Edinburgh Legionnaires' outbreak: 21 confirmed cases, 19 more suspected

The number of people with Legionnaires’ disease in Edinburgh is set to increase by the weekend, according to health officials

STV 6 June 2012 09:18 BST

 VIDEO http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/104836-health-secretary-urges-against-pointing-fingers-over-legionnaires-cases/

Map of Scotland Legionnaires' Outbreak

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2012/06/06/legionnaires-outbreak-woman-in-bedside-vigil-for-ill-husband-as-bug-claims-first-life-86908-23887316/
THERE are now 21 confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease following a deadly outbreak, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Another 19 people are suspected of having the illness in the Lothian health board area but no more fatalities have occurred since yesterday when one man died, she addedhttp://videos.icnetwork.co.uk/dailyrecord3/Legionnaires.jpg

Legionnaires’ death puts city on alert as 15 critical

Published on Wednesday 6 June 2012 11:48

HEALTH chiefs were today bracing themselves for a fresh wave of legionnaires’ cases after it emerged one man had died from the disease while 15 others were critically ill in hospital.
Patients are being treated at three hospitals – ERI, St John’s and the Western General. Last night the ERI enacted its its emergency plan which involves clearing some wards and using them as intensive care units.
As well as 17 confirmed cases, a further 15 people are suspected to have contracted the illness....
http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/health/legionnaires-death-puts-city-on-alert-as-15-critical-1-2339684

Scotland’s Legionnaires disease -40 confirmed and suspected cases

Legionnaires in Scottish history leaves one dead and 12 critically ill

Wednesday 06 June 2012

 The worst outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Scotland’s history has been blamed on a network of industrial cooling towers in the south west of Edinburgh that have left one man dead and 12 critically ill in hospital. ..Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish health secretary, told a press conference today that early indications suggested the source of the outbreak was a “contaminated cloud” emitted by one or more of the towers, which use the evaporation of water to cool industrial processes....

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cooling-towers-blamed-as-worst-outbreak-of-legionnaires-in-scottish-history-leaves-one-dead-and-12-critically-ill-7820249.html

Clade 2.3.2.1 H5N1 Guangdong China Case

Recombinomics Commentary 13:30
June 6, 2012

The infected child developed fever and runny nose 10 days ago in Guangdong province.

He came to Hong Kong last Saturday and sought medical attention from a private clinic in Mong Kok.

He subsequently developed a fever and convulsions and was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Caritas Medical Centre on Monday, where he was admitted with suspected encephalitis.

Tests later showed he has H5 Influenza A.
The above comments describe an H5N1 case (2M) from Guangdong Province who was diagnosed in Hong Kong. The diagnosis was delayed because of the unusual presentation. Subsequent sequence analysis indicated the case was clade 2.3.2.1, which is frequently identified in wild birds in southern China, as well as the most recent prior H5N1 case from Shenzhen.

Sequences from that fatal case were promptly released by the WHO regional center in Beijing. There were multiple receptor binding domain changes associated with H5N1 spread in humans.

Prompt release of the H5N1 sequences from this case would be useful.
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/06061201/H5N1_Guangdong_2321.html

Vietnam's second bf outbreak in Dien Bien province

Dien Bien:Prevent bird flu spreadUpdated at: 06/06/2012 23:45


(Inspector) - Dien Bien province recently announced decision of avian influenza (H5N1) in the commune Do Luong (Dien Bien). This is the 2nd local service after notice announced a decision at Yen Thanh commune (also at Dien Bien district) occurred from 21/5.


Avian influenza in team 1 and 2 of the Do Luong commune happened on 5/29/2012. So far, over 1,000 birds have been infected, have been discovered and destroyed the organization.
Ms. Cao Thi Tuyet Lan, Department Head of the Veterinary Department of Dien Bien said: All the infected poultry has been the authorities, local government and the livestock owners promptly detected and destroyed quick, and correct technical process. At Yen Thanh commune, in the past 10 days did not detect expression of poultry diseases. However, the anti-epidemic is having some difficulties, such as livestock owners for fear of economic loss, should not inform the veterinary offices and local authorities. Therefore, the case of infected poultry diseases are caused by veterinary staff to strengthen the basis of detection, prompt treatment should last. Currently, farmers harvest just ended, so the duck farms dropped down at the basin along the Dien Bien Phu to take advantage of food sources. So the risk of new epidemics spread across the regions...

H5N1 bird flu reported in NW China

BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) -- China's northwestern Gansu province has reported an outbreak of the highly epidemic H5N1 bird flu virus in poultry, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced Wednesday.
More than 6,200 chickens at a farm in a village in Luyang, a town in Jingtai county, showed symptoms of suspected avian flu Friday, and 260 of them have died, according to the MOA.
The National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory on Tuesday confirmed the epidemic was H5N1 bird flu after testing samples collected at the farm, the MOA said.
Local authorities have sealed off and sterilized the infected area, where a total of 18,460 chickens have been culled and safely disposed of in order to prevent the disease from spreading since the case was confirmed, according to the MOA.
A team was dispatched by the ministry to the quarantined area to guide epidemic prevention and monitoring.
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a contagious disease of animal origin caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. It can be fatal to humans
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-06/06/c_131635599.htm

The Haizhu a duck samples detected suspected bird flu positive

  : 2012-06-06

 WASHINGTON It is understood that the June 3, the agricultural sector in Guangzhou City, Haizhu District, Jiangnan East market found infected with avian influenza viruses in Hong Kong children have been to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological investigation.
 。 Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture yesterday informed that the test results of individual birds healthy carriers of the virus, the Provincial Animal prevention and control centers has sent personnel to send relevant samples to the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory to do further testing.


http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=zh-CN&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fycdtb.dayoo.com%2Fhtml%2F2012-06%2F06%2Fnode_982.htm

Guangzhou- asymptomatic ducks in the market

and a couple other snippets








Guangzhou to detect a duck "healthy carriers of the virus"





2012 June 06
....poultry on the market from two wholesale markets, one market to find out a duck sample "suspected positive", "healthy carriers of the virus.Quarantine expert said, "healthy carriers of the virus," the poultry to humans may not be ruled out compared to sick poultry to humans likely to be much lower...
..."The so-called healthy carriers of the virus, similar to what we call the Hepatitis B virus carrier." A quarantine expert told Yangcheng Evening News reporter, "avian influenza viruses in ducks in vivo, but the virus and host to live in peace, did not cause disease."
He said that the infected ducks to the possibility of infection, but the probability is very small. Infectious virus concentration and high concentration of sick birds infected healthy carriers of the virus concentration is low, members of the public in the handling of chickens, ducks attention gloves, undercooked, the general does not infect....
http://roll.sohu.com/20120606/n344887756.shtml

Within the jurisdiction of Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of live poultry supplied to Hong Kong business as usual

http://www.china.com.cn/news/local/2012-06/06/content_25581591.htm

Experts can not recognize the child's infection where the virus can only say that the high degree of suspicion is a duck. The boy previously living areas to be monitored, for inspection of suspected influenza patients. At present, several hospitals in the region to strengthen monitoring and search of fever with flu-like symptoms cases, according to the requirements of the monitoring to last for 21 days, to end on June 23
http://www.21food.cn/html/news/35/687671.htm

Avian Influenza found at large poultry facility in Russia

//06 Jun 2012

Avian influenza has recently been identified during the study of pathological material, selected from major Russian poultry producer company, Amur broiler, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor, has stated.

The virus was identified as low pathogenic avian influenza type A subtype H9. According to preliminary expert estimations the virus came from China.
"There is reason to suppose that among poultry stock in the facility [of Amur Broiler] an infectious process caused by the specified agent of bird flu is taking place. When low pathogenic virus is circulating among non-immune poultry stock, its pathogenicity could increase” stated Rosselkhoznadzor in an official statement.
Rosselkhoznadzor has said it considers it necessary to warn of a possible outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza and actions in accordance with the current regulations for the prevention and elimination of avian influenza must be enforced.
In April, an Amur broiler facility suffered mass scale mortality of poultry. About seven thousand heads of poultry died, reportedly due to mycotoxins that were found in the forage, but the Veterinary Service specialists have subsequently refuted this claim.

http://www.worldpoultry.net/news/avian-influenza-found-at-large-poultry-facility-in-russia-10468.html

Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Scotland kills man, sickens 15

June 5, 2012 4:19 PM

• (Credit: istockphoto)

(CBS/AP) LONDON - Health authorities in Scotland say one man has died and 15 people are in critical condition in hospitals after an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the Edinburgh area.
NHS Lothian, the local health authority, says it is investigating another 15 suspected cases....


The paper said industrial cooling towers in the area are believed to be a potential source of the outbreak and environmental workers have treated 16 cooling towers to try and stop the disease's spread....

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57447757-10391704/legionnaires-disease-outbreak-in-scotland-kills-man-sickens-15/

Duck in S China suspected of infecting H5N1

Updated: 2012-06-06 07:09

( Xinhua)

 

GUANGZHOU - A duck at a market in China's southern city of Guangzhou was suspected of infecting the Influenza A (H5N1), according to the Guangdong Provincial Agriculture Department on Tuesday night.
The Guangzhou agriculture and animal husbandry department has carried out a comprehensive epidemic investigation of Jiangnandong Market in Haizhu District after a two-year-old boy from Hong Kong who visited the market in mid-May was confirmed with H5N1.
One duck out of the 40 samples was suspected to be infected with the virus, according to the municipal animal epidemic disease control and prevention center.
There is no report of human infection of H5N1 as of Tuesday in Guangzhou.
The 2-year-old boy confirmed with H5N1 infection on Saturday is currently receiving intensive care at Princess Margaret Hospital and his condition remained serious.
The boy developed fever and a runny nose on May 23 in Guangdong. He returned to Hong Kong on May 26 and sought medical attention from a private medical clinic in Mong Kok.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-06/06/content_15476930.htm

Guangdong, Hong Kong infected with H5N1 CDC to strengthen epidemic prevention

boys in Guangdong, Hong Kong infected with H5N1 CDC to strengthen epidemic prevention [Tang Dynasty, June 6, 2012 -
Hong Kong year-old boy in Guangdong, China before infection with H5N1. CDC pointed out that, in addition to strengthening the health screening of incoming passengers in Hong Kong and Macao, but also appeal to mainland China for Taiwan businessmen or travelers to avoid contact with birds birds
The two-year-old boy in Hong Kong confirmed on June 2 cases of H5N1 infection is suspected of causing the boy in Guangdong, China, through contact with poultry infections. The boy is now in cerebral edema, a serious condition. Southeast Asia and mainland China there are still cases of H5N1, the CDC said, has strengthened border quarantine measures.

http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/b5/2012/06/06/a713041.html.-[%E7%B2%B5%E8%AA%9E]%20%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E7%94%B7%E7%AB%A5%E5%BB%A3%E6%9D%B1%E6%84%9F%E6%9F%93H5N1%20%E7%96%BE%E7%AE%A1%E5%B1%80%E5%8A%A0%E5%BC%B7%E9%98%B2%E7%96%AB.html

Experts worry about the restructuring of influenza and avian influenza

..Because Guangdong is having a bigtime influenza outbreak..

Express News reporter Chen Yang Cao Hongmei reported that the recent Hong Kong influenza raging Express Reporter learned yesterday from the Guangdong Provincial CDC influenza in Guangdong at the peak epidemic period, and influenza accounted for Jiucheng. The experts fear that the seasonal flu with avian influenza restructuring so that it can spread from person to person, this will focus on monitoring. Mystery for the Hong Kong children infected with avian influenza event, the Express reporter interviewed yesterday, Guangdong Province Center for Disease Control chief expert, infectious disease prevention and control, He Jianfeng, director, and he said the boy why is still a mystery infection in June.
Express reporter was informed, Guangzhou City set three hospitals in Haizhu District --- Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Haizhu District People's Hospital, Gangnam Community Health Service Center for monitoring hospitals to strengthen the fever and flu-like symptoms cases the monitoring and search suspicious cases that take the initiative to the Haizhu District, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control report.

Jianfeng introduced, Guangzhou City CDC test results prompted the sick boy was most likely infected with avian influenza virus from the external environment of the Jiangnan East market. It is reported that Guangdong had confirmed cases of bird flu, the only one outside environment has detected cases of avian influenza virus.
Jianfeng also said that avian influenza is mainly spread between birds and spread in humans there is no biological basis for the infection cases, scholars believe may be differences in gene receptor. As long as the market rigorous disinfection of public eating undercooked poultry do not have to worry about, because the avian influenza virus will be killed in more than 70 degrees Celsius.

http://www.ycwb.com/ePaper/xkb/html/2012-06/06/content_1408043.htm

Guangzhou bird markets kill a chicken halfway

Two-year-old boy infected with avian influenza last Saturday, less brain edema surgery yesterday in serious condition, but the source of the virus Rengshi Mi!。
Guangdong Province Center for Disease Control announced yesterday, 7 40 environmental samples taken in the markets visited by the boy and the neighborhood, six were positive for avian flu virus. 。 Reporters yesterday to Guangzhou, Interrupted, noted that the local health quarantine departments to the market culling of chickens was chicken traders to protest, but nothing, the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety reiterated that it will only strengthen the monitoring.。 Infectious disease experts have warned that poultry vaccines and viruses do not match, the limited power of the chickens protection, coupled with the crowded market environment, the virus more easily transmitted from chickens, ducks between opportunistic raid human.

 

Guangdong CDC boy to market their homes near the market, including the extraction cages, chopping boards, etc. 40 7 environmental samples tested, were positive for avian flu virus detected in six samples, five case of H5, a case of H9 type, but the poultry practitioners throat swab sample was negative for influenza virus, and no person has been infected. 。

Center director Jianfeng that the poultry market by the bird flu virus contamination but it is difficult to determine the source of the outbreak of the virus in the community and popular possibility is very low.

。 Our reporter yesterday to the suspected source of infection is near the Guangzhou Haizhu District, Jiangnan East markets, chicken vendors in the health and quarantine departments in Guangdong Province on Monday morning to the market to the culling of chickens and epidemic prevention, but killing thirty chickens, poultry traders protest without compensation, without notice after the halfway cut. 。
 Chicken stalls in the market yesterday to continue the business, but business is deserted, fell five percent higher than usual. The stall owners, Market Health is the ideal, the virus passed in from the periphery of unlicensed chicken stalls.

Ho Pak-leung: A vaccine with the virus

。 For boys the source of infection in Guangzhou Market for Food and Health Secretary York Chow yesterday refers to the great cause of the boy disease before the onset of the 2nd, had told the mother to the markets of Guangzhou near their homes to buy ducks from the ducks about one meter, and stay for a long period of time. He believes that no other contacts of the infected, which is a single case, no successor risk.
The University of Hong Kong infection by the Director of the Centre for Infectious Diseases, Ho Pak-leung, refers the detection of avian influenza virus in the market environment, to further laboratory virus is a new species 2.3.2.1, in order to determine whether the markets are affected by the invasion of new varieties. 。
He believes that avian influenza viruses do not fit with the existing chickens in the vaccine, even if the vaccination is to protect the force is also limited, sporadic chickens infected, the Mainland market is overcrowded, health is not ideal to make the virus more chickens, ducks between the spread of virus penetration, waiting for an opportunity to raid human. If the vaccine has not replaced, the new virus may continue to spread in chickens from the Mainland, do not rule out local farms and markets also were caught.

 pics at the link http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20120606/00176_018.html&usg=ALkJrhis-PCAG8cw8Uu6qVG3Cs7jxlVw4A

Brain worries ease for tot with bird flu #H5N1

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

The condition of a two-year-old boy who is seriously ill with bird flu and water on the brain has improved slightly.



The SAR-born boy, who resides in Guangzhou with his Hong Kong father and mainland mother, remains in a serious condition in the pediatric intensive care unit at Princess Margaret Hospital. But the pressure from his brain condition - obstructive hydrocephalus - has eased.

University of Hong Kong School of Public Health virology professor Malik Peiris has told The Standard that hydrocephalus is an "atypical" presentation of H5N1 infection. Patients with bird flu usually exhibit cough and fever.



H5N1 was not suspected when the boy was first admitted for five days at a general pediatric ward at Caritas Medical Centre. When diagnosed with H5N1, he was then transferred to Princess Margaret isolated and put on a regime of the antiviral drug Tamiflu.







Health minister York Chow Yat- ngok said although the boy may have been infected during a trip to a Guangzhou wet market with his mother between May 17 and 19, it cannot be ruled out that the source of infection was in Anhui.
But since the parents and other contacts have tested negative, Chow believes it to be an isolated case.http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=123141&sid=36626261&con_type=1&d_str=20120606&fc=2

Vietnam-Quynh Luu #H5N1 infected poultry

Quynh Luu: Implement measures to prevent bird flu (5/6/2012 4:43 PM)

Currently, the total number of infected poultry and destruction carried out in Quynh Luu district is 837 children. The bird flu first appeared on 24/5 in household flocks of Thai Ba Huy Quynh Giang hamlet 5, to 29/5, the epidemic continues to appear in Xuan Quynh.   In adverse weather conditions, disease situation will be even more complicated, Quynh Luu district has directed the Service to commune zoning, close supervision is not comfortable selling poultry diseases and the implementation of measures after destruction techniques. For communes, towns outbreaks occur, the district focus on advocacy for people to implement strict anti-epidemic measures, organizations disinfection, hygiene and farming areas, and strict implementation regime direct reports. Các phòng, ban. Those departments and agencies to coordinate with other communes and towns well to direct prevention. http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=vi&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://www.lmhtx.nghean.gov.vn/wps/portal/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3i_MG9_TxPDUGcvdzcDA09HIx-TEFMTY_8Ac_2CbEdFANvcoqA!/%3FWCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT%3D/wps/wcm/connect/huyen%2Bquynh%2Bluu/hql/htct/tinhd/f0d997804b8105dbb70bbfd6485eba4a%26comment%3Df0d997804b8105dbb70bbfd6485eba4a&usg=ALkJrhi9nL-nT6aYJuErIIQk14r2RpVX4g

Guangzhou market duck samples were found with the avian influenza virus

Guangzhou market duck samples were found with the avian influenza virus



06.06.2012 00:36

Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture announced late at night, the two-year-old boy diagnosed with the H5N1 avian influenza infection in Hong Kong, he went to Guangzhou, Haizhu District, Jiangnan East market, a duck samples were positive for H5 avian influenza virus may be infected with avian flu virus. Boy continued hospitalized in Princess Margaret Hospital, the situation remains serious, Dr York Chow, Secretary for Food and Health Bureau, said the boy with hydrocephalus have been reduced, that the genetic test results show that the virus is no genetic variation, it is generally spread in birds will not pass. While dozens of people had contact with young boys, including his parents, there is no experience to the virus, that single cases, will continue to communicate with the mainland. He said the boy was sick two days before the incident, who with his mother to the Guangzhou market to buy live ducks is very likely infected in the markets.

http://www.881903.com/Page/ZH-TW/newsdetail.aspx?ItemId=518802&csid=261_341

A Guangzhou market to detect suspected avian influenza virus infection of ducks

2012 June 06 Day
\Guangzhou, Xinhua, June 5 (Wu Tao) reporter learned from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture on the evening of 5 since the Hong Kong year-old boy returned from Guangdong to Hong Kong was diagnosed with avian flu,
Guangzhou City, the agricultural sector of the visited by the children of Hong Kong, Haizhu District, Jiangnan East market a comprehensive epidemiological investigation.
 40 collected by the control center on the market the cotton test sub-sample testing by the Guangzhou Municipal animal disease prevention, and review of detection of Guangdong Province animal disease prevention and control centers, test sub-sample of the market a duck cotton by fluorescence RT-PCR, H5 Asia suspected avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive, which means that suspected bird flu virus infection in the duck body.

http://roll.sohu.com/20120606/n344826386.shtml

Slight improvement in Hong Kong #H5N1 victim #BIRDFLU

Plagued Hong Kong children in serious condition hydrocephalus to reduce

[2012-06-05]

。 [WH (Reuters) - integrated media sources, the Hong Kong Food and Health Secretary York Chow said the two-year-old boy infected with the avian flu situation remains serious, but hydrocephalus has been reduced.  Stained avian influenza boy is single cases of contact infection 。 The genetic test results show that any genetic variation, the virus is generally spread in birds, will not be transmitted to people.   Dozens of people had contact with young boys, including his parents, did not experience a virus, that single case will continue to communicate with the mainland.。 Dr Chow said the boy disease before the onset of the 2nd, who with his mother to the Guangzhou market to buy live ducks is very likely infected in the market, but he also visited one week before the disease Anhui, do not rule out other infections may.  Dr Chow also said that Local 20 dead wild birds this year than the past two years, including waterfowl at higher risk.  He added that this year's peak season for influenza is still 4-5 weeks, and urged the public to observe good personal and environmental hygiene.  http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://news.wenweipo.com/2012/06/05/IN1206050061.htm&usg=ALkJrhhK5XCUIwa2S8OW9YW40NsrVk0SEg