A bird flu epidemic in the making

By Mayo Kuo , Max Kuo 郭明裕 郭明實

Thursday, Feb 12, 2009, Page 8

Since last month, eight people are known to have been infected with the H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus, of whom five have died. Strangely, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization has received no reports of H5N1 infection in birds from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture. It could be that the Chinese government is hiding information about infections among poultry.

If that is the case, sporadic cases of people infected with bird flu in various provinces of China may only be the tip of the iceberg.

Since children of poultry raisers are most susceptible to bird flu infection and the death rate for avian influenza is more than 50 percent, failure to divulge the true situation would hamper preventive efforts and put children’s lives at risk.

Recently, 21 dead birds were found washed ashore on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. The birds were believed to have come from the Pearl River Delta — the origin of H5N1 avian influenza — which has the highest density of poultry farming in the world.

The fact that three of the birds have tested positive for H5N1 tends to confirm suspicions that China is hiding information about bird flu cases.

In 2005, Jeffery Taubenberger, chair of the Department of Molecular Pathology at the US Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, published the genome of the 1918 pandemic strain of H1N1 in the scientific journal Nature. The strain was confirmed to be a genetic mutation of an avian influenza virus that crossed over into humans and spread rapidly, and was 50 times to 39,000 times more toxic than the original strain.

The following year, Taubenberger published a chart showing mass deaths of birds infected with the avian influenza virus in 1916 in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a journal of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Considering this historical pattern, the appearance of dead birds on the shore of Lantau Island should be taken as a serious warning.

The influenza epidemic of 1918 coincided with the end of World War I.

Last year saw a string of disasters in China — blizzards, the Sichuan earthquake and a drought in its northern provinces. Could it be that natural and man-made calamities are setting the scene for a bird flu epidemic?

Another cause for concern is that outbreaks of new strains of human influenza have occurred in cycles, at intervals of between 10 and 40 years.

If this pattern is any indication, another outbreak could be expected soon.

Up until now, H5N1 bird flu has infected mainly children and young people under 20 years old. Figures published by the US magazine Annals of Internal Medicine in 1987 show that, among all historical outbreaks of new flu strains, only in the 1918 human H5N1 flu pandemic were the majority of those infected adults aged between 20 and 40.

Other human flu outbreaks have affected mostly elderly people aged 65 and above.

If H1N1 infection among humans starts moving into the 20 to 40-year-old age group, the alarm bells should start ringing.

Experts at the US CDC think that if mortality among those infected with H5N1 falls below 2.5 percent and the infection rate rises over 25 percent, it will show that the H5N1 virus has shifted from attacking α2,3 sialic acid-containing receptors in the lower respiratory tract — as discovered by Mikhail Matrosovich and others in 2005 — to new infection sites in the upper respiratory tract, from where, after replicating itself in vast numbers, it can spread easily via airborne droplets. This would make the virus more infectious.

Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that during the past two years, resistance of H1N1 and H5N1 to the drug Oseltamivir — marketed as Tamiflu — has increased sharply, indicating that the H5N1 bird flu virus has mutated and adapted. These scientific data suggest that a nightmare — the outbreak of a new flu strain among humans — will soon be upon us.

China may be able to conceal the spread of H5N1 from public view, but people in Taiwan, being such close neighbors of China, cannot afford to ignore the approaching nightmare, because H5N1 bird flu can cross national borders at any time.



Mayo Kuo is a Taiwan-based pediatrician. His elder brother Max Kuo is a US-based pediatrician.

I just wanted to stop, for a moment, to let all of our readers know, that 50% of the articles posted here, are found by Treyfish.

He is an amazing tracker, and I am very proud of him! I post his stories, to ease up his workload, and it allows him to track, instead of taking the time out to post.

Go Treyfish! (all of these articles this morning, were found by him.)

Commonground

Japan has flu plan to block entry, spread of virus

February 12, 2009

TOKYO: Japan's plan for any future influenza pandemic calls for shutting down airports, closing schools and organizing mass cremations of the dead in hopes of keeping the virus off its shores or at least containing it.

The government plan estimates that a new human flu virus could infect a quarter of the Japanese population and force 40 percent of the work force to stay home. It could cause as many as 640,000 deaths in Japan if it were to spread across the country, the Health Ministry said Thursday.

"It is important to delay as much as possible the virus' entry through measures such as strengthening quarantine to take advantage of the special qualities of our nation as an island nation," it said.

Flu pandemics break out when a new virus emerges and sweeps through a population without immunity. The deadliest pandemic on record killed an estimated 40 million people starting in 1918.

While there have been no warnings of increased risk this year, flu fears have been stoked in Japan in the wake of a hit film, "Infected Archipelego," portraying an outbreak that causes death and chaos. The government also held a highly publicized pandemic preparedness drill last month.

This week, major electronics maker Panasonic Corp. ordered the families of Japanese overseas employees to return home from developing countries that may be at risk, including China, most Asian countries, the Middle East and Africa. The company denied the measure was taken to save money.

The last influenza pandemic was in 1968, but experts have been closely watching the H5N1 strain of bird flu that has been sweeping poultry flocks worldwide.

While that virus remains difficult for people to catch — most of the 254 deaths since 2003 have come from contact with sick birds — experts fear it could mutate into a form that easily spreads among humans.

The World Health Organization has called on countries to develop national plans on how to control the virus should it begin to spread among humans.

Japan's plan would keep open just four airports and three ports, where a strict quarantine would try to prevent the virus' entry if it emerges overseas. Charter flights would bring healthy Japanese back home, but those infected would be asked stay abroad and foreigners would be restricted from entry.

If an outbreak occurs in Japan, the government plans to shut down schools and discourage people from going to places where large numbers of people gather, such as concerts and movie theaters, and to cremate bodies of victims within 24 hours.

The government is now preparing an update of the plan, initially outlined in November, to reflect public feedback that was gathered in recent weeks, Health Minister Yosuke Yamaki said Thursday.

HK: Island put under WHO health rules

China Daily 02/12/2009

Taiwan has been guaranteed direct access to the World Health Organization's (WHO) global health alerts, a mainland official said yesterday.

The mainland had consulted the WHO secretariat to make relevant arrangements to apply the International Health Regulations (IHR) to Taiwan, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman Fan Liqing told a press conference.

The regulation supports a global health alert mechanism to stem the spread of disease and provide a public health response plan, the WHO said.

The latest development shows the mainland government sincerely cares about Taiwan compatriots' health and has adopted many practical and positive measures to this end, Fan said.

She also said the Chinese government's actions demonstrated that "we are highly responsible in regard to global epidemic prevention".

Under the regulations, Taiwan health experts now enjoy open channels to receive technology and information from the WHO. The WHO will send global public health alerts directly to Taiwan, rather than through the mainland, and involve the Taiwan Center for Disease Control (CDC) in its discussions on epidemic prevention.

Experts will also be sent to Taiwan in the event of an epidemic outbreak.

Taiwan media reported late last month that Taiwan had been accepted by the WHO's IHR as the "contact point".

That means Taiwan can communicate directly with the WHO on issues like major disease outbreaks, epidemic prevention and food safety, rather than having to go through the mainland, in accordance with a 2005 agreement between the mainland and the WHO, the Taiwan-based United Daily News reported.

Major Taiwan media considered the new arrangement with the IHR a breakthrough in Taiwan's participation in international activities.

More open stance

Wu Nengyuan, director of the institute of Taiwan studies affiliated to Fujian Academy of Social Sciences, said Taiwan's inclusion in the IHR shows the mainland government is taking a more open stance on Taiwan's activities abroad.

But he also said: "I do not think the time is right to tackle all the problems of Taiwan's participation in international organizations beyond the possibility of the two sides intensifying discussions on Taiwan's title and status when joining international organizations."

On the last day of 2008, President Hu Jintao issued six proposals to promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

He stressed the mainland is willing to discuss proper and reasonable arrangements for the island's participation in international organizations as long as it does not create the impression that there are "two Chinas" or "one China and one Taiwan".

The IHR was set up in 1969 as a mechanism to prevent the spread of diseases across national borders. It was revised and implemented in 2007, adding SARS and bird flu into its reporting chain. Taiwan applied for membership in 2007 but its plea was rejected.

HK: Hospital flu contingencies implemented

February 12, 2009

Enhanced measures will be implemented in public hospitals to cope with the surge in demand triggered by the influenza season.

Hospital Authority Director (Cluster Services) Dr Cheung Wai-lun today said the utilisation of hospitals' accident and emergency services rose 9% in the first week of February while paediatric and medical department demand grew 4% and 13%.

Anticipating a further rise in service demand in the coming six to eight weeks, strengthened measures will be introduced according to paediatric and medical ward occupancy.

When occupancy rates exceed 100% for more than three days, first-phase measures will be implemented. Hospitals will send surplus medical patients to other wards, extra manpower and beds will be deployed, and staff may be asked to work overtime.

Clinicians of paediatric and geriatric departments will support accident and emergency department services and outreach medical teams will be sent to elderly homes to ease the hospital workload. Patients may be transferred to convalescent hospitals for further management.

Second-phase measures will be introduced when occupancy rates exceed 115% for more than three days. Non-urgent surgeries will be postponed and extra beds will be opened.

Dr Cheung said hospitals will also strengthen influenza-control measures, adding the authority will closely monitor the situation and review its strategy.

Vaccine ready for bird flu outbreak

2009-02-12

China has built up stockpiles of domestically produced human bird flu vaccine in case of a possible epidemic, the nation's food and drug regulator said here Wednesday.

The vaccine, Panflu, is produced by the Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd. It is designed to defend humans from 18 to 60 years old against the H5N1 virus and its epidemic variety, said Yan Jiangying, a spokeswoman with the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA).

According to the Health Ministry, China has recorded eight cases of human bird flu since December with five fatalities.

"In consideration of the serious situation, we've adopted a new measure of simultaneous inspections of the vaccine. That is, the administration and the company check the products at the same time, for efficiency, thus they can be immediately brought into use if outbreaks erupt," Yan said.

She explained that as production of the vaccine takes time, sufficient quantities must be stored ahead of any outbreaks so vaccinations can be started immediately.

Many other countries have also stored human bird flu vaccines in anticipation of a sudden outbreak, she said.

SFDA authorized Sinovac to begin commercial production of the vaccine in April 2008 after more than two years of clinical trials, making China the world's second country with the technology and industrial capacity to produce human bird flu vaccine.

China started clinical research and experiments as part of the process of making a vaccine in November 2005, after a domestic outbreak caused huge losses for poultry breeders.

Second bird flu outbreak detected in western Canada

1 hr 15 mins ago

OTTAWA (AFP) – A second outbreak of bird flu in less than a month has been detected on another poultry farm in Canada's westernmost British Columbia province, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Wednesday.

Like the first outbreak in late January, it is believed to be a strain of avian influenza with a low risk of spreading or "low pathogenicity," CFIA disease control specialist Sandra Stephens told a press conference.

The government agency quarantined 36 premises last month around an Abbotsford farm, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) southeast of Vancouver, and slaughtered some 60,000 birds at risk of infection.

On Wednesday, the quarantine zone was extended to include 10 new properties around the second farm in the same vicinity, and 12,000 more chickens are to be slaughtered by Thursday, said Stephens.

Three properties have also been removed from the first quarantine, she said.

The subtype of the two H5 viruses are still being determined in laboratory tests.

According to the World Health Organization some 250 people have died from bird flu worldwide since 2003, mostly in Asia.

The H5N1 virus typically spreads from birds to humans through direct contact, but experts fear it could mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, with the potential to kill millions in a pandemic.

Indo: Dana Bird Flu Rp52 billion was not yet made use of

Surabaya (Antara News) - the Representative of the Head of the Harian Executive Komnas Pengendalian of Bird Flu and Menghadapi Pandemi Influenza Preparedness (FBPI) Dr Emil Agustiono, MKes suggested, the Bank's Dunia aid fund to overcome bird flu in Indonesia with a value of Rp52 billion was not yet made use of.

According to Emil in gaps of the Pandemi Influenza response of the Simulation workshop in the Stone, East Java, on Wednesday, the Bank's Dunia fund was for the allocation of the extermination of the poultry with the allocation Rp15 thousand per the tail, but could not be made use of because the community appreciated his poultry was more expensive. His problem again, this fund might not be used for the other need, said Emil in the workshop that was supported by Unicef, FBPI and the Canadian government. "Nevertheless, we were still carrying out the approach so that the fund could for the other activity in an effort to reduce the impact" of the "bird flu virus," he said.

In the extermination of the poultry and the prevention of the spreading of the bird flu virus, the ideology of a country also was influential. In an other country, the government could order immediately destroyed all the poultry without compensation. "But in our country could not do that." We must think about his compensation that was very big, he said. I also suggested, apart from carrying out the socialisation what must be done by the community faced the sensational virus, his side will also make an effort to increase the hospital of bird flu reconciliation.

"At this time will have 100 reconciliation hospitals for bird flu." That could be increased, especially if the pandemic happening. We will see class hospitals of two and three that could be increased by his status. Moreover possibly also could the community health centre, he said. His side asked all of the community's components to care in the problem of this bird flu because if the pandemic happening then his impact was very horrifying. The "sector" of "economics will be paralysed and other also paralysis." Moreover the social problem, he said could happen. To the workshop that was followed by the envoy of the government agency and the private enterprise was shown by the film concerning the simulation of the bird flu pandemic. The film showed how the impact of the bird flu pandemic cleared to all the sectors of the life.

Waspadai Bird Flu pandemic

The STONE (SINDO) – Masyarakat East Java was asked for to more increased vigilance against spread him the virus H5N1 or avian influenza/bird flu. Pasalnya,virus that spread through this poultry from time to time could attack the human body.

The deputy the Ministry of the Co-ordinator Welfare of the People the Koordinasi Kependudukan Kesehatan Field and the Environment of Emil Agustiono explained, apart from the deadly illness threat, that also really must be paid attention to was the bird flu pandemic. ”Virus the bird flu pandemic was the process of the spread of the bird flu virus from humankind to manusia,” he said in the Handling workshop of the Flu Burung Pandemic in East Java, in the Batu City yesterday.

Be present in this agenda including Chairman Unicef for the East Java territory, Bali, NTB, and NTT, Jinung D Kritanto. He explained, in the world of the health was known by three kinds of the flu virus. Firstly, the virus flumusiman, this virus normally attacks the human body, his characteristics did not endanger, but fast spread. Secondly, that is the flu virus burung/H5N1, his characteristics was not easy spread, but very dangerous because could turn off the human body. that was last was the kind of the flu virus that came from the mutation of the bird flu virus. “Untuk the third category, his virus kind was dangerous and deadly.
-snip-

Japan: {Older Article]: [Claim] Hurry up measures seriously companies INFURU new

[This is an older article that shows the preparations that were being made, back in September of 2008]
Source:
2008/09/08 05:32 Update

1167 companies large avian flu to do ...Flu-resistant drug
関連ブログエントリー一覧(バルーンを開くリンクをクリックするとリストが作成されます。閉じるリンクをクリックするとリストが削除されます。）

Guidelines for the Ministry of Health on measures to be taken by a private company in the case of avian flu (guidelines) as the proposed revisions are soliciting opinions on the homepage.

Proposed amendments were approved at a conference of experts. Companies to help good ideas from the public, of course, hope to the guidelines easy to establish the measures.

According to the ministry, held that all the measures of 10 percent. Well-worked quickly to take appropriate measures under the guidelines of the national companies should plan.

Terms reduce the spread of infection, the ministry may occur, the companies while seeking to refrain from the business that can wait no longer needed for companies to take a lifeline and gas and electricity are asked to continue to work that.

Proposed amendments, the epidemic (pandemic) of employees at 40 percent and would mark a concrete and not come for weeks, to continue and refrain from the business, for business critical calls you to drill down in advance that.

Staff deployment and ensure the staff alternative of rage, and response to the lack of circulation of cash, goods, issue a lot. Unlike the earthquake, remember it could repeat the trend over years is not.

Pandemic flu is caused by mutation of the virus of bird flu. After the mutation is next to the person from the people to infection. The type of the virus H5N1 bird flu, known as toxic nature. Been reported many cases of people in China and Southeast Asia, they are dead.

Many experts in infectious diseases "H5N1 could have mutated into new HAITSU" he said. The rage, the largest in the world 74 million people in Japan is the worst 64 are estimated to death people were infected.

Occurrence and does not care where the season. Response is not allowed a moment's delay, which must be ready for crisis management firm.

PUREPANDEMIKKU the stockpile (previous pandemic) vaccine 6400 started a clinical study to be vaccinated prior to the health officials. The ministry is raising fire safety and efficacy of vaccines, should be examined as soon as possible can be extended to the public that vaccinations.

The government has begun research to the cell culture techniques make early vaccine. It is urgent effective.

INFURU new "Shanghai is safe" at home = Family Representative Panasonic - City Government

February 11 21:03 news delivered minutes

Shanghai Jiji [11 days] Kei Chen Wei, spokesman of the Shanghai city government said 11 days, ordered to return home for family members stationed overseas, including China as a new flu Panasonic "Shanghai is a strict emergency response are preparing the documentation. living in Shanghai want to tell Japanese people and Japanese companies working in Shanghai is safe, "he said expectations that Japanese companies do not follow the other.

"INFURU bird" measures, the courageous decision of Panasonic!

[From a blog, and I've read many on the subject. I thought this one was worth posting]

2009/02/11 11:51

Panasonic has gradually returned to their families and representative of the region concerned about the potential pandemic of avian flu. Target areas are North America, Europe, Oceania, and extends almost throughout except for Singapore, 12 issued a directive last month, by September this year and I will finish. And the number is not disclosed, and the average family size 4 as a representative person, excluding people who are returning home because this is a big project. (MSN Sankei: http://sankei.jp.msn.com/economy/business/090209/biz0902092306022-n1.htm)

Panasonic's decision to review this matter. There are reports of bird flu around the world today, and could spread PANDEMIKKU moment it exploded. To return to Japan as the time comes, to stop the transport, aviation and来NAKAっ, some countries have prohibited the movement of people by the government could not even escape from the site. And has a fever or at the airport and good luck in Japan, was sent to the hospital directly from the airport, will be quarantined for several days until you make it not infected. All the Japanese have avian flu has occurred in the country (and other foreign people move, of course, some people move to the country and abroad逃GEDASOU) and move this way, the panic is the first conclusion. The Panasonic is probably that I have been making a stir before to avoid all this confusion.
The company recently forecast a loss for the quarter final 3800 deficit will be announced in the yen. Consolidation of foreign operations, including planned layoffs and "restructuring costs" of the plan last year to 11 March 1900 at the time that the growing area yen. To expatriate families in general, larger than costs to the families of employees in Japan. Policy and to the family home because of avian flu in accordance with this, thought to be part of an overall restructuring of this fact. However, confusion考ETARA return from a pandemic occurs, and cost way too much time to do it early at this time could be reduced. (MSN Sankei: http://sankei.jp.msn.com/economy/business/090204/biz0902042048015-n1.htm) as his representative to remain more local, try to work confidentially without worry unnecessarily able to, you actually think that this effect is significant.

From Indonesia this year, Vietnam, have been from bird flu in China to Egypt. In China, say in row eight people were infected. China's media in which three people have recovered their health under capable treatment, the report brags to establish the treatment of avian flu, the rest of reality is that five people have died. The infection occurs sporadically but can be sufficient allowances, such as intensive care There is no reason that can be entrapped in a pandemic.

In Hong Kong, the birds wash up on the Chinese mainland still dead, and the highly-virulent H5N1 virus is detected, because they're the pigeon virus spread in Guangdong or wherever, I have疑心. Yesterday the New疆省Wada (Hotan) H5N1 in the area by bird flu in the 519's in the news of the death of poultry birds. The authorities culled 13,218 poultry and birds, but it has conquered the outbreak of bird flu, what of? (Xinhua Net: http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-02/10/content_10796492.htm) in this area have been found to occur in the summer of last year, is proof that it does not eradicate a translation. Occurred in the area is like no other, no doubt抱KAZARU.

Anyway "from birds to people," the infection is becoming normal now. And in China, but has not been confirmed infected poultry and wild birds are reported to correct "the people" are sick. This is the warning "phase" seems to indicate that one went on. Given that, the Panasonic's decision is wrong and not to be a great promotion. The company sent a representative to the country INFURU is concern that the bird is ready to begin discussing how you think.

WHO: Avian influenza – situation in Viet Nam - update

11 February 2009 -- The Ministry of Health in Viet Nam has reported a new confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case has been confirmed at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE).

The case is a 23-year old woman from Dam Ha district, Quang Ninh province. She developed symptoms on 28 January 2009 and was hospitalized on 31 January 2009. She is currently in a serious condition and is known to have had recent contact with sick and dead poultry prior to the onset of her illness. Further investigations are currently underway. Control measures have been implemented and close contacts are being identified and monitored.

Of the 108 cases confirmed to date in Viet Nam, 52 have been fatal.

We interviewed the Swiss PUREPANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN measures of avian flu.

[Out of Japan]
(02/11 12:57

The epidemic in the country, up to 64 avian flu is said to have been killed.
A global epidemic (pandemic) vaccination with the "PUREPANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN" calls are to be effective in preventing infection is the most growing.
The flu vaccine is made from the original virus will have already developed symptoms.
This PUREPANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN, and is most likely the avian flu will mutate, and are made from the bird flu virus has a similar shape.
Pandemic flu is a virus of unknown, 100% guarantee that there is no cure, and we expect some benefit.
About PUREPANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN found that the drastic measures taken by Switzerland.

In Japan, eight from 2008, began clinical trials PUREPANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN of avian flu.
To date, about 6,000 doctors to inoculate people and that police are investigating the side effects.
In Japan, Kitasato Institute and other institutes, as well as normal influenza, with the egg development, H5N1 has PUREPANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN production from the avian flu virus.
Government, three by the end of 2009, 3000 and is pursuing a stockpile of 10,000 people, and when the pandemic, doctors and health center staff, including customs officials, and plan to inoculate the people most likely to come into contact with an infected person that.
But the whole country have a national stockpile PUREPANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN.
In Switzerland, all 750 people are stockpiled in military warehouses PUREPANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN of a million people.
Some of which are distributed to hospitals already in clinical trials, about 18 applicants over the age of the 100 people vaccinated.
Who inoculated PUREPANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN "I am 11, I was inoculated. I encourage all seniors."
In addition, in 2009 the end of March 2600 will be vaccinated people.
The hospital in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and the human impact of the vaccine, about how to deal with when a flu epidemic among the public, as well as research and preparation.
State St.Gallen hospital doctors, "who I am, in the days or weeks, St. Gallen Every citizen can be vaccinated. Once delivered to the military hospital from the warehouse, put to work immediately MASU. "
PUREPANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN are stockpiled in Switzerland, the two vaccines and immune-enhancing agent in a single set, and the amount of mix 10 minutes.
The hospital is an hour and 30 that the goal of vaccination.
Insurance Office of Switzerland decided to stockpile all the people "is a pandemic vaccine, beginning somewhere in the world, has increased during the infection from human to human,配RIMASU to all the people."
The minutes for the entire nation that no reserves of Japan, said Dr. Nakahara Hideomi of Medicine, "PANDEMIKKUWAKUCHIN 100% guarantee that I can not respond to avian flu. That hit all the people, not that difficult and I, "he said.
Japan's health ministry, it is now "planning to prepare a whole people do not know whether the vaccine is not effective," he said.

In Switzerland and Japan have already begun a clinical trial is not the subject of vaccination.
In Switzerland, would not 18 years old and pregnant, people in Japan have a high potential for infection, are the priority health care occupations to engage in social functions.

Xinjiang Uygur China

Moyu is in the very center of the map.
click on map:

China reports first bird flu outbreak of 2009

43 mins ago

BEIJING (AFP) – China has reported its first bird flu outbreak among poultry this year, with thousands of fowl destroyed in the nation's far northwest to prevent an epidemic.

The alert was raised after 519 fowl died in the Xinjiang region that borders Central Asia, the agriculture ministry said in a statement posted on its website late on Tuesday.

They were confirmed on Tuesday to have died of the H5N1 strain of bird flu that is responsible for killing about 250 people around the world since 2003.

Emergency measures were introduced in Xinjiang, which included killing 13,000 more fowl, the ministry said, without specifying if the animals were chickens or other types of poultry.

The ministry said the situation was under control. Officials at the ministry's media department were unavailable on Wednesday to comment further.

China previously reported that eight people were infected with bird flu across the country this year, five of whom died.

However until Tuesday, authorities said no outbreaks of bird flu had been detected in poultry, raising questions as to how people contracted the disease.

Experts fear the H5N1 virus could mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, rather than from poultry to humans, with the potential to kill millions in a pandemic.

But there has been no evidence yet of this happening.

The fourth person to die of bird flu in China this year, a 31-year-old woman, was living in a city neighbouring Xinjiang's capital of Urumqi and contracted the disease on January 10, officials said previously.

However the outbreak among poultry reported on Tuesday was in Moyu county, about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) away, indicating no obvious connection.

Twenty-five people have died from bird flu in China since the disease re-emerged in 2003, according to World Health Organisation figures.

"Safe" negative INFURU bird occurred in Guangdong, refute the theory of infectious

Hong Kong 2009 Wednesday, February 11
"Safe" negative INFURU bird occurred in Guangdong, refute the theory of infectious [social]

The problems have been found in both the western coast of Lantau Island and the New Territories of dead birds infected with bird flu, the government of Guangdong Province 9, 2007, "there is no drift from the mainland of China" released a statement, theory and denied the source of infection to the ministry. Emergency and large-scale investigation, saying that there are no confirmed outbreak of bird in the coastal region INFURU ministry.

Agriculture Office of Guangdong Province, Shenzhen, Hong Kong on the coast have been found dead 17 km, 30 km from Zhuhai, Dongguan, based 60 miles away that the "drift down from the mainland, to be launched at the beach and more It's impossible. "

Detection of infected carcasses by a wave, and argue that there are concerns that it had occurred at an undisclosed INFURU bird ministry. The large-scale survey on "mass death of poultry, not happening INFURU the infected birds," he said.

According to the agency, the survey is close to Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhongshan and Zhuhai for implementation. 927 poultry farms locations, examined 875 poultry feathers. As a result, the abnormal symptoms of the infection is found, he said that could be enough vaccination antibody testing in serum samples.

In addition, the ministry stressed that the process to ensure innocent dead poultry. The veterinary authorities have around 24 to respond to emergency preparedness as well as working hours, report the occurrence of bird INFURU are not included.

In Hong Kong since the end of last month, on the coast of chickens, ducks, and found several dead birds, 10 dates in 12 highly toxic to birds has been detected in H5N1 virus. Government is the problem of birds from the mainland [1] [2]流RE着ITA were raised illegally in the area - is investigating the possibility of both.

Takeoff: police to a bird flu ...

Hong Kong 2009 Wednesday, February 11
Takeoff: police to a bird flu ... [social]

There are growing fears of bird flu. World Health Organization (WHO) determined by the risk (stage 6), from now on stage in a "phase 4 (increased cases of infection from human to human)" to the "10 years later and soon? I can not predict anyone's "experts say.

Consulate General in Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Club, the side to the strengthening of communication networks and other school organizations. However, awareness of the danger of Japanese residents "have no sense of urgency about Indonesia," (officials) have pointed out that weak全般NI attitude and cooperation.

If infection among humans in Hong Kong if the government chartered flight for Japan or go home. I put the first one. Some serious problems. Spread in China it could帰RENAI situation came to South China to Hong Kong by the Japanese. Without any preparation for fear that it wants to. (Reflection) in Hong Kong>

Vietnam: HPAI recurrence and spread to humans: with germ họa old

[This story mentions an 8th Province....Quang Tri]
Excerpt:

The year 2008, avian influenza appears only in 80 communes of 54 districts and towns of 27 provinces and cities nationwide. However, only since the beginning of the year to date, this disease was detected in 15 communes of 12 districts of 8 provinces: Thanh Hoa, Thai Nguyen, Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Nghe An, Hau Giang, Quang Ninh and Quang Tri. At least 23 thousand infected birds, dead and destroyed. Presently there are 6 provinces namely Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Nghe An, Hau Giang, Quang Tri and Quang Ninh have HPAI not last 21 days.
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In Quang Ninh, HPAI was detected in 9 of households in Port Na An Quang commune, Dam Ha district as 155 children die of a total 230 children influenza. On 6 / 2, Veterinary Department and provincial agencies veterinary region II test samples tested, positive results for avian influenza virus. At the same time, a patient severe pneumonia are treated in Quang Ninh province BVDK also about the epidemiology of central defined positive for influenza A H5N1 virus. Patients are also villages of Port Na, An Quang commune, Dam Ha district, infected before participating slaughter chickens as food in Chinese New Year festival.

Earlier, last month in 12/2008, a baby girl 8 years old village in Indonesia, Vietnam Dien commune, Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa province also recorded positive for influenza A H5N1 virus. In the main then, animal health industry has discovered and destroyed nearly 9,000 infected poultry.

Incorporating prevention of avian influenza and influenza in

11/02/2009
NDBO - programs incorporating work on preventing and controlling avian influenza and influenza in people in Ha Nam boot yesterday, 10.2.2009

This program is Agency for International Development U.S. (USAID) funding. Accordingly, the partners in implementing the training will prevent, control avian influenza and influenza in the veterinary staff, staff management of communal, agricultural officials, traders and transport of poultry, the farms small birds. Managers at district level will be provided new skills of epidemiology and surveillance initiative; medical staff at provincial level will be trained to prevent and plan for disease. In addition, the activities of raising awareness about community epidemics will also be developed.

In two years, had eight first HPAI occurred in Ha Nam. Is near the provincial capital city of Hanoi, Ha Nam has a poultry market with many establishments raising small. Active traders influenza occur very exciting here. Nhien veterinary officials and communal leaders are not local trained on prevention of avian influenza.

Since 2005, the U.S. government through USAID has provided 25.7 million dollars for activities to prevent and control avian influenza in Vietnam, including a research project at provincial level last two year with the goal of identifying the best solutions and provide guidance on policy and vaccination safety, efficiency, sustainability for the poultry to limit the spread of avian influenza.