Deadly superbugs on the rise: What you need to know

September 18, 2012

FoxNews.com

 By Loren Grush

Excerpt:

Concern has been raised once again over the threat of deadly ‘superbugs,’ after a seventh individual at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md., died Friday after contracting an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria.

According to the Washington Post, the boy from Minnesota contracted the bug while being treated at the hospital for complications from a bone marrow transplant.  So far, he is the 19th patient at the NIH center to have contracted the bacteria – Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC).  The bug’s outbreak was traced back to a single patient who was carrying the bacteria when he was admitted to the hospital in the summer of 2011.  

While the NIH declined to be interviewed on the matter, the agency released a statement about the incident.

-snip-

What is KPC?

K. pneumonia is an organism that lives in the large bowel, which can cause the disease Klebsiella pneumonia – a condition marked by high fever, chills and the expulsion of a thick, viscous fluid called sputum from the lungs. To combat K. pneumonia, a class of antibiotics called Carbapenems is used; however, when the organism becomes resistant to Carbpaenems, it becomes known as Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase.  

Rahimian noted KPC is one of the more dangerous strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.  Unlike MRSA – which has some other treatment options apart from antibiotics – KPC has very few options, making it much more difficult to combat.

The people most susceptible to contracting KPC are those who are critically ill or who have a weakened immune system, which is why outbreaks easily occur in hospitals.  Although most of the cases have occurred at the NIH Clinical Center, all hospitals in the Northeast and beyond should be on the lookout for outbreaks of this kind.

“Since the 1990s, some drug resistant isolates of KPC have emerged,” Dr. Amy Ray, an infectious disease expert with UH Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, told FoxNews.com.  “And certainly the Northeast has been a focus of concern, but no hospital in the United States is immune to KPC.  In fact, the organism and KPC producing organism have been described worldwide – in Europe, Asia and South America.”

KPC spreads through direct contact of the skin, which can eventually lead to infection.  According to Rahimian, a person can also be a carrier of the bacteria and not show any symptoms.

What you can do

“Unfortunately there’s not a lot you can do as a patient,” Rahimian said.  “If other people are using unnecessary antibiotics, they are promoting the development of resistance, [which] might affect you even though you didn’t do anything.”

Because of its difficulty to identify and treat, both Rahimian and Ray say that prevention is key to combating KPC and other antibiotic-resistant bugs.  

“The single biggest effort the hospitals can undertake is to ensure that their infection control and prevention departments are up to date,” Ray said.  “Also that they are tracking and trending organisms such as these to understand their local epidemiology.  And at the single health care worker level, the most important thing is hand hygiene and the use of standard precautions to prevent the transmission from person to person.”

For the average individual, taking proper precautions – such as thoroughly washing their hands and making sure their doctors are doing the same – is crucial.  

Going beyond these anti-infection measures, many health care professionals and others are calling for more judicious use of antibiotics, in hopes to stop the emergence of antibiotic resistance.  Numerous ‘antibiotic stewardship’ campaigns are in effect to stop people from taking or prescribing antibiotics when they are not truly necessary.  

As far as research goes to develop smarter drugs to combat KPC, experts agree that funding and focus are lacking – meaning proper treatments may not be available for some time.

“We are facing a critical shortage of anti-microbial agents,” Ray said.  “The field is desperate for drug discovery.”

Full article:  http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/18/deadly-uperbugs-on-rise-what-need-to-know/

Egypt: Minya #H5N1 Brothers Suspected Infection Avian Influenza Update

Out of 40 Articles in Arabic, I found one today to update us.  I suppose.  Previously posted here:

 September 17, 2012

 Follow-up: Salma Hisham Medhat expressed thanks and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Minia Governorate extremely unhappy about the deployment of some news sites for news of the emergence of cases of bird flu in the province of Minya, pointing out that this news completely false.

18.09.2012
Dr. Medhat Shoukry and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and queens, that the results of samples taken from the three brothers suspected of having bird flu, which has been sent to the central laboratory in Cairo were negative. due events located to receive hospital diets queens brothers Hamada Ahmed Farouk twenty-six years old worker, and twenty years working, and child Hazem five years, residents in the village of Manshiet Jalal's center of Beni Mazar, after suspected bird flu patients, and high Fevers have been detained three cases and placed under medical observation at the hospital, was also filed a report on the incident 43 conditions the center . and moved a committee of the departments of Veterinary Medicine, health and security forces to patients' homes, clearing, and clearing houses adjacent to them.

http://www.el-balad.com/267748

Video: Doctor: It's hard to predict superbug infections

Sept. 17, 2012
A doctor with the Mayo Clinic says an antibiotic-resistant superbug, that has killed 19 people at a National Institutes of Health facility in Maryland, is most likely transferred between patients and, or medical professionals.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/doctor-it-s-hard-to-predict-superbug-infections-30619962.html

India: A wake-up call on bird flu

September 17, 2012

It is important for a country like India to develop the capacity to investigate and control bird flu and other animal diseases, Dr. Weaver, Chief Technical Advisor, Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organisation, tells T. Nandakumar.

 

Though India has a strong diagnostic system and response plan for bird flu, it needs to improve detection of the disease and address the problem of under-reporting of cases, according to John Weaver, Chief Technical Advisor, Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

Dr. Weaver, who headed an FAO delegation to a two-day surveillance training programme on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) here recently, told The Hindu that it was important for a country like India to develop the capacity to investigate and control bird flu and other animal diseases.

The workshop, which concluded on Wednesday, focussed on detection and monitoring of the disease. Veterinarians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep were exposed to surveillance methods, data capture and epidemiology of the disease to understand its behaviour, biology and characteristics. 

Risk factors

“By doing that, you identify the risk factors for diseases, why some animals and populations are infected and some are not. By understanding that, you are better able to target susceptible groups,” Dr. Weaver said.

“India has a problem with under-reporting of bird flu cases. It means the infection is continuing to fulminate and spread. Detection and identification of the reservoirs of infection is crucial. It could be in migratory birds, ducks, or markets.”

Highlighting the need to understand the risk factors, he said, “Some States like Tamil Nadu have a big commercial poultry sector but in north India, the commercial sector is smaller; there you have lots of backyard chickens running around. So, the risk factors are different because the management systems are different”.

India, he said, had a strong central response plan for bird flu, a strong diagnostic system with very good laboratories, and a decontamination system for infected areas.

“What does not work so well here is detection of the disease, particularly in the backyard sector.”

He went on to explain, “Chickens commonly get sick. People often do not report sick chickens because they do not see the need to. This is confounded by the fact that if you report, the government’s response is to cull chickens. This proves to be a disincentive to report.”

 

Incentive to report

Dr. Weaver said the under-reporting of cases could be tackled by addressing the issue of compensation and creating community awareness for reporting the disease. It was important to develop an incentive to report, he added.

“With a history of infection recently in northeast India, both cross-border and inter-State movement of poultry poses a risk. States like Kerala need to monitor poultry movement across State borders and keep tabs on the standard of poultry production in other States,” he said. “Migratory birds are certainly the cause of infection across long distances but once the infection is introduced into an area, it is spread mainly by poultry.”

Advocating a multi-sectoral approach to disease control, he proposed a system involving the Union government, State governments, district administration, health sector officials, chambers of commerce and industry, local bodies and community groups.

H5N1 flu spreads 7 PROVINCE IN VIETNAM

September 18, 2012 General News - Avian flu spreads to seven provinces in northern and central Vietnam. By the end of today has 7 provinces to develop the H5N1 flu outbreak in poultry. According to experts Epidemiology, Vietnam confirmed the spread of the H5N1 virus in a new division, stronger pathogenic H5N1 familiar in Vietnam. This highly pathogenic virus is endemic in the central and northern Vietnam. Vaccine for poultry that Vietnam is not work with the new strain of branching. In Tuyen Quang province more than 17,000 birds have been culled to prevent spread. Earlier on August 10 only a social but so far it has spread to nine villages in Son Duong district and Tuyen Quang cities. Seven provinces are H5N1 avian influenza include, Tuyen Quang and Hoa Binh, Quang Ngai, Bac, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh. The months of the year, Vietnam's health sector confirmed four cases of patients infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, of which two died. All four cases were infected older H5N1 strains circulating in southern Vietnam.
http://lytuongnguoiviet.blogspot.com/2012/09/dich-cum-h5n1-lan-ra-7-tinh-o-viet-nam.html

[My list is as follows. Highlighted Provinces are not listed above, and could very well have gone over 21 days with no outbreaks, in which they take the Province off the list] Bac Kan;
Ninh Binh; Quang Binh; Ha Tinh; Hai Phong; Hai Duong; Quang Ngai; Thanh Hoa; Nam Dinh; Thai Nguyen;  Hoa Binh [Luong Son];  Tuyen Quang  w3wwe

Egypt: All Google Stories of 3 Brothers Suspected #H5N1 Gone From Internet

[There is no trace in my Google Search of any stories of the 3 brothers suspected of Avian Influenza H5N1 from Minya. I can only report what I can find. When the internet is manipulated like it appears to have been, the news dries up, and so will this blog]

 September 17, 2012

 Follow-up: Salma Hisham Medhat expressed thanks and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Minia Governorate extremely unhappy about the deployment of some news sites for news of the emergence of cases of bird flu in the province of Minya, pointing out that this news completely false.

 He added Shukri through intervention telephone his program this morning Online he is working on a number of themes for the development of the health system and queens, first axis care buildings and medical equipment and the second axis of human development is training doctors, explaining that through this system and also through campaigns and the Ministry of Health has been shut down a number large clinics violation and continued by saying that there is a protocol to be organized with the university to develop a standardized treatment protocols at all hospitals in the province, including hospitals, Directorate of Health Affairs in Minya University Hospitals, and also training of young doctors by hiring professors of the Faculty of Medicine.

http://dostor.org/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1/63424-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D8%B4%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%81%D9%89-%D8%B8%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B2%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7 

Indonesia: Central Java Suspected Human #H5N1

hat-tip dbg @ PFI [http://www.singtomeohmuse.com/viewforum.php?f=1]

GROGOBAN - Suspected infected with bird flu, a resident of the village of Kemoloko, Grobogan regency, Central Java, was rushed to a local midwife. Earlier, hundreds of chickens died suddenly in that area.

Darsih, grandmother of 70, was immediately taken to a local midwife to get perobatan. For three days he had a cough and fever. Residents claimed fretted over what was experienced woman called Miss Darsih it. Moreover, approximately 40 chickens died suddenly theirs.

A resident, Agus, then took the initiative to burn and bury the whole chicken. He along with residents had reported the incident to the Department of Animal Husbandry area.

"Office of the farm has given disinfectant to all citizens Kemloko for spraying," said Agus at the site, Sunday (09/16/2012).

Residents look forward to doing penyemperotan, residents are free from H5N1 virus that can cause death.

Vietnam: Dong Nai - 3 times the number of deaths due to dengue than last year

 09/16/2012

* More than 40 new cases per day

If the first seven months of 2012, the number of dengue cases of TCM and from 200-400 cases / month, to August, the number of cases of sudden high with about 1,200 cases.  

Since the beginning of the year, the number of HFMD cases in the province is 4496 cases, 3 deaths.  

And dengue, if the first 6 months, the number of cases is much lower compared to TCM, only two months 7 and 8, has gone over the approximate number of cases of TCM.  

Currently, the province had 4374 cases of dengue. 

 Own mortality due to dengue, more than double the number of deaths from TCM and increased 3 times the number of deaths due to dengue last year. 

He said high threshold, director of the Center for Preventive Medicine, is concern that the incidence of death / signal due to abnormal rising dengue a dengue epidemic phase will have complicated and unpredictable. 

Forecast number of HFMD cases and dengue from now until the end of the year will be very high due to the two diseases are getting in the top.

 -snip-
Dr. Le Vinh , Deputy Director of the Institute of Hygiene and Public Health in times of disease surveillance in Dong Nai recently said that the monitoring of infectious cases in Dong Nai passive, lack of information on the risk ; funding and control is usually only granted when outbreaks occur it is difficult to actively control the disease. In some localities in the province, the room service almost the mercy of the health sector.

WHO: Cumulative number of confirmed human cases for avian influenza A(H5N2) reported to WHO, 2003-2012

http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/H5N1_cumulative_table_archives/en/index.html

Vietnam: interview with Dr. Cheng Loi, Deputy Director of the Department of Health.

[Pandemic Information News has 4 positive cases of human H5N1 for 2012.  Not 9.]

16/09/2012 LTS: The complexity of environmental change, erratic rain, sun is one of the factors that appear dangerous diseases: Influenza A (H5N1), dengue fever (dengue), hand, foot and mouth (TCM) ... To help people better understand the disease situation in the province at present, as well as recommendations for effective disease prevention and control, photo reporters Dat Mui an interview with Dr. Cheng Loi, Deputy Director of the Department of Health.

Dr. Zheng LOI, Deputy Director, Department of Health.

Reporter: Your doctor may brief information on the influenza A (H5N1), TCM, dengue in the southern region and the current province of Ca Mau?  
Dr. Cheng Loi, Deputy Director of the Department of Health: Up to 19-8, in the southern region, the number of dengue patients up to 42,701 songs, up 28.51% over the same period, 29 cases of death; TCM with 35,383 cases, an increase of 27.25% over the same period, 77 deaths; 9 cases positive for influenza A (H5N1), 2 deaths in the province of Soc Trang and Kien Giang. In Ca Mau, up to 2-9, dengue cases 1,400 cases, down 68.65% over the same period, 3 cases of death; TCM with 1,290 cases, an increase of 33.26% over the same period, two deaths .According to the provincial health sector, in the last months of the year, the influenza A (H5N1), TCM, rising dengue capable and more complicated.

Vietnam: Binh Dinh - Launching "media campaign against bird flu, influenza A / H5N1 in humans and other emerging diseases

16.09.2012

 On the morning of 16.9, at Victory Monument Square, People's Committee. Quy Nhon coordinate with the Project Board that avian flu, human flu and prevention services in Vietnam (VAHIP) Binh Dinh province held a ceremony to launch "media campaign against bird flu, Influenza A / H5N1 in humans and other emerging diseases. "

There are more than 2000 staff, workers and students in the area of ​​TP. Quy Nhon to attend (photo).

At the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Vice Chairman of People's Committee. Quy Nhon, Head of the Steering Committee for prevention of TP. Quy Nhon has launched a "media campaign against bird flu, influenza A / H5N1 in humans and other emerging diseases" and assigned to specific departments, agencies and organizations, the People's Committees of wards social, ranchers, livestock units, households implement measures to prevent bird flu, influenza A / H5N1 in humans and other emerging diseases.

Immediately after the ceremony, representatives of Department of Education and Training, Association and Nhon Binh People's Committee said in response. File, the city organized parade with cars and motorcycles on the main roads in the city to spread the city calling people actively involved in bird flu prevention, influenza A / H5N1 in humans and other emerging diseases.

NIH superbug claims 7th victim

9/14/12

Excerpt:
On July 25, routine rectal swabs of patients for hospital-borne infections — a measure put in place during the worst of the outbreak last fall — detected the superbug in the boy.
Genetic analysis showed the boy’s strain matched that of the superbug that arrived last year. It eventually spread to 17 additional patients, of whom 11 died. Six of those deaths were directly attributed to the superbug by NIH staff. The NIH did not make the outbreak public until describing it in a scientific publication last month.



Full Article:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nih-superbug-claims-7th-victim/2012/09/14/09b3742e-fe9b-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_story.html

Egypt: Suspicion three brothers #H5N1 bird flu raises panic in Minya

15/09/2012 Minya - Emad Maher The Directorate of Health and queens, on Saturday, the state of emergency and precautionary medical measures have been taken after suspicion of wounding 3 brothers bird flu.

[Department] Health announced that the brothers are "Ali Ahmed Farouk" -21 years - and his two brothers, "Hamada" - 16 years - and "Hazem" 5 years and residents in the village of Manshiet Jalal of the Center for Beni Mazar in Minya suspected bird flu patients, were detained three cases and put them under Fever Hospital medical observation Minya.

[The cases of three brothers, and they are Ali Ahmed, 21 years old and his two brothers Hamada 16 years and Hazem 5 years and all of them from Manshiet Jalal village of Bani Mazar in Minya.      http://www.masrawy.com/news/regions/2012/September/15/5354492.aspx]

The hospital admitted Beni Mazar may Astqlapt cases three and has being isolated and preventive and turned them for fevers Minya after taking a blood sample for analysis labs central Cairo to the extent of illness. The T. context moved a committee of veterinary medicine, health and security forces to patients' homes, clearing, and clearing houses adjacent to them, and contact them and take samples from birds found homes for examination.

http://www.moheet.com/2012/09/15/%D8%A5%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%AB%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A8%D8%A3%D9%86%D9%81%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B2%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84/

Vietnam: Ca Mau #H5N1 Update

Ca Mau Province tested positive for H5N1 in poultry earlier in September, previously posted here.  The poultry is asymptomatic, but is not the new strain that has appeared in July & August of this year.

No bird flu virus changes

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Huy, Director of the Department of Animal Health , said the results of serum samples on the poultry are raised and sold in the market but do not have signs and symptoms of bird flu, but still of H5N1 virus. From 1-6/2012, serum sampling results on the poultry does not detect the H5N1 bird flu virus, but in July found 2 samples, August found 6 samples. This suggests that avian influenza viruses are widespread in the natural environment increases. More dangerous, since serum samples until monitoring results, the bird talks was consumed Forum. No genetically modified Mr. Nguyen Thanh Huy said, the H5N1 bird flu virus in the Mekong Delta, including Ca Mau have abnormal genetic variation as in the northern and central coastal provinces. Old branches virus still circulating, the old vaccine to date is highly effective vaccination. Steering Committee animal disease prevention, poultry and seafood direct the local provincial series vaccination troops from early this year be 1.032.927/1.345.117, over 77% of men in the vaccination.  Until now, bird flu outbreaks in 3 households Đặng Phước Thọ và Đặng Phước Tồn ,  ấp Lộ Xe , Hamlet, Phu My Hung,  Phu My Hung, Cai Nuoc  district and household Ms. Huynh Ngoc Ha, 10A, xã Trần Hợi, together with the total number of infected birds and the destruction of 788 children. Interest, 2 of 3 sick and dead poultry vaccination is not preventive vaccines and new culture is not declared with the local government and industry functions. Currently, most of the ducks Siamese pathogenic avian influenza but no signs or symptoms of the disease. Under the new rules, small farms of less than 20 the veterinary force not to vaccination of A/H5N1 flu vaccine to people registered vaccination. People are not aware of the application of biosecurity measures in livestock, the subjective neglected diseases should avian influenza risks of recurrence.  No subjective Currently at the time of the season, the previous bird flu outbreak risk.Veterinary Department is to strengthen the patrol control at the gateway to the province, absolutely not for livestock and poultry from other provinces to contamination or infection into the province. Coordinate with the local enhanced propagation epidemic prevention measures to farmers. When epidemics occur not hide, no selling of cattle, poultry, transport out of the disease, not throwing dead livestock diseases down the river and canal. Housing must be guaranteed dry, regularly disinfected periodically. When buying new seed re-Forum should be raised in isolation for about 2 weeks. To prevent this disease, people need to make good sanitation in livestock, regular disinfection housing and preventive vaccination in poultry. When discovered the phenomenon of mass bird die must immediately notify the local authorities. Absolutely not slaughter and use of suspected bird flu. When there is high fever related to ill poultry immediately to health authorities for examination and treated promptly. /. According to a survey of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, in the southern region, bird flu is still old H5N1 strain, no major changes; North emergence of new strains. When strain is not changed, in the south still use traditional vaccines for poultry vaccination. Article and photo: Truc Ly

Policymakers plot next pandemic flu preparedness steps

Lisa Schnirring  Staff Writer

Sep 14, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – US influenza policy experts who gathered in Washington, DC, today called for better vaccines and other steps for improving pandemic and seasonal flu preparedness, themes echoed in an action plan released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

The presentations and panel discussions were streamed live in a webinar cohosted by the IDSA and the American Medical Association (AMA). The IDSA posted its 22-page report, "Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Principles for United States Action," on its Web site today.

Two of the main themes of the discussion centered around the need for better flu vaccines and treatments and a steady stream of funding to support the many preparedness activities, such as immunizing patients and conducting flu surveillance, that take place at the state and local public health levels.

Since 2006, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) has been the federal funding tool for filling gaps in the nation's preparedness against flu and other biologic threats. The legislation is up for reauthorization but has languished in the Senate for the past several months.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., the lead House sponsor of the bill, told webinar participants today that the Senate's work on the bill is 90% complete, and while negotiations aren't contentious, consideration of the bill is competing with several other measures. He urged the group to give their Senators a friendly call as a nudge to send the bill to final passage.

Rogers, who also chairs the House intelligence committee, told attendees that bioterror attacks are still a threat, and that maintaining work on countermeasure development and the Strategic National Stockpile is crucial. "This is on our watch, and we've got to get it right," he said.

Nicole Lurie, MD, MPH, assistant secretary for preparedness and response (ASPR) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), told participants that the next flu preparedness steps are based on several lessons that health officials learned during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. She said the new mantra for pandemic and other flu vaccines isn't just faster production. "It's more vaccine, better vaccine, and faster vaccine."

The country still has a long way to go toward acquiring new antiviral and broad-spectrum antibiotics, she said, pointing out that during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, 40% of children who died from pandemic flu infections were coinfected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Another important gap that the 2009 pandemic response revealed was that the slow movement of federal funding to states in some instances limited the pace of local efforts and took away an important opportunity to do science-based research during the outbreak. Such research is crucial to help guide pandemic response and advance knowledge about the disease, Lurie said.

She said discussions are under way about how to speed research money to academic institutions so they can quickly launch key studies during biological events.

To boost the science-based nature of response to flu and other threats, Lurie said the ideas of an "incident commander for science" and a "science ready reserve" are options under consideration.

Andrew Pavia, MD, a pediatric infectious disease expert at the University of Utah and board member of the IDSA, said it will take an enormous effort and a great deal of coordination to support and develop a better, more adaptable, flu vaccine. However, he urged policymakers not to ignore the important distribution and dispensing steps that happens with flu vaccines and medications at the state and local levels where public health departments have been gutted by budget cuts and challenged by a lack of steady funding for preparedness activities.

Strengthening flu vaccine efforts is the lead principle in the IDSA's revised pandemic and seasonal flu action plan. The report said the society supports efforts to improve the effectiveness of flu vaccines, speed development and manufacturing, and broaden their use. It recommends that federal officials appoint a lead office and director within HHS to coordinate flu vaccine efforts.

The IDSA's action plan also addressed nine other steps regarding medical management of flu, diagnostic testing, communication strategies, surveillance, community mitigation, all-hazards response systems, protecting healthcare workers, international collaboration, and allocating significant and sustained funding. 

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/sep1412fluprep.html

South Korea: Seoul intensify their efforts for the prevention of bird flu after the emergence of new cases

2012/09/14

Seoul on September 14 / Us / announced South Korean government today that it will begin to monitor all ports of entry to the country to intercept any possible influx of avian influenza. reported South Korean news agency "Yonhap" a statement from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture Korean that inspection special will be in all air and sea ports During the period from September 17 to 25 current to make sure monitoring ports and capabilities quarantine.

Yonhap Website [English]:Seoul to step up bird flu prevention effortsSEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will begin monitoring all its ports of entry to intercept any possible inflow of avian influenza (AI), the government said Friday.
A special inspection will also take place at all air and sea ports on Sept. 17-25 to check the ports' monitoring and quarantine capabilities.http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/techscience/2012/09/13/0601000000AEN20120913008900320.HTML

The move comes at a time when it appeared new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in several Asian countries, including China and Hong Kong, as well as in Mexico. , the ministry said the government ascend prevention measures due to the expected rise in the number of people who Lennon to travel abroad during the holiday of Chuseok along with an increase in the number of Chinese tourists coming to South Korea during the holidays to China's national from September 30 to October 7. South Korea has informed the last time outbreak highly pathogenic avian influenza in late last year, has led to the execution of more than 3 million birds throughout Korea. x P / Us 0703 GMT 09/14/2012

Vietnam: New Strain 2.3.2.1 Has Not Yet Been Found in Humans; Unexpectedly Appears in July, Very Uncommon

2012-09-14

HANOI, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Bird flu has spread to two more provinces in northern Vietnam as of Sept. 14, making the total number of provinces infected with the disease to seven, local media reported on Friday.

In Tuyen Quang province, more than 17,600 infected fowls had been culled, a reporter of Vietnam's state-run News Agency told Xinhua on Friday.

He said bird flu first appeared in one commune in Son Duong district on Aug. 10, and as of Sept. 7 it spread to other nine communes in this district and Tuyen Quang provincial town.

To prevent the spreading of H5N1 virus, the province's Department of Animal Health has implemented strict measures in response to the epidemics, including establishing a Steering Committee for avian influenza epidemic prevention and control at all levels from district to commune, setting up mobile checkpoints to control illegal poultry transportation, killing infected poultry and stopping all poultry slaughtering, purchasing and transporting activities in the infected areas.

So far, the local authority has supplied 10,000 liters of disinfectant and 70 tons of lime powder to clean those areas having infected poultry. In addition, the national reserve support fund has provided the province with 250,000 doses of bird flu vaccines.

Nguyen Van Quang, a local resident in Yen Son district, which is close to the provincial town of Tuyen Quang, told Xinhua on Friday, that his family raises a flock of about 50 fowls. Thanks to his careful breeding, the flock is safe and growing well.

Meanwhile, in Hoa Binh province, four hamlets in two communes in Luong Son district have 1,140 infected fowls and 848 others died, reported local media on Wednesday. The local authority instructed the culling of all infected poultry and implemented measures to prevent the expanse of the disease.

According to the Department of Animal Health under the Vietnam' s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of Sept. 12, bird flu has spread to seven provinces in Vietnam's northern and central regions including Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Giang, Quang Ngai, Tuyen Quang and Hoa Binh.

In early September, the ministry released news that a new bird flu strain was developing unexpectedly in Vietnam and caused a big concern to the government and public.

According to the National Animal Health Diagnosis Center, the new strain of bird flu virus, which is suspected to have higher risk of causing human death than previously known ones, appeared in July and strongly spread in August in Vietnam's central and northern provinces.

The new strain was thought to belong to H5N1 - Clade 2.3.2.1, which is different from the two strains of A and B that appeared in Vietnam in 2011, due to its higher pathogenic risk.

Apart from the newly-found strain of the virus, the bird flu has developed unexpectedly in the country so far this year. Normally, avian influenza appears shortly before or after the traditional lunar Tet holidays, which often falls in late January and early February. However, it has appeared since July this year and fast spread with unexpected signs.

According to local experts, the epidemic would become more complicated once it reaches its peak in the coming months.

As of mid-September, four cases of A/H5N1 infection had been recorded with two deaths in Vietnam, but the new strain of bird flu virus has not yet been found in humans, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Editor: Fang Yang

Mexico releases final count of birds culled to prevent bird flu

[editing is mine]
 
13 September 2012
Poultry farmers in Mexico have culled nearly 22.3 million birds between June and August 2012 and immunized 140 million birds, in order to control the outbreak of avian flu, according to National Food Health, Safety and Quality Service, or Senasica.
Senasica noted that it has completed the final count of birds culled to prevent the spread of the AH7N3 avian influenza virus.
Senasica director Enrique Sanchez said that no new avian flu cases have been reported over the past three weeks and affected farms are being restored with flocks of between 4.5 million and 5 million birds each month.
The restocking of farms is likely to boost egg production to about 2,700 tons every day, with output rising gradually as new hens are added, Sanchez said.
In June, the authorities detected the virus in cities of Tepatitlan and Acatic in Mexico's largest chicken farming state Jalisco, where 11% of the country's poultry meat and 50% of its eggs are produced.
In order to prevent the outbreak of the disease to other parts of Mexico or other states, the country initiated a national emergency plan. The government ordered vaccinations from Asia and is developing its own vaccines to fight the flu. Strict controls were also been put in place on the transportation of poultry, poultry products and other animals.

China: New H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian flu in Vietnam

[This is a translation out of China...]  
To strengthen phytosanitary strain facing Vietnam novel H5N1 avian influenza and migratory birds quarter to the advent of new avian influenza outside threat 2012-09-12

[Reports] the reporter Huang Fu-chuan / Hsinchu timing of the autumn migratory birds season, before also found that the new H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian flu in Vietnam , the country analysis shows incoming cross-border smuggling, not only spread fast, higher toxicity, resulting in The seven Vietnamese provinces epidemic occurred, and has culled 180,000 poultry.

To strengthen the strain of new avian influenza outside threat, Hsinchu implementation of the high risk of avian influenza during the epidemic prevention measures, strengthen epidemic reporting suspected cases and epidemic prevention disposal and risk management as attempts to prevent the epidemic had not invaded.

Vietnam Novel H5N1 subtype virus has been different from previous H5N1 virus more pathogenic in faster propagation and spread of flocks, once the invasion industry will suffer heavy losses. Analysis of the country, a new type of virus from China and to enter Vietnam through the border smuggling of chickens.

Executive Yuan Council of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Bureau said: Apart from strengthening domestic active and passive monitoring and early warning in China, has been consistently prohibit live birds enter the highly pathogenic bird flu, and to strengthen the implementation of the animal quarantine at airports, ports. Strengthening of preventing smuggling of animals and their products by the Coast Guard Administration and the Directorate General of Customs, Ministry of Finance, as well as to strengthen the inspection of travelers belongings to prevent entrainment infected countries of the animals and their fresh products.

The city government called on the avian influenza virus, by vehicle or personnel to carry and spread the disease, the poultry industry and practitioners to pay attention to bio- safety management as including not to go to the infected countries (such as Vietnam, China, etc.)

Visit poultry field or contact with animals, after returning thoroughly bathed and replacement clothing and shoes, in principle, a week later into the poultry farm; is another Never smuggling or the entrainment illegal agricultural and livestock products, illegal smuggling prohibited input quarantine objects, according to the prevention and control of infectious animal diseases Ordinance provisions to seven years imprisonment and a fine of 300 million and a NT, their means of transport can be confiscated. http://news.sina.com.tw/article/20120912/7832973.html

CSL wins US Government contract for influenza vaccines

CSL Biotherapies, a subsidiary of CSL Limited, has won a supply contract for pre-pandemic and pandemic vaccine antigens and related services to the US national stockpile from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The contract has a maximum potential value of $1,511,407,737.78 if all optional activities are exercised over the duration of the contract.

Under the terms of the contract, the Government may request CSL to manufacture and store bulk antigen that can be used against influenza strains with pandemic potential and to develop working virus seeds for other manufacturers and to formulate, fill and finish bulk stored antigen.

CSL Biotherapies senior vice president Dr. John Anderson said CSL Biotherapies is committed to helping to protect the American public against the potential impact of an influenza pandemic.
"We are proud to contribute our 45 years of successful influenza vaccine manufacturing experience to the U.S. National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza," Dr. Anderson added.
Funding for the CSL contract is provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.

http://contractservices.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/news/csl-wins-us-government-contract-for-influenza-vaccines-120912