DA stops bird, poultry imports from bird flu-stricken Italian city

06/03/2010 06:52 PM

The Philippines’ Agriculture department ordered a temporary ban on importing bird and poultry products from a northern Italian city after authorities confirmed outbreaks of bird flu or avian influenza (H5N1) there.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla issued the ban after the Office International des Epizooties (World Organization on Animal Health) confirmed outbreaks of avian influenza in Bergamo in Lombardy, Italy, the DA said in a statement on Thursday.

The department said the European Commission’s Health and Consumers Directorate General confirmed the presence of low pathogenic avian influenza in two poultry holdings in Bergamo.

The department also ordered the immediate suspension of the processing and issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Clearances (VQCs) to all imports covering products from the banned area.

Fondevilla stressed the poultry industry in the Philippines has remained free of bird flu ever since the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain struck Asia seven years ago. Brunei, Singapore, and the Philippines are the only avian influenza-free countries in Southeast Asia.

To protect the local industry, the DA has set up Community-Based Early Warning Systems (CBEWS) in selected communities identified as high-risk in contacting the virus. The CBEWS would orient the communities on avian influenza mortalities, possible AI cases, and smuggling of poultry and exotic birds from avian influenza-infected countries.

The department also tapped the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to implement the Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (AVET) Program to strengthen the capacity of local field veterinary services in designing and managing disease surveillance and conducting outbreak investigations.

The national government has four Regional Avian Influenza Diagnostic Laboratories (RAIDLs) in Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, and San Fernando City in Pampanga. These complement the Avian Influenza Laboratory at the Philippine Animal Health Center of the BAI, the country’s first diagnostic facility meant to promptly detect the H5N1 virus.

Vietnam: Meeting to discuss measures against cholera in Ben Tre

6/3/2010
While investigating the source is not contagious, but through the analysis of experts at the meeting showed that the cholera in this local spread risk from water sources.

> Bệnh tả có nguy cơ thành dịch tại Bến Tre" onmouseover="this.style.backgroundColor='#ebeff9'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='#fff'">Afternoon 3 / 6, in Ben Tre province, representing the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City is meeting with the Steering Committee and disease prevention Ben bamboo desk solution to deal with outbreaks of cholera are local.

Up to Date 3 / 6, Ben Tre province has 24 cases of cholera and more than 200 cases of acute diarrhea, concentrated in the South Mo Cay District, Mo Cay North, Giong Trom.

Therefore, to deal with the cholera outbreak risk across the board, the professional body under the Ministry of Health to coordinate with the health sector and the government of Ben Tre provincial implementation of emergency measures from the prevention, treatment of patients to the propaganda and education in the community, which focused disease management good sources, treatment and patient advocacy on food hygiene. /.

Vietnam: Ben proposal announced cholera

Show romanization

Previously reported here

It is known, PM 26 / 5, Ben Tre Province Health Department report, has recorded 12 cholera patients and nearly 50 other patients with acute diarrhea.

03.06.2010,
Ben proposal announced cholera

According to the General Hospital of Cu Lao Minh City, Mo Cay district Nam (Ben Tre), to this afternoon, 3.6, there were 209 patients hospitalized with diarrhea treatment. Of these, the central province of Preventive Medicine, said 19 patients have tested positive for cholera bacteria, in other cases are suspicious signs.

Notably, to date, the cause of outbreaks and major factors causing the spread has not been determined.

Hospital: Overload

Calculated from the first patient in Tan Phu Tay commune, Mo Cay District North, to 31.5 cases there were 15 patients in two districts of North and Mo Mo Cay South Cay is determined to be positive for cholera bacteria. Besides, 39 cases of diarrhea are signs of suspected cholera were treated in hospital Cu Lao Minh, Nam Mo Cay.

Dr. Le Quang Trung, deputy director general hospital Cu Lao Minh area concerned: the rate of spread alarmingly, each hospital must receive on average 10 cases of diarrhea. Meanwhile, hospitals Cu Lao Minh area only 350 beds. In particular, science has only 45 beds spread.

This fact shows that overload has exceeded 4 times the capacity of treatment. If severe cases receiving hemodialysis will be the hospital anything about it. Therefore, according to China, for quarantine treatment of diarrhea, the Cu Lao Minh hospital must transfer patients with diarrhea not related to treatment in other departments. Despite many cases still have to monitor treatment in transmission corridor science.

Nearly three-week outbreak, Ben still can not find the cause, although the central provinces of Preventive Medicine, Institute Pasteur, public health and hygiene city. HCM was there to review the disease situation, water sampling, sample analysis to determine the transmission route and measures to prevent coordination.

Under these circumstances, the provincial Health Department has sent a written request of the provincial Health announced cholera in two northern districts of Mo Cay and South Cay mine.

According to hospital doctors Sanitation City public health. City, brackish water delivery season and weather conditions are good for cholera spread quickly. Therefore, the cholera outbreak extended as unavoidable risk.

Embarrassing deal

In such circumstances, the health sector only propagating epidemic prevention measures are key. Thereby, the agencies noted on the rivers of water that people are using for the purpose of life can cause an outbreak and community mobilization cooked, take nine.

Currently, Ben Tre focus for most activities of treatment - anti-epidemic. However, according to Dr Le Quang Trung, if approved funding for anti-epidemic hospital can completely free treatment to patients. Also present, only patients with free drugs is supported from Preventive Medicine. Thus, patients describe only free treatment when the disease was officially announced.

According to experts, cholera is not too critical if they are hospitalized from the start of treatment. But, as overload stress when the patient has recovered but has no negative results have also continued inpatient wait for the results.

Biggest concern now is not to stop cholera in the northern Mo Cay district, Nam Mo Cay, Cho Lach that there were three patients in Thanh Phu district, five patients Vung Liem District and Long Lake (Vinh Long) and a patient in Tri Ton district (An Giang) ...

Vietnam: Dengue An Giang & Dong Thap

6/3/10

Center for Preventive Medicine in An Giang said the province first five months of 1057 to detect dengue cases, increased 1.8 times compared to last year and three cases have been fatal. Meanwhile Center of Preventive Medicine, Dong Thap, said this about the same time, the province detected 743 dengue cases (two deaths), up 55% over the same period in 2009.

Vietnam: Alarms patients Streptococcus infection

03/06/2010
From April to now, in the central region has 28 suspected cases of Streptococcus from pigs, in which four cases were fatal. In particular, some localities have not happened even blue ear pig disease, but still have the infection.

Doctor (BS) Duong Van Sinh, head of the Emergency Resuscitation, Hospital (Hospital) Hue Central, said the hospital last year received only from 1-2 patients infected with Streptococcus pig (LCKH) each months, but back here in two months, the number of hospitalized cases infected LCKH skyrocketed.

2 months, 28 patients

In April - 5 / 2010, this hospital has received treatment for 28 cases and in the central region are infected LCKH. The latest case is a patient N. in Quang Ngai province, was hospitalized on the afternoon of 21 / 5 and 22.5 deaths dawn. Thua Thien - Hue also two deaths, that is the case Le Huu pp., 55, resident of Phu Luong and Nguyen Thanh D., 27, resident Thuan An town, Phu Vang district together.

According to BS Biology, LCKH patients diagnosed through blood and cultured based on epidemiological factors, clinical symptoms. Usually patients infected after transplantation of blood LCKH are matched pig streptococcus bacteria in the skin. But there are patients who do not appear because the pig streptococcus bacteria had previously been treated early and proper antibiotic dosage. However, based on factors such as prior disease arises, the patient eat pork products, the clinical symptoms in human patients, the doctor will have appropriate treatment.

Sick after 3-4 hours of exposure to pathogens

According to BS Biology, just 3-4 hours after exposure to pathogens, patients get sick with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, loose bowel movement, the fatigue. Especially, patients need not go out that the service distribution, organ failure, clotting disorders, respiratory failure, meningitis and fatal discharge. Therefore, patients should be incorporated into the medical facility as soon as possible and treated promptly.

The doctor said there LCKH in all organs, especially in the respiratory system of blue ear pig disease. In Vietnam, killed by stick pig blood, as all are products from infected pigs. When people eat these products, the risk is very high. In cases in which receiving Hue Central Hospital, patients only have to eat three pieces of boiled pork is available in markets. Particularly with people just eat more beef and noodle soup LCKH goats also infected. The reason being is put into the crucible of pork, and goat blood pudding blood pudding mixed with infected pigs.

Vietnam: Generating multiple new outbreak of blue ear

June 3, 2010
The Department of Animal Health, PRRS continues to generate new outbreaks in some provinces, the risk of large-scale epidemic in the future are great. Under these circumstances, the local Department proposal to make drastic measures for prevention and prescribed.

In Quang Ninh, PRRS continues to arise more in the town 02 new communes in Ha Dam (Dam Ha district) and Vu Oai commune (Hoanh Bo district). Thus, far from the first outbreak, Quang Ninh province has 47 communes, wards and towns in 09 districts with PRRS. Total number of pigs infected to date is 1/6/2010 6815 children, of death and destruction is 2852 children.

In Lang Son on 31 / 5, additional services incurred in Tan Thanh Huu Lung District. This is the second 31 communes of Lang Son has PRRS. Earlier in this province, on 25 / 5 to 30/5/2010, has incurred additional 6 new outbreak in the communes of Dong Jia, retired, Trang Phai (Van Quan), Le Social Production (District High Loc), Cai Kinh commune (Huu Lung District) and the Tokyo wards (tp Lang Son).

Also in Thai Nguyen, also continue to service more students in the communes of Dong Du Dat and town of Phu Luong district. Infected pigs in these communes are 7 children under two households. This is also the 31st outbreak in Thai Nguyen province. To date, the total number of pigs infected by the province is 3476, in which the number of dead and forced more than 2300 children are destroyed.

According to the Department of Animal Health, situation is still complicated, the risk of large-scale epidemic is huge, the localities should implement drastic measures for prevention and according to regulations, farmers warned hygiene and disinfect cages and risk areas at the same time the strict implementation of the vaccine other serious diseases in pigs. /.

Vietnam: Hai Phong: Nearly 3,000 pigs were treated against blue ear disease

June 3, 2010
According to Hai Phong Animal Health Department, the city has nearly 3,000 pigs were treated against blue ear disease. Pigs is concentrated in the districts of Kien Thuy, An Duong, Thuy Nguyen, An Vinh and Lao Bao.
This is the result of collaboration between the Department of Animal Health with localities of the city in detecting and isolating sick pigs to proceed under green ear treatment regimen. Reportedly, Hai Phong is the first local implementation of national policies to support money for drug treatment of pigs infected with blue ear to farmers with the motto "the rescue effort, minimize the destruction dead pigs, major illness. " Although there are nearly 17,000 pigs infected with blue ear in 12 districts, but, the local governments still actively monitoring and statistics for pig ill treatment guided by dismantlement. Obvious effect of the cure for the disease of pigs, farmers in the district regular contact, working closely with veterinary staff to conduct large isolated to treat illness as prescribed, not selling pigs hide illness or disease as the initial time to appear. Thus, blue ear pig disease has been localized, controlled, not spread further.
Especially in the basis of large-scale animal husbandry, pigs are safe, without any basis is blue ear disease. Dead pigs culled in the province have decreased rather than here, not only bring benefits to farmers but also help protect the environment from being polluted by the burial and destruction of swine. /.

India: Pre-monsoon diseases on the rise in Alappuzha

Kerala

Jun 03, 2010

ALAPPUZHA: Even as the south-west monsoon is playing hide and seek with the State, seasonal contagious diseases have started making their presence felt across the district.

While health authorities insist that there is nothing yet to worry about, they agree that precautionary measures have been set into motion. K.M. Sirabudin, District Medical Officer, said a campaign against vector-borne and viral diseases, with focus on dengue, Leptospirosis (rat fever) and jaundice was already on.

The public had been asked to observe at least one dry day a week, making sure that there were no avenues for mosquitoes to breed with steps being taken to avoid stagnation of water in any form around the house.

Fogging operations too were being undertaken in most areas, with special focus in four wards in the Kayamkulam municipality, from where six suspected of cases of dengue were reported recently.

Dengue cases

Of these, one had been confirmed and the patient was out of danger, Mr. Sirabudin, who visited the area on Wednesday, told The Hindu.

However, he denied reports in the vernacular media that the district was in the grip of viral fever and that there were a couple of deaths due to fever.

“We have not received any confirmed official reports on any such case,” he said.

Enquiries at primary health centres however, confirmed that there was a rise in the number of viral fever cases being reported at these centres, most of them on the coastal belt of the district. PHCs and a couple of private nursing homes at Chettikad, Kalavoor, Arthunkal and Muhamma have seen at least 100 persons each, most of them complaining of throat pain, shivering and body pains, in the last one week alone.

High incidence of viral fever has been reported from the Kuttanad region, Mararikulam and Ambalapuzha areas.

Leptospirosis cases too have been reported from various regions of the district. According to Health department sources, 27 cases of the fever were reported from January so far, with three deaths as well.

Most of the Leptospirosis cases were reported among labourers participating in canal de-silting/paddy field preparation works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes.

India: Nine more taken ill - Karnataka

Madikeri: Nine more persons were reportedly suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea at Balaji village in the Mayamudi Gram Panchayat limits in Kodagu district, and were being treated at Gonicoppa Community Health Centre, according to a press release received here on Wednesday. Balaji village comes under the Balele Primary Health Centre.

Health workers and ASHA volunteers have been deputed to the spot to attend to the patients, according to the District Health Officer.

People living in villages in and around Balaji have been advised to maintain personal hygiene and drink only purified water. Steps have been taken to chlorinate water sources in the villages and tablets have been supplied as a precautionary measure.

Efforts were on to prevent the spread of dengue and chikungunya in Karike village, which comes under Bhagamandala Primary Health Centre. District Health officials had confirmed four cases of dengue in Karike on Tuesday. Four teams of health officials had been constituted to visit households in Karike village. Apart from doctors in the Ayurvedic Hospital in Karike, medical officers from the Napoklu and Bhagamandala primary health centres are at work in Karike.

hat-tip Arkanoid Legent

Vietnam: No new cases of A/H1N1 and H5N1 detected over past month

No new outbreaks of A/H1N1 and H5N1 epidemics have been discovered over the past month, announced the Ministry of Health on June 2.

This demonstrates that Vietnam has gradually got epidemics under control, said ministry officials.

So far, 11,211 people have been infected by the A/H1N1 virus, including 58 fatalities. The Health Ministry has also warned that many dangerous diseases, including acute diarrhea and malaria, are likely to spread.

Since the beginning of this year, 31 people in eight provinces and cities have contracted the vibrio cholarae bacteria, while 9,714 others have been infected by malaria, including 4 deaths.

Vietnam: Ben is pleased to announce cholera

06/02/2010
Doctor Nguyen Van Thang - Deputy Director of Ben Tre Department of Health, said this situation, pm 30 / 5, Ben Tre province have submitted written proposals to the Health Ministry announced cholera occurring in areas areas, and support the Province in disease prevention.

Although the Health Ministry has not yet announced but is translated in the province is implementing measures to prevent disease as against the spirit of service, meeting the people to self-government propaganda and speakers so that people understand and jointly National Anti-epidemic.

It is known, PM 26 / 5, Ben Tre Province Health Department report, has recorded 12 cholera patients and nearly 50 other patients with acute diarrhea.

Patients most concentrated in Mo Cay District South (9 cases), Mo Cay North (2 cases), Cho Lach district and the latest (one case). We have not determined the source of cholera infections for control measures.

Compared with other provinces is positive cholera cases in April: City (7 cases), An Giang (5 cases), Hai Duong (5 cases), Hanoi (1 song), Bac Ninh (1 song) Ben Tre Province has the highest number of cholera patients.

Information from the Department of Preventive Health (MOH) said the Department had received written requests for disclosure of cholera in Ben Tre Province. Department who is appointed to review the situation to consider.
As prescribed by the Ministry of Health, announced the disease does not depend on the number of cases of disease that depends on many different factors such as the ability to control the outbreak of cases ...

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Vietnam: Ben Tre: H5N1 in Poultry Outbreak

02/06/2010

Veterinary Department, said Ben Tre Ben Tre province decided to announce bird flu in the province and the commune of An Binh An Ngai Tay Tay (Ba Tri District). PPC also simultaneously direct the departments and of Ba Tri District People's Committees to immediately implement measures for prevention in the province.

Previously, avian influenza epidemics occur over flock of 768 children 41 days old Nguyen Thi Oanh households live Giong Turn Village, An Ngai Tay commune, which has infected 606 children, 162 children died. It is worth saying is that local service is now occurring outbreak year old, her flock Oanh was not properly vaccinated, vaccination is only a tip on 2/3/2010, two days after injection the sick and dead ducks. Currently, the veterinary sector and the function of Ben Tre province strengthening preventive hygiene, managed the business situation, movement of poultry slaughter.

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Australia: Seasonal Flu Vaccine Remains Suspended for young children without risk factors - Advice from the Chief Medical Officer

Australian Government
Department of Health and Ageing
Professor Jim Bishop AO
MD MMed MBBS FRACP FRCPA
Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer
1 June 2010

After consideration of the results to date of a comprehensive investigation into the safety of the seasonal flu vaccine for young children, I have advised, that as a precaution, the suspension of seasonal flu vaccination should continue for healthy children under five years of age.

Since the first reports of a higher than usual occurrence of fever with convulsions in young children following seasonal flu vaccination in WA in April, investigations nationally have confirmed that a small number of children aged under five across the country have experienced fever with convulsions in the 24 hours after vaccination with the 2010 seasonal influenza vaccine. These reactions have been associated mainly with Fluvax, manufactured by CSL.

The investigation conducted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), in association with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance has identified no apparent clinical, biological or epidemiological factors that would explain the higher than expected observed rates of fever with convulsions. Laboratory testing of the vaccine by the TGA and an audit of the CSL manufacturing plant have also revealed no abnormalities to explain this event. However this investigation is continuing.

Nevertheless, to date, epidemiological analyses point to a rate of febrile convulsions in children aged under five years following 2010 seasonal influenza vaccination of about 9 per 1000 children vaccinated, while the expected rate would be less than 1 per 1000.

While I am recommending that healthy children aged under five years not be vaccinated with seasonal flu vaccine this year, where a child aged under five has medical risk factors that would cause serious health effects for the child if they got the flu, parents should discuss with their doctor whether, on clinical evaluation of the risks and benefits, a seasonal flu vaccination would be the best option.

Doctors should note that, while a higher rate of febrile convulsions has been identified using Fluvax, insufficient doses of this season’s Influvac and Vaxigrip vaccines have been used in children in this age group to accurately determine the rates for these vaccines. In addition, as the cause of the increase in febrile convulsions is not yet known, caution should be exercised.

In addition, the alternative for both healthy children and those with risk factors is the swine flu vaccine, Panvax, which has been shown to be safe and effective in young children and is freely available.

Influenza itself often causes fever in young children which can lead to convulsions and flu vaccine can also produce these side effects but there is a clear signal that the rate of fever with convulsions is higher with this year's vaccine across all jurisdictions.

The investigation found that, while there are some cases of fever with convulsions associated with the swine flu vaccine, these were in line with the expected rate of side effects for a flu vaccine based on the swine flu vaccine clinical trials and experience with seasonal flu vaccines in previous years, both in Australia and internationally.

The TGA will continue to work with overseas Regulators and the US CDC in Atlanta to ascertain the scientific reason for this phenomenon.

WHO: new basis for H5N1 vaccine developed

/02 Jun 2010

Scientists have used bird flu virus samples from Egypt to develop a new basis for a vaccine against the toxic H5N1 strain that continues to circulate, the World Health Organization said.

The WHO said the candidate virus was developed at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta "thanks to the ministry of health and population of Egypt, for providing virus specimens".

"This recombinant vaccine virus is available for distribution," it said in a statement. "Institutions, companies and others interested in pandemic vaccine development who wish to receive these candidate vaccine viruses should contact either the WHO Global Influenza Program ... or the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention."

Pharmaceutical companies including Novartis are already working on vaccines against H5N1 bird flu, which has killed or forced the culling of more than 300 million birds since 2003 as it spread to 61 countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

The U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization reported 250 outbreaks of H5N1 in birds in February alone -- in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal and Vietnam.

Avian influenza has killed 261 people out of 424 infected since 2003.

Its statement on said flu experts were continuing to monitor the evolution of avian influenza and other flu viruses and stressed the need for countries to keep providing samples of identified strains.

"Countries are encouraged to share with WHO their specimens and/or isolates, both from humans and animals, for their inclusion in the WHO H5N1 vaccine virus development and selection process, in addition to other activities of public health significance," it said.

hat-tip AIDigest

Puzzling inefficiency of H5N1 influenza vaccines in Egyptian poultry

Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States

Contributed by Robert G. Webster, May 10, 2010 (sent for review March 1, 2010)

Abstract
In Egypt, efforts to control highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in poultry and in humans have failed despite increased biosecurity, quarantine, and vaccination at poultry farms. The ongoing circulation of HP H5N1 avian influenza in Egypt has caused >100 human infections and remains an unresolved threat to veterinary and public health. Here, we describe that the failure of commercially available H5 poultry vaccines in Egypt may be caused in part by the passive transfer of maternal H5N1 antibodies to chicks, inhibiting their immune response to vaccination. We propose that the induction of a protective immune response to H5N1 is suppressed for an extended period in young chickens. This issue, among others, must be resolved and additional steps must be taken before the outbreaks in Egypt can be controlled.

1. Jeong-Ki Kima,b,
2. Ghazi Kayalia,
3. David Walkera,
4. Heather L. Forresta,
5. Ali H. Ellebedya,
6. Yolanda S. Griffina,
7. Adam Rubruma,
8. Mahmoud M. Bahgatc,
9. M. A. Kutkatd,
10. M. A. A. Alie,
11. Jerry R. Aldridgea,
12. Nicholas J. Negoveticha,
13. Scott Kraussa,
14. Richard J. Webbya,f, and
15. Robert G. Webstera,f,1

hat-tip AIDigest

Thailand-Phetchabun - found patients with ear off and 23 people died and five.

01/06/2553.

Health Phetchabun province. Remind those who like eating half-cooked risk is high fever ear off. Release from 1 Jan - present. Patients and 23 people were killed and five people in the district's top cities.

Fabric from her 57 years old native of Phetchabun Patients with ear off. Rest cure in the hospital Phetchabun After the infection. State å å ¤ To Cut a neck of Joseph Lewis noodle consumption fall And symptoms are fever, headache, body aches can not move by themselves. From eye can not see. And ears do not hear until she started a Gold Somjit daughter to bring immediately to receive treatment at Phetchabun Hospital on May 27 last. Which is now in a secure and symptoms.

For fever ear off. Caused by a bacterial infection. Call To State å å ¤ Custard Joseph Lewis (Streptococcus Suis) infection is located in the nasal cavity. And pork in the mouth. Without symptoms but can spread to people. The consumption of pork and beef units in medium or blood exposure to infected pork. The symptoms 1-3 days after the infection are high fever, headache, dizziness, severe vomiting, some may be cramped or paralyzed the heart lining inflammation of lung disease line bleary ears off to make meningitis. Some of the lining of the heart. Lung inflammation. With 20-30 percent in mortality and cause permanent deafness. Found that 50-80% percent.

In 2553 the number of information patients received a bacterial infection. State å å ¤ To Cut a neck or ear off Joseph Lewis found that from January 1 - present A total of 23 patients died and five people in the district's top cities. Followed by the Khao Kho. District and Daen. This is caused by eating other raw and cooked or eaten raw Spicy noodles cooked with waterfalls blood raw Statistics from the Northern Province were found patients with more ear off. Because the group has some popular eating Lap Lane made from raw pork. Accompany the application, especially wine.

518 communes and wards nationwide outbreak of blue ear pig

06/01/2010 22:27

(HNMO) - Days 1-6, at the Steering Committee meeting national bird flu prevention, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan said that many localities are still suspended in the room , swine against PRRS.

In about a half months, although only add Son La province (No. 16 provinces in the country PRRS), but worrying, in the provinces and cities have service, number of communes, wards arising outbreak renewed surge. Specifically 18-5 on the past, the country has only 289 communes of 52 districts of 15 provinces and cities have translated, with a total of 78,600 pigs infected children, but on 1-6, the country has a total of 518 communes of 75 districts of 16 provinces and cities occurs PRRS, pigs infected with approximately 150,000 children (in that, destruction of 66,000 children).
Mr. Diep Kinh Tan said that besides the provinces and implement combat service, stamping service zoned good results, yet the provinces are not really interested in the anti-epidemic, from which to translate disease arising increasingly complex ... At this, Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan asked to coordinate with the Department of Animal Health Animal Husbandry Department allowed some local temporary control of blue ear pig is transported in the area, to promote consumption, removing difficulties for farmers.

Egypt: Health announces the stability of the swine flu virus mutates

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

In conjunction with the timing of the emergence of swine flu virus, the annual, which falls this month in the world, Ministry of Health announced this afternoon a constant level of the evolution of influenza virus emerging ah1n1 known as swine flu, confirmed that so far there is no evidence that there is a mutation in the virus or Mqhumich to Tamiflu of the viruses that were isolated from patients in Egypt.

Dr. Nasr El Sayed, Assistant Minister of Health for Preventive Medicine, that there is continued cooperation with reference laboratories and research bodies in order to pursue the development of influenza virus and infectious and the laboratory to monitor any changes in the characteristics of the virus or severity of the disease caused him, even now there was no evidence that there is a mutation in the virus or resistance to Tamiflu, and there is no new types of otherwise conventional seasonal influenza or laboratory evidence on potential new wave of the disease at this time.

Mr, it is the follow-up the global situation of influenza emerging swine flu, as the number of countries infected with the disease so far 214 countries around the world and the number of deaths confirmed experimentally 18 114 cases, indicating a decline in the prevalence of disease, the continent of Africa and the tropics.

And the epidemic situation in Egypt, he pointed out that the total confirmed cases to the laboratory were 16 356 cases, pointing out that the increase in the number of detected cases of the disease began in the months of November and December 2009 and January 2010, they ranged between 2226 cases and 8064 state and then receded disease with the beginning of February 2010, reaching 284 cases to have decreased proliferation and say the numbers dramatically, with cases ranging between 56 to 93 cases during the months of March and April and May 2010.

The Assistant to the Minister that the number of deaths from the disease reached 280 and 115 of them in the month of December alone, and the rest 112 cases in January 2010 and then declining number to 12 cases in February, and three cases in each of the months of March and April and May 2010 and found that 79% of the deaths have chronic diseases and risk factors for global diseases such as heart and blood vessels, chest, kidneys, liver, diabetes and obesity, in addition to pregnancy.

For his part, said Dr. Abdel Rahman Shahin, official spokesman of the Ministry of Health, the ministry is continuing in the activities and efforts to follow up the disease for early detection of any increase in the prevalence rates or any changes through the surveillance of avian influenza and seasonal influenza and pneumonia cases and cases of acute severe respiratory, and that of all hospitals nationwide.

Shaheen explained, it is confirmed experimentally in all cases, as is supported with five laboratories regional governorates of Alexandria and Minya, Aswan, Western and Sinai the southern and contribute with the central laboratory in the Laboratory confirmation of cases, referring to the screening laboratory to the number 44551 sample during the period from May 2009 to April 2010, in addition to the permit to 20 special laboratories are diagnosing the disease, according to regulations and specific criteria.

Shaheen told the availability of Tamiflu, the anti-disease, in sufficient quantities, either capsules or drink, pointing to the presence of 5 Mlaethein dose strategic stockpile were distributed, and a number 1.890000 dose to all hospitals that deal with cases on the level of the Republic, referring to the continuing process of vaccination against the disease especially for people with chronic diseases and travelers to perform Umrah, which were vaccinated more than 700 thousand people from all groups.

He noted the continued activity of the hotline services 105 full lines with 60 line, where the replies to all inquiries of citizens regarding the disease and prevention methods, amounting to 15 thousand calls a day with a total of nearly 2 million and a half call so far.
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Epidemic kills 12,000 critically endangered antelopes

Jun 1, 2010 06:10 PM

By John Platt


At least 12,000 critically endangered saiga antelopes (Saiga tatarica) have been found dead in Kazakhstan in the past two weeks, victims of a mysterious epidemic. The deaths represent about 15 percent of the species' worldwide population.
Saiga antelopes used to number above one million, but the breakup of the Soviet Union led to rampant poaching throughout the species' range and 95 percent of the animals were killed off. Just 81,000 of the antelopes remained in five isolated populations in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. Until this outbreak, the Kazakh population numbered 26,000 animals, almost half of which have now died.
So what caused the outbreak? According to tests by the Kazakh government, the antelopes died of pasteurellosis, an infection that afflicts the lungs. According to a release by the IUCN, "Pasteurellosis is caused by a bacterium that lives naturally in healthy individuals, but can cause acute illness and rapid death if the animal's immune system is compromised, either by another infection, poisoning, stress or malnutrition."
Olga Pereladova, director of the World Wildlife Fund's Central Asia Program, told the Daily Telegraph that the animals might have been malnourished following an unusually cold winter and by an overly hot spring, which may have contributed to the spread of the disease.
Serik Imanukulov, a Kazakh official who heads the department of sanitary and epidemiology in the area, told the AFP news service that the infection may have now passed, and predicts that no more deaths will occur. "We can say the outbreak of the infection has passed and come to a close," Imanukulov said. "I do not think there will be new cases of mass deaths among the saiga at present."
A spokesperson for the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry told the Telegraph that the dead saiga are being burned to prevent further spread of the disease.

Out-of-Town Pigs Increase PRRS Risk in HCM City

VIET NAM - A lot of sick pigs are being brought into Ho Chi Minh City every day, adding to the risk of the blue ear disease spreading here, health officials say.

The HCMC Animal Health Department says that half of the immigrant pigs and pork of dubious origin have tested positive for blue ear virus or PRRS.

More than 2,000 pigs are brought every day to the city from nearby provinces such as Dong Nai, Long An, and Tay Ninh, and even from the north.

The department also found 12.5 per cent of weaned piglets in the city infected with the virus, reports ThanhNien News.com. The animals have been destroyed. According to the department, the number of mature pigs brought to the city has increased by 280-300 a day over the last year.

“Many processed piglets are brought to the city with the whole viscera, so it’s hard for officials to check and contain the disease,” said Phan Xuan Thao, head of HCMC Animal Health Department.

Mr Thao said the virus sooner or later will affect the city given the climatic conditions with heat and high humidity.

As the city needs around 7,000 pigs a day and nearly 70 per cent of them are brought from outside, Thao said the department has asked sellers and slaughterhouses not to take pigs from infected areas. If they do, their entire shipment will be destroyed, he said.

Since blue ear recurred in April, pork consumption in the northern region has dropped 30-40 per cent and pork prices are down 15-24 per cent, Nguyen Thanh Son, an animal health official from the Ministry of Health told a press conference Thursday.