Indonesia: Riau 16,000 Hens in Karimun Regency Bird Flu

KARIMUN - More than 16 thousand laying hens in Desa Batu 8, Tanjung Batu Barat, Kabupaten Karimun, Provinsi Kepulauan Riau, destroyed as indicated by the bird flu virus. 

Click on map to enlarge:

As a result, farmers are losing hundreds of millions of dollars. Chief of Department of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Karimun District, Amran Sahidid, said the destruction by burning of more than 16 thousand laying hens caused a lot of chickens owned by residents who died suddenly and after apparently contracted the bird flu virus. 

Therefore, to avoid the transmission of a greater, whole chicken in the area burned. "" After all the chicken baked, cleaned feces, and buried, and his cage also sterilized so that no more virus in the area. sterile conditions will be left for a few days. After that, then people are allowed to raise again, "said Amran, Sunday (10/12).said, cases of bird flu virus found in Karimun a second time after the 2006 also found similar cases of more residents of 600 chickens. therefore, Amran asked residents, especially poultry, to be vigilant and always coordinate with livestock and security officers. Moreover, it also needs to be maintained on-site farm hygiene to inhibit the spread of the bird flu virus.  

For the current case, the local government has brought Tim Karimun Labolaturium Veterinary Disease Investigation Center (BPP-Vet) Bukit Tinggi to ensure all poultry and egg production of chickens, including manure, has been destroyed so no need to worry anymore the virus. Location farms had been isolated for a while to prevent the spread of bird flu virus.

Indonesia: Bali: Thousands of Chickens Die Sudden, Jembrana

December 10, 2012
Two days later more than 3 thousand of the total seven thousand chickens in the chicken coop owned by I Wayan Ardana, Residents Dusun Awen, Kelurahan Lelateng, Jembrana died suddenly.

Likewise, other breeders place, thus making the farmers anxious for fear of bird flu on Monday (10/12).

Related to the farm manager, Ketut Suarya said the chickens had been very sick. Even the chicken feed that is usually eaten later refused to eat. On the condition that he too claimed to have given drugs and spraying. But the chickens were not cured, it dies. In four days, the dead every day continues to increase. Initially only 70 tails, but every day more and more, up to 140 birds. "The chickens are dead, I have planted in a hole," tuturnnya.

Furthermore Suarya said, from the beginning raise chickens, chickens which was maintained until now many have died. Before dying, the chickens foaming from his beak. He also claimed it never happened before, but not to bad as this. Whole chickens that died, was buried in a hole and now there are three holes. "In fact, if not dead, my chickens would this be harvested again 10 days" he explained.

 Meanwhile, in a separate place, Head of Agricultural Crops and Livestock Jembrana, Ketut Wiratma said it has not received an official report, related many a dead chicken with considerable amounts, in one of the poultry farmers in the Awen. However, it has deployed officers to check a while. According to officials from the Department of Agriculture, Agriculture and Livestock Jembrana, Wayan East Timor, said the results of the examination, hundreds of the dead were not infected with bird flu. "The results of rapid tests, so the results are negative. No clinical symptoms of bird flu symptoms, this might be other diseases. To reinforce this should be checked in the lab "he explained ideas

Vietnam: 16/26 Sample Poultry Illegally Caught Resulted Positive Bird Flu; Contaminated w/Antibiotic Chloramphenicol

12/9/12
In Ho Mong Cai, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, some ministries leaders have in-depth working sessions on the import of food of unknown origin, especially poultry smuggling and solutions to prevent this situation.

Quang Ninh People's Committee, said the beginning of the year, the force function in the provinces captured, handled 130 cases of movement of poultry, poultry products smuggled; forfeiture and destruction of more than 143 tons of chicken ...?

According to the Department of Food Safety (Ministry of Health), 40% of Chinese chicken imports through Lang Son to be sampled tests have significant antibiotic chloramphenicol residues. These are prohibited from using antibiotics in livestock and aquaculture.

Mr. Vu Van Tam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that 16/26 samples of poultry illegally caught Recent results positive for bird flu.

One of the contents of the delegates made the most dissected sanctions. Currently, only criminal for of poultry worth over 100 million of a subject. However, can not find all of the above. Secretary of the Provincial Committee of Quang Ninh Pham Minh Chinh said can completely protect against shipping status, illegal bird trade. "Quang Ninh is determined to 80% of smuggled chickens, why not for separate mechanisms to Quang Ninh do" Main said.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said some of the Quang Ninh, ministries need to do in the future, which emphasizes close coordination, as well as proposing specific mechanisms to Quang Ninh province can put the illegal import of poultry.

Drastically blocked chickens smuggled into Vietnam

12/10/2012
From now until 15-2-2013, Quang Ninh province in particular and the local northern border in general to increase the percentage of control chickens smuggled in border areas to 70%, transport on the way to control control was 80% and in consumption in the domestic markets in the 90%. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said so at a meeting with the provincial People's Committee of Quang Ninh on implementing drastic measures to prevent the chickens smuggled into Vietnam.

9-12, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and Government delegation had a meeting with the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province on measures tackling chicken smuggled into the country.

At the meeting, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Health has confirmed the chicken waste is a major cause of bird flu in Vietnam. The test results, verification of chickens smuggled disposal showed that antibiotic residues in the samples exceeded the permitted level. Thus, in the long run if the immediate benefit people still use chicken waste, health is adversely affected. So, if not stopped in time this type of chicken to spill into our country will bring unpredictable consequences. At the meeting, the Secretary of the Province of Quang Ninh Pham Minh Chinh said: Will be responsible to the Government for sanction all those who specialize in smuggling chickens in the area of ​​Mong Cai, and proposed that the government allow Quang Ninh apply a number of private sanctions, more flexibility in the field of cross-border smuggling of poultry.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said that, to ensure the safety of people, especially in terms of food safety is the responsibility of the Government. Deputy Prime Minister agreed with the recommendations of Quang Ninh, while allowing researchers to pilot the use of new legislation to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of sanctions towards ensuring best deterrent for transportation of smuggled goods, including illegally imported poultry. Deputy Prime Minister of targets, from now until 15-2-2013 to increase the percentage of control chickens smuggled in border areas to 70%, transport on the way to control 80% and control during the development phase sold in the domestic markets in the 90%.

Indonesia: Chicken Broiler Breeder Harden Healthcare Security

DECEMBER 10, 2012
 Indonesian Poultry Society Federation (FPMI) states, since the discovery of the virus of avian influenzaor bird flu, better known, commercial poultry animal health began to tighten security. Especially in broiler chicken farms. 

"We seek improved biosecurity on commercial farms. We anticipate the spread of bird flu in chickens with increased officer training at home, "said Chairman Don P. FPMI Utoyo when contacted by Tempo , Monday, December 10, 2012. 

Biosecurity chicken farms are safeguards to prevent the spread of avian viruses. This is done through various means, such as spraying disinfectant, hand washing behavior, change clothes before and after direct contact with poultry, wild birds and not let into the ranch. 

"Ranch commercial, both small and great, anticipating tight. First duck is still resistant to the virus, but apparently no change in nature so that it now can make dead duck, " Utoyo added. 

Till today, he added, the farmers always make sure there are no chickens were infected with this virus. Healthy chickens are also guaranteed to be cut at the slaughterhouse. Therefore, he was not worried about the demand for chicken will be reduced. 

broiler production averaged 36-38 million birds a week. The production came from farms in Lampung, North Sumatra, Palembang, South Sulawesi, Bali and Java. While the biggest chicken consumption is the Greater Jakarta area. 

"Jabodetabek consumption is one third of the production. The rest of Java and outside Java than Jabodetabek, "he said. 

recently, discovered hundreds of thousands of ducks owned poultry farmers in Java sudden death.Most duck deaths occurred in four provinces, namely East Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and West Java. 
 
http://www2.tempo.co/read/news/2012/12/10/090447029/Peternak-Ayam-Boiler-Perketat-Pengamanan-Kesehatan 

The new type of bird flu virus found in Indonesia 2.3.2 Strain

[You can look to the right side-bar for more information on the 2.3.2.1 strain.]

10 December 2012
Hundreds of thousands of birds in some regions ducks died from bird flu strain recently discovered in Indonesia.

Director of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, told Radio Australia Pujiatmoko explaining Ministry have detected the presence of a new type derived from bird flu since last September.

Certainty new type of bird flu virus in the world known as Avian Influenza after passing through a series of tests in a laboratory involving researchers.

The Ministry of Agriculture said the bird flu virus newly discovered variant of the H5N1 strain.

"Sub her type 2.3.2 which is a new finding in Indonesia different from AI virus that has been there, of 2.1," said Pujiatmoko.

He continued finding new types of bird flu in Indonesia is expected because of the bird flu virus mutation that still do detailed research.

Another possibility that is due to the introduction of bird flu virus outside of migratory birds such as wild ducks and poultry imports from abroad.

For the prevention of the spread, the Ministry has been instructed to do persiapaan genocide and Local Government advised not maintain ducks unite with other types of birds to the farmers.

"We will also coordinate with the Ministry of Health about the findings of a new type of AI that the findings in humans, " said Pujiatmoko.

So far there have been no reports of a new type strain of bird flu in humans in Indonesia.

Type of bird flu virus has previously been found in India, Vietnam and China.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association of Local Poultry has reported more than 300 thousand ducks died last week.

Death ducks recently discovered in four provinces of the island of Java, West Java, Central Java, East Java and Yogyakarta.

"We are asking the Government to stop the import ban breeding ducks and duck mixing seeds with less local and offshore," said Ade Zulkarnaen Businessmen's Association Local Poultry Indonesia.

Researchers Avian Influenza from Airlangga University, Surabaya, CA. Nidom states government needs to do a thorough research related to these new findings, especially related problems that usually survive death duck and Cuma is a carrier of the virus alone.

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/indonesian/2012-12-10/jenis-baru-virus-flu-burung-ditemukan-di-indonesia/1058696 

Indonesia: 2.3.2 Strain of #H5N1 Found In Indonesia

December 10, 2012

Excerpt:

Not long ago, discovered hundreds of thousands of ducks owned poultry farmers in Java sudden death. Most duck deaths occurred in four provinces, namely East Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and West Java.

Ministry of Agriculture to make sure the case death of thousands of ducks in some areas due to avian influenza virus or better known as the bird flu (H5N1). However, a virus that attacks the duck comes from a variant or a group of viruses is different from before.

Variants of the virus that attacks the ducks coded 2.3.2 is similar to the bird flu virus that originated from a number of countries. The similarity of the virus that initially attacks the chicken's lot was already there in Vietnam, China, Laos, Thailand.

http://id.berita.yahoo.com/peternak-ayam-boiler-perketat-pengamanan-kesehatan-040315850--finance.html 

Idaho: Seasonal Flu Update: 3 Deaths

From the Dept. of Health & Welfare:

NEWS RELEASE--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           Date: Dec. 3, 2012 Contact:  Niki Forbing-Orr Public Information Officer (208) 334-0693 Health officials report first flu-related deaths this year in Idaho Public health officials are reporting this week that three women have died from influenza-related causes; one from Southeast Idaho and two from Southwest Idaho. All three were over the age of 50 and are the first reported flu-related deaths in Idaho this year. “Our thoughts are with the families of the people who died from complications of the flu,” said Dr. Kathryn Turner, PhD, Communicable Disease Prevention Bureau Chief at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. “With the holiday season fast approaching, we strongly urge people to be vaccinated for flu so they and their loved ones remain healthy through the season.” This years’ influenza season has hit earlier than in previous years, making it even more critical to get the vaccine as soon as possible. It is especially important that people at high risk for complications from the flu and anyone in close contact to those people are vaccinated. People at higher risk include infants, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, and people 65 and older. The flu vaccine protects against three different strains of the flu that public health monitoring has indicated are likely to be circulating, so even if you’ve had the flu, you are still vulnerable to other strains of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months older and older should be vaccinated unless they have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or have had a severe reaction to the flu vaccine in the past.  “This years’ flu vaccine is a great match to the circulating strains,” Turner said. “However, it takes about two weeks before peak antibody levels are reached and the vaccine’s protection is maximized. Unfortunately, only about a third of adults and 40 percent of children have received the flu vaccine so far this season. We’d really like to see an increase in vaccinations so people have a better chance at staying healthy.” Most people who get influenza recover after a few days, but it is possible to develop serious complications and die from the virus. One of the most serious flu-related complications is bacterial pneumonia, caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, another vaccine-preventable respiratory illness. Those over the age of 65 and people with certain chronic illnesses or weakened immune system are at a high risk for this illness and should receive a pneumonia shot at least once. The pneumonia shot can be given at the same time as the flu shot. Talk to your healthcare provider about what shots are right for you. This week is National Influenza Immunization Week, which is a good time to remember that the influenza virus and other respiratory illnesses usually spread person-to-person through coughing and sneezing. People are urged to: ·      Cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to prevent infecting other people. ·      Avoid people who appear sick. ·      Stay home from work when sick, ·      Wash their hands frequently, especially after being out in the public. Avoid touching their eyes, noses and mouths until they have washed their hands. ·      Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, eat nutritious foods and take part in physical activity to stay healthy. For information about influenza and how to stay healthy, please visit www.cdc.gov/flu. For information about bacterial pneumonia, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/streppneum_t.htm

http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/AboutUs/Newsroom/tabid/130/ctl/ArticleView/mid/3061/articleId/1691/Health-officials-report-first-flurelated-deaths-this-year-in-Idaho.aspx

New Zealand: Laboratory ready for any pandemic

December 10, 2012
Press Release – Waikato District Health Board
The high-tech lab service, which carried out more than 7 million tests last year and is now capable of far more, includes a special containment lab for testing suspected infectious samples. It’s one of only two PC3 labs in New Zealand hospitals.Media Release
10 December, 2012
Laboratory ready for any pandemic
Waikato Hospital’s redeveloped laboratory will have a pivotal role in any national pandemic.
The high-tech lab service, which carried out more than 7 million tests last year and is now capable of far more, includes a special containment lab for testing suspected infectious samples. It’s one of only two PC3 labs in New Zealand hospitals.
It is currently used for the testing of tuberculosis but could quickly become a national testing base in an emergency, such as a bird flu or SARS outbreak.
The laboratory has had a $10 million revamp in the past four years, with a new open plan layout developed, paving the way for a major upgrade of the main biochemistry analysers for testing blood samples. That went hand-in-hand with a new lab information system which together set up the laboratory to cope with future demands.
“There’s been a real change in the way we work and in our processes,” says group manager for Clinical and Support Services, Melinda Ch’ng.
“This has been an investment in front-end technology which will take us into the future.”
The new part-robotic testing system has been the baby of Mark Jones, a medical lab scientist in charge of automation. He says the improvements in productivity and efficiency are an immediate payback.
“It’s been a success from day one.”
None of the redevelopment came easily. The laboratory runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, employing 170 staff, so testing work had to continue while the build and installation went on.
Other DHBs have been taking an interest in the new lab setup, while the National Health Board has been “tremendously supportive”, Melinda says.
Laboratory Services manager Kay Stockman says there’s still scope for further refinement of the information system. “This is the most advanced laboratory information system in New Zealand and will allow further technological advances when fully developed.”
The information system, the first of its kind in Australasia, had modifications to meet Waikato and national requirements and follows the DHB’s “paperlite” principle with most requests scanned in and results sent out electronically.
The laboratory, which also has outposts at Thames, Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui hospitals, does specialist testing for the Midland region, works closely with the privately owned Pathlab in Hamilton, doing after-hours work, and can support Auckland labs when required.
Melinda says the five Waikato DHB labs now function seamlessly under the new integrated process.
“The laboratory is a complex business and the new information system, analysers and refurbishment support, streamline and strengthen work processes,” she says.
ENDS

Kathmandu: Nimbus announces bird flu relief fund

KATHMANDU, Dec 9: Nimbus, a leading producer of farm inputs, has announced Bird Flu Relief Fund worth Rs 7.5 million to provide compensation to farmers facing huge loss due to the outbreak of avian influenza.





Ananda Bagaria, managing director of Nimbus, said the firm would also launch free insurance scheme for poultry farmers. “Only the farmers buying Shakti pellet feeds for at least six months will be eligible for the compensation,” said Bagaria.

Jagadish Agrawal, chairman of the firm, unveiled the fund, which is a part of its Nimbus Helping Hand -- an integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign.

“We have been extending support in agriculture, education, health and social service for the past few years as part of our social responsibility. We established the fund, keeping in view our responsibility toward farmers who are the major buyers of our products,” Agrawal told a press meet on Sunday.

Through the fund, the firm, which produces Shakti brand of pellet feed for poultry, plans to compensate the farmers if they face loss due to outbreak of the deadly disease in their farms.

“We will provide the amount equivalent to the compensation provided by the government to the affected farmers within a week of the assessment of loss,” Dr Sital Kaji Shrestha, senior manager of Nimbus, told the press meet.

WHO: 80% of China Deaths from Non-Communicable Diseases

December 7, 2012
World Health Organization officials are urging China to reduce the country’s high rates of non-communicable diseases, warning that medical costs and productivity losses stemming from those diseases will amount to significant economic losses for the world’s second-largest economy.
Heart disease, strokes, diabetes and chronic lung disease are mounting in China, accounting for 80% of deaths and more than 70% of the country’s health expenditures, said Michael O’Leary, the WHO representative to China, in a press briefing Friday. By 2015, a decade of costs tied to health care and losses of productivity from diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are expected to reach as high as $550 billion, Mr. O’Leary said

Continued:  http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/12/07/who-80-of-china-deaths-from-non-communicable-diseases/

North Carolina: Seasonal Flu Update: 3 Deaths

By Michael Abramowitz

The Daily Reflector

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Excerpt:

With the flu season fully under way, there were nearly as many confirmed reports of the disease at one Pitt County health facility in one day this week as all of last year.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza can peak any time between October and May, but this season, Vidant Medical Center is seeing an early start to the flu season. 
The hospital had its first positive flu case of the season on Nov. 1, according to Bill Cleve, Vidant public health epidemiologist. Since then, the number of cases has steadily increased the past four weeks.

State health officials reported the state’s first two deaths of the 2012-13 flu season. Both victims were adults from the Triad region. According to State Health Director Laura Gerald, one of the individuals was at higher risk for complications from flu because of advanced age and pre-existing medical conditions, but the other had no known risk factors for severe influenza illness. Neither had received the flu vaccine.

http://www.reflector.com/news/flu-hitting-early-and-hard-1509199 

And like South Carolina (posted below), they are having restrictions at the hospital:

The sharp increase in influenza cases in the Triad, including two deaths in Forsyth County, has led one hospital to begin visitor restrictions for the second time in four flu seasons.

High Point Regional Health System started Thursday not allowing visitors younger than 18 to enter patient rooms, lobbies and waiting areas.

“This decision is based on recommendations from the health system’s infection control committee to combat the spread of influenza among patients,” said Dr. Dale Williams, chief medical officer at High Point Regional.

The state agency’s flu website – www.flu.nc.gov – lists a third death in the state. It reports 113 confirmed cases through the first eight weeks of the flu season, or as of Dec. 1, all but four being the A (H3) subtype.
Some 23 cases have been reported in the Triad and Northwest N.C.: nine in Guilford, five in Forsyth, four in Watauga, and one each in Alamance, Davidson, Randolph, Rockingham and Stokes.
http://tinyurl.com/cwo99jk

Here is the Chart mentioned above at www.flu.nc.gov that lists 3 deaths:

Wisconsin Seasonal Flu #H3N2 Total of 4 Deaths Thus Far

Wisconsin has not posted their Week 48 data.  As of the reporting period of Week 47, which ends November 23rd, they have NOT had any deaths yet (since October 5th), so all 4 of their deaths had to occur in the last week.

Influenza-associated pediatric deaths (October 5, 2012-present)
Week 12-47 Total to Date
Wisconsin 0 0
United States 0 2
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/influenza/Reports/2012_47_SurveillanceReport.pdf  

Here are a few articles I found: 
December 9, 2012
Excerpts:

The state Division of Public Health reported four flu-related deaths and 26 hospitalizations as of Dec. 4. No hospitalizations had been reported by this time last year.

There have been 113-laboratory confirmed influenza cases reported in Wisconsin so far this season, compared to seven by this time in 2011 

The dominant flu strain this year is H3N2, a more severe strain that has been around since 1968, according to Dr. Ed Belongia, director of the Epidemiology Research Center at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation.

About five times more influenza tests have been performed at the Clinic so far in 2012 than were performed by the same time in 2011. http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/flu-season-starts-out-early-deadly-gj7t0ec-181941371.html

More, from the article

Excerpts:

Public health officials aren't sure what's behind the uptick in hospitalizations so early in the season.
A previously seen influenza A H3N2 strain - the dominant strain so far this flu season - appeared to be a good match for the current vaccine, said Paul Biedrzycki, director of disease control and environmental health for the Milwaukee Health Department. "However, you can't rule out a possible mutation in the flu virus," Biedrzycki said Monday. "Flu viruses change unexpectedly and arbitrarily." 

During the 2003-'04 flu season, more than 48,000 people died nationwide. The dominant flu then is the same dominant strain seen so far this season - A/H3N2 (the same subtype as Hong Kong flu) - according to the CDC. This influenza strain generally causes more severe flu seasons. It's related to the Hong Kong pandemic strain, which caused nearly 34,000 deaths in the United States in 1968 and 1969. That was the last pandemic before the 2009 swine flu pandemic (also known as H1N1).

Scientists are now investigating whether the genes of the seasonal A/H3N2 could have mutated, resulting in a more severe and/or more easily transmissible flu not covered exactly by the flu vaccine developed six to eight months ago, Biedrzycki said. "It has to be a change in the bug or a change in susceptibility, which could include low vaccination rates," he said. Of the first 12 influenza-related hospitalizations this season in Wisconsin, three-fourths had not received flu shots, Haupt said. Four of the 12 were ages 18 to 49, two were ages 50 to 64, and six were 65 or older. Those who did get the shot but developed flu complications anyway did not gain full protection from the flu shot. Information on the 14 others hospitalized was not immediately available.
http://tinyurl.com/b52xsfx

South Carolina Season Flu Update Week 48: 5 Pediatric Deaths

For the weekend ending December 1, the CDC reports 5 deaths during the last week, since the last report.  The first death this year from seasonal flu, specifically H3N2 most likely, was confirmed on  November 26th.  That was 13 days ago.  It was in Barnwell County, which is Region 5, midland section of the State.

October 19th, was the start of the "official flu season in South Carolina, with 3 cases reported:

Three cases of the flu have been reported in South Carolina at the start of the official influenza season, according to the S.C. Department of Environmental Health and Control.
http://tinyurl.com/ces3w9r

By November 28th, they had a confirmed death, reported on the 26th, and the flu was widespread:

Widespread cases of the virus have been reported across the state with the peak of flu season still three months away in the heart of winter.
http://tinyurl.com/aemdhe3

The Regional Medical Center, is restricting visitation by children 12 years old and younger:
December 8th:

Because of the early outbreak of the flu, the Regional Medical Center has restricted visitation throughout the hospital by children 12 and younger.
“The flu season has started early and we have seen a relatively large number of cases in this area already this year,” said RMC Infectious Disease Specialist John Samies, MD. “For the safety of small children and to reduce the spread of flu germs, all children who are 12 and under are not allowed as visitors in the hospital at this time.”
Samies added, “If you are older than 12 and you have cold or flu-like symptoms, please do not visit the hospital until you are better.”
“Newborns do not fight infections well and children are often contagious for several days before they have symptoms. To reduce the possibility of our newborns being exposed to flu, we are asking that young children not visit Her Place until after flu season is over. This policy is consistent with hospitals in areas where there is a high volume of flu cases,” RMC Pediatric Hospitalist Charles Kilgore, MD, said.
“This is something that we are taking very seriously,” Samies said. “The Center for Disease Control has reported that there have been five deaths in South Carolina so far this flu season.
“We hope that individuals understand that this policy is needed to protect our patients.”

http://tinyurl.com/dxygov8

And I just found this bit of information:

South Carolina's health department shows five influenza deaths in that state, two children under age 4, one middle aged adult and two elderly adults.

http://www.examiner.com/article/influenza-threat-highest-across-south

  

Read more here: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/11/28/3193547/sc-reports-1st-flu-death-cases.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/10/19/3123924/three-flu-cases-confirmed-in-sc.html#storylink=mirelated#storylink=cpy

South Carolina: Seasonal Flu Update

On the right side-bar of this blog, located at the very bottom is the category "Worldwide Update on Influenza Activity".  It is there that you can be kept up-to-date on the weekly reports of flu activity.

South Carolina caught my eye this past week.  Here are a few excerpts:

“Our big concern right now is that the flu virus is very active at this time in South Carolina, resulting in widespread activity in the state showing a significant increase in the number of cases being reported to us,” DHEC’s Beasley said earlier this week. “Considering that between Sept. 30 and all the previous weeks, we had been reporting rapid flu tests had totaled around 700 and then last week (Nov. 24) we reported 1,200, more than the previous weeks combined, definitely showed we had a significant increase statewide.”

As of Dec. 1, five people have died from the flu in South Caroilna, 131 have been hospitalized, 5,922 positive rapid tests and 85 positive lab-tested specimens have been reported. The 2011-2012 season had a total of 2,552 positive rapid antigen tests and one death. The 2010-2011 season saw a total of 47,106 positive rapid antigen tests and 20 deaths.
These numbers, as well as influenza-like illnesses seen by doctors and positive lab-tested specimens, are reported to DHEC weekly.

According to the CDC’s Nov. 24 influenza surveillance report, activity is most intense in the south-central and southeast portion of the country right now, with most of the infections stemming from the H3N2 viruses, a strain typically associated with more severe seasons.

From the CDC - Seasonal Influenza Weekly Report for Week 48: (click on chart to enlarge)

South Carolina:  Between October 1, 2012 and December 1, 2012, 417 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations were reported. This is a rate of 1.5 per 100,000 population. Among all hospitalizations, 319 (76.5%) were associated with influenza A, 90 (21.6%) with influenza B; there was no virus type information for 8 (1.9%) hospitalizations. Among hospitalizations with influenza A subtype information, 85 (96.6%) were attributed to H3 and 3 (3.4%) were attributed to 2009 H1N1. The most commonly reported underlying medical conditions among hospitalized adults were metabolic conditions, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and chronic lung disease (excluding asthma).

H3N2 strain of the flu expected to make people sicker this year

By MONICA VON DOBENECK, The Patriot-News 

December 6, 2012

The flu hasn’t quite hit central Pennsylvania yet, but medical professionals are gearing up for what could be a bad year.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen significant increases in flu cases in the past couple of weeks, especially in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee.

The strain of flu that seems to predominate this year — the H3N2 strain of influenza A — was last seen nearly a decade ago. It is a strain that has tended to make people sicker, with higher fever, more respiratory distress and other symptoms more likely to send them to a doctor or land them in a hospital.

It will likely be hitting Pennsylvania soon, according to John Goldman, an infectious disease specialist with PinnacleHealth.

As of Dec. 1, the state Department of Health reported some increase in flu cases, especially in the western part of the state. Cases have been reported in 53 of 67 counties.

John Messmer, a family practitioner with the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said it is hard to predict the severity of a flu season because the virus tends to mutate. Sometimes a slight change in the strain can make a big difference in the body’s reaction to it.

“The message is, you just don’t know,” he said.

It’s always best to get a flu shot to be safe, he said. There are plenty available.

Goldman said he has seen a couple of cases of flu so far, and the flu season seems to be starting earlier than normal. Once it starts in one part of the country, it usually spreads quickly, he said.

Nationwide, two children have died of the illness this year. The last time the H3N2 strain struck, more than 48,000 people died in one of the most lethal seasons in the past 35 years, according to the CDC.

But Goldman said there is an advantage this year compared to the 2003-04 flu season. This year, the type of vaccine matches well with the strains of virus. That was not the case nine years ago.

The CDC recommends flu shots for everyone over six months old, and says they are particularly important for pregnant women, anyone with a chronic illness, anyone over 65, children under 5 and people living with the elderly or others at high risk of developing complications.

More than 200,000 people are hospitalized every year due to complications of the flu, according to the CDC.

Flu vaccines are readily available. Many employers provide them, and they are available at doctors’ offices, walk-in clinics and many pharmacies.

Patient First runs 42 clinics in three states, including clinics in Mechanicsburg and the Colonial Park area. It offers flu shots on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

So far, the clinics are delivering about the same number of vaccines as last year, according to spokeswoman Dara Rees. But the numbers have increased by 73 percent this week compared to last week, after the CDC promoted National Influenza Vaccination Week Dec. 2 to Dec. 8.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/12/flu_season.html?

Public Health Chiefs, Drs. Frieden And Fauci, Discuss Flu Season And Vaccines On C-SPAN

[bolding is mine]

Saturday, December 8, 2012

With flu season upon us already, and most state health departments issuing advisories warning about influenza, Americans are in for a long season.

In an interview on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal Dec. 8, Dr. Anthony Fauci, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases Director and Dr. Thomas Frieden, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Director discuss the role and state of public health in America with a strong emphasis on the current flu season.

How well is America prepared for the flu season?

Dr. Fauci says we are in the beginning of the 2012-13 flu season and we are seeing a “tick-up” earlier this year. Flu season generally kicks off during the late December to January months.

Fauci does say although we are off to an early start, the flu strain circulating (H3N2) is very well matched to the flu vaccine, in which 112 million doses have already been administered. In addition, this strain is not showing resistance to antiviral flu drugs like Tamiflu.

CDC Director Frieden also sounds optimistic on preparations for this flu season; however, he did express some concerns.

The vaccination rate of allied health care workers and nursing home workers are below 50 percent, becoming a risk both to themselves and to the patients they treat.

Pregnant woman and the flu is also an area of concern, Frieden states. Pregnant women who contract the flu can get very ill and even die from the viral illness.

Frieden stresses, “the single most important factor in determining if a pregnant woman gets vaccinated is  whether her obstetrician offers the vaccine in his or her office.” If the OB doctor does offer it, Frieden says that there is a 75 percent that she will get the vaccine.

Making getting the flu vaccine easier is a key to getting the population vaccinated.

Fauci says that the likelihood of flu mutation or development of resistance to antivirals this year is small.

Frieden says that influenza, which can be mild most people, sends hundreds of thousands of people to the hospital annually and kills thousands. In fact, Frieden reports several deaths in children already.

“Anyone six months or older should get vaccinated”, says Frieden. In addition, children with special needs should receive treatment quickly.

Should parents be concerned giving the flu vaccine to their children?

Fauci unequivocally says no. “On the contrary, they should be encouraged to give their children the vaccine”.

He says the vaccine had decades of safety experience plus if you keep infections low among children, the elderly grandparents are less likely to contract the flu. The elderly are also particularly susceptible to the flu.

The flu vaccine typically takes roughly  two weeks to induce a good immune response and in about a month excellent protection.

Fauci also states that it is a myth that people get sick from the flu shot. Typically what happens is people get the flu before the vaccine take effect or possibly its just the common cold.

Frieden says that the billion dollar question concerning the flu is, could there be a repeat of 1918 pandemic?

“Of all the infectious disease threats, I still think its still influenza that makes a most concerned because a severe pandemic is still possible”, he said.

A global warning system is in place just for this reason. Frieden says we have to be ready for something like this because if not, it’ll be very costly in terms of economics and lives.

Frieden and Fauci also discuss other areas of public health to include HIV/AIDS in the interview. To view the entire 1 hr. 20 min interview, click here.

For more infectious disease news and information, follow the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

Study finds influenza C in kids hospitalized with pneumonia

CIDRAP:

Lisa Schnirring  Staff Writer

Dec 7, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – Influenza C generally isn't thought to be a cause clinically significant disease, but a study in Italian children who were seen in the emergency department for pneumonia found the virus in five children, with a disease severity that resembled influenza A. 

The study evaluated data from four flu seasons from 2008-09 to 2011-12 at a pediatric clinic in Milan and appeared today in an early online edition of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses.

Influenza C can infect humans and pigs, and infections are rare compared with influenza A and B. 

The researchers included healthy children from ages 1 month to 14 years who were seen because of fever and lower respiratory tract symptoms and whose chest radiographs suggested community-acquired pneumonia. Respiratory swabs and sera were collected, and researchers noted patients' clinical information and whether each child was hospitalized. 

Respiratory samples were tested for influenza A, B, and C, and the samples that tested positive were tested for several other viral coinfections. Researchers sequenced the positive influenza C samples to determine the lineage. 

Of 391 children included in the study, influenza C was identified in 5 (1.3%). Influenza A was detected in 26 children, and influenza B was found in 3. Influenza C was found only during two of the four seasons: 2008-09 and 2009-10. 

Four of the children with influenza C were younger than 3 years old, and one was 14 years old. No viral coinfections were found in the children who had influenza C. 

All of the children with influenza C infections were hospitalized, but their clinical symptoms improved a few days later. Researchers observed that the severity of influenza C symptoms was similar to those for influenza A, but worse than in kids with pneumonia related to influenza B. All children with influenza C pneumonia recovered with no disease recurrence, according to the study. 

Phylogenetic analysis showed that the five influenza C viruses clustered in two of the six lineages: Kanagawa/1/76 and Sao Paulo/378/82. 

The group wrote that the study is the first that they know of that gauges the importance of influenza C in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia. However, they noted that further study is needed to determine what role influenza C plays during other parts of the year, given that previous studies have shown that the virus doesn't have the same seasonal pattern as the other two flu types. 

Though the similar clinical pictures between influenza A and influenza C have been found in other studies, the role of influenza C is notable, especially since it can be an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia in kids, the authors write. 

The findings of the study have parallels to a 2006 study on hospitalized Spanish infants conducted from September 1999 through July 2003, which found influenza C infections in six of 706 children. 

Three of the six, however, had viral coinfections, and the earlier study did not focus exclusively on community-acquired pneumonia. As with the Italian study, though, the influenza C infections in the Spanish study were clinically similar to influenza A infections. 

Principi N, Scala A, Daleno C, et al. Influenza C virus-associated community-acquired pneumonia in children. Influenza Other Respi Viruses 2012 Dec 7 [Abstract]

See also:

October 2006 Emerg Infect Dis letter

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/dec0712fluc.html