in a statement that the new situation of a woman from Damietta Governorate at the age of 30 years and in critical condition.
وأضاف البيان أن السيدة دخلت مستشفى صدر دمياط يوم 25 مارس / اذار الحالى تعانى من ارتفاع شديد فى درجة الحرارة وسعال وصعوبة فى التنفس، وذلك عقب تعرضها لطيور منزلية يعتقد فى إصابتها بفيروس إنفلونزا الطيور.
The statement added that Ms. Damietta was entered hospital on March 25 this suffers from high temperature, cough and difficulty in breathing, following exposure to household birds, believed to be infected with avian influenza.
وأشار البيان إلى أنه تم إعطاء السيدة عقار (تاميفلو) وتم تحويلها إلى مستشفى صدر العباسية لاستكمال علاجها.
The statement pointed out it was given Ms. drug (Tamiflu) was transferred to the hospital was the Abbasid to complete treatment.
hat-tip Sally
Denmark: H7 (LPAI)
On 24 March 2010 an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) of the type H7 was found in a holding with 2700 mallards for breeding near Brenderup in the municipality Middelfart on the island Funen. The holding was tested in accordance with the Danish surveillance programme for avian influenza in poultry. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration have established a restricted zone of 1 km around the holding and are implementing the control measures in accordance with Council directive 2005/94/EC.
On 9 March 2010 an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) of the type H7 was found in a holding with 190 mallards for breeding near Fuglebjerg in the municipality Næstved in the southwestern part of Sealand. The holding was tested in accordance with the Danish surveillance programme for avian influenza in poultry. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration have established a restricted zone of 1 km around the holding and are implementing the control measures in accordance with Council directive 2005/94/EC. The previous outbreak of LPAI in Denmark occurred in 2008.
On 9 March 2010 an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) of the type H7 was found in a holding with 190 mallards for breeding near Fuglebjerg in the municipality Næstved in the southwestern part of Sealand. The holding was tested in accordance with the Danish surveillance programme for avian influenza in poultry. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration have established a restricted zone of 1 km around the holding and are implementing the control measures in accordance with Council directive 2005/94/EC. The previous outbreak of LPAI in Denmark occurred in 2008.
Manilla Phillippines: Agri dept. bans poultry products from Denmark municipality
THE AGRICULTURE department has banned poultry products coming from a municipality in Denmark after an outbreak of bird flu there.
In March 15 notice, the department said it would no longer allow the entry into the country of domestic and wild birds as well poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen originating from Naestved Municipality in Denmark.
"Based on the report submitted... to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), an occurance of low pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in the [foreign country]," the Agriculture department said.
The virus causing avian flu has been detected in chickens at a mallard breeding farm in Fuglebjerg in Naestved Municipality.
"There is a need to prevent the entry of virus to protect the health of the local poultry population. As such, we are banning the importation of domestic and wild birds, including day-old chicks, eggs and semen," the notice read.
The Agriculture department also said it would no longer process applications to import these products. The Philippines, Singapore and Brunei remain the only bird flu-free countries in Southeast Asia since the virus resurfaced in 2003.
Kuwait bans bird imports from Denmark, Romania for bird flu disease
28/03/2010
(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Import of all types of birds and chicken eggs from Denmark and Romania is prohibited according to a resolution issued on Sunday by the Kuwait Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR).
The import ban was based on a reports by the World Health Organization suggesting that existence of the Bird Flu disease in the two European countries, said the authority in a press release.
(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Import of all types of birds and chicken eggs from Denmark and Romania is prohibited according to a resolution issued on Sunday by the Kuwait Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR).
The import ban was based on a reports by the World Health Organization suggesting that existence of the Bird Flu disease in the two European countries, said the authority in a press release.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Romania: Suspicion of avian influenza in Plauru, Tulcea County
Saturday, March 27, 2010 18:33
A new suspected bird flu was identified in the area of common Plauru Tulcea Ceatalchioi, veterinary doctors already finalizing its disinfection.
-snip-
This is the second outbreak of bird flu occurred in Tulcea County this month, after two weeks ago another outbreak was identified in the Danube Delta village Letea.
If the outbreak of Letea, veterinary doctors have killed 47 poultry, the outbreak will likely be closed on April 17, after the samples to be collected from sentinel chickens to be brought in a week will go negative.
Niciuna dintre persoanele din Letea monitorizate de medicii Autorităţii de Sănătate Publică (ASP) nu a prezentat până în momentul de faţă vreun semn de afectare virală, conform procedurilor în situaţii de urgenţă, la Spitalul Judeţean de Urgenţă din municipiu fiind pregătită o secţie cu circuit special pentru persoanele din focar care ar putea avea probleme.
None of the people monitored by doctors Letea Public Health Authority (PSA) did not show up at the moment no sign of virus damage, according to emergency procedures, the County Hospital Emergency Department in the city is ready with a particular circuit for people in the outbreak that may have problems.
În plus, ASP deţine în stocuri 1.000 de cutii de Oseltamivir şi 500 de flacoane de Relenza pentru persoanele care ar putea fi afectate. In addition, PSA has in stock 1,000 boxes of 500 vials of Oseltamivir and Relenza for people who might be affected.
A new suspected bird flu was identified in the area of common Plauru Tulcea Ceatalchioi, veterinary doctors already finalizing its disinfection.
-snip-
This is the second outbreak of bird flu occurred in Tulcea County this month, after two weeks ago another outbreak was identified in the Danube Delta village Letea.
If the outbreak of Letea, veterinary doctors have killed 47 poultry, the outbreak will likely be closed on April 17, after the samples to be collected from sentinel chickens to be brought in a week will go negative.
Niciuna dintre persoanele din Letea monitorizate de medicii Autorităţii de Sănătate Publică (ASP) nu a prezentat până în momentul de faţă vreun semn de afectare virală, conform procedurilor în situaţii de urgenţă, la Spitalul Judeţean de Urgenţă din municipiu fiind pregătită o secţie cu circuit special pentru persoanele din focar care ar putea avea probleme.
None of the people monitored by doctors Letea Public Health Authority (PSA) did not show up at the moment no sign of virus damage, according to emergency procedures, the County Hospital Emergency Department in the city is ready with a particular circuit for people in the outbreak that may have problems.
În plus, ASP deţine în stocuri 1.000 de cutii de Oseltamivir şi 500 de flacoane de Relenza pentru persoanele care ar putea fi afectate. In addition, PSA has in stock 1,000 boxes of 500 vials of Oseltamivir and Relenza for people who might be affected.
A new possible outbreak of avian influenza was found in Tulcea
March 27, 2010, 17:32
Members of the Central Operational Unit ANSVSA identified a possible outbreak of avian influenza in Tulcea floating village. So the two hens who had symptoms and the remaining birds were killed in that household.
Under the authority, chickens suspected of bird flu were raised on a farm "isolated" floating village.
"They were immediately taken preventive measures, namely the killing and destruction that household birds and disinfection have been necessary. No sick birds were found after checks the remaining households in the village or dead wild birds in the area. Currently there is no danger of spreading disease, "said representatives ANSVSA.
They claim that the floating city is "a small village, isolated, with 31 households, located on Old Chilia arm of the Danube, near the border with Ukraine.
-snip-
Members of the Central Operational Unit ANSVSA identified a possible outbreak of avian influenza in Tulcea floating village. So the two hens who had symptoms and the remaining birds were killed in that household.
Under the authority, chickens suspected of bird flu were raised on a farm "isolated" floating village.
"They were immediately taken preventive measures, namely the killing and destruction that household birds and disinfection have been necessary. No sick birds were found after checks the remaining households in the village or dead wild birds in the area. Currently there is no danger of spreading disease, "said representatives ANSVSA.
They claim that the floating city is "a small village, isolated, with 31 households, located on Old Chilia arm of the Danube, near the border with Ukraine.
-snip-
Romania: Another suspected B2B H5N1 outbreak
Excerpt:
A suspected bird flu outbreak has been reported in a remote Romanian village, the Sanitary and Veterinary Authority said on Saturday.
Samples of two dead hens were sent for confirmation of the potentially deadly H5N1 virus to the Animal Health Institute in Bucharest and on to the Weybridge laboratory in Britain, the Authority said.
The poultry in the small private farm at a village on the Danube Delta were slaughtered and the area disinfected.
"There is currently no risk of the disease spreading," the Authority said.
Two weeks ago, a bird flu outbreak was reported in the nearby village of Letea close to the Ukrainian border, the first case in Europe for a year.
hat-tip: crofsblogs
Friday, March 26, 2010
Bit of duck DNA might protect poultry from flu, scientists say
March 26, 2010 By Amina Khan
A cock and a hen roosting together. Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Influenza has for years ravaged domesticated chickens. Now scientists suggest that a small piece of duck DNA might protect the farm birds against the virus -- saving commercial flocks and lessening the possibility that humans could be exposed to dangerous strains of the disease.
In a study published online March 22 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers said they've found that a key influenza-fighting gene in wild ducks is absent in chickens. Genetically modifying chickens with a copy of that gene might render them resistant to influenza A, the most common form of flu infecting humans.
"If we could shut down influenza (in chickens), it would be of great commercial interest," said lead author Katharine E. Magor, a comparative immunologist at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
All forms of influenza originate in ducks and other wild birds, which generally carry the virus with no ill effects, releasing it into the environment when they defecate.
Magor had been trying to understand why ducks had such an effective automatic response to influenza when she heard at a conference that chickens lacked a gene called RIG-I. This gene carries the code for a protein that immediately detects the RNA of the influenza virus after the virus invades the duck's lung and tracheal cells. It then sets off a chain reaction inside those cells to help fight off the disease.
Intrigued, she and her colleagues from the University of Alberta and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., searched for the RIG-I gene in chickens and failed to find it. Then they inserted the duck gene for RIG-I into embryonic chicken cells to see whether it made the cells immune to infection by influenza viruses.
The scientists infected the chicken cells with two strains: one run-of-the-mill H5N2 virus that lived in but did not harm wild ducks, and a deadly H5N1 strain isolated from a human fatality in Vietnam that was known on occasion to kill ducks as well.
"This strain ... kills everything -- chickens in 18 hours, mice, humans -- but the virus didn't kill my ducks," Magor said. The virus didn't kill the chicken cells containing the duck gene, either -- but it did kill normal chicken cells that lacked it.
"This study underscores the importance of this particular gene in fighting viral infections," said Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, a virologist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, who was not involved in the research.
Garcia-Sastre called the potential for creating a transgenic chicken immune to bird flu "a very attractive hypothesis."
Vietnam: Influenza surveillance in 15 points - A/H1N1, A/H5N1
Friday, March 26, 2010, 9:12 (GMT +7)
GiadinhNet - Day 25 / 3, the Health Ministry said that the first condition to increase the outbreak of influenza A/H1N1, A/H5N1 flu, the Health Ministry has directed the local monitor, detect, isolate the cases of flu in 15 points in the community.
GiadinhNet - Day 25 / 3, the Health Ministry said that the first condition to increase the outbreak of influenza A/H1N1, A/H5N1 flu, the Health Ministry has directed the local monitor, detect, isolate the cases of flu in 15 points in the community.
And check the local implementation of instructions to monitor and flu A/H1N1, A/H5N1 influenza.
In addition, the Ministry of Health also requires the Department of Health, Preventive Medical Center of the provinces and cities to strengthen surveillance, early detection of suspected cases of influenza A/H5N1 infection; enhance direct prevention progress against acute diarrhea and dengue fever service in 2010.
The Health Ministry also said it will continue to follow the situation variable infectious diseases throughout the country, direct and timely implementation of local prevention activities progress ...
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Vietnam: Children hospitalized increased mutation
Updated at: 8:36 AM, March 26, 2010
A week back, hot continuous prolonged in HCM City makes some patients admitted soared, mainly respiratory diseases, diarrhea, meningitis, measles, hand foot mouth ... Remarkably, by late admission, many patients have severe complications.
After birth was 15 days, hot weather caused pregnant women DTMD (Ngu Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) and infected measles spread to daughter GDBT 28 days old. Patients hospitalized in a state of fever, cough, respiratory distress was nearly fatal. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy, deputy scientific infections, BV 2 Children, said that the current health patients have temporary stability. According to Dr. Thuy, weather is the hot season many parents and children need to be fully immunized, if measles outbreak spread very easily in the community.
80-90% due to respiration, diarrhea
Dr Trinh Huu Tung, General Manager of Planning, BV 2 Children, said, little hot today makes a number of diseases began to rise. There, every day, receiving BV 3000-3800 weekly patient visit. This is not the number as high as 6000 patients with a peak day as the first peak in the disease, but has risen high over the New Year (only 700-800 cases a day). Patients hospitalized primarily by respiration, diarrhea, up from 80-90%. Hot sun also causes children treated each day by boarding infected diarrhea to 120 ca, while measles also jumped 20-30 ca (weekdays, BV receiving only a few isolated ca).
This situation also occurred in similar BV Children 1. According to Dr. Le Bich Lien, deputy director of BV, BV examined each day for 4000 patients weekly, private meningitis caused by hot weather that day also. Some patients have expressed general illness such as fever, cough physicians should be examined carefully to determine the flu, dengue fever, hand foot mouth or meningitis ...
Doctor Tran Anh Tuan, Dean Respiratory, BV Children 1st, said that the individual respiratory disease, is located on 220 patients are treated compared with 80 beds, this rate makes up only 4-5% total number of patients and respiratory diseases to the examination. Number of patients admitted primarily under 2 years old and too serious diseases such as infection, pneumonia, acute bronchitis primary, asthma.
-snip-
Vietnam: Hot in Ho Chi Minh: Tre continuous pour disease
GiadinhNet - No bed should be a temporary corridor located, 2-3 beds and grandchildren is a common winter nghit the crowd waiting for medical examination ... That scene where PV Director & XH newspaper noted in some hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City on the heat.
Weary diarrhea
In HCMC, the phenomenon of child headache, runny nose, sore throat, fever suspected dengue fever, hand foot mouth has increased dramatically over from last week. Many children with serious illness, requiring hospitalization for treatment. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Loan, BV 2 Children, said: "May today, day 20-30 also hospitalized for diarrhea grandchildren. That all severe diarrhea, several grandchildren exhausted by dehydration.
Also BS. Vu Quang Vinh, Deputy General Plan Children 2 BV, said, normally only the last month inpatient treatment grandchildren 80-100 diarrhea / day today but this is up to 150 children. According to Dr. Vinh, died hygiene in dining, activities for children that cause diarrhea.
BV Children's almost a closed space, more beds, "substance" to 4 patients. Besides diarrhea, a lot of children infected documents bronchitis, pneumonia, a room of nearly 200 descendants are treated. Faculty Dermatologic has 130 children hospitalized because enough evidence dysentery, diarrhea, dyspepsia. Own scientific infections - Nervous in the last few days continued to receive many cases of complications due to hand foot mouth disease and meningitis.
Dr. Le Bich Lien, deputy director of Children 1 BV, said that weather changes, temperature from hot to cool the cause. According to Lien, respiratory diseases like sore throat, pneumonia, infections such as meningitis, hand foot mouth up most clearly.
Still have to hand foot mouth disease precautions
In forecasting disease in children in 3/2010 this, Dr. Le Bich Lien, recommended all groups of young patients will increase slightly. In particular, the most noteworthy is a disease foot hand mouth and dengue fever. Hand foot mouth disease are the lowest level in years and will increase the cycle again. Hemorrhagic fever are to be end-stage season to examine the number of patients have decreased but still more severe dengue cases hospitalized, treatment difficult.
According to the pediatrician, not just a new cold weather increased respiratory disease that hot sunny day and increased disease. According to Dr. Tran Anh Tuan, Scientific Respiratory, BV 2 Children, hot sunny so parents usually for sleep-conditioner, ice cold drinks so much risk of respiratory high ...
Dr. Tran Van Ngoc, head of pediatrics A, BV for Tropical Diseases, the disease rubella has led to many children infected. "The day Tropical BV 10-20 children receiving rubella infected and many children to visit, even in the private clinic," Dr. Ngoc said.
Children easy inflammatory respiratory transfer heat to the cold weather
According to Doi Phu Nhuan, Dean clinics, Children's Investment BV, weather, traffic from hot to cold season as in Hanoi today, children are often susceptible to diseases like diarrhea, flu, fever and most patients acute respiratory (VDHH). Upper respiratory infections, including cases of rhinitis - pharyngitis, VA, tonsillitis, otitis media, cough and cold. VDHH on common and mild evolutions. VDHH the less common but often include severe cases of laryngitis, trachea, bronchus, primary bronchus and lung.
Therefore, people must pay attention to more children. Full catering for children, playing in cool place. Hygiene personal health, the environment. Prevent children playing near the cages in place, the school and dirty water, where garbage. Depending on weather clothing that fit children. When to wear a mask outside, glass to preserve the health of children.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
EU wants co-ordination and investigation of animal and avian health
March 25, 2010
EU wants co-ordination and investigation of animal and avian health. Currently there are few people who do not know that the new human flu virus H1N1, which has scared me so much, it was reported before in birds and pigs and that the bird flu virus at poultry, causing economic disaster where it occurs, in addition to being a latent threat to humans.
The reality is that viruses do not distinguish between human and animal hosts. All that take into account are receptors outside the cell from which it may be contested and thus multiply within them to survive. Receptors and birds, mammals and humans are quite similar to the flu virus to jump from each other, giving place to potentially dangerous mutations, noted the newspaper El Pais.
Thus viruses do not distinguish between their human or animal hosts. Pig is seen as a 'cocktail viral' and became a clear objective of the study. For all this, and because diseases do not already have border, the EU believes that it is time to face the flu in a uniform manner, coordinating the investigation in both animal and in human health, in collaboration with countries including neuropene.
'We can not sit with crossed hands, "says Etienne Bonbon, health specialist of the European Commission. "It is a complex issue, but must do ', he added. At stake is not only able to prevent a possible outbreak among humans in time of peace (when available) but also the development of new drugs to treat it when it occurs. Long-term strategy is the answer to this inquiry to be faster than before.
'It should be noted that Europe is the largest provider of vaccines in the world with 70% of the total, "said Etienne Bonbon. "We need a new approach to the flu, provide Ilaria Capua, director of the Institute of Experimental Zooprofilactic in Venice, where experts gathered recently to present European initiatives.
"All viruses originate in wild birds and moving to intermediate hosts.
Pig plays a key role in enabling cells that are multiplying viruses of birds and wild mammals', stresses Capua. When two viruses infect the same cell distinct, individual genes (grouped into 8 segments) recombine into a new virus, which has characteristics of both 'parents' is, as sexual reproduction. "The combination of genetic offspring is impossible to predict," explains the Italian expert.
Therefore be watched closely what happens in 'viral cocktail' which is a pig, but not be weakened attention to the new avian influenza virus, highly pathogenic, which can delete the entire poultry farms on the map in a country where urgent action is taken. 'You must study all the genes of viruses, each virus has not been studied separately, "says Capua.
"Knowledge is a tool and what we want is to include new scientific knowledge and continuous progress, especially in times of peace ', says Isabel Mínguez and specialist European Commission.
An example of this policy is the new platform Emperor, a network of laboratories of excellence around the world, for cataloging human or animal viruses that can cater for new emerging diseases outbreaks. The Spanish part Luis Enjuanes laboratory virologists from the National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC).
EU wants co-ordination and investigation of animal and avian health. Currently there are few people who do not know that the new human flu virus H1N1, which has scared me so much, it was reported before in birds and pigs and that the bird flu virus at poultry, causing economic disaster where it occurs, in addition to being a latent threat to humans.
The reality is that viruses do not distinguish between human and animal hosts. All that take into account are receptors outside the cell from which it may be contested and thus multiply within them to survive. Receptors and birds, mammals and humans are quite similar to the flu virus to jump from each other, giving place to potentially dangerous mutations, noted the newspaper El Pais.
Thus viruses do not distinguish between their human or animal hosts. Pig is seen as a 'cocktail viral' and became a clear objective of the study. For all this, and because diseases do not already have border, the EU believes that it is time to face the flu in a uniform manner, coordinating the investigation in both animal and in human health, in collaboration with countries including neuropene.
'We can not sit with crossed hands, "says Etienne Bonbon, health specialist of the European Commission. "It is a complex issue, but must do ', he added. At stake is not only able to prevent a possible outbreak among humans in time of peace (when available) but also the development of new drugs to treat it when it occurs. Long-term strategy is the answer to this inquiry to be faster than before.
'It should be noted that Europe is the largest provider of vaccines in the world with 70% of the total, "said Etienne Bonbon. "We need a new approach to the flu, provide Ilaria Capua, director of the Institute of Experimental Zooprofilactic in Venice, where experts gathered recently to present European initiatives.
"All viruses originate in wild birds and moving to intermediate hosts.
Pig plays a key role in enabling cells that are multiplying viruses of birds and wild mammals', stresses Capua. When two viruses infect the same cell distinct, individual genes (grouped into 8 segments) recombine into a new virus, which has characteristics of both 'parents' is, as sexual reproduction. "The combination of genetic offspring is impossible to predict," explains the Italian expert.
Therefore be watched closely what happens in 'viral cocktail' which is a pig, but not be weakened attention to the new avian influenza virus, highly pathogenic, which can delete the entire poultry farms on the map in a country where urgent action is taken. 'You must study all the genes of viruses, each virus has not been studied separately, "says Capua.
"Knowledge is a tool and what we want is to include new scientific knowledge and continuous progress, especially in times of peace ', says Isabel Mínguez and specialist European Commission.
An example of this policy is the new platform Emperor, a network of laboratories of excellence around the world, for cataloging human or animal viruses that can cater for new emerging diseases outbreaks. The Spanish part Luis Enjuanes laboratory virologists from the National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC).
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