06/02 | Daily BF: Bird flu kills 8-year-old Indonesian girl, latest in spike

Link to yesterday's thread: http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=199313

Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2006_05_12/en/index.html

Bird flu kills 8-year-old Indonesian girl, latest in spike ​

MARGIE MASON, AP Medical Writer



June 2, 2006 3:28 AM

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Local tests showed an 8-year-old girl has died of bird flu, a health official said Friday, the latest case in a spike putting Indonesia on pace to become the world's hardest-hit country.

The World Health Organization has yet to confirm the death, which would bring the country's official death toll from the H5N1 virus to 37.

The girl, from Pamulang on the outskirts of Jakarta, died late Thursday after apparently coming into contact with sick poultry, said Nyoman Kandun, a senior Health Ministry official.

The girl's 10-year-old brother died three days earlier with similar flu-like symptoms, but no samples were taken, said Dr. Hariadi Wibisono, a senior official at the national Health Department. The boy died in an emergency room before being treated, and the family immediately took him home for burial, he said.

''The family reported that chickens died near their house, and we have been told they had contact with birds,'' Wibisono said.

One of the children's other three siblings also developed a fever but recovered after being given the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari told reporters Friday.

The children's father said he was aware of bird flu, but had no idea the virus was circulating near the family's house.

''I am very shocked. I do not understand how bird flu occurred in my neighborhood,'' said Suryoto, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. ''This internationally known disease took away my lovely children only in days, less then a week.''

He said his son fell ill with a fever after playing soccer with other children near their home. When it became difficult for the boy to breathe, Suryoto rushed him to a hospital, but it was too late.

''He died before the doctor could do something for him,'' Suryoto said.

Meanwhile, Bayu Khrisnamurti, secretary-general of the National Committee of Avian Flu Control, said a mass poultry slaughter would begin soon in the North Sumatra village of Kubu Simbelang.

The village attracted international attention last month after six members of a family died of bird flu and a seventh was sickened. An eighth family member was buried before samples were collected, but WHO considers her part of the cluster of cases - the largest ever reported.

Experts have not found any link between the relatives and infected birds, which has led them to suspect human-to-human transmission. But no one outside the group of blood relatives has fallen ill and experts say the virus has not mutated.

Bird flu has killed at least 127 people worldwide since it started ravaging Asian poultry farms in late 2003. It is difficult for humans to catch, but experts fear the virus could mutate into a form more easily transmissible between humans, potentially sparking a pandemic. So far, most human cases have been linked to contact with infected birds.

Indonesia trails only Vietnam, where 42 people have died, in number of bird flu deaths.

----

Associated Press reporters Niniek Karmini, Irwan Firdaus and Ali Kotarumalos contributed to this report from Jakarta.

AP-WS-06-02-06 0624EDT

http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=564745632271958769

Nurse with bird flu-like symptoms hospitalized in Bandung, W Java​

http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=13714

Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News)</b> - A 25-year old nurse identified by her initials as `Ci` is currently being treated at the Hasan Sadikin Hospital here for bird flu-like symptoms.

Ci was admitted to the hos[oital which has been treating a number of bird flu patients on Thursday evening (June 1).

"When she arrived at this hospital last night, her body temperature was very high, namely 39.6 Celsius degrees but now it has decreased to 37 Celsius degrees," Hadi Jusuf, head of the bird flu medical treatment unit of the hospital, said here on Friday.

The hospital was planning to send the patient`s blood sample to the laboratory of the Health Development and Research Body in Jakarta on Friday.

The result of the laboratory test is expected to come within the next three days, he said.

"We could not confirm whether she is positive of having been infected by avian influenza virus or not, although she had earlier have contacts with siblings, 18-year old Ad and 10-year old Ai, who died of bird flu virus recently," he said.

The ailing nurse has never had contact with poultry, but she had treated the sibling when being treated at Ujungberung Hospital, where Ci works as a nurse.

If she is confirmed of being infected by bird flu virus, it would be the first case of human-to-human transmission of the virus, he said.

Meanwhile, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that international health investigators were finding no evidence that efficient transmission of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has emerged from a family cluster of cases in Indonesia`s North Sumatra.

The H5N1 virus has caused 127 deaths in 224 cases worldwide since it was detected in humans in late 2003. In all but a handful of cases, humans have become infected through direct contact with ailing birds, their feces or blood.

Indonesia has detected 48 cases of H5N1, 31 of those appearing since January, and ending in 36 fatalities.

Another Fatal H5N1 Bird Flu Cluster in Tangerang Indonesia ​

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/06020601/H5N1_Tangerang_Cluster.html

Recombinomics Commentary
June 2, 2006

the Department of the Health, on Friday (2/6), stated two citizens from Street Arya Putra, the District kedaung, Ciputat, Tangerang, Banten, positive died resulting from the bird flu virus.The bird flu patient was named Yohana died in the Fatmawati Hospital on last Thursday the night.Yohana was second casualties who still were having the family's relations with other casualties.Beforehand, the older brother Yohana, Toni, died on May 29 2006

The above translation describes another familial cluster in Tangerang on the outskirts of Jakarta. No sample was collected for the index case, who died three days before his (10M), sister (7F), who was H5N1 positive. The location is near the first reported familial cluster in July of 2005. The sequence of H5N1 from the cluster has a novel cleavage site, which has been found in virtually all isolates from the West Java area, but the reported sequences from birds in the area have the wild type cleavage site raising questions about the origin of the infections.

The H5N1 in the Jakarta area is also distinct from the H5N1 linked to the large cluster in north Sumatra, which are amantadine resistant, as well as the second reported case in the Jakarta area, which has PB2 E627K.

Additional sequences from wild and domestic birds and other H5N1 hosts in the area would be useful.

Duplicate post

JPD said:

Nurse with bird flu-like symptoms hospitalized in Bandung, W Java​

http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=13714

Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News)</b> - A 25-year old nurse identified by her initials as `Ci` is currently being treated at the Hasan Sadikin Hospital here for bird flu-like symptoms.

Ci was admitted to the hos[oital which has been treating a number of bird flu patients on Thursday evening (June 1).

We could not confirm whether she is positive of having been infected by avian influenza virus or not, although she had earlier have contacts with siblings, 18-year old Ad and 10-year old Ai, who died of bird flu virus recently," he said.

The ailing nurse has never had contact with poultry, but she had treated the sibling when being treated at Ujungberung Hospital, where Ci works as a nurse.

If she is confirmed of being infected by bird flu virus, it would be the first case of human-to-human transmission of the virus, he said.

Meanwhile, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that international health investigators were finding no evidence that efficient transmission of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has emerged from a family cluster of cases in Indonesia`s North Sumatra.

Click to expand...

Who are they kidding? This would not be the first case of H2H.

Nurse Hospitalized With H5N1 Bird Flu Symptoms in Bandung ​

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/06020602/H5N1_Bandung_HCW.html

Recombinomics Commentary
June 2, 2006

A 25-year old nurse identified by her initials as `Ci` is currently being treated at the Hasan Sadikin Hospital here for bird flu-like symptoms.

"We could not confirm whether she is positive of having been infected by avian influenza virus or not, although she had earlier have contacts with siblings, 18-year old Ad and 10-year old Ai, who died of bird flu virus recently," he said.

The ailing nurse has never had contact with poultry, but she had treated the sibling when being treated at Ujungberung Hospital, where Ci works as a nurse.

The above description of a nurse with H5N1 bird flu symptoms is cause for concern because of the link to two confirmed fatal H5n1 cases. However, since the temperature of the nurse has begun to fall, the symptoms may be coincidental. However, the milder symptoms may simply reflect a milder case.

The second confirmed case in Indonesia was fatal, yet her nephew had a mild case of H5N1 and quickly recovered. Milder cases of H5N1 in Indonesia would be easily missed, because most testing for H5N1 is on patients who have been transferred to an infectious disease hospital, and if they recover at the primary care facility, they are not tested for H5N1. Similarly, most H5N1 testing in Indonesia requires an association with dead or dying poultry, although the sequence of the H5N1 from patients in West Jakarta, including Bandung, do not match reported sequences of H5N1 from poultry.

H5N1 in a health care worker would be cause for concern. One nurse in Vietnam was H5N1 confirmed which was linked to an H5N1 confirmed patient, but a firm link has not been confirmed in Indonesia.

Bird Flu Foci in Romania Swell to 123​

http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?catid=126&newsid=89577&ch=0&datte=2006-06-02

Sofia. The number of the bird flu foci in Romania reached 123 after Romanian authorities confirmed that the outbreak has spread to two more districts – those of Prahova and Arges, Mediafax news agency reports citing the spokesperson of the Agriculture Ministry Adrian Tibu.

The government spokeswoman Oana Marinescu stated that according to the data announced this morning 3,592 farms have been inspected and 1,286 violations have been found.

In the period May 15th – June 1st some 977,000 poultry were killed.

Java earthquake: survivors at risk from avian flu
02 Jun 2006 12:24:00 GMT
Source: Merlin - UK
Merlin
Website: http://www.merlin.org.uk
Printable view | Email this article | RSS [-] Text [+]

Background
Indonesia earthquake
Bird flu
More Merlin, the British medical aid charity working in the earthquake zone in Java, has warned of disease risks to survivors taking shelter in chicken sheds.

Dr Yolanda Bayugo, Merlin's health director in Indonesia, raised concerns today with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization in Yogyakarta and has asked for more tents to be supplied.

"We are concerned that people using poultry sheds as shelter are at risk from avian flu and salmonella," said Dr Bayugo.

"In Pundong sub-district of Bantul, where about 35,000 people are homeless, we found more than 100 people taking shelter in six large poultry sheds," she continued. "The sheds, built from bamboo, are each about 200 metres long and are the only surviving structures in the area. One shed was new and had not yet been used to keep chickens. Others, which had been cleared recently, were only partially cleaned and still had chicken droppings lying on bamboo slats."

The avian flu virus is known to be present in poultry farms across Java and can be spread through contact with fresh or dried chicken droppings. Last year, the World Health Organization identified the virus in parts of Java now affected by the earthquake.1There were no reported cases in Pundong, but it was identified in Yogyakarta, Sleman and Klaten districts.

The virus has claimed the lives of 36 people in Indonesia since the beginning of 2005. Last month, an outbreak on the neighbouring island of Sumatra, killed six people.

British nurse Paula Sansom, who is leading Merlin's emergency response team, said: "It's tragic that people who have lost their homes have no option but to take shelter in places where they could catch a deadly virus. In such over-crowded conditions the risk of contamination with avian flu and salmonella will increase."

"We have requested that the supply of tents is prioritised for people in these communities," she continued. "Where poultry sheds are the only means of shelter, Merlin is helping affected families to clean the sites properly and follow appropriate hygiene precautions."

Merlin arrived in the Yogyakarta region on Sunday - a day after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake killed more than 6,000 people and left around 200,000 homeless. The team has been operating mobile clinics in the Bantul area and distributing emergency medical supplies, including intravenous fluids, antibiotics and water purification tablets.

For more information, contact: Jacqueline Koch Merlin Indonesia Mobile: +62 (0)813 813 11 436 comms@merlin-indonesia.org

Jonathan Pearce Head of Communications, Merlin London Office: +44 (0)20 7014 1701 jonathan.pearce@merlin.org.uk

Ju-Lin Tan Senior Communications Officer, Merlin London Office: +44 (0)20 7014 1702 ju-lin.tan@merlin.org.uk

Out of office hours: +44 (0)7092 382 421

Notes 1. Communicable Diseases, risks and interventions. Indonesia earthquake-affected areas, 2006, May 31, 2006

Photographs are available on request.

Merlin is the only specialist UK charity which responds worldwide with vital health care and medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in natural disasters, conflict, disease and health system collapse.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters



http://www.birdflubreakingnews.com/.../thenews/fromthefield/218926/114925117548.htm

WHO monitoring Indonesian quake-hit areas for bird flu outbreak ​

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/211688/1/.html

By Channel NewsAsia's Indonesia Bureau Chief Sujadi Siswo



The World Health Organisation has voiced its concern that the bird flu virus may spread in Indonesia's earthquake-hit areas.

The United Nations body says the H5N1 virus is known to be circulating in the Central Java area.

To prevent an outbreak, authorities have stepped up surveillance in the area.

On the ongoing relief efforts, WHO says while the emergency needs of the injured patients have been met, the long term medical needs remain inadequate.

It has been almost a week after the devastating earthquake struck Central Java, and injured victims are still being brought into hospitals.

According to estimates by the World Health Organisation, more than 50,000 people have sought treatment.

But with only 9,000 beds available, crowded hospitals like this one in Bantul, have to treat patients in their lobby area.

The world body says immediate needs of the victims have been met largely, thanks to the help of thousands of local and international medical teams here.

But long-term medical needs of the victims remain a concern especially for the large number of elderly among the injured.

They were not able to flee in time when the disaster struck.

This sector of the population will need care beyond the current emergency period.

And the task looks daunting given the limited medical facilities available.

The WHO has warned that the risk of an infectious disease breaking out does exist mainly due to the lack of proper sanitation and clean water.

To prevent any outbreak, authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation.

Georg Petersen, WHO Representative, Indonesia, said: "Well there are bird flu virus, H5N1 virus circulating in poultry all over Indonesia. Also in this area, we are concerned about that. We know that the agencies working on the bird flu issue in the animal sector are intensifying their surveillance in this disaster area and we have also pointed out that is necessary."

Since July last year, 37 out of 50 Indonesians infected with the H5N1 virus have died.

And the virus has been found in two-thirds of Indonesia's provinces, including Central Java. - CNA/ch

EU extends poultry ban as H5N1 re-erupts in Romania​

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/122068.asp

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 2-Jun-2006 20:48 hrs
Sanitary workers put a culled chicken in a plastic bag in Brasov city, 180 kmS northeast from Bucharest, May 2006. The European Union has widened an import ban on Romanian poultry to the whole country because the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu has resurfaced and is "spreading rapidly," officials said.


The European Union has widened an import ban on Romanian poultry to the whole country because the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu has resurfaced and is "spreading rapidly," officials said.
.
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, which groups health and veterinary experts from the EU's 25 member states, agreed on the move after being briefed by Romanian authorities on the latest situation.
.
"The proposal was put forward on the basis that the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has been spreading rapidly in Romania since avian influenza began re-occurring in the country in mid-May," it said Friday.
.
It added that Romanian authorities "have notified an outbreak outside the area currently under restriction, from where imports of poultry and poultry products are already banned by the EU."
.
Authorities in the country are applying strict eradication and control measures, it noted.
.
"However, outbreaks are still being detected and the situation is being closely monitored by the Commission," it added, saying that the situation will be reviewed at the committee's next meeting in July.
.
The disease was first detected in Romania late last year. But a new wave of outbreaks escalated last month, and last week officials said the number of infected H5N1 sites rose by 20 on Friday to 75.
.
The Romanian veterinary authorities in a statement blamed the latest spread of the disease on migratory birds and the failure to take proper steps to isolate the virus at the Codlea farm. — AFP

The European Union has widened an import ban on Romanian poultry to the whole country because the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu has resurfaced and is "spreading rapidly," officials said.
.
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, which groups health and veterinary experts from the EU's 25 member states, agreed on the move after being briefed by Romanian authorities on the latest situation.
.
"The proposal was put forward on the basis that the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has been spreading rapidly in Romania since avian influenza began re-occurring in the country in mid-May," it said Friday.
.
It added that Romanian authorities "have notified an outbreak outside the area currently under restriction, from where imports of poultry and poultry products are already banned by the EU."
.
Authorities in the country are applying strict eradication and control measures, it noted.
.
"However, outbreaks are still being detected and the situation is being closely monitored by the Commission," it added, saying that the situation will be reviewed at the committee's next meeting in July.
.
The disease was first detected in Romania late last year. But a new wave of outbreaks escalated last month, and last week officials said the number of infected H5N1 sites rose by 20 on Friday to 75.
.
The Romanian veterinary authorities in a statement blamed the latest spread of the disease on migratory birds and the failure to take proper steps to isolate the virus at the Codlea farm. — AFP
The European Union has widened an import ban on Romanian poultry to the whole country because the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu has resurfaced and is "spreading rapidly," officials said.
.
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, which groups health and veterinary experts from the EU's 25 member states, agreed on the move after being briefed by Romanian authorities on the latest situation.
.
"The proposal was put forward on the basis that the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has been spreading rapidly in Romania since avian influenza began re-occurring in the country in mid-May," it said Friday.
.
It added that Romanian authorities "have notified an outbreak outside the area currently under restriction, from where imports of poultry and poultry products are already banned by the EU."
.
Authorities in the country are applying strict eradication and control measures, it noted.
.
"However, outbreaks are still being detected and the situation is being closely monitored by the Commission," it added, saying that the situation will be reviewed at the committee's next meeting in July.
.
The disease was first detected in Romania late last year. But a new wave of outbreaks escalated last month, and last week officials said the number of infected H5N1 sites rose by 20 on Friday to 75.
.
The Romanian veterinary authorities in a statement blamed the latest spread of the disease on migratory birds and the failure to take proper steps to isolate the virus at the Codlea farm. — AFP
The European Union has widened an import ban on Romanian poultry to the whole country because the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu has resurfaced and is "spreading rapidly," officials said.
.
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, which groups health and veterinary experts from the EU's 25 member states, agreed on the move after being briefed by Romanian authorities on the latest situation.
.
"The proposal was put forward on the basis that the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has been spreading rapidly in Romania since avian influenza began re-occurring in the country in mid-May," it said Friday.
.
It added that Romanian authorities "have notified an outbreak outside the area currently under restriction, from where imports of poultry and poultry products are already banned by the EU."
.
Authorities in the country are applying strict eradication and control measures, it noted.
.
"However, outbreaks are still being detected and the situation is being closely monitored by the Commission," it added, saying that the situation will be reviewed at the committee's next meeting in July.
.
The disease was first detected in Romania late last year. But a new wave of outbreaks escalated last month, and last week officials said the number of infected H5N1 sites rose by 20 on Friday to 75.
.
The Romanian veterinary authorities in a statement blamed the latest spread of the disease on migratory birds and the failure to take proper steps to isolate the virus at the Codlea farm. — AFP

A new online discussion forum has been launched to assist all U.S. states in preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic

Stanton, CA (PRWEB) June 2, 2006 -- A new online discussion forum has been launched to assist all U.S. states in preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic. This new community planning forum is comprised of individual state forums, which now allow people to easily plan and communicate with others located within their same area. Online forums are known for the usefulness as they provide for real time discussion.

“The Government has made it clear that they will not be able to provide assistance to the public during an H5N1 pandemic because of the overall enormity of this type of crisis. In an effort to assist community planning on all levels, we have created a new online forum that is based on location, which is the single most important factor when connecting people together,” said Ryan Evans, owner of the website. “For people to affectively plan, they need to be able to communicate with others located within their own general area.”

The new non-profit website has been developed in a collaborative effort by a group of volunteers who hold the title of State Coordinator. The Coordinators, who are easily identified on this forum, are available to answer questions and to give guidance to all members seeking help.

Whether you would like to stay up to date on the latest pandemic flu developments, or if you would like to participate in community planning, this new site has it all. For those interested in learning more, this new website can now be viewed at: http://www.PandemicHelp.org .

Contact:
Mitch Evans
1.714.965.5945
P.O Box 1294
Stanton, CA 90680

http://www.moneyweb.co.za/specials/african_economic_summit/477755.htm

The scary truth about bird flu
Jackie Cameron
Posted: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 16:00 | © Moneyweb Holdings Limited, 1997-2006


With the transmission of bird flu between humans, you can expect economic growth around the world to be slashed in half and the reverberations felt through global financial markets.

Importers and exporters can expect major trade problems in general as authorities battle to stop the spread of the virus. Farmers and suppliers of chickens and related produce can expect a fall-off in demand as consumers shun them as a food source and a general panic sets in.

But it’s not just those companies and people involved in the agricultural sector who have reason to fear bird flu: along with a pandemic will come mass absenteeism as businesses are required to play a role in stemming the spread of the disease.

The travel and tourism sectors will be particularly hard hit as the potentially deadly virus sweeps the continent and the globe.

A conservative 2m to 7m people are expected to die, though at least 40m deaths are possible, if the virus develops from one that is spread by birds - and only passed on to humans where there is direct contact - to one that is shared as easily as the common flu.

That was the picture painted by business and government players at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa where they were grappling with the possibility that the continent could soon become a battleground in the struggle against avian influenza.

Much of the emphasis was on how the H5N1 virus would impact on people in more rural parts of Africa, where they live close to their chickens and poultry is a major source of protein.

There is the fear that the virus will not be recognised in more remote areas timeously as well as a concern that farmers will be reluctant to slaughter chickens in preventative programmes or where the virus is detected.

But if you’re in any business, large or small, you can’t expect to overlook this risk as it will affect your bottom line, warned the top-level panel of politicians and business executives in a side discussion at the WEF.

They were quick to emphasise that panic should be avoided and that, at this stage, a bird flu pandemic is just a risk.

Nevertheless, the evidence that a pandemic is just around the corner was overwhelming.

Bird flu is just a test away

World Health Organisation official Idrissa Sow said the world is “one last step” from a pandemic, with the bird flu virus fulfilling most of the criteria. “Spreading easily and sustainably from humans” to humans is the last step.

So far there is no evidence that this has happened, however health authorities are concerned about a recent case in Indonesia where at least seven in a family died and contact with the bird has not been confirmed. Mutation of the virus has also not been confirmed.

“If we get mutation confirmed in the laboratory, then we are in a pandemic. This will move around the world in six months,” cautioned Sow.

Gary Cohen, president, BD Medical, Becton Dickinson and company, said no country in the world was adequately prepared for bird flu, though some are better prepared than others.

There is no guarantee any country will be able to contain bird flu if it becomes human-transmissible.

African countries, meanwhile, have been meeting to thrash out strategies, as Thoko Didiza, Minister of Public Works and formerly agriculture minister in South Africa, notes: “There are no border gates for birds.”

She said that South Africa had achieved some success in curtailing outbreaks of other diseases in animals recently, for example foot-and-mouth and classical swine fever.

“From past experience, we have decided to slaughter (chickens) rather than vaccinate…but you need to compensate farmers or they won’t come forward,” she said.

Pharmaceutical companies, meanwhile, are working on vaccines. According to Sow, more than ten candidate vaccines were reviewed in Geneva a few weeks ago.

“However, we are still working on the Vietnam strain…and don’t know we’ll be facing the Vietnam strain,” he added.

Choosing who lives, who dies

In any event, a vaccine, when there is one, is expected to be in short supply. Issues up for consideration will include who gets vaccines and who doesn’t, though there are indications from states that they would nationalise vaccine production.

Also not to be overlooked is ensuring the disease isn’t spread by, for example, lack of hygiene with needles and poor controls in laboratories.

As Sean Cleary, MD of Strategic Concepts, SA, said: “No-one can avoid dealing with bird flu. It won’t respect boundaries.”

High-profile business players like those attending the WEF, as frequent travellers and because they are regularly in meetings, are as vulnerable as chicken farmers in remote villages.

“The standard mid-range estimate is cutting 2% off global GDP. That would involve a halving of growth rates,” said Cleary.

Recombinomics, Inc. Urges The Release of All H5N1 Sequences from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Private Database


PITTSBURGH, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Comments by the Director General of
Infection Control in Indonesia, I Nyoman Kandun, on releasing H5N1 avian
influenza sequences are encouraging. They follow a recent news article by
Declan Butler in Nature magazine questioning the withholding of the
information following the largest and most fatal cluster of bird flu in
Indonesia. The disease onset dates for cluster members strongly supported
sequential transmission of H5N1. Sequences from this outbreak and early
human cases in Indonesia are sequestered at the World Health Organization's
(WHO) private database. Recombinomics has called for full release of these
sequences previously.

At this time, sequences from only one H5N1 patient in Indonesia have
been made public. This specific isolate has been selected for development
of a new pandemic vaccine in the United States. Although the sequence was
deposited in the WHO private database on August 1, 2005, it was not made
public until March 25, 2006. The sequence was related to Indonesian poultry
sequences, but it had a novel cleavage site. The sequence shows evidence of
extensive recombination, with polymorphisms from H5N1 isolates in Vietnam,
Thailand, wild birds in China, and the Qinghai strain of H5N1.

The description of H5N1 sequences from Indonesia indicates at least
three distinct H5N1 strains are circulating in humans in Indonesia. The
most common strain is similar to the publicly available sequence, which has
a novel cleavage site which has not been reported in poultry in Indonesia
or elsewhere. A second strain has the wild type cleavage site, but has PB2
E627K, which is associated with increased virulence in mammals and an
almost universal fatality rate in humans. The third version is in the
recent large cluster in north Sumatra and is amantadine resistant.

Release of these human sequences would provide clues on their origin.
Recombinomics has patent pending sequence analysis methods to trace origins
of isolates as well as predict sequence changes. "The diversity of co-
circulating strains of H5N1 can be effectively analyzed with Recombinomics
technology, but the usefulness of the approach is enhanced by a robust
database of all eight gene segments. Currently H5N1 sequences from only two
of these segments from one patient in Indonesia are publicly available,"
said Recombinomics president, Henry Niman, Ph.D. He continued, "Data from
an H5N1 infected cat as well as other hosts in Indonesia and worldwide
would also enhance the analysis, adding to the need for the release of all
sequestered H5N1 sequences."

Selection of new vaccine targets is vital. H5N1 recombines frequently,
leading to rapid evolution. Vaccines against future sequences are more
effective than vaccines against sequences that have already emerged.
Release of the sequestered sequences will improve selection of vaccine
targets, and is essential for the control of an emerging pandemic genome.

About Recombinomics, Inc. -- The Company was founded by Dr. Henry
Niman, a former Scripps Institute Assistant Member, based on his pioneering
work in the area of viral evolution. Dr. Niman's research identified
recombination as the underlying mechanism driving rapid genetic change,
allowing him to file a series of patents based on a deep understanding of
this paradigm shifting process. Recombinomics is in the process of
commercializing its patent-pending approach to significantly improve the
standard vaccine development process. Recombinomics, through its analysis
and commentary section of its website (http://www.recombinomics.com), has
been consistently ahead of both the scientific community and government
agencies in anticipating the genetic evolution and geographic expansion of
H5N1.

Contact Information:
Dr. Henry Niman
President
Recombinomics, Inc.
648 Field Club Road,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238
Tel. 866.973.2662
henry_niman@recombinomics.com


SOURCE Recombinomics, Inc.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Related links:

http://www.recombinomics.com/

New Niger bird flu outbreak near Nigeria - official​

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/ne...234930Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-252505-1.xml

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Scientists in Europe have confirmed a new outbreak of deadly H5N1 bird flu in southern Niger, near the border with Africa's most populous country Nigeria, a senior local government official said on Friday.

Tests carried out in Europe confirmed the presence of H5N1 in samples taken from the village of Boko Mai Gao, around 10 km from the border with Nigeria's Kano state, said the official, who declined to be named.

The discovery comes three days after Niger, landlocked and among the poorest countries on earth, described its epidemiological situation as "calm".

The H5N1 strain of bird flu was first confirmed in Niger in late February, but it took until April to start culling poultry in the affected areas.

Scientists worry that poor health and veterinary systems in Africa could allow the virus to spread undetected among millions of domestic fowl living in houses and back yards.

Several countries in West Africa, including Niger's neighbours Nigeria and Burkina Faso, have confirmed outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 bird flu, but so far no cases have been detected among humans.

The only human cases confirmed so far on the African continent have been in Egypt, where six people have died out of 14 known human infections, according to the World Health Organisation, which says at least 124 people have been killed around the world since 2003.

If she is confirmed of being infected by bird flu virus, it would be the first case of human-to-human transmission of the virus, he said.

Who are they kidding? This would not be the first case of H2H.

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Kim... no, it wouldn't be the first *likely* human-to-human. But it WOULD be the first known case of a health care worker who cared for H5N1 victims *in a hospital setting* who caught it.

Why is that important? Because it's presumed that nurses and doctors caring for dying patients who are presumed or known to have a potentially contagious and highly fatal disease will be using all available personal protective equipment.

Granted, that may not be quite the same in Jakarta as it would be in Manhattan... but even so, it definitely means that the virus is now managing to be transmitted between people without *intimate and extended* contact.

Until now, they've always been able to explain it away as "they slept in the same bed" or "they ate from the same utensils"...etc...

Summerthyme (watching this one closely... it's definitely on the border of efficient h-h. )

Replikins' FluForecast Software Pinpoints Change in Deadly Bird Flu Amino Acid Sequence in Humans​

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=4981535

Single substitution discovered in current H5N1 was also found to be present in the last two major human pandemics of 1957 (H2N2) and 1968 (H3N2)

BOSTON, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- WHO and CDC spokespersons have recently announced that no significant worrisome sequence changes have been observed so far in H5N1 isolates from high-mortality H5N1 Indonesian human cases (CIDRAP: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy News, May 24, 2006). Significant sequence changes are thought to be required for person-to-person transmission to occur, a necessary prerequisite for a human pandemic.

Using new search technology, FluForecast(R) software (see http://www.replikins.com for background and data), Replikins, Ltd. has discovered that in fact, a change in the amino acid sequence has occurred: a recent single amino acid substitution, to be referred to as "Sub," in an H5N1 virus protein, which may be significant because of the last time it was seen.

The company detected the amino acid "Sub" and tracked the sequence in which it occurred back 49 years. Sub is absent from all earlier H5N1 back to H5N1's first appearance in 1959, and is only present in the last two high- mortality influenza pandemics, of 1957 (H2N2) and 1968 (H3N2), which were responsible for millions of deaths, and in a recent, fortunately brief, outbreak of H7N7, with one human death. The company's FluForecast(R) software found the Sub amino acid substitution in earlier swine H1N1 infections, but not in recent chicken H5N1 isolates, and only in recent human H5N1 isolates, and only in human cases in areas with high mortality. Sub is present in isolates from Vietnam and Indonesia human H5N1 cases. This substitution correlates with epidemiological evidence that suggests that human person-to- person "cluster" transmission may already have occurred, although infrequently to date.

Dr. Sam Bogoch, the company's chairman, said that the sequence in which Sub occurs is a small virus peptide which the company has found to be conserved in H1N1, H2N2, H2N3, and H5N1, for 88 years, from 1917 to the present. The company has also found that an increase in concentration of peptides of this type in proteins is associated with rapid replication and epidemics. With use of the company's FluForecast(R) software, for the first time, strain-specific quantitative protein correlations with epidemics have been observed. The rise in "Replikin Count" (number of replikins per 100 amino acids), detected by the FluForecast software, has been found to be quantitatively correlated with and predictive in advance of the last three flu pandemics of the past century and the last three H5N1 epidemics from 1997 to the present.

FluForecast(R) permits advance strain-specific warning of 1 to 3 years that an epidemic or pandemic is on its way, thus allowing greater time and more specificity in tailoring more accurate, potentially safer, synthetic influenza vaccines. Previous lack of information of the substituted structure of H5N1, which might be the agent of the next pandemic, has hindered attempts to produce appropriate vaccines. In addition, current egg- and cell-based methods produce vaccines which contain thousands of unwanted proteins which may produce undesirable side effects, take 6 to 9 months or more to make, and more time to test. Replikins, Ltd. is now synthesizing several new synthetic flu vaccines and conducting initial trials.

While a single substitution, alone, may not guarantee a pandemic, and the function of the substitution is not as yet known, the occurrence of the same substitution of amino acid "Sub," at least as a marker in the last two high- mortality pandemics, in 1957 and 1968, its occurrence now only in humans, accompanied by high Replikin counts and high mortality rates, together may suggest, in contrast to previous more comforting assessments, that H5N1 is indeed on the path to a human pandemic. What finally determines if and when a full-force pandemic materializes is still unknown. "Replikins is working with several government and private institutions to test the company's new synthetic vaccines," said Dr. Bogoch, Chairman of Replikins, Ltd.

Press Contact: Carol Zepp, carolzepppr@yahoo.com, 978-468-8080

Replikins, Ltd. info@replikins.com, 617-536-9711, 38 the Fenway, Boston, Mass., 02215

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

CONTACT: Carol Zepp for Replikins, Ltd., +1-978-468-8080, carolzepppr@yahoo.com; or Replikins, Ltd.: +1-617-536-9711, info@replikins.com

Web site: http://www.replikins.com/

They're complicating things for themselves...

In the case of Ci the 25 year old nurse, what exactly does 'no exposure to poultry' mean? She doesn't have any at home she cared for? Her neighbours don't have any? None have died around her home? They're still vaccinating poultry throughout parts of Indonesia although this 'vaccine blanket' resembles nothing more than a big sieve. Vaccinating poultry doesn't prevent infection; it simply masks it. She may well have been exposed to infected poultry or stepped in the droppings from infected poultry. Every shot I see of any part of that nation still shows birds running loose everywhere. It's as common as pigeons in big cities. So without further detail, I'm not prepared to completely rule out exposure to poultry.

Then there's the nasty little question of what native bird species may be harbouring the virus asymptomatically? She may, (if she proves positive), have contracted an infection in that manner.

And of course, she may have picked it up from one of the kids she cared for. Even so, unless she worked 24/7, others were involved in their care. Is she one of those unfortunates who may be genetically susceptible? If so, her blood relatives - those she's been in contact with recently will bear watching. If it's a 'pure' & straight H-H transmission - why? Was PPE available to her & if so did she use it? Did she use it correctly? The slightest slip in technique can do it. Imagine this young lady worried about these kids & her other patients. We don't know how tough her shift was or how many she'd worked. We don't have details of her work outside of life, what stresses she may have had on her. It may be she was overtired, stressed out; her immune system not in great shape. If on top of that she has an extra susceptibility - that's all it might take.

I hope the WHO people on scene DO get a chance to talk to her - they'll ask all these questions & more. It can be a painstaking process getting all the details though - under some circumstances with some of the nastier diseases, you're asked to try & rmember how you MOVED - where your hands were, etc. This may take time, if she's even well enough for a lot of questioning.

And in the final analysis, we may never know how she got it, especially if others - fellow staff or blood relations catch it. Smoking guns are SO much easier to spot.

summerthyme said:

But it WOULD be the first known case of a health care worker who cared for H5N1 victims *in a hospital setting* who caught it.

Click to expand...

Wasn't there a doctor who got H5N1 from a patient in Vietnam in either 2004 or early 2005? Does anyone remember the details from that incident?

Link to tomorrows (6/3) Bird Flu thread: http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=199536

ferret said:

Wasn't there a doctor who got H5N1 from a patient in Vietnam in either 2004 or early 2005? Does anyone remember the details from that incident?

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Good memory ferret... Canada Sue, do you remember the details?