Nghe An:

(AP) - After the first outbreak in seed breeding station in Nam Dan and destroyed 33 pigs (on 1 / 5) on 3 / 5, Nghe An outbreak continues in the new social Hoa Thanh, Yen Thanh district.


Station pigs Men of Nghe An province in Vietnam are at risk because of blue ear wiped complicated


Outbreak was discovered Monday in households Nguyen Thi Chau and Phan Thi Hue, Hoa Thanh commune. End on 7 / 5, Nghe An province has destroyed 65 sows, including 62 children under the same breeding station in Nam Dan.

Currently seed breeding station in Nam Dan boar has 5 children, 6 sows and piglets by approximately 80 parents have been translated signs like stop eating, high body temperature.
On the morning of 6 / 5, PPC, DARD, Department of Veterinary Nghe An, Nam Dan district People's Committee and leaders have been meeting hatchery direct prevention and suppression situation PRRS outbreak.

According to experts, infectious outbreaks in the same breeding station is 100%. For convenience in prevention services and avoid spreading across the board, Nam Dan district leaders asked destroy all pigs in the station. But the motto also slapped the water longer, provincial leaders and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requires the destruction of the pigs just sick.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chi - Nghe An province PCT - said: "The" pain "is translated again broke out in the same breeding station - which provides not only pigs in the province but also provides neighboring provinces. There are no statistics on damage, but placed in stations are at risk status "cleared up", so the damage is enormous. For an epidemic occurs, the station must take responsibility and the province will have the form of treatment appropriate. " Nguyen Dinh Chi which he requested to review activities, room service processes, disinfection sterilization work at all stations, livestock farms over the province.
Before the disease situation complicated sea, Nam Dan district has set up two checkpoints on the way out in the same breeding station. Nghe An Province has set up three checkpoints in Ben Thuy, Nghia Dan and Thanh Chuong to prevent disease entering from outside.

U.S. official says scientific cooperation with Indonesia to benefit both

English.news.cn 2010-05-10 18:18:03

JAKARTA, May 10 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. senior official promised Indonesian government here on Monday that the further possible science and technology cooperation between the United States and Indonesia would be benefiting to each other.

Speaking on the sidelines of his meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the visiting U.S. special envoy for science and technology affairs Bruce Alberts said there has been misunderstanding of such cooperation, particularly when it was established with developed countries.

"The reason of my appointment as the envoy was not to take something. I was tasked to encourage towards good cooperation," the U.S. envoy said.

Bruce said that Indonesia would eventually be a great and powerful nation only if it is using the science and knowledge.

"Indonesia can be a rich country should it use the correct science and knowledge. We can help Indonesia to attain that condition. Some fears (related to the scientific cooperation with the U.S.) had persisted in a number of cooperation with Indonesia in the past," Bruce was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

Due to the fear that results from bird flu research conducted in U.S-Indonesia 'Namru' joint laboratory would be misused by the U.S.military for its own interest, Indonesia closed down the laboratory last year.

Indonesian president is scheduled to sign documents on several cooperation wrapped in comprehensive agreements with the United States during the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama scheduled for June this year.

Indonesian presidential spokesperson Dino Pati Djalal said that President Yudhoyono preferred cooperation in science, knowledge and other non-political sectors would dominate the comprehensive agreements with U.S..

Thai Nguyen City: Over 140 chickens infected with avian influenza H5N1

05/10/2010 17: 53

While the blue ear disease in pigs is complicated, then on 5-5, the provincial Animal Health Department received information 146 chickens of the family of Nguyen Van Lien, Second Secretary of the Branch village Hoa commune Congenital copper (TP Thai Nguyen) has killed more children, with signs similar to H5N1.

Through the inspection and verification of the provincial Animal Health Department, which said earlier on 26-4, 2 chicken Lien of his family died. Because some dead chickens at the family did not tell neighbors, social. 5-5 days, 45 more chickens were killed, he told Lien authorities. Shortly thereafter, the provincial Animal Health Department has sent sample of Veterinary Diagnostic Center Central. Results showed that chickens died of the Lien family is infected by H5N1. On 7-5, Animal Health Department to coordinate with all levels and branches of the functions of provinces and cities have taken to destroy all the chickens of the Lien family. Also, spray chemical disinfection, sterilization in the tube cages and surrounding areas.



Through monitoring, inspection, on 10-5, flocks of households near the tube remains healthy. The authorities are continuing to monitor the disease situation in poultry and neighbors stamens surrounding areas for timely detection and treatment measures where avian influenza occurs.

Thai Nguyen: Translate ear diseases spread, the H5N1 bird flu recurrence

---

On 10-05-2010 16:48
NDDT - Day 10-5, Thai Nguyen province continue to publish on the blue ear pig for Phu Luong district. Family detect PRRS is the first district in her neighborhood resident Linda Duong Thi Vai Original, Yen Do. After that, service has spread quickly to the Yen Ninh commune, Yen Son Trach and Cam.


At this point, in Phu Luong district has 24 households in four communes of six neighbors of PRRS, including 183 infected pigs, veterinary forces have carried out the destruction of 183 pigs with weighing nearly 5,000 pounds.


So far, Thai Nguyen province has 57 166 households in the neighborhood of 16 communes and three districts (Phu Binh and Dong Hy, Phu Luong) with PRRS. In 1755 it had infected pigs, veterinary forces destroyed 939 pigs.


While speaking on the blue ear pig in Thai Nguyen province have tended to spread it in Congenital Dong, Thai Nguyen City has more recurrence of avian influenza H5N1.


According to test results of the Animal Health Diagnostic Center Central, samples of dead poultry Nguyen Van Lien family residence in neighborhood Nhi Hoa, Dong Congenital result was positive for H5N1 virus. Total 150 baby chickens near his family's Lien has been destroyed. Work of fumigation, disinfection was implemented in the entire village stamens.


Right after the flu, Dong Congenital has established two checkpoints control the movement of poultry and poultry products into the area. The family also signed the social commitment: No hidden epidemic, no movement of poultry trade, not slaughtering poultry are translated; not eat dead poultry ...

Egypt: MOH & Agriculture to Dilute the importance of the report of the Research Unit U.S. NAMRU-3, & confirm that the bird flu is constantly mutating

[This is a response from the Minister of Health, Egypt, after the story posted in the same site, as this article, was posted. We covered it here.]

Monday, May 10, 2010 - 08:31


Dr. Hatem the Minister of Health Abdul Salam wrote Princess and Mr. Mahfouz

New report made public by the laboratories of the Research Unit, U.S. NAMRU-3 of the U.S. Navy detected viral sequences in cases of bird flu, "h5n1" similar to the characteristics of seasonal influenza virus transmitted between humans, fears of the spread of the virus.

He warned against Mohammed Saif, a veterinary professor at the University of Beni Suef the seriousness of the integration of the avian influenza virus seasonal influenza, which could result in a new strain of influenza, pointing out that the most dangerous accelerant "comes from the seasonal flu, which kills more than 500 thousand people in the world and added sword seasonal influenza the most common types of influenza infection and killing of human beings, while bird flu is the fastest species killing of human beings.

The sword that there has been a significant overlap between the viral flu h1n1 influenza, seasonal flu, but it did not happen, but the gravity would be the most dangerous in the event of avian mating with seasonal influenza, which has not happened yet.

Has reduced the ministries of agriculture and health significance of the coefficient of the Research Unit of America, asserted that the Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation that the changes that occur the avian influenza virus, whether of birds or of human permanent occurrence is the virus constantly mutating, according to Dr. Saber Abdel Aziz, general manager of of the epidemics in poultry.

And Abdel-Aziz, mutations that have occurred in the virus led to reduced mortality to 10% only, indicating that the mutations in the isolated avian normal and does not mean the virus will mutate into a virus a human being.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the influenza virus is a virus mutation permanent and always active genetic variability from time to time have already been registered HIV many genetic changes, which earned him the changes in the activity.

The ministry said in a statement that the discovery of the laboratories of the Research Unit, U.S. NAMRU-3, of the U.S. Navy in Egypt sequences of viral cases of bird flu (H5N1) similar to the characteristics of seasonal influenza virus transmitted among humans, they discovered an old reference to the end of the past year has been declared out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, which was recorded on all the infected cases of bird flu and swine.

Have reached NAMRU-3 to sub-sequences HA and NA in the cases examined in Egypt, and found that it included one of the specifications of existing seasonal influenza virus and transmitted between humans, which indicates that this capacity is becoming a constant in the virus in Egypt.

The study had been conducted earlier indicated the existence of similarities between the H5N1 and seasonal influenza H1N1, which has led to growing concerns about the transmission of the virus among humans, especially those cases that contained one of the genetic traits which were found in cases that have been examined.

The NAMRU-3 is working with the Egyptian Ministry of Health in the analysis of samples suspected of being infected with influenza viruses present.

PRRS outbreaks continue

9-5 pm According to the report of the Department of Animal Health, PRRS outbreak of swine are strong in Bac Giang, Nghe An and Hung Yen.


On 6 and 7-5, translated in blue continue to occur in three new Ruicheng Duong commune, Dai Tu Dan Tap and Khoai Chau district of 447 infected pigs in which 33 sows and boars, 236 pigs pig meat and 178 children, and the total destruction of the pigs died three communes is 118 children.
From July 3 to August 7-5 PRRS occurred more Hoa Thanh commune, Yen Minh and Thanh Son, Luong district, Nghe An province. Total destruction of the seven social situation, three districts (Nam Dan, Yen Thanh, Do Luong) and Vinh City is 509 children. Especially with more new provinces PRRS outbreak is Bac Giang. As reported by the Veterinary Department of Bac Giang, have been translated in 124 households in nine communes of Yen Dung district (no specific data) to 989 infected pigs, and destroyed 115 children died. On 7-5, Bac Giang province 667/QD-UBND Decision on announcement of PRRS Yen Dung district.

So far, there are 13 provinces and cities as Bac Giang, Hai Duong, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Lang Son, Nghe An and Quang Ninh have blue ear not over 21 days. /.

Strengthening supervision, treating patients with cholera, and Streptococcus

(According to Security Capital)

(ANTD) - Before the epidemic situation of acute diarrhea caused by cholera and diseases caused by swine streptococcus infections in humans have a tendency to increase across the country, Ha Noi Health Department has written to direct medical care units localities strengthen supervision and training, patients receiving treatment of acute diarrhea disease caused by swine streptococcus infections and epidemics of the summer.

Accordingly, the Department requested units enhance the screening, receiving and treating patients according to the directions that the Ministry of Health has issued. Review facilities, quarantine area, materials, chemicals, medicines, medical equipment, emergency personnel and supplemented (if necessary) to ensure availability prevention, receive, how glass treated patients. Communication Science BV Infectious Da repeated training "guide diagnosis and treatment of cholera" and "Guide to diagnosis and treatment of disease caused by swine streptococcus in humans" for medical personnel in the industry. The close coordination with the hospital system's surveillance TTYT Prevention TTYT the city or county / district / town, make periodic reports and unexpected accordance with Department of Health.

Health official: No sign of Haiti diphtheria spike

Updated: 9:07 pm, Sun May 9, 2010.

A 15-year-old boy has died of diphtheria in Haiti, but there is no evidence the bacterial disease is spreading in the earthquake-ravaged country, U.N. health officials said Sunday.

The boy, a survivor of the Jan. 12 earthquake, died last week despite receiving antitoxin treatments, said Anshu Banerjee, an official with the World Health Organization.

The case sparked fears of an outbreak after CNN reported the death during an interview with actor Sean Penn, who is helping manage a tarp-and-tent camp in the capital, Port-au-Prince. A caption accompanying a story on CNN's website said: "Diphtheria epidemic threatens Haiti."

But Banerjee said the case was isolated, antibiotics were distributed to the boy's neighbors and no other cases of the contagious respiratory disease had been diagnosed.

"So far as we see it, this is just an isolated case and there are no other cases," said Banerjee, coordinator for a committee of international organizations and Haitian officials overseeing health issues in the quake zone.

But he added that concerns about the threat of infectious diseases breaking out across quake-ravaged areas are well-founded. Many of the 1.3 million people displaced by the magnitude-7 quake are living in squalid camps where infection can spread easily.

A total of 900,000 people in quake-affected areas were vaccinated against diphtheria and other diseases in a campaign that ended last month. Another mass campaign is planned for June.

Officials are especially concerned about widespread diarrhea, which can be fatal for children, and increased levels of mosquito-borne malaria

Injection drug prevention in a sow farm

On 9 / 5, Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said PRRS swine continued spread to other provinces and there are no signs of decline.

The province has announced the latest PRRS is Bac Giang. As reported by the Veterinary Department of Bac Giang, PRRS had occurred in 124 households in nine communes of Yen Dung district as 989 infected pigs, and destroyed 115 children died.

Meanwhile, in Nghe An 3-7/5 date, PRRS has occurred more in Hoa Thanh, Yen Thanh district and commune Son Minh, Do Luong district.
To date, the total number of pigs destroyed seven communes and 4 districts (Nam Dan, Yen Thanh, Do Luong Vinh city) of 509 children, including 168 sows, 69 pigs and 272 beef piglets.

Now there are 13 provinces and cities are Hai Duong, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Lang Son, Nghe An, Quang Ninh and Bac Giang has translated blue ear not over 21 days.

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to direct the Department of Animal Health to local officials to support local prevention and ear diseases, and suggestions with other local policies to support the destruction of Cattle get sick by reasonable common ground.

In addition, local authorities have services to organizations controlled transport processes and cattle slaughterhouses not continue to spread the epidemic.

pH1N1 Demonstrates 95% Instability In Critical Genetics Range with Extensive Bird Flu Inclusions

2010-05-09

pH1N1 Demonstrates 95% Instability In Critical Genetics Range with Extensive Bird Flu Inclusions

In positions where this flu is revising the pandemic gene code, the ΣPF11 reservoir (pH1N1) presently exhibits a strong pattern of alliance with serotypes normally infecting birds, horses and dogs.

More than 95% of the Hemagglutinin positions between 186 and 246, including antigenic areas of the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD/RBS), are on record as polymorphic. Only 3 positions in that range are stable. Many positions rate multiple changes. Protein revision is documented at 45 of the 61 positions (73.8%), engaging the potential for antibody resistance (natural immune escape and vaccine escape).

Please recall from earlier analyses (linked in the ultimate paragraph) that individual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been correlated to escape events (low reactor).

The list presented today is certainly not comprehensive. Only one section is discussed from one gene segment (HA) covering 61 contiguous amino acid positions. The extensive variation in that short range is detailed in the data listing.

Viral revision is also rapidly occurring in additional HA antigenic areas outside the range of positions documented in this analysis. The Neuraminidase of the human pandemic H1N1 reservoir is also acquiring revisions with homology to Avian and Equine influenza at a ratio to total changes even higher than that of the Hemagglutinin being surveyed in this analysis.

The viral reservoir backing this present H1N1 flu pandemic is far from stable and is actively acquiring new genetics. Current data does not indicate an immediate direction toward stability.

A previous version of this listing may be referenced for tracking. Please review details on the causality behind this particular study in the earliest version.

186S synonymous (TCc) Russia61, BZSP53823_2009_08_01_f,
. . . . BadenWurttemberg8_2010, TexasJMS387_2009_12_08,
. . . . KO_Daegu1873_2009_12_16_TmX,
. . . . H9N2 (cCc, cac)
186P (cCT) CalifVRDL7, UkraineChernihiv857, Ankara17
. . . . Thessaloniki791_2010 mix (225G, syn233Y, 324I, 377K)
186F (TtT) Ankara26
187T synonymous (ACc) Berlin164, Iran572, BeijingXicheng11649,
. . . . S5, 1918,
. . . . H9N2
187A (gCT) TexasJMS405_2009, TexasJMS406_2009,
. . . . H5N1 (gaT)
188T (AcT) swThaiCURA75_2010_01,
. . . . H6N1 dkHK202_1977, dkKOS17_2003,
. . . . H7N7 extensive including human fatality
188S synonymous (AGc) NY6943_xL
188N SC16, SC31, NY3502, ME15, CatS1187, Milan433, Kaifu4142,
. . . . Bilthoven4360903023, Japan, China,
. . . . swHK_NS1809_2009_12_03 (189T), swHK_NS1810_2009_12_03
. . . . S5, H5N1
188I Growing in US on cross-linked background (4), BZSP53823 (186S),
. . . . H1N1 (1943, 46, 51)
189A synonymous (GCc), Georgia01_2010, Georgia 2010 (+5),
. . . . swOR4060
189V (GtT) Sydney2503, Texas46172731,
. . . . Sask, H6N1 mallMaryland887_2002
189S (tCT) Wisc1434
189T (aCT) Extensive in US incl NY7020 (77N), on cross-linkage (4) incl
. . . . NY6943_xL, Ontario328474, Aswan2288, China,
. . . . swHK_NS1809_2009_12_03 (188N)
. . . . 1918, H5N1 2009, H6N1, H9N2 2008
190D synonymous (GAt) Nebraska02_2010, Milan326, UkraineZakarpatska830,
. . . . AfghanN09833_2009_08
. . . . 1918, H1N1 (1943, 51)
190Y SwedenMalmoe1_2010_01_01, H6N1 (tTG)
191R (CgA) Chengdu18 (131P), GuangdongSWL28 (192H, 199N)
192H (CAt) GuangdongSWL28 (191R, 199N),
. . . . Avian H2N3 (agt), H3N8 (act), H6N1 (aAt, gat, gct)
192Q synonymous (CAg) RomaISS50 (227V), Nebraska01_2010,
. . . . H1N1 (1943, 46)
193S synonymous (AGc) US 2010 (4), SC18_VxX, NM11, NM13,
. . . . Wisc (5), DC_INS28,
. . . . CalifVRDL11_2010, CalifVRDL13_2010,
. . . . AfghanN10765_2009_09, Milan294, Japan 2010,
. . . . H3N8 AGc aplatBelgium12827_2007,
. . . . H6N1 AGc chkTaiwan0706_2003,
. . . . H9N2 Aac dkViet2009,
. . . . H11Nx Aac dkViet2009
193G (gGT) AR08, Cal_SDINS04, Kansas26,
. . . . H5N1 (gGg), H3N8 (gaT, gac, gaa), H11 (gac, gat)
193N (AaT) Washington72,
. . . . H3N8, H6N1, H9N2, H11
193R (cGT) catItaly304678_1_2009_12_17_f, Origin Unknown
194I (aTC) NC38E3, VA27, SC18, Bangladesh3009, StPete59, StPete99,
. . . . Thessaloniki788_2010 (syn233Y, 324I, 377K),
. . . . China (3),
. . . . H5N1
194L synonymous (CTa) Japan4081, tn,
. . . . H9N2 2008 (tTa),
. . . . H6N1 ckTaiwan1205_2001, tkBC2_1997 (CTa)
194L synonymous (CTt) TexasJMS385_2009, CalifVRDL36,
. . . . WiscD0675, WiscD0891, WiscD1237,
. . . . EgyptN11640_2009_10, Iran572,
. . . . H5N1,
. . . . H9N2 dkVietnamOIE2327_2009
195Y synonymous (TAc) Guayaquil4 (206S),
. . . . swOR4060, tkDeutsche, swDeutsche,
. . . . Avian H2N3,
. . . . Avian and Equine H3N8 emergent,
. . . . H5N1 gsEgyptR4_2007,
. . . . H6N1,
. . . . H7N7 2004-2009,
. . . . H9N2 99%,
. . . . H11 90%
196Q synonymous (CAa) Wisc (3), Moldova (3), Malaysia (2), China,
. . . . Milan326, Pavia (6), Ankara18, NordrheinWestfalen106,
. . . . swOR4060,
. . . . Avian H2N3,
. . . . H5N1
197T (AcT) Malaysia4039, swH1N2
198A synonymous (GCc) KO_Seoul1870_2009_12_18_TmX
198V Malaysia5283, Malaysia9117
198G (GgA) BeijingXuanwu1945 (86T, 178M), Tomsk07 (131P, 225G)
. . . . WSN33,
. . . . H3N8 eqHeilongjiang10_2008,
. . . . H6N1,
. . . . H7N7 ext
199N (aAT) GuangdongSWL28, Milan80, Milan83, Iceland176,
. . . . S9, S7, M7, Sask, H5 (aCT),
. . . . H1N1 (1943, 46, 51) (aCT)
199D synonymous (GAc) swine Illinois, H5, H9N2
200A synonymous (GCc) swOR4060, S5
200T (aCA) FL31, RomaniaTimis2018, Australia (6), Asia (15),
. . . . MilanUSHR1, Bilthoven4360901004,
. . . . ShizuokaC247_2009_11_08, H5, KO_Seoul1785_2009_11_TmX,
. . . . NepalNP09A294,
. . . . KuwaitN12991_2009_08_24,
. . . . tkDeutsche, swDeutsche,
. . . . H9N2
200S (tCA) NY1999_2010_01_18, NY0461, NY6945, NY5276,
. . . . NC57, SC46, WiscD0780, WiscS1338, NJ11, DC_INS31,
. . . . China,
. . . . MadridINS186 (373H), OdenseINS177 (286E)
. . . . cheetahCA30954
. . . . H11 Avian tCt ext, tCc ext including dkViet2009
201H (cAT) Wisc1140, Darwin2140,
. . . . H3N8 (cAa, cga), H7N7 (cta, ctg)
202A (GcT) MXinDRE797 2010 TmX (280A, syn321L, 324I), IA14, KY25,
. . . . HK34360, Guangdong2282 (131P, 230I, 244I, 275A),
. . . . LiaoningShuncheng1145, LiaoningShuncheng1148 (131P, 230I, 244I, 275A),
. . . . Bilthoven4310901550 (89G), Bilthoven4360903104 (89G),
. . . . H9N2 (AcA, AcG)
202V synonymous (GTa) JiangsuXiaguan1411
202V synonymous (GTc) YAMAGATA778, YAMAGATA803, swIllinois,
. . . . H1N1 (1943, 46, 51)
203S (TcT) Non-PF11 Sask, S9, S7, M7, 1918, WSN33
204V synonymous (GTa) PA31, SHIZUOKA1573, 1918, S7
204V synonymous (GTa) TexasJMS367_2009_11_12, PA31,
. . . . AfghanN10767_2009_09, AfghanN10974_2009_09,
. . . . KuwaitN13111_2009_09_23,
. . . . Shizuoka1573, Niedersachsen34, RheinlandPfalz86,
. . . . 1918, S9, S7, M7, Sask,
. . . . H9N2 Israel 2009, H9N2 Iran 2008
205G synonymous (GGa) Texas76C2, Wisc (4),
. . . . AfghanN09836_2009_08, TurkeyTR19_2009 (233H)
. . . . Slovenia5662, Slovenia5711,
. . . . Iceland162M (225G), Iceland162Siat3 (225G),
. . . . tkDeutsche, swDeutsche,
. . . . S5, H3N8 (tCa), H9N2 (GCa), H6N1 (GGa), H7N7 (GGa)
205E (GaG) BadenWurttemberg8_2010, ShizuokaC247_2009_11_08
. . . . Alabama03_2010_03_01 mix,
. . . . H11 (Gat), H7N7 (Gaa), H7N7 dkVictoria1976 (GaG)
205W (tGG) Brno216_2009
206A CatS1161
206T (ACA) Extensive
206T (ACt) Georgia670_2010 (Europe)
207S synonymous (TCg) California01_2010,
. . . . Avian H2N3,
. . . . H7N7 mallCalHKWF1971_2007 plus 5
208K (AaA) US, UK, Canada, HK, MX, Italy (2), Australia (12), Asia (5),
. . . . BahrainN11890_2009_10, BahrainN11892_2009_10, Dakar 2010 (3)
. . . . Cyprus5870_2010 (214R, 225E, 324I),
. . . . swOR4060
208S Australia43, Australia45, H6N1
208G (gGA) NY6292, HubeiWuchang1407,
. . . . Avian H4N6, H9N2 (gaA)
208T Norway3440
208R synonymous (AGg) TexasJMS385_2009
209Y synonymous (TAt) ShanxiWanbolin337
209D NorthDakota15
210S synonymous (AGt) Bogota0466N, Malaysia9131, H9N2 (Aat)
210G (gGC) Bilthoven4360903119 (225E)
210N Texas76C2, H1N1 (1943, 46, 51)
211K (AAa) synonymous MXinDRE50617 (225G), Niedersachsen330
211R swOR4060_2009_12_31, 1918, H1N1 (1943, 46, 51)
212R swOR4060_2009_12_31, 1918, H1N1 (1943, 46, 51)
212E Vlad01 (225G), Argentina8574_41, IN21, HI30, Malaysia4039,
. . . . Latvia122498 (225G), Iwate1093
212N ME15
212T Anadyr177_F (225G), CA07X179, CA07X181
212K synonymous (AAa) NY1999_2010_01_18, NY0461, TexasJMS404_2009,
. . . . AfghanN11216_2009_10_16
213L TX15, Iowa04_2010, H5N1
213F synonymous (TTt) NY3230_2010_01_25 (100N, 159K), StPete99 (225E),
. . . . Sachsen156, IsraelMF4683, Georgia4805 (35I), Georgia670_2010 (165R)
214K synonymous (AAa) CalifVRDL81 (100N, 135I), San DiegoINS101_2009, NM13,
. . . . Iran20001, Iraq2587, CatS1937, ENG620,
. . . . China22811, GuangdongFutian1480,
. . . . NagasakiHA1015_2010_02_01 (135E, 377K),
. . . . NagasakiHA1017_2010_02_08 (135E, 377K, syn496A, 550K),
. . . . S5, H9N2
214E Kurgan01, Moldova (3), swOR4060_2009_12_31
214N ENG92960012, SHIZUOKA1514, Hessen48
214Q Wisc0936 (237L)
214R (AgG) Cyprus5870_2010 (208K, 225E, 324I)
215P synonymous (CCa) NY2372_2010_01_20 (233H), San DiegoINS101_2009,
. . . . Kuwait (4), SC33, Eng616, BZ_Bahia15525_42M_f (RRT),
. . . . NepalNP09A284, Thai0440, GuangdongyunchengSWL51,
. . . . swHK_2299_2009_10_22, swHK_NS1583_2009_10_22
215P synonymous (CCt) NY_WC37RG, MO02, Eng256, Lisboa171 (324I, 373H)
216E synonymous (GAg) BadenWurttemberg490_xL, Hamburg14_xL,
. . . . Thuringen189_xL, Thuringen227_xL, Bilthoven4360903109,
. . . . Moldova (4), Belarus, Bosnia (3, 225G),
. . . . Bulgaria1369 (99T), Ostrava221_2010,
. . . . Iraq2587, Indiana,
. . . . tn, H9N2 (GTg)
217M (ATg) CalifVRDL99 (syn97D, syn147F, 377K, syn429L)
218A synonymous (GCg) Belarus, GhanaN12987_2009_10,
. . . . H9N2 (GGg), H6N1
218A synonymous (GCt) Nebraska02_2010, Iraq2587,
. . . . WSN33
218E Texas77 (159S, syn173G, 275A, 377K, 454I)
218S (tCA) Georgia07_2010 mix
218T (aCA) Hiroshima201 (225G), KuwaitN12991_2009_08_24
. . . . BelgiumG4751_2009 mix, Latvia237_2010 mix (377K)
218V (GTa) GuangdongyunchengSWL51, Malaysia (2 mix wt)
218V (GTc) swIll02930, 2931, 2932, 2937 (2009-12-29, 30)
219I synonymous (ATt) Calif_SDINS35, CalifVRDL84 (35I), NY6939 (35I),
. . . . Ancona451_f, Lyon2490, Poitiers3691 (35I), Valladolid35 (35I),
. . . . RheinlandPfalz81, Berlin210, BadenWurttemberg511,
. . . . Saarland21 (35I), Luxembourg184_2010 (35I), Luxembourg251_2010 (35I),
. . . . Dakar 2010 (4, 35I), Cameroon463 (35I),
. . . . H5N1 (Act), H6N1 (gct, gat)
219T (AcA) Wisc0134 (225E), Ontario315107 (225E),
. . . . RomaISS223, TessenderloINS191,
. . . . Korea3623_2009_11_09 (131P, 226R, 280A),
. . . . swOR4060_2009_12_31
220R synonymous (AGg) Florida02_2010, Mexico476, MexCtCIA4,
. . . . Malaysia9451,
. . . . H6N1
221P synonymous (CCa) WiscD0780
221P synonymous (CCt) Non-PF11 tkDeutsche, swDeutsche
222R (AgA) ThaiTHB0405, ThaiTHB0408
223V synonymous (GTa) Utah59, ThaiTHB0390
. . . . H1N1 (1943, 1946, 1951),
. . . . H6N1 mallSweden30/2005
223M CA33
224K SC18_VxX, Melbourne1_1946
224M NY5186
225D synonymous (GAc) HubeiWuchang1418,
. . . . swHK_NS1809_2009_12_03, swHK_NS1810_2009_12_03
225N BZ_SP53838, Ukraine mix wt, Victoria2125, Malaysia8860
. . . . Neimenggu-Hangjinhouqi51, EgyptN14648_2009_11,
. . . . IrelandM79555, IrelandM79556,
. . . . BadenWurttemberg502, et al
225E Extensive on multiple backgrounds, incl Kuwait, Ghana and Egypt.
. . . . Denmark1341 (158E, 264V), Cyprus5870_2010 (208K, 214R, 324I),
. . . . LaReunion3479, Morocco1088H (300S)
225G LvivN6_VxX with syn413K, UkDnip273 (GgT mix wt),
. . . . YaroslavlIIV196_2009_12_04_f (89G & 4 silent H5N1 changes),
. . . . TurkeyTR20 (324I), Thessaloniki791_2010 mix (186P, syn233Y, 324I, 377K),
. . . . Latvia121488_2009 (377K), Georgia4484_2009 (158E, 377K),
. . . . Iceland162M, Iceland162Siat3, Denmark1900,
. . . . China mix,
. . . . NY7216 (148F),
. . . . H1N1 (1943, 46, 51),
. . . . H6N1,
. . . . H9N2
225G (Gga) RomaISS1897 & 1941, EgyptVacsera138,
. . . . EgyptN14644_2009_11_01, ex225E all with 300S, H6N1
225E+226R Russia (3), GermanyBY74, swMX4
226R synonymous (CAg) Alabama08, Texas45033567, Texas45131305,
. . . . S7, M7, S5, tn
226R Alabama01_2010, Trabzon01 (Turkey), GermanyMVHGW4_2009_12,
. . . . Korea3623_2009_11_09 (131P, 280A), China,
. . . . catItaly304678_2_2009_12_17_f, et al
227E synonymous (GAg) Wisc (10), Texas45130742,
. . . . Paris2573, Paris2590,
. . . . Avian H2 (Ggg)
227A swOR4060_2009_12_31, tkDeutsche, swDeutsche,
. . . . NJ11_1976_X53A, 1918,
. . . . H1N1 (1943, 46, 51)
227V (GtA) RomaISS50
227G (GgA) Utah20_VxX mix, Avian H2
228G synonymous (GGa) Arizona06, Lisboa108 (225E, syn346G),
. . . . Valladolid35 (35I),
. . . . GhanaFS1982 (syn139C, 206T, 261K, 296H, syn346G, 377K),
. . . . GhanaFS2206 (syn139C, 206T, 261K, 296H, syn346G),
. . . . ShanxiPingding351
. . . . S9, S7, M7, S5,
. . . . H5N1
229R synonymous (AGg) swMX04 (225G, 226R), SichuanDongqu1818,
. . . . H6N1
230I (ATc) Sask, S9, S7, H6N1 (4), H7N7
230I (ATa) Wisc0337_2009_12_15 (275A, 377K),
. . . . H1N1 (1943, 46, 51),
. . . . H5N1 Gharbiyah 80% CFR,
. . . . H3N8
230I (ATt) Guangdong2282 (131P, 202A, 244I, 275A),
. . . . LiaoningShuncheng1148 (131P, 202A, 244I, 275A),
. . . . H5N1, H6N1,
. . . . H7N7,
. . . . H9N2
230V (gTG) TexasJMS369_2009
231N synonymous (AAt) NY3230_2010_01_25 (100N, 159K),
. . . . CalifVRDL36 mix (273K), Lisboa104
231D Ankara05, OSAKA2143, GuangxiQinnan1187,
. . . . H6N1,
. . . . H9N2 2008
231K (AAa) Wisc0853, Wisc1915, Wisc2337
. . . . WiscD0740 (22I, 176I, 188I, 277N, syn413K)
232Y synonymous (TAc) NY7216 (148F, 225G), TexasJMS386_2009,
. . . . Florida30, PuertoRico51,
. . . . S9, S7, M7, Sask,
. . . . H5N1, H6N1,
. . . . H9N2
233Y synonymous (TAt) AthensINS85,
. . . . Thessaloniki788_2010 (194I, 324I, 377K),
. . . . Thessaloniki791_2010 mix (186P, 225G, 324I, 377K),
. . . . Hiroshima645,
. . . . H6N1,
. . . . H9N2 2008
233H (cAC) NC Duke TmX cluster (5, mix, 225G, 225N), NY2372_2010_01_20,
. . . . AZ17 & Australia6, TurkeyTR19_2009 (syn205G),
. . . . swHK_189_2010_01_07
235A CatNS7632, CalifVRDL55
235I Wisc2489
236L synonymous (CTg) Wisc0099, H9N2 (gTg)
236V Eng93120020, ENG645, H9N2, H6N1
237I Delaware02_2010, Cal_SDINS69, England (2),
. . . . Russia (4), Asia (4), MadridINS185 (447K)
237L Wisc0936 (214Q), 1918, H1N1 (1943, 46, 51),
. . . . tn, H5N1, H6N1,
. . . . H9N2
237V synonymous (GTg) Pennsylvania31, KuwaitN13111_2009_09_23,
. . . . AfghanN10767_2009_09, AfghanN10974_2009_09,
. . . . H9N2 (TTg), M7 (CTg)
238G (GgG) AthensINS161 (89G, 152L)
238D Kaliningrad01 (225E+226R), tn
238K (aAG) Wisc2485 (225E), DjiboutiN13142_2009_12_08, Spain (3),
. . . . OrenburgIIV13_2010_03_02_xL_f (225G), China,
. . . . swOR4060,
. . . . H1N1 Iowa_1943,
. . . . H5N1, H6N1,
. . . . H9N2 2008
238E synonymous (GAa) Extensive Wisc2424, EgyptN14648_2009_11,
. . . . Latvia122498, ThaiTHA0364, ShanxiChengqu547,
. . . . Cyprus5800_2010, HvidovreINS141,
. . . . SC01_2010, MN01_2010,
. . . . H9N2 (aAa), H6N1 (aAa)
239P synonymous (CCt) ENG621, NY6939, swOR4060_2009_12_31
239P synonymous (CCa) Ancona508PG, Russia180, Australia60,
. . . . MS09, NV20, ME01_2010, tn,
. . . . H6N1
. . . . H9N2
240G synonymous (GGg) DC_INS24,
. . . . S9, S7, M7, Sask,
. . . . H6N1 (GGg),
. . . . H9N2
240G synonymous (GGc) Wisc0636,
. . . . H9N2 (GGc)
240E (GaA) Brandenburg34
241D synonymous (GAt) CatS1943, Colombia4117, swIll (3), S7, M7, tn, H5
241G NH17, ENG93040048
241E China22811, H9N2 (CAa, CAg), H6N1 (GAa, GAg)
242K synonymous (AAg) swOR4060_2009_12_31
244I ThaiCU_H9, Shiga1, Guangdong2282 (131P, 202A, 230I, 275A),
. . . . LiaoningShuncheng1148 (131P, 202A, 230I, 275A),
. . . . Ancona02, Stockholm29,
. . . . Alabama03_2010,
. . . . H1N1 (1946, 51), S9, S7, M7, Sask
244T synonymous (ACt) CatS1935, CatS2120
245F synonymous (TTt) Aswan2288 (189T, 377K)
246E synonymous (GAg) NorthCarolina56 (100N, syn137A, 377K),
. . . . S7, M7, 1918, tn,
. . . . H5N1
246G (GgA) Iceland163_2009 mix (159D)

The truth is in the sequences.

Update on H1N1 in Malaysia: 731 Cases in 20 Days

April 19th, 2010: 13,158 cases (http://tinyurl.com/y64orq7)

20 days later....

May 9th, 2010: 13,889 cases (http://tinyurl.com/39cjp57)

BP suffers snag in Gulf oil containment effort

Erwin Seba

ROBERT, Louisiana

Sat May 8, 2010 8:34pm EDT

ROBERT, Louisiana (Reuters) - BP Plc suffered a setback on Saturday in an attempt to contain oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico with a huge metal dome when crystallized gas filled the structure, a blow to hopes of a quick, temporary solution to a growing environmental disaster.

Word of the snag came as balls of tar appeared in waters off a popular Alabama island beach in what may be the first evidence of spilled oil washing into a populated area.

BP engineers have moved the four-story containment dome -- which was seen as the best short-term way to stem the flow from a ruptured oil well -- off to the side on the sea floor and will take two days trying to come up with a solution, Doug Suttles, chief operating officer, told reporters.

The problem is gas hydrates, essentially slushy methane gas that would block the oil from being siphoned out the top of the box. As BP tries to solve it, oil keeps flowing unchecked into the Gulf in what could be the worst U.S. oil spill.

"I wouldn't say it's failed yet. What I would say is what we attempted to do last night didn't work because these hydrates plugged up the top of the dome," Suttles said.

"What we're currently doing, and I suspect it will probably take the next 48 hours or so, is saying, 'Is there a way to overcome this problem?'"

The company, under pressure from the Obama administration to limit the damage to the Gulf and coastlines of four states, expected hydrates, but not the volumes encountered after a crew lowered the dome nearly a mile to the sea floor.

Possible solutions may involve heating the area or adding methanol to break up the hydrates, Suttles said.

Officials had already warned there was no guarantee that the technology would work at such water depth. It hopes to attach a pipe to the 98-ton dome to pump oil to a tanker, with the aim of capturing about 85 percent of the leaking crude.

The spill threatens an economic and ecological disaster targeting beaches, wildlife refuges and fishing in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. It has forced President Barack Obama to rethink plans to open more waters to drilling.

On Dauphin Island, Alabama, a barrier island and beach resort full of weekend swimmers and beachcombers, workers assisting the protection operation found tar balls and tar beads washing ashore on Saturday.

They will be tested to determine if they come from the oil slick in the Gulf. Such balls were not uncommon and previously had washed up on the Gulf coast.

"No, we cannot confirm that it's from the oil spill, but we certainly assume that to be the case. We won't know for certain until some tests are completed," Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier said.

The only shore contact so far has been in the uninhabited Chandeleur Islands off Louisiana, mostly a wildlife reserve.

"I have never seen this and I am here once a week every summer. This is the first time I have seen any thing like this here," said Molly Hunter, 34, of Mobile, holding up a chunk of tar about the size of an open hand.

RELIEF WELL

Suttles said BP may now try to plug up the damaged blowout preventor on the well or attach a new one on top of it.

It also is drilling a relief well to halt the leak -- which began after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20, killing 11 crew members -- but it could take three months.

In the initial blast, a natural gas cloud enveloped the rig and exploded just as visiting BP officials were celebrating seven accident-free years in the rig's crew quarters, according to accounts by survivors of the blast.

According to transcripts of interviews obtained by Robert Bea, a University of California Berkeley engineering professor, a giant methane bubble rushed up the drill pipe and filled the air above the deck of the drilling platform with flammable gas, followed by a scalding flood of crude that spilled onto the drill deck and ignited.

After several days of calm weather, winds began to pick up on Saturday, preventing controlled burns of the thickest concentrations of oil. Crews conducted five burns on Friday.

Nearly 200 boats deployed protective booms and used dispersants to break up the thick oil on Saturday. Crews have laid almost 900,000 feet of boom, and spread 267,000 gallons (1 million liters) of chemical dispersant.

In Bayou La Batre, the heart of Alabama's seafood industry, the docks were largely quiet as thousands of shrimpers and seafood processors remained idled by fishing restrictions.

About 30 oyster-processing plants have run out of product and shut down, putting as many as 900 people out of work, said Wayne Eldridge, owner of J&W Marine Enterprises and an oyster plant operator himself.

"I'm screwed," Eldridge said. "The biggest thing is I've got 35 people unemployed there."

LIABILITY

BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward said a $75 million legal cap on the liabilities for economic damages under federal law, which some U.S. lawmakers now want to raise, would not be a limit and renewed promises to meet all "legitimate" claims.

BP suffered another blow on Friday when ratings agency Standard & Poor's lowered its outlook to negative from stable and indicated a ratings downgrade was likely.

S&P also cut its outlook for Anadarko Petroleum Corp, which has a 25 percent stake in the ill-fated well, to stable from positive, saying it is "potentially liable for significant costs and liabilities relating to the clean-up."

Oil has been gushing into the Gulf at a rate estimated at a minimum of 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons/795,000 liters) a day since the well ruptured. Ian MacDonald, biological oceanographer at Florida State University, told Reuters this figure was too conservative, putting his guess as high as 25,000 barrels (1.05 million gallons/4 million liters) a day.

In New Orleans, about 200 people holding banners saying "Clean It Up" protested on Saturday against BP, the spill and its environmental consequences.

The rally, organized by the environmental group Sierra Club, is one of a series of demonstrations due to take place across the country in the next 10 days, organizers said.

A sheen of oil has engulfed much of the Chandeleur Islands, barrier islands that are part of Louisiana's Breton National Wildlife Refuge, the first confirmation of the oil slick hitting land. Some oiled birds have been found in recent days.

Update on NAMRU-3 Sequences from Egypt

I've gone a search within Egypt, and also on google for NAMRU-3 HA NA Sequences. There is absolutely nothing out there.

11th outbreak of foot-and-mouth verified

2010/05/08 11:34

• 

Korea’s Food Ministry confirmed a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease yesterday at a cattle farm in Cheongyang, South Chungcheong, the 11th since the first reappearance of the disease here on April 9.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that a cow at the farm started showing symptoms of the illness, including blisters on the nose, on Thursday, and that tests conducted by the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service were positive.


An official with the South Chungcheong Province government said quarantine officials “have culled the 20 animals raised at the farm, as well as some 80 other animals raised at eight other cattle farms within a 500-meter [547-yard] radius.”

The location of the latest confirmed outbreak is just 3.2 kilometers (2.0 miles) from the region’s state-run livestock and veterinary science institute, which confirmed an outbreak just last week.

The proximity raises concerns about Korea’s quarantine measures, as experts categorize anywhere 3 to 10 kilometers from an outbreak as an “alert area.”

Meanwhile, Food Minister Chang Tae-pyong told a radio show yesterday morning, “The FMD virus is known to be transmitted through humans and vehicles.” He vowed to “strengthen restrictions on human and vehicle traffic in and out of the areas where the outbreak took place.”

As of early this week, Korea had slaughtered and buried almost 50,000 livestock from 361 farms, incurring costs of more than 55 billion won ($49 million).


Foot-and-mouth disease affects all cloven-hooved animals including cattle, pigs, deer, goats and buffalo.

For its high contagiousness and impact on trade, FMD is classified as a “List A” disease by the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health.


Late April the Korean government raised the alert level to red, the highest in its four-level system.

It was the first time the red level had been used since a foot-and-mouth disease alert system was adopted in 2004.


Korea was hit twice before by the disease in 2000 and 2002, with its losses reaching 301 billion won and 144 billion won, respectively.

Egypt: Official Involved In Smuggling birds & animals to Israel

The H5N1 in birds in Ein Gedi, Israel, reported here becomes very interesting. Here's a map of the area:


Doing some research on the area, I found this:

The weather conditions also make Ein Gedi a meeting and mating ground for a wide range of mammals, many of which make their way from the arid desert region nearby in the hopes of finding food and shelter. Birds flock to Ein Gedi for the same reasons, with more than 400 species of birds in situ during migration seasons, making Ein Gedi a birdwatcher's paradise.
http://www.arzaworld.com/israel-travel-guide/israel-travel-destinations/ein-gedi.aspx

And there is the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve:

Ein Gedi Nature Reserve visitors have access to the adjacent nature reserve for viewing bird sanctuaries and wildlife of the desert

Also, we have this out of Egypt today:

Was sealing his office and close the center "Danesh" in South Sinai
Minister of the Environment to stop the official involved in the smuggling of rare birds out
Saturday, May 8th, 2010 - 17:38

An informed source told within the Ministry of Environment stated that it was sealing the office of Dr. At least Mr., file official ministry's bird flu, after his involvement and his brother in a network of smuggling of birds and animals to Israel, after his arrest as he uses one of the cars belonging to the Ministry of Environment and plates Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

The source added that the minister took the decision to stop At least Mr. working, and the closure of all offices of official reserves in the ministry, pending the examination by the prosecution, the police bodies and the environment in Sharm El-Sheikh in coordination with the Department of Protected Areas and the Security Directorate of South Sinai has been able to adjust the car of the Ministry of the environment, during attempt to sell 102 of the snakes and rare birds to the center "Danesh-House" who specializes in the sale of birds and wildlife.

And his office declined to Maged George comment on the case or disclose any information about the official involved in the smuggling network of wildlife, arguing that the case is now in the hands of the judiciary, may not speak it.

[Contact me for the site]

Egypt: In the scientific symposium on bird flu Beni Suef

May 8, 2010

The secretariat of the National Party Beni Suef expanded seminar on avian flu at the Hall of agricultural extension in Beni Suef, attended by more than one hundred and twenty participants from gender

This was said Noor Huda Aleem attorney member of the National Party, said that Dr. Sabri fully, professor of virology and immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, confirmed that the virus HN turn to 144 types of virus and the human being in a natural state does not accept only human influenza, but with a mutation of the virus begins vulnerability

He added that to avoid HIV infection and lifting is the way of confrontation, stressing that the immune achieved a great deal of fruit, vegetables and healthy eating habits and avoid chemicals, maintaining the growth rates of normal hours with a 8:6 to avoid tension and emotion

Dr Syed Abdul Rahman the director of veterinary medicine in that the virus is avian influenza spread in the air for a distance of 2 km .. The Directorate carried out a vaccination and executed a lot of birds infected referring to the complete prohibition on Educational Cities and take strict measures and controls Educational villages, adding that the birds frozen properties not different from live birds and retain the full nutritional value

, Mohamed Kulaawi secretary-general of the province, refrigerated, frozen turkeys are available from outlets liars and armed forces, has been assigned the work of the Social Fund loans worth ten thousand to bring the stores that sell live birds .. He called women leaders to assume their responsibilities in the Call and Guidance 2000 meeting was chaired by Mohamed Saad Information Secretary National Party in the governorate.

[contact me for the link]

Recombinomics: Fixing of 125del In Human H5N1 In Egypt

Regarding the post below entitled:

NAMRU-3 gene discovered among humans with the H5N1 virus in Egypt

I am posting the original which is from Recombinomics.

Recombinomics Commentary 22:22
May 6, 2010

NAMRU-3 has recently released HA and NA sequences from recent H5N1 cases in Egypt (11 from 2009 and 12 from 2010). All 23 HA sequences had 125del (3 BP deletion), indicating the deletion is becoming fixed in human H5N1 in Egypt. An earlier paper, “Characterization of conserved properties of hemagglutinin of H5N1 and human influenza viruses: possible consequences for therapy and infection control” had noted similarities between H5N1and seasonal H1N1, raising concerns of increased human transmission (H2H) of H5N1 with 125del. This concern was increased by the recent paper describing the detection of H5N1 in donkeys and serological evidence of widespread H5N1 antibodies in donkeys.

Concerns of human to human H5N1 transmission in Egypt were raised when mild cases in children were reported in the spring of 2007. Several had the 3 BP deletion and sequences were closely related. There children had a mild course, which did not include pneumonia.

In early 2009, mild cases were reported in toddlers. The large number of cases reduced the case fatality rate for H5N1 in 2009 to approximately 10%. The sequences from these toddlers also had 125del, which was followed by the most recent 23 sequences which were from the summer of 2009 to March 31, 2010.

Poultry H5N1 sequences collected in the past year were more diverse and included vaccine resistant H5N1. However, all human sequences contained 125del and many of the 2010 sequences were closely related to each other raising additional concerns that H5N1 is transmitting H2H.

Since Egypt does not H5N1 test patients who do not have a poultry contact, the full extent of H5N1 remains largely unknown. Serological testing has been discussed for over a year. During that time a serological survey on donkeys was conducted, which showed widespread antibodies in donkey serum.

Results for a comparable test in humans, using a 125del H5N1 target is long overdue.

Media Links

NAMRU-3 gene discovered among humans with the H5N1 virus in Egypt

[Note: The embedded story, within this Egyptian story, is included at the bottom]


NAMRU-3 gene discovered among humans with the H5N1 virus in Egypt
Saturday, May 8th, 2010 - 17:43



Discovered the laboratories of the Research Unit, U.S. NAMRU-3, of the U.S. Navy in Egypt, the existence of viral sequences in cases of bird flu (H5N1) virus similar to the characteristics of seasonal flu transmitted between humans, raising fears the spread of the virus.

Where they found NAMRU-3 on the sequences Sub-HA and NA in the cases examined in Egypt (11 cases in 2009, and 12 cases in 2010), and found that the 23 cases included A seldom explored characteristic of existing seasonal influenza virus and transmitted between humans, which indicates that these character began to become fixed in the virus in Egypt.

The study had been conducted earlier had shown the existence of similarities between the H5N1 and seasonal influenza H1N1, which has led to growing concerns about the transmission of the virus among humans, especially those cases, which included one of the genetic traits which were found in cases that have been examined.

She had raised fears of HIV transmission among humans, after the discovery of a number of cases among children in 2007, which mostly contains the same genetic character, and appeared at the time the symptoms of moderate disease, were infected with pneumonia.

It is worth mentioning that the NAMRU-3, working with the Egyptian Ministry of Health in the analysis of samples suspected of being infected with influenza viruses present.

[Note: The following story was taken from this site: http://www.recombinomics.com/News/05061003/H5N1_125del_Fix.html ]

Fixing of 125del In Human H5N1 In Egypt
Fri May 7 13:52
Recombinomics has the story.

NAMRU-3 has recently released HA and NA sequences from recent H5N1 cases in Egypt (11 from 2009 and 12 from 2010). All 23 HA sequences had 125del (3 BP deletion), indicating the deletion is becoming fixed in human H5N1 in Egypt. An earlier paper, “Characterization of conserved properties of hemagglutinin of H5N1 and human influenza viruses: possible consequences for therapy and infection control” had noted similarities between H5N1and seasonal H1N1, raising concerns of increased human transmission (H2H) of H5N1 with 125del. This concern was increased by the recent paper describing the detection of H5N1 in donkeys and serological evidence of widespread H5N1 antibodies in donkeys.

Concerns of human to human H5N1 transmission in Egypt were raised when mild cases in children were reported in the spring of 2007. Several had the 3 BP deletion and sequences were closely related. There children had a mild course, which did not include pneumonia.

In early 2009, mild cases were reported in toddlers. The large number of cases reduced the case fatality rate for H5N1 in 2009 to approximately 10%. The sequences from these toddlers also had 125del, which was followed by the most recent 23 sequences which were from the summer of 2009 to March 31, 2010.

Poultry H5N1 sequences collected in the past year were more diverse and included vaccine resistant H5N1. However, all human sequences contained 125del and many of the 2010 sequences were closely related to each other raising additional concerns that H5N1 is transmitting H2H.

Since Egypt does not H5N1 test patients who do not have a poultry contact, the full extent of H5N1 remains largely unknown. Serological testing has been discussed for over a year. During that time a serological survey on donkeys was conducted, which showed widespread antibodies in donkey serum.

Results for a comparable test in humans, using a 125del H5N1 target is long overdue.
http://beforeitsnews.com/news/41/063/Fixing_of_125del_In_Human_H5N1_In_Egypt.html

Mexico strengthens fight against pandemics and bioterrorism

Spanish to English translation

Mexico strengthens fight against pandemics and bioterrorism

We can confirm in at least two days the presence of SARS, flu, or new strains. It has the backing of the United States and will process up to 30 samples daily.

Fri, 07/05/2010 - 09:52

Fifty scientists, well equipped, will work on the detection of infectious agents. Image: Oswaldo Ramírez After seven years of programming, Mexico has the first Laboratory Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3), supported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) United States, which will detect, in less 48 hours, new pandemic viruses and bioterrorism aimed at places like the U.S. embassy.

Alpuche Celia, director of the National Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (INDRE), explained that U.S. diplomatic representation in Mexico usually sent for analysis envelopes that come with "strange powders" and they fear that it may be Anthrax.

"They still have dust coming envelopes are rare and anguish that go through the U.S. Embassy, we have come inches, three or four a year," he said during a tour of the new facilities of small BSL3 laboratory, which was a cost of 12 million pesos, but the maintenance will be over 500 million.

Pending completion of construction of 35 thousand meters of surface in new INDRE Silversmiths (around 2011 and have the ability to process more than 3000 samples), this new, small laboratory is key to national security, even though in practice can only process 30 samples per day, ranging from common viruses such as rubella, measles and dengue, to the detection of new infectious strains.

"It's like a national security shield for more health information, timely and quality, and prevent the spread of diseases of suspected, consequential or bioterrorism, such as Anthrax, tularemia, or rabbit fever, Francisella tularensis, which is highly virulent , including the H5N1 avian influenza and highly resistant crops microbasterias or hemorrhagic fevers, "he said.

INDRE director said Friday he will meet with authorities Research Center for National Security (Cisen) to report on the draft protection against a possible bioterrorist attack and, in parallel, we will work to shield the border between Mexico and the United States and Guatemala .

The BSL3 laboratory, which will start operating in three weeks and has 500 surface 7000, a team of 50 scientists prepared and well equipped, have the opportunity to sequence all types of viruses, to detect whether these are new agents that can trigger a pandemic in the country and even for preparing the antigens necessary.

"We will be able to grow any kind of virus and be more self-sufficient to produce antigens," in addition "we have internationally standardized techniques. Any diagnosis faster and will allow us to defend ourselves against any attack (bioterrorism), before we had to send samples abroad. Another situation is that this laboratory will have international credibility, we belong to the CDC network, "he said Alpuche.

The facilities are sealed in such a way that prevents leaks out viruses that might compromise or society. "The idea is to sequence the entire virus and detect whether it is a new agent that could trigger a pandemic in the country."

The new laboratory will operate in conjunction with the existing ones in Veracruz and Sonora, which have not yet endorsed by the CDC.

On cases of H1N1 virus, the official mentioned that it is minimal and that of ten samples are only two confirmatory.

- Keys

Influenza

• So far, Mexico has recorded 72 000 502 confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1, and according to the Ministry of Health has been 8,009 deaths.

• The economic impact of the pandemic, since the alert was declared on April 23, 2009, exceeded 4 percent of GDP, following the closure of borders by various countries.

• Given the possibility of release WHO pandemic alert, the INER are warned that cases of H1N1, and most of them are from people without risk factors, ie healthy.
Mexico • Blanca Valadez
http://www.milenio.com/node/438621

hat-tip Tonka

Oil Spill: Ship delays expected due spill, but none yet

Friday May 07, 2010 05:45:18 PM GMT

By Bruce Nichols

HOUSTON, May 7 (Reuters) - Shippers and ports on the Gulf of Mexico prepared Friday for a worst-case oil spill impact, including vessel delays for cleaning, but ships so far had passed through the mess without contamination, officials said.

"We have seen no impacts at all," said an oil trader for a major refiner that receives oil via the Gulf and Mississippi River. "If the oil gets to the mouth of the Mississippi, we think there may be some delays, but nothing substantial."

There could be some delays for ship cleaning from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, if the spill spreads farther into shipping lanes, but officials hoped to avoid major slowdowns, said Judith Adams of the Alabama State Port Authority.

"We really need to try and keep commerce moving but also protect the environment," she said.

Onshore preparations accelerated Friday as oil kept spewing after the blowout and explosion of a BP Plc well in the Gulf off Louisiana April 20, killing 11 workers, sinking a drilling rig and spawning a giant oil spill.

A practice run cleaning a ship was undertaken on Friday at Southwest Pass, deepwater entrance to the Mississippi River and New Orleans, and a gated boom system was being installed at the entrance to Mobile Bay in Alabama as a precaution.

Sensitive areas were being boomed off without blocking ship channels at Pascagoula and Gulfport, Mississippi.

Winds, currents and a rising Mississippi River - due to flooding rains upstream - appeared favorable Friday for keeping the spill away from key Gulf shipping lanes, but officials cautioned conditions can change.

The spill had not seriously threatened the Mississippi-Alabama coast as of Friday, but it was onshore in parts of Louisiana, though it had not seriously marred the Mississippi River entrance as of Friday.

The practice cleaning of a vessel at Southwest Pass Friday was intended to streamline a system "almost like a carwash," said Captain Jason Bosley of the Associated Branch Pilots.

Sheen contamination can be hosed off in an hour or two, but dirtier ships might have to anchor at Pilottown or Boothville, Louisiana, and face delays up to two days, officials said.

Two cleaning boats were stationed at Southwest Pass, but more resources could be made available, and cleaning stations were being set up at other ports, officials said.

"This is not going to be voluntary. If a ship has oil on it, it is going to be cleaned," Bosley said, but he added "every effort is being made" to keep the process speedy.

One ship at Mobile and at least two others at the mouth of the Mississippi reported passing through the spill but were inspected and found not to be contaminated.

They may have benefited from the fact that the oil has been treated with dispersants, which are supposed to make the oil less sticky, Bosley said.

In Alabama, the boom across the bay entrance will be anchored by pilings but will have a tugboat-driven gate to let ships pass without letting oil into the bay, Adams said.

"What we're trying to do is protect the environment, but we still have a business to run," Mississippi State Port Director Don Allee said. (Additional reporting by Joshua Schneyer and Robert Gibbons in New York; Editing by John Picinich)