Avian flu updates page 13

Martin

Deceased
avian flu page 12 at

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=164175&highlight=avian


Bird flu threat looms


Health officials unanimously agree that a recently-evolved avian flu virus, Influenza A (H5N1), has one small genetic adjustment to make before it becomes transmissible between humans.

In the event of this change, the virus may lead to the largest pandemic the world has seen.

While there is little we can do to prevent this, perhaps we should be asking ourselves how well South Africa and South African industry are prepared for the ramifications of a pandemic of these proportions. Avian influenza is a common highly-contagious and naturally-occurring virus among bird populations.

Of the existing subtypes, the H5N1 virus is currently the greatest cause for concern.

Although it has been in existence for some time, it has recently caused extensive epidemics in domestic bird populations and, as a result, humans are being more readily exposed to the virus.

H5N1 first infected humans through direct contact with infected birds in Hong Kong in 1997. Since then, it has resulted in a significant number of infections and deaths throughout South East Asia.

The high mortality rate can be attributed to the human population's lack of immunity to the virus. Never having been exposed to the virus before, humans are highly susceptible to infection and readily succumb to it.

Common flu viruses develop subtle variations every year. While the adaptations may cause deaths among the elderly, the infirm and very young children, human populations tend to develop some level of immunity to the virus as a result of exposure to similar viruses.

The danger lies in a completely novel virus, such as H5N1, to which no one has developed any level of immunity, resulting in high infection, mortality and morbidity rates.

Although the virus is virulent, it has not yet become transmissible between humans. Deaths to date have been the result of transmission between birds and humans and, although cases of human-to-human transmission have been suspected, these have been inconclusive.

H5N1 is a highly-adaptable virus which has recently become less virulent for birds. This implies that the virus can spread more easily with birds during migration.

Experts agree that an outbreak would pose the most serious current threat to the global community. They estimate that the H5N1 virus could cause a pandemic similar to the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918, during which 25-million to 100-million people died worldwide.

This figure includes documented cases in the First World as well as probable Third World undocumented cases.

Influenza pandemics occur roughly every 70 years and are the result of a change in the outer coating of the influenza virus - the antigenic surface - against which white blood cells react. Each year sees an outbreak of influenza and, at the same time, a 'drift' in the antigenic layer.

Drift implies a marginal change in the virus to which we have some resistance, but which still causes infection.

Every 70 years or so witnesses a 'shift' in the antigenic layer - a complete alteration - so that our bodies have absolutely no previous experience of exposure to the virus and have no defence against it.

This may occur when a virus that normally infects other species, such as birds, pigs or horses, learns to infect humans.

Health officials propose that H5N1 may grow into a pandemic by a process of gradual mutation or it may change through a 'mixing vessel', which is a species susceptible to bird and human viruses, such as pigs.

While initial strategies involved trying to prevent the virus from getting a hold in the poultry stock in Asia by means of mass culling, it has been agreed that the virus is endemic. Mass culling is, therefore, economically untenable as well as futile.

Experts suggest that slowing down the spread of the virus to delay its repercussions may be the only solution, as it will buy time for the manufacture of an appropriate vaccine.

The possibility of a worldwide pandemic has prompted the World Health Organisation to publish new international health regulations, suggesting methods to deal with outbreaks.

Director of intensive care at Johannesburg Hospital Professor Guy Richards urges South African preparedness in the face of this global threat.

He says that the only way to inhibit the spread of the virus is by means of vaccination, a method that is not currently available to us, as one would have to be manufactured for a strain capable of human-to-human transmission.

Even the availability of an effective vaccine would not protect South Africa from H5N1,since international vaccine manufacturers, who are based in the US and Europe, would be likely to provide antivirals and vaccines to their own populations before providing countries like South Africa, which are “low on the feeding chain”, says Richards.

While South Africa does not manufacture vaccines, a feasibility study is currently under way to determine the viability of such an endeavour.

Richards says, however, that, as the study is yet to be completed, the necessary construction of a facility capable of development and manufacture of a vaccine would take too long to be of use if the virus were to cause a pandemic in the near future. The more people who are vaccinated, the greater the likelihood of preventing the virus from spreading, though little could be done for those already infected. The antiviral drug - Oseltamivir - which is still somewhat effective against the virus, is being stockpiled by world powers like the UK, the US and Japan. Manufacturers have advised stockpiling, saying that, in the midst of a pandemic, companies would be unable to supply sufficient drugs.

Richards says that South Africa has yet to register the drug with the Medicines Control Council, meaning that it cannot be imported legally into the country.

In South Africa, between 10-million and 12-million people are affected by common flu viruses every year. Richards estimates that at least this number would be infected with H5N1, although it is likely that it would affect more people, taking into account human susceptibility.

Considering the high mortality rate associated with H5N1, he suggests that the worst-case scenario for South Africa would involve the loss of between 6-million and 8-million people.

A pandemic of this magnitude has not been experienced before and we are, therefore, unprepared for the effects it may have, says Richards.

He adds: “Existing plans presuppose the existence of a healthy ground force who will be able to participate in the control process.” Richards' concern is that this significant loss of life would include the country's ground forces, such as the armed forces, the police service and, in particular, health-care workers. He suggests that, should the virus mutate and become transmissible between humans, South Africa may have to close its borders in order to protect its population against infection.

“Our hope is that the virus delays its ability to spread from human to human long enough for the world to make enough vaccine,” says Richards.

“We must remember, however, that, if it starts before the vaccine is produced in adequate amounts, South Africa will be one of the last countries to receive the vaccine.”

Richards warns that the virus is likely to affect all countries, particularly those like South Africa, which has a large international-communication system.

He cautions against panic, but stresses that we must take the situation seriously and make plans for such an eventuality in advance.

We should plan a coordinated national response in the event of a pandemic as well as source vaccine and currently-available therapies such as Oseltamivir, he adds.

South African National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) director Professor Barry Schoub suggests that the conditions facilitating the transmission of the virus from birds to humans may include population dynamics as well as ecological issues.

Human-population increase has led to closer contact between humans and animals, greater quantities of domestic and commercial poultry farming, as well as more contact with wildlife. Due to agricultural expansion, farmers are coming into greater contact with aquatic birds, which are a reservoir for the development of flu viruses.

As a result, domestic birds and humans are coming into closer contact with less-known varieties of flu. It is in instances such as these that other animals, such as pigs and horses, can become a mixing vessel for the virus to become transmissible between humans.

The virus would become an international threat once it mutates to enable human-to-human transmission, which would encourage a rapid spread.

Although a vaccine is available for poultry, no human vaccine for H5N1 has yet been developed. Schoub says that developing a vaccine would not be difficult, but the problem lies in the time it would take to manufacture and distribute such a vaccine.

He adds that Oseltamivir is still relatively effective as a treatment drug, even though H5N1 has built up a small degree of resistance to it. The resistance, however, is not a significant cause for concern as yet.

H5N1 has displayed an alarmingly high mortality rate, though it has since dropped to less than 30%.

Schoub explains that the reason behind these figures is that only the most serious cases, those who have required intensive-care treatment and many of whom subsequently died, were identified.

Many other infected cases were probably not recorded.

However, the lower mortality and morbidity rate are not a reason for apathy, especially if one is to consider the influenza pandemic of 1918, which had a mortality rate of 2,5%.

Schoub emphasises the importance of preparedness in the face of a virus that could pose serious health risks. While vaccines are the best form of preparedness, they are not 100% effective and could not entirely eliminate the virus. Nevertheless, they would certainly confine its spread.

Netcare Travel Clinics medical director Dr Andrew Jamieson says that South Africa's ongoing health concerns, such as HIV/Aids and malnutrition, make the formulation of a plan to deal with H5N1 more problematic.

These significant health issues detract from the attention that should be given to the pandemic threat and, in the event of a pandemic occurring, will exacerbate the problem.

Jamieson explains that previous pandemics, such as the 1918 Spanish influenza, resulted in significant fatalities even among young adults, suggesting that, regardless of youth, strength and the immunity associated with these factors, the virus is likely to affect everyone.

It is thought that the virus will probably occur in two waves - an initial infection that spreads around the world, with a second wave during the following winter months.

Jamieson says that there is little we can do to prevent the pandemic in South Africa.

While we may be able to stockpile the antiviral agent Oseltamivir, this would be a stopgap that might be able to reach between 2% and 5% of the population. It may be used in an attempt to protect healthcare workers.

Jamieson adds that the vaccine currently being stockpiled by the UK may give some protection, but will not necessarily protect against the virus in its pandemic form.

In order to cause a pandemic, the virus will have to alter its genetic make-up slightly, and the current vaccine is only functional against the known strain of the virus.

Jamieson estimates that, in the worst-case scenario, the virus could kill between 100-million and 250-million people worldwide while, in the best-possible instance, it would cause approximately 7-million deaths.

“We are looking at a major threat to world order and stability,” says Jamieson.

H5N1 would affect most companies and, combined with South Africa's high HIV incidence in the military forces, the police service and among teachers, the results could be apocalyptic. Water and electricity services would also be under serious threat.

As part of the Netcare group, the travel clinic is involved in intelligence on infectious diseases.

Jamieson says the organisation examines how infectious diseases affect companies and is particularly involved in megaprojects and infrastructural-development projects.

Any labour-intensive industry, such as construction or mining, would be affected by an outbreak and, hence, awareness for the sake of risk management is essential.

H5N1 is considered to present a substantial risk in terms of company risk management.

“The risk of outbreak should be on the radar screen of risk-management practitioners throughout the country,” says Jamieson.

He explains that, as a healthcare organisation, risk management within the company includes maintenance of essential services within the organisation, education services for staff and hygiene education.

“There are a number of non-medical practices that could help to prevent the spreading of the virus,” says Jamieson.

The organisation is also examining the value of stockpiling antiviral agents for its own purposes as well as the most rapid possible means to obtain vaccines.

It is also examining how a pandemic will affect systems within the company, such as provident funds and medical aid.

Jamieson emphasises the importance of infrastructural issues, such as the generator capacity for hospitals where influenza cases would be nursed, what would happen if hospitals were swamped and how nursing staff would be managed in the event of a pandemic.

He says the South African government has an initial action plan, although, with the current health problems, the validity of stock-piling expensive drugs in preparation for a pandemic pales in the face of immediate health needs. Netcare is also engaged in an initiative with government and a local vaccine company to begin vaccine manufacture. Jamieson points out that, unless we have our own manufacturing facility, we will not be able to obtain vaccines timeously.

He adds that manufacturing vaccines is expensive, but that a flu-vaccine market does exist in South Africa. Ideally, we should manufacture vaccines annually, as there is a need to produce vaccines for the three flu strains that infect people during the interpandemic flu phase. Vaccine manufacture is risky and can involve batch failures.

As a result, it will require government backing or subsidy.

Nevertheless, this virus is worth the money, even as a simple national defence strategy, says Jamieson.

South Africa will look at maintaining essential services as part of its national disaster plan.

Jamieson advises that South Africa should be looking at implementing an organised plan that is as comprehensive and affordable as possible at government level.

He adds that there is reason to believe that we are moving towards this through the Department of Health and the NICD.

Within the private sector, companies should be aware of H5N1, and risk managers involved in large projects should take measures to mitigate that risk as much as possible.

Jamieson emphasises the importance of routine interpandemic flu vaccination. Although this would have no effect against a pandemic, it would assist the country to develop an infrastructure that enables more-efficient distribution of influenza vaccines, thereby building capacityto immunise the population once a suitable vaccine has been developed.

By limiting the number of people infected with common flu viruses, combinations of the avian H5N1 virus with common human viruses can be prevented, avoiding the creation of a superbug that is readily transmissible between humans. This is of greater importance in Asia, however, where direct infection from birds is more likely to happen. Vaccine producers claim that within 9 to 12 months of having the correct vaccine, about 5-billion doses could be produced, barring batch failures. It would then become an issue of distribution, says Jamieson, and it is likely that the developing world would suffer the most due to logistical costs.

He says the future of the virus is unstable and may fulfil a number of predictions. H5N1 could develop greater virulence in birds and eventually burn itself out among the bird population. Alternatively, it could develop into a mild flu, although this is unlikely, as influenza A is generally not a mild virus. It could combine with one of the common flu viruses, becoming less virulent and more transmissible, or it could continue as it is for years to come.

Considering viruses' growing ability to survive for longer periods outside the body, and the suggestions of transmission between humans, Jamieson doubts this, saying that all the pointers indicate the virus gathering momentum and developing into a pandemic.


http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/eng/news/breaking/?show=74182
 

Martin

Deceased
Struggle to buy vaccine for bird flu

Govt aims to stockpile more, but it's scarce

UMESH PANDEY

Thailand wants to increase its stockpile of vaccines against the deadly bird flu virus, but supplies are hard to get, Public Health Minister Suchai Charoenratanakul said yesterday. ``We have enough Tamiflu shots for 75,000 people, which we think in normal circumstances would be enough. But if there's a pandemic, then yes, we would be short,'' Dr Suchai said.

``We want to order more but producers are finding it tough to meet global demand for the vaccines.''

Some countries have big stockpiles, others hardly any although heavy investments by the United States in vaccine research and development might help.

A course of Tamiflu would involve three shots a day for each person, for three days. Dr Suchai said Thailand also has a 100,000-dose stockpile of anti-influenza vaccine _ again, enough to handle an outbreak, but not a pandemic.

Thailand and some Southeast Asian countries have been at the centre of the outbreak of the virus, which took the world by surprise.

Countries such as the United Kingdom and the US have a stockpile capable of treating at least 17% of their population. But some countries in this region have not stockpiled even a single dose.

US President George W. Bush last week announced an ``International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza'' which would see 15 countries _ Argentina, Britain, Cambodia, Canada, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Russia, Singapore, Vietnam, the United States and Thailand _ join the fight through the establishment of a quick response team to tackle any viral outbreak.

Dr Suchai said the ministry planned to set aside 5% of the stockpile in the vaccination bank to help other countries in the region fight any new outbreak.

There should also be a vaccination bank at regional level to prevent the disease spreading across borders.

``Just look beyond our borders in the region, I don't want to name any countries, but some neighbouring countries are ill-prepared.

``They have no idea how badly they could be affected if there was a pandemic,'' Dr Suchai said.

Bird flu was first found in humans during its spread in Hong Kong in 1997, before Southeast Asia was badly hit, resulting in the death of more than 50 people.

In Thailand, 12 deaths have been reported from bird flu, which has killed more than 60 people in the region.

Most recently, Indonesia reported a human death last week from the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the deadliest, while another patient was also diagnosed with the virus.

``The United States is greatly concerned with its spread and therefore investing heavily in research and development of a more effective vaccine which would be good for all of us,'' Dr Suchai said.

The virus, which spread across Asia during most of last year, has also made its way to Russia and eastern Europe.

The issue is expected to be tabled for talks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November in Busan, South Korea.



http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Sep2005_news14.php
 

O2BNOK

Veteran Member
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN - EAST ASIA (126): INDONESIA
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[1]
Date: Sun 18 Sep 2005
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Xinhua News Agency online, Sat 17 Sep 2005 [edited]
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-09/17/content_3504391.htm>


Indonesia: 6-year Old Girl is Suspected Avian Influenza Case
-----------------------------------------------
The Indonesian authorities on Sat 17 Sep 2005 urged people to remain
calm after it confirmed a 4th death from avian influenza virus
earlier this week [3rd week September 2005] and decided to take tough
action to contain the spread of disease. "We appeal to the public to
help us by remaining calm. We will work very hard to minimize this
disease so that it will not spread further," the website of the
Jakarta Post quoted Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari as saying.

Meanwhile, I Nyoman Kandun, the Ministry's Director General of
Disease Control, said on Saturday [17 Sep 2005] that a 6-year-old
girl was also being treated in Jakarta as a "suspected case" of avian
influenza.

Commenting on mounting international concern that [avian influenza
virus] could mutate into a major killer, Nyoman said Indonesia would
carry out "comprehensive efforts" to stop further outbreaks. Birds
will be vaccinated, people visiting infected areas will be monitored,
hospitals will be told how to cope with bird flu patients and an
information campaign on the virus will be launched, he said.

Indonesia launched a massive vaccination drive against the disease
after a man and his 2 daughters died of bird flu in suburban Jakarta
in July 2005 but has been criticized for carrying out only limited
culls. The World Health Organization requires that poultry within a
radius of 3 km (1.9 miles) from any bird flu outbreak be killed.

Health experts have warned that the [H5N1 avian influenza virus]
could spark a global pandemic if it developed the ability to spread
quickly among humans.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

******
[2]
Date: Sun 18 Sep 2005
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Taipei Times online, Associated Press report, Sat 17 Sep 2005 [edited]
<http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/09/17/2003272035>


Indonesia: Neighbor of Fatal Case of Avian Influenza is a Suspected Case
-----------------------------------------------
Indonesia yesterday [16 Sep 2005] confirmed its 4th human death from
the bird flu virus, taking the death toll in Asia to 63, and said it
was investigating whether a neighbor of the victim [had also
contracted] the disease.

Tests from a Hong Kong laboratory showed that a 37-year-old woman who
died last week [2nd week September 2005] had contracted the H5N1
avian influenza virus, said I Nyoman Kandun, the Health Ministry's
Director General for illness control and environmental health. The
Health Ministry also said that a neighbor of the woman had been
hospitalized with symptoms consistent with avian influenza. But the
authorities said they were still awaiting lab results before
confirming she [had contracted H5N1 avian influenza virus infection].

Kandun warned that Indonesia would continue to report cases, because
the virus was rife in poultry farms across the country. "It will be
like in Viet Nam and Thailand," he told reporters.

The virus has swept through poultry populations in large swaths of
Asia since 2003, resulting in the deaths of tens of millions of birds
and 63 people, most of them in Viet Nam and Thailand. Indonesia
recorded its 1st human fatalities from avian influenza in July 2005,
when a father and his 2 daughters died after contracting the virus.
Officials have linked those deaths to droppings from an infected
bird. Kandun said the source of the latest infection was not yet
known.

He said surveillance of poultry needed to be stepped up, but urged
the country's 210 million people not to panic. "Be alert, but do not
be alarmed," he said. Officials have carried out limited vaccinations
of some of the estimated 2 billion birds in the country, but say they
lack funds to carry out culls of flocks in areas where the virus is
prevalent. The virus has been recorded in 22 of Indonesia's 32
provinces since 2003.

Most of the human deaths from bird flu have been linked to contact
with sick birds. But the World Health Organization has warned that
the virus could mutate into a form which is more easily transmitted
from human to human, possibly triggering a pandemic that could kill
millions worldwide. Indonesia confirmed its 4th human death from bird
flu on Friday [16 Sep 2005] and said another person was suspected of
having the virus, as global alarm grew that the disease would mutate
and become a pandemic. Speaking in New York on Thursday [15 Sep
2005], World Health Organization chief Lee Jong-wook said the virus
was moving toward becoming transmissible by humans and that the
international community had no time to waste to prevent a pandemic.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[ProMED-mail acknowledges receipt of a similar piece of information
from David Price. The above reports mention 2 additional suspected
cases of avian influenza; a 6-year-old girl and a neighbor of the 4th
confirmed case. It is not clear from the texts of the reports whether
these statements refer to the same or to different individuals.

It should be noted that, with regard to the cluster of 3 deaths in
the same family referred to in the above reports, WHO has stated that
H5N1 infection was confirmed in the 38-year-old father but that
laboratory test results for his 2 daughters did not meet criteria for
acute H5N1 infections (see part 2 of "Avian influenza, human - East
Asia (125): Indonesia, conf. 20050916.2736"). WHO reports only
laboratory-confirmed cases. Therefore, the number of confirmed human
cases of avian influenza in Indonesia is 2, not 4 as repeatedly
stated by the Indonesian authorities. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (125): Indonesia, conf. 20050916.2736
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (124): Indonesia, susp. 20050912.2703
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (123): Indonesia, susp 20050911.2694
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (117): Indonesia, source? 20050812.2361
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (115): Indonesia 20050810.2332
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (107): Indonesia 20050729.2204
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (106): Indonesia 20050726.2162
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (105): CDC update 20050724.2144
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (104): Indonesia 20050721.2104
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (103): Indonesia 20050720.2094
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (100): Indonesia 20050715.2017
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (98): Indonesia 20050713.1992
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (87): Indonesia... 20050615.1680
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (78): Indonesia... 20050518.1366
Avian influenza, human - Eastern Asia (74): Indone... 20050515.1331]
.......................cp/msp/lm

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O2BNOK

Veteran Member
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN: LPAI SUSCEPTIBILITY
***********************************************
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<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Sponsored in part by Elsevier, publisher of
Trends in Parasitology
<http://www.trends.com>

[1]
Date: Sat 17 Sep 2005
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: CIDRAP News, Tue 13 Sep 2005 [edited]
<http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/avianflu/news/sep1305lpai.html>


Low-pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) Viruses Can Infect Humans
-----------------------------------------------
European researchers have reported what they call the 1st evidence
that low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses, and not just
highly pathogenic (HPAI) strains like H5N1, can infect humans. The
finding, in a study of Italian poultry workers, suggests that avian
influenza viruses have more chances than previously suspected to mix
with human influenza viruses, potentially creating hybrids that could
trigger a human influenza pandemic, according to the report published
online by the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

The researchers, led by Isabella Donatelli of the Instituto Superiore
di Sanita in Rome, took serum samples from 983 workers at several
farms in northern Italy from August 1999 until July 2003. Several
avian influenza outbreaks occurred there during that period,
including both LPAI and HPAI strains of H7N1 and an LPAI H7N3 strain.
(LPAI viruses cause mild illness and few deaths in poultry, while
HPAI viruses cause severe illness with high death rates.)

The serum samples were tested for antibodies to the avian viruses. To
ensure accuracy, the researchers tested each sample with
hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and microneutralization (MN) assays.
If either of these came back positive, a Western blot analysis was
done.

None of the 798 serum samples collected during or after the 1st 4
outbreaks tested positive for antibodies to H7N1 or H7N3 viruses.
However, 7 of 185 samples (3.8 percent) taken during an H7N3 outbreak
in 2002 and 2003 tested positive for both viruses in the HI assay,
and 4 of those 7 tested positive for both viruses in the HI assay.
Both tests showed higher titers of antibodies to the H7N3 (LPAI)
strain. In the Western blot testing, all 7 samples showed clear
reactivity, unlike control samples (which had tested negative in the
HI and MN assays).

All the workers who tested positive had been in close contact with
turkeys or chickens in dusty poultry houses, the authors report. None
of the workers reported any flu-like illness at the time of the avian
influenza outbreaks, and only one reported symptoms of
conjunctivitis, an ailment seen in some Dutch poultry workers during
an HPAI outbreak in 2003.

"To our knowledge, this is the 1st serological evidence of
transmission of LAPI viruses to humans during an epizootic in
domestic poultry," the report says. It adds that reports of human
infections associated with other avian flu outbreaks in the
Netherlands, Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Canada have
all involved HPAI strains.

The researchers call for "permanent" surveillance for avian influenza
viruses in both animals and humans to shed more light on how the
viruses jump the species barrier.

"Our findings highlight the risk of the emergence of a potentially
pandemic strain, as a result of reassortment of avian and
contemporaneously circulating human strains during outbreaks of avian
influenza caused by LPAI viruses," they write.

The authors also say, according to a Journal of Infectious Diseases
news release, that poultry workers should be regularly vaccinated
against ordinary flu to reduce the risk of gene-swapping between
avian and human flu strains.

Reference
---------
Puzelli S, Di Trani L, Faviani C, et al. Serological analysis of
serum samples from humans exposed to avian H7 influenza viruses in
Italy between 1999 and 2003. J Infect Dis 2005; Oct 15 (early online
publication).
<http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/JID/journal/issues/v192n8/34097/34097.web.pdf>

The Abstract of the paper reads as follows: "We evaluated the
potential for avian-to-human transmission of low pathogenic avian
influenza (LPAI) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H7N1
and LPAI H7N3 viruses that were responsible for several outbreaks of
influenza in poultry in Italy between 1999 and 2003. A serological
survey of poultry workers was conducted by use of a combination of
methods. Evidence of anti-H7 antibodies was observed in 3.8 percent
of serum samples collected from poultry workers during the period in
2003 when LPAI H7N3 virus was circulating. These findings highlight
the need for surveillance in people occupationally exposed to avian
influenza viruses so that they can be monitored for the risk of
avian-to-human transmission during outbreaks of avian influenza
caused by both LPAI and HPAI viruses.
<http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/JID/journal/issues/v192n8/34097/brief/34097.abstract.html>

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

******
[2]
Date: Sun 18 Sep 2005
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Journal of Infectious Disease online, Editorial commentary,
15 Oct 2005 [edited]
<http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/JID/journal/issues/v192n8/35079/35079.web.pdf>


Extracts from An Editorial Commentary on the Puzelli et al. paper by
Frederick Hayden and Alice Croisier
-----------------------------------------------
[Readers should refer to the original text for the complete
commentary and for the specific references (32 in all) cited in the
text. - Mod.CP]

Reports of seropositivity for different avian influenza A viruses in
exposed poultry workers, including the new findings reported by
Puzelli et al. [see preceding CIDRAP report] and the recent instances
of cross-species transmission that caused human disease, raise
fundamental questions regarding the routes of transmission of avian
viruses to and between humans, possible differences in transmission
patterns between human and avian influenza viruses, and implications
for prevention in those occupationally exposed to infected animals
and also in health care, household, and community settings.

Documentation of seropositivity for avian influenza viruses in farm
workers is not a new finding, and previous studies have assessed
human susceptibility by intranasal inoculation of selected avian
influenza viruses. However, the outbreak in Europe of H7N7 virus
infection that led to many cases of conjunctivitis and one death
resulting from viral pneumonia, as well as the unprecedented
epizootic caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus in
Southeast Asia, emphasize the importance of these issues.

One strength of the study by Puzelli et al. is the multiplicity of
the serological tests used, which included a microneutralization
assay with infectious virus, a hemagglutination inhibition (HI)
assay, and a confirmatory Western blot analysis with purified H7
hemagglutinin to exclude the possibility of nonspecific
cross-reactions with antibodies to human influenza viruses.
Differential absorption with human influenza virus has also been
utilized to confirm the presence of avian influenza virus-specific
antibodies.

Such methods are essential to document seropositivity for an avian
influenza virus, particularly when concerns about extensive
transmission to humans are raised, as was reported elsewhere for H7N7
virus infection in The Netherlands. The possibility that the latter
virus caused widespread subclinical infections in poultry workers and
household contacts and hence manifested efficient human-to-human
transmission was raised by a study that used a modified HI assay to
measure antibody.

Similarly, the recent report of asymptomatic infection by H5N1 virus
in northern Viet Nam, as determined by the detection of H5N1 RNA in
household contacts, requires substantiation by confirmatory
serological testing, although culture-confirmed H7N3 illnesses have
occurred without an apparent detectable serologic response. Even in
those individuals with proven seropositivity for an avian influenza
virus, it is uncertain whether they have been only exposed to antigen
or are productively infected.

The findings that seropositivity occurs in small numbers of poultry
workers exposed during outbreaks of illness in poultry caused by some
avian strains (H7N7, H7N3, and H5N1) but not others (H7N1 and H5N2)
argue for actual infection and support the notion that some avian
influenza viruses are more likely than others to infect humans.
Definitive evidence for active infection would include detection of
virus or viral RNA at the time of exposure or illness.

Transmission of human influenza virus occurs by inhalation of
infectious droplets or airborne droplet nuclei and, perhaps, by
indirect (fomite) contact followed by self-inoculation of the upper
respiratory tract or conjunctival mucosa. The relative importance of
these routes is debated, and there is evidence to support each of
them, including transmission within health care facilities, in human
influenza. It is likely that each route contributes to transmission
under appropriate circumstances and that the manifestations of
illness, respiratory tract viral loads, and, perhaps, the type of
infecting influenza virus influence the likelihood of transmission by
a particular route.

Transmission of avian influenza virus likely encompasses these routes
as well as others. Human conjunctiva and ciliated nasal epithelial
cells contain cellular receptors that are recognized preferentially
by the hemagglutinin of avian (alpha-2,3 linkages between the
terminal sialic acid residues and galactose), rather than human
(alpha-2,6 linkages), influenza viruses. The distribution of
avian-type receptors in the lower airways and other tissues of humans
requires study. However, it is particularly concerning that perhaps
only 2 amino acid changes in the viral receptor binding site may be
required to change the tropism of the H5 hemagglutinin from avian- to
human-type receptors.

Clinically apparent infections due to avian influenza viruses of the
H7 subtype typically cause conjunctivitis and demonstrate higher
viral loads in the eye than in the pharynx. In H5N1-infected
patients, conjunctivitis has not been a feature, and rhinorrhea has
been inconsistently reported. In contrast, the frequent occurrence of
diarrhea and the detection of viral RNA in most fecal samples tested
suggest that H5N1 virus may replicate in the human gastrointestinal
tract and raise the question of whether human feces could be a source
of transmission.

Most cases of human infection due to avian influenza viruses have
involved close contact with infected poultry, particularly ill or
dying chickens. During the outbreak in Hong Kong in 1997, one
case-control study found that exposure to live poultry within a week
before the onset of illness was associated with human disease, but no
significant risk was related to traveling, eating or preparing
poultry products, or being exposed to persons with disease caused by
H5N1 virus.

Another study in Hong Kong found that exposure to ill poultry and
butchering of birds were associated with seropositivity for H5 avian
influenza viruses. 4 workers who culled infected birds in Japan and 2
animal attendants who cared for infected tigers in Thailand [20] were
found to have antibodies to H5N1 virus during the outbreaks in 2004;
seroconversion indicating recent infection was found in only one of
the Japanese workers.

During the 1st wave of human infections in 2003-2004, a history of
direct contact with poultry was found in 8 of 10 H5N1-infected
patients in Viet Nam and with dead chickens in 8 of 12 H5N1-infected
patients in Thailand, whereas no clinical cases of illness were noted
in those involved in mass culling of poultry. It has been estimated
that 12 - 61 percent of rural Thai residents have regular contact
with birds. However, approximately 30 percent of H5N1-infected
patients in Viet Nam have not reported exposure to sick poultry,
which leaves the issue open to speculation about more frequent
human-to-human transmission than has been found. Infection after
consumption of fresh duck blood and undercooked poultry products has
been suspected in some cases of illness. Indeed, transmission to
felids was observed after experimental feeding of infected chickens
to domestic cats, and feeding tigers raw infected chicken led to
outbreaks of illness in Thai zoos, in which felid-to-felid
transmissions were also implicated.

Infected birds shed high concentrations of virus in feces. Direct
intranasal or conjunctival inoculation while swimming in contaminated
water or, perhaps, inhalation or ingestion of water could have been
potential modes of transmission to some H5N1-infected patients. As
for human influenza, hand contamination from fomites and
self-inoculation into the eye or upper respiratory tract remain
possible modes. Greater adaptation of avian influenza viruses to
human hosts could alter the routes of transmission and increase the
likelihood of human-to-human spread.

In addition to sporadic bird-to-human and suspected
environment-to-human transmission, human-to-human transmission of
H5N1 avian virus has been implicated by epidemiological findings in
several household clusters in which similar illnesses were reported
in relatives and in one well-documented situation in which there was
child-to-mother and likely child-to-aunt transmission in Thailand.
These probable human-to-human transmissions involved close contact
during the critical phase of illness and were inefficient without
additional chains of transmission.

Several household contacts also developed symptomatic H7N7 avian
virus infections after exposure to ill family members in The
Netherlands in 2003. However, in contrast to the studies of human
influenza viruses, molecular epidemiological studies to rigorously
establish human-to-human transmission of H5 avian viruses have not
been completed. Recent serosurveys in southern Viet Nam and Thailand
have not found evidence for inapparent infections in family contacts.
Although viral RNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in swab
samples from asymptomatic family contacts of ill patients in Viet Nam
in 2005, these infections remain to be confirmed by serological
testing.

Nosocomial transmission of H5N1 virus to health care workers (HCWs)
was found by serological assessment in Hong Kong in 1997 and is
suspected in a nurse exposed to an infected patient in Viet Nam in
2005. To date, the risk of infection in health care settings appears
low, even when appropriate isolation measures have not been used.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[The evidence for susceptibility of humans to LPAI viruses is
difficult to assess. There is abundant and convincing evidence of
exposure and immunological reaction to LPAI virus antigens but not of
recovery of infectious virus. Parts of the commentary compiled by
Drs. Hayden and Croisier have been reproduced here because they
identify factors that might promote the transition of an avian
influenza virus into a potential human pandemic pathogen. The
greatest risk remains genetic interaction between avian and
conventional human influenza viruses such that a new combination of
surface antigens appears in progeny virus to which humans have had no
prior exposure nor residual immunity. Fortunately, there is no
evidence that this has happened in recent times even where, as in
East Asia, there has been massive amplification of avian influenza
viruses. Historically, genetic interaction between avian and human
influenza A viruses has been an exceedingly rare event. Nonetheless,
there is an immediate requirement for development by reverse genetics
of both H5- and H7-containing vaccines as a precautionary measure. -
Mod.CP]

[see also:
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (34): CDC Updates 20050220.0558
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (36): surveillance 20050226.0608
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (51): death rate 20050317.0773
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (09): CDC update 20050116.0144
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (105): CDC update 20050724.2144
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (117): WHO Update 20050818.2423
Avian influenza, human - Netherlands: seroprevalence 20050106.0034
2004
----
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (35): Update 20040717.1939
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (54): risk asse... 20041228.3425
2003
----
Avian Influenza, human - Netherlands (09): fatal case 20030419.0959
Avian Influenza, human - Netherlands (10): fatal case 20030420.0967]
...............................cp/msp/lm

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O2BNOK

Veteran Member
AVIAN INFLUENZA - ASIA (27): INDONESIA, ZOO BIRDS
***********************************************
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Sponsored in part by Elsevier, publisher of
Trends in Parasitology
<http://www.trends.com>

Date: Sun 18 Sep 2005
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: AFX News Limited [Edited]
<http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/09/18/afx2230039.html>

Jakarta closes zoo
-----------------
Authorities closed the Jakarta zoo after 19 birds there were found to
be carrying the deadly [avian influenza] virus, officials said.

Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono said that Jakarta's Ragunan zoo
will be closed to the public through October 17, during which a
complete sterilization of the area and treatment of infected animals
will be completed.

Apriantono told the ElShinta private radio that 19 out of 27 samples
taken from various birds at the zoo, including pigmy chickens and
eagles, contained the bird flu virus.

Four other samples were inconclusive and the remaining four were
negative, he said.

'Usually two weeks are enough but we decided to raise it to three
weeks to make sure unwanted things would not happen,' Apriyantono
said of the closure, adding that some 2,100 birds in the zoo's
collection will be tested for the virus.

Any bird found carrying the virus would be killed if it was not from
a protected species, the minister said.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Captive animals have reportedly been affected by the H5N1 virus in 2
Thai zoos in 2004; one case involved tigers, allegedly infected by
means of being fed raw poultry meat. More information on the species
involved and the source of infection in the Jakarta zoo will help. -
Mod.AS]

[see also:
2004
----
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (23) 20040211.0461 Dusit zoo crows
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (24) 20040213.0480 Khao Khiew Zoo tigers]
.....................arn/msp/lm


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using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
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or archived material.
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Martin

Deceased
Poor Asian farmers are weak link in bird flu fight
19 Sep 2005 05:48:28 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Michael Perry

NOUMEA, New Caledonia, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Reluctance by poor Asian poultry farmers to report bird flu outbreaks is a weak link in the fight to prevent the deadly disease spreading and causing a human pandemic, the World Health Organisation said on Monday.

"We need to realise that there is very little incentive for farmers to report suspected outbreaks," said Dr Shigeru Omi, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, which covers 37 Asian and Pacific nations.

"In fact, fear that their flocks might be culled without compensation is a pretty strong disincentive to report an outbreak," said Omi at the opening of the WHO Western Pacific annual conference in Noumea, capital of New Caledonia in the South Pacific.

Millions of poultry have been culled in Asia, destroying the livelihood of many poor farmers, since bird flu was first reported in 2003 in southern China and Hong Kong.

WHO advocates mass culling when an outbreak occurs, but some countries do not go along. Indonesia, for instance, has launched a vaccination drive for poultry, but has carried out only limited culling because it lacks the money to compensate farmers.

WHO has warned that it is only a matter of time before the avian flu virus mutates and spreads between humans, becoming a pandemic which could kill tens of millions.

The H5N1 strain of the disease has already killed 64 people in four Asian countries and has spread to Russia and Europe.

The WHO conference of health ministers and officials from the 37 nations hopes to adopt an Asia-Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases, to fight not only avian flu but other existing and yet to emerge diseases. The plan aims to strengthen reporting of outbreaks, ensure rapid responses and increase international co-operation.

"We must keep in mind that we are likely to encounter in the coming years many other new emerging diseases," said Omi.

FARMERS AT RISK

Omi said Asian governments were trying their best to combat avian flu, but there was insufficient capacity for proper surveillance in rural villages, and a lack of education was leaving farmers and market operators at risk.

Recalling his personal experiences in Cambodia after the country reported its first human case of avian flu in 2004, Omi said he followed a motorbike with live chickens tied across its back wheel to a small rural market, where he watched a woman pull intestines from the animals with her bare hands.

"If the birds she was handling had been infected with avian influenza virus, I'm sure she would have picked up the infection," he said.

"She was a pleasant, hard-working woman. I asked if she knew anything about the recent outbreaks of avian influenza in neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam. She said, 'no'," Omi said.

"My brief encounter in Cambodia illustrates the hard realities not only in Cambodia but throughout Asia and beyond. Recent outbreaks in Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia have made it clear that avian influenza is not limited to Asia."

Most of the people killed in Asia since 2003 caught the virus from infected birds. Health experts say the greatest worry is that the highly pathogenic strain of the disease known as H5N1 could mutate and become transmissible between people.

WHO has warned that countries far from heavily hit Southeast Asian states were not safe because the disease was spreading through migratory wildfowl, with the biggest fear that it would spread west into Europe.

"We must not underestimate the threat the world now faces from emerging diseases such as pandemic influenza," WHO's global director general, Dr Lee Jong-wook, told the conference.

"The only condition missing is the emergence of a virus that is capable of rapid transmission among humans," he said.

Lee said an avian flu pandemic would have massive social, economic and political consequences, recalling that the flu pandemics of the 1950s and 1960s killed five million people, and they were only mild pandemics, while the SARS outbreak killed fewer than 1,000 people.

U.S. President George W. Bush unveiled a plan at the United Nations last Wednesday under which countries and international agencies would pool resources and expertise to fight bird flu.


http://www.alertnet.org/printable.htm?URL=/thenews/newsdesk/SYD28137.htm
 

Martin

Deceased
Lock up your chickens before plague comes home to roost
By Roger Kalla
Posted Tuesday, 20 September 2005


While many people concerned with the ethical treatment of farm animals prefer to purchase eggs laid by free-range hens, the keeping of poultry indoors could protect us from consuming harmful substances, e.g., dioxins, passed on to us in the eggs and meat from hens and chickens allowed to forage freely on contaminated soil. But it could also protect the hens and us from contracting fatal diseases spread by migratory wild birds arriving on our shores from Asia.

The avian influenza or "bird flu" epidemic has been recognised by leading health professionals and politicians as a grave global threat to public health and the world economy that requires bold global solutions. Prime Minister Howard, while attending the recently concluded UN 2005 Summit, where these matters were discussed, announced that Australia is joining the new International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza (IPAPI) and that we are stepping up our influenza and pandemic planning and response measures.

There is good reason to be concerned. A particularly infectious strain of the bird flu, Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus, infecting many wild birds, has been found to be very contagious in domesticated birds, including chickens and ducks, and to kill them. This is a real threat to poultry industries worldwide. However, this strain is also infectious to humans that come in direct contact with diseased poultry. The most worrying discovery is that of the 120 people infected with the H5N1 virus strain, 50 per cent died. In comparison, the SARS-associated coronavirus that caused the 2003 global outbreak with 8000 people being hospitalised with severe infections of their respiratory tract killed less than 10 per cent of the people who contracted the disease.

The worst case scenario for the avian flu virus is that it mutates again and becomes airborne, leading to a global pandemic like the 1918 flu epidemic that killed 20 million people and affected 20 per cent of the world’s population to some extent. This extinct killer strain of influenza was described last year after some high technology molecular detective work: intact DNA of the extinct influenza virus, preserved by the permafrost of her burial ground, was isolated from lung tissue of an Inuit woman in Canada . The genes of the influenza strain isolated from her lungs were found to be of an avian origin but a critical gene of this strain had mutated to make the virus strain deadly to humans (Science. 2004 Mar 19;303(5665):1838-42).

The chance for the H5N1 strain mutating and becoming airborne increases every time it passes through another domestic bird or a human.

The recently reported flu epidemic among wild birds and poultry in Russia has been attributed to migratory wild geese sharing feed and water supplies with free-range poultry (news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4182746.stm). This is a concern since it means that the virus has effectively taken to the air and is winging it across the globe, carried not by the jumbo jet that spread the SARS virus from South East Asia to Canada, but by infected migratory birds that don’t pass through any quarantine and customs control.

In response to this threat to the poultry industry and public health, farmers in Holland have recently been ordered by their government to keep all poultry indoors, thus in effect banning the production of free-range eggs (news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4172182.stm). Germany and other EU countries are considering similar measures.

Migratory birds are heading our way downunder after spending a hectic few months breeding and feeding their offspring in Siberia and South East Asia.

Australian state governments, in conjunction with the poultry industry, have stepped up their surveillance for the disease. In June, at a recent International Biotechnology Conference in Philadelphia researchers from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries described the development of a DNA test for bird influenza that cuts down the time for a result from three weeks to one day. Time is of the essence in preventing a large outbreak of a very contagious bird disease that could devastate our poultry industry.

However, to my knowledge no Australian government has considered following the proactive example set by European countries of banning chickens and hens from roaming around in the open. If there was an outbreak of avian flu among our free-range poultry due to infection spread by wild migratory birds, it is likely that they would have to be put down in their millions to prevent the further spread of the virus, as happened in Asian countries during recent outbreaks.

The more sinister side to the "bird flu", of course, being the increased risk for the avian virus to mutate and become airborne, potentially creating a pandemic more deadly than the 1918 killer flu.

It is time for Australians and Australian governments to carefully consider the potential unintended impact that "ethical" farming practices could have on the poultry industry, but more importantly on public health in light of the scientific evidence which underscores the grave threat posed by this spreading bird flu epidemic.



http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/print.asp?article=194
 

Martin

Deceased
Wild Bird Flu Imported into Kuwait?

Recombinomics Commentary
September 19, 2005

The cargo of birds was cleared through customs "using the assistance of influential people", customs officials and Interior Ministry employees, As-Seyassah daily reported, raising fears about the spread of the disease in Kuwait, which has no reported cases so far…..

A few days ago a cargo of imported birds, found to be infected with avian influenza, was destroyed, the paper said, which added that previous cargoes of birds imported from Mongolia suspected of infection had also received customs clearance.

The above report suggests that wild bird flu may arrive in Kuwait before the H5N1 infected migratory birds fly into the area from southern Siberia. H5N1 wild bird flu has been reported in Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. Birds from southern Siberia fly into the Middle East and Africa as the migrate to warmer locales for the winter.

The above report does not indicated if the avian influenza in the destroyed birds was H5N1. However, most of the reported influenza in wild birds from Mongolia have been H5N1 this year. H5N1 is expected to migrate into the area this season.


http://www.recombinomics.com/News/09190507/WBF_Kuwait.html
 

O2BNOK

Veteran Member
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN - EAST ASIA (127): INDONESIA
***************************************************
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Sponsored in part by Elsevier, publisher of
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
<http://infection.thelancet.com/>

Date: Mon 19 Sep 2005
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Reuters AlertNet Foundation, Mon 19 Sep 2005 [edited]
<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/JAK5930.htm>


Indonesia: 2 children hospitalized as suspected avian influenza cases
---------------------------------------------------------------------
2 children have been admitted to hospital in Indonesia with suspected avian
influenza, and a zoo in Jakarta has been closed after tests showed some
exotic birds had the virus, the health minister said on Mon 19 Sep 2005.

The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of the virus has killed 4 Indonesians,
including one woman who died in Jakarta a week ago. [The WHO recognizes
only 2 of these 4 cases as unequivocally confirmed avian influenza cases. -
Mod.CP]. The virus has killed 64 [58 according to WHO as of 16 Sep 2005 -
Mod.CP] people in 4 Asian countries since late 2003 and has also spread to
Russia and Europe [that is, European Russia - Mod.CP].

"Until now, 3 children are being treated in a hospital ... 2 are suspected
of having the symptoms of bird flu based on the lab tests. The other one is
still under observation," minister Siti Fadilah Sapari told the local El
Shinta radio. Indonesia sends blood tests from all suspected bird flu cases
to Hong Kong for confirmation.

Sapari said officials had also found traces of bird flu in a number of
exotic birds at Jakarta's Ragunan zoo, which lies in the south of the
teeming capital. "For the time being, the (Jakarta) regional office has
decided to close down Ragunan for 21 days," Sapari said. The Jakarta Post
newspaper quoted Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono as saying that 19
birds in the zoo had the virus. Over the weekend [17-18 Sep 2005], tens of
thousands of people visited the zoo, which is popular with low-income
Indonesians. The government would kill those birds at the zoo which had
tested positive for the virus, Sapari said.

Health officials last week [3rd week September 2005] said that bird flu had
killed a 37 year old woman who lived near a chicken farm in south Jakarta
and that another person who had close contact with her was also suspected
of having the virus.

The World Health Organization said last week [3rd week September 2005] that
bird flu was moving toward becoming transmissible by humans and that the
international community had no time to waste to prevent a pandemic. Most of
the people killed in Asia since 2003 caught the virus from infected birds.
Health experts say the greatest worry is that H5N1 could mutate and become
transmissible between people. Besides Indonesia, bird flu has killed 44
people in Viet Nam, 12 people in Thailand and 4 in Cambodia.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Recent reports are ambiguous, but there seem to be 2 children in the
hospital with provisional confirmation of avian influenza virus infection
and 2 other suspected but unconfirmed cases: a child and a neighbor of the
most recently deceased confirmed case of avian influenza virus infection.

There is a continuing disparity between the number of human cases of avian
influenza cited by the Indonesia authorities and the number identified by
WHO as laboratory confirmed cases. As of Fri 16 Sep 2005, the WHO-confirmed
figures for laboratory confirmed human cases of avian influenza in East
Asia since 26 Dec 2003 are the following: Cambodia 4 cases and 4 deaths,
Indonesia 2 cases and 2 deaths, Thailand 17 cases and 12 deaths, Viet Nam
90 cases and 40 deaths; giving overall totals for the whole area of 113
cases and 58 deaths.
<http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_20
05_09_16/en/index.html>. - Mod.CP]

[Elsevier reference: Frech SA, Kenney RT, Spyr CA, Lazar H, Viret J-F,
Herzog C, et al. Improved immune responses to influenza vaccination in the
elderly using an immunostimulant patch. Vaccine 2005; 23(7): 946-50
<tinyurl.com/8me31>]

[see also:
Avian influenza - Asia (27): Indonesia, zoo birds 20050918.2760
Avian influenza, human: LPAI susceptibility 20050918.2759
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (126): Indonesia 20050918.2758
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (125): Indonesia, conf. 20050916.2736]

........................cp/msp/sh

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and its associated service providers shall not be held
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or archived material.
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O2BNOK

Veteran Member
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN - EAST ASIA (128): VIET NAM
**************************************************
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Sponsored in part by Elsevier, publisher of
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
<http://infection.thelancet.com/>

Date: Mon 19 Sep 2005
From: Marianne Hopp <mjhopp12@yahoo.com>
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), CSR, Disease Outbreak News, Mon 19
Sep 2005 [edited]
<http://www.who.int/csr/don/2005_09_19/en/index.html>


Viet Nam: avian influenza situation - WHO update 30
---------------------------------------------------
The Ministry of Health in Viet Nam has retrospectively confirmed an
additional fatal case of H5N1 infection that dates back to July 2005. The
case, a 35 year old male farmer from Ben Tre Province, developed symptoms
on 25 July 2005 and died on 31 July 2005.

The newly confirmed case brings the total in Viet Nam since mid-December
2004 to 64 cases, 21 of which were fatal.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[As of Mon 19 Sep 2005, the WHO table listing the cumulative number of
confirmed human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) has been updated as follows:

Date of onset 26 Dec 2003 to 10 Mar 2004
----------------------------------------
Country / Cases / Deaths
Cambodia / 0 / 0
Indonesia / 0 / 0
Thailand / 12 / 8
Viet Nam / 23 / 16
Total / 35 / 24

Date of onset 19 Jul 2004 to 8 Oct 2004
---------------------------------------
Cambodia / 0 / 0
Indonesia / 0 / 0
Thailand / 5 / 4
Viet Nam / 4 / 4
Total / 9 / 8

Date of onset 16 Dec 2004 to date
---------------------------------
Cambodia / 4 / 4
Indonesia / 2 / 2
Thailand / 0 / 0
Viet Nam / 64 / 21
Total / 70 / 27

Total 23 Dec 2003 to date
-------------------------
Cambodia / 4 / 4
Indonesia / 2 / 2
Thailand / 17 / 12
Viet Nam / 91 / 41
Total / 114 / 59

Available at
<http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2005_09_19/en/index.html>.
- Mod.CP]

[see also:
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (120): Viet Nam 20050901.2589
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (118): evolution 20050827.2538
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (117): WHO Update 20050818.2423
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (116): Viet Nam 20050810.2333
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (114): Viet Nam 20050809.2324
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (113): Viet Nam 20050805.2284
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (110): Viet Nam 20050803.2253
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (108): Viet Nam 20050729.2205
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (102): Viet Nam 20050719.2075
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (101): Viet Nam 20050715.2024]

........................cp/msp/sh

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O2BNOK

Veteran Member
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN - EAST ASIA (129): INDONESIA
***************************************************
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ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Sponsored in part by Elsevier, publisher of
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
<http://infection.thelancet.com/>

[1]
Date: Mon 19 Sep 2005
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Antara News (Java), Mon 19 Sep 2005 [edited]
<http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=6395>


Indonesia: 15 blood samples declared free of avian influenza virus
------------------------------------------------------------------
15 blood samples taken by a Health Ministry team from the relatives and
neighbors of an avian influenza victim have tested negative for the virus,
a provincial health official said here on Mon 19 Sep 2005. "An examination
conducted by the Health Ministry's research and development unit on samples
of the blood of the woman's relatives and neighbors last Tuesday [13 Sep
2005] has shown them to be free of the virus," Budihardja, head of the
Central Java Health Office, said.

The 37 year old woman died at the Bintaro International Hospital in South
Jakarta on Saturday [10 Sep 2005]. Tests done on samples of her body fluids
at the WHO laboratory in Hong Kong later showed she had carried the avian
influenza virus. She had been admitted to the hospital on 6 Sep 2005 for
acute pneumonia. Budihardja said the 15 blood samples included those taken
from 3 people who had helped to bury the woman. "I contacted the Ministry
in Jakarta and was told all the 15 blood samples had tested negative (for
the avian flu virus)," he said. Budihardja said he had informed the woman's
family about the result of the tests in Jakartam, which had confirmed that
the virus is not transmitted from human to human.

The woman was the 4th person in Indonesia who had died of bird flu, after a
man and 2 of his daughters died last July [2005]. [WHO has stated that that
H5N1 infection was confirmed in the 38 year old father, but laboratory test
results for his 2 daughters did not meet criteria for acute H5N1
infections. - Mod.CP]. Meanwhile, the Sulianti Saroso Hospital in north
Jakarta is reported to be treating 2 children suspected of having
contracted the virus.

******
[2]
Date: Mon 19 Sep 2005
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Antara News (Java), Mon 19 Sep 2005 [edited]
<http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/index.php?id=6379>


Indonesia: Jakarta declared an "extraordinary case region"
----------------------------------------------------------
The government has declared Jakarta as an "extraordinary case region" for
avian influenza, following the outbreak of the avian influenza virus in the
Indonesian capital, a cabinet member said. Minister of health Mrs Siti
Fadilah Supari made the statement after attending a coordination meeting to
face the outbreak of the bird flu at the Coordinating Ministry of People's
Welfare office here on Sunday [18 Sep 2005] night.

Earlier, Tangerang, near Jakarta, had been declared an extraordinary case
region following the death of a father and his 2 daughters as a result of
avian influenza [the deaths of the 2 daughters have not been confirmed as
due to avian influenza virus infection. - Mod.CP]. Some 19 fowl in the
Ragunan Zoo have been declared infected by the avian influenza virus,
causing Jakarta governor Sutiyoso to close the zoo for 21 days as of Monday
[19 Sep 2005].

In the meantime, there are 3 people who were allegedly infected by bird flu
and who are now receiving medical treatment, while another is still under
observation. To limit the spread, the ministry will intensify surveillance,
strengthen laboratory capabilities, promote biosecurity, enhance management
of cases treatment and boost communication, information and education.

The government will also prepare a collaborating center in Indonesia,
because, for confirmation, the country has, so far, had to refer [samples]
to the University of Hong Kong's laboratory, she added. There are
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [diagnostic facilities?] in 8 provinces in
Indonesia, among others, in North Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java, East Java,
South Sulawesi, and West Nusa Tenggara. "The laboratories cannot carry out
detailed diagnostic [tests], so they must refer the cases to the University
of Hong Kong's laboratory," the minister said.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Failure to detect avian influenza virus in blood samples from 15 close
relatives and neighbors of the most recent fatal case in Jakarta indicates
that the virus does not easily spread from person to person. However, the
nature and sensitivity of the tests are unclear. The source of infection of
the latest victim remains obscure. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (127): Indonesia 20050919.2763
Avian influenza - Asia (27): Indonesia, zoo birds 20050918.2760
Avian influenza, human: LPAI susceptibility 20050918.2759
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (126): Indonesia 20050918.2758
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (125): Indonesia, conf. 20050916.2736]

.....................cp/msp/sh

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and its associated service providers shall not be held
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or archived material.
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squeeksmom

Deceased
Martin and O2BNOK - thank you so much for keeping this info up. I don't always post, but I read and appreciate. Thank you, again.

squeeks
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
Bird-Flu Prevention to Cost
Millions, WHO Official Says

Indonesia Imposes Forced Hospitalization
For People Showing Symptoms of Disease

Associated Press
September 20, 2005 4:52 a.m.

NOUMEA, New Caledonia – The global battle to prevent a possible deadly pandemic of bird flu in humans will cost more than $250 million in the next 12 months, a top World Health Organization official said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is imposing "extraordinary" measures to keep a bird-flu outbreak in that nation from spreading, including the forced hospitalization of people who exhibit symptoms of the disease.

Dr. Shigeru Omi, WHO's Asia Pacific director, said it would cost $160 million to provide early detection and treatment for humans infected with the disease and a further $100 million to enact strict animal controls and stepped-up vaccinations of birds.

Dr. Omi, speaking on the sidelines of a WHO meeting, said the organization was already holding talks with governments from several developed countries and was "very encouraged" by the level of commitment indicated thus far. "I am hopeful that within a very short period, affluent countries will come up with very strong support," he said.

Dr. Omi's comments came as Indonesia's health minister, Siti Fadila Supari, said the government was imposing "extraordinary" measures to contain a bird-flu outbreak, which has killed four people in Indonesia. In addition to those fatalities, six patients suspected of having the H5N1 strain of bird flu have been admitted to Jakarta's infectious diseases hospital, officials said, two of them zoo employees. Blood samples from the victims have been sent to Hong Kong for testing.

A cabinet meeting was to be held later Tuesday to discuss what measures Indonesia should take to fight the virus. The government reiterated this week that it lacks necessary funds to undertake mass culling of birds in areas where outbreaks occur.

Bird flu has swept through poultry populations in large swathes of Asia since 2003, leaving 63 people dead, mostly in Vietnam and Thailand, and resulting in the deaths of tens of millions of birds.

Separately, Margaret Chan, WHO's director of infectious disease surveillance and response, said preparing for a possible outbreak of the disease would be expensive but should be "taken in proper perspective."

"To prepare for the pandemic there is a cost," she said. "But not to prepare for it, in the event of a pandemic, the kind of morbidity, mortality, social disruption, economic disruption that will bring to bear on the world is well out of proportion."

Preliminary estimates by the U.N. Development Program have shown that an avian influenza pandemic could outstrip SARS in terms of the havoc it would reap on international economies.

"If a pandemic occurs, it will play out in a much longer timeframe [than SARS]," Ms. Chan said. "It will last for one or two years or more." "If you put it in that perspective, I think it is a good investment," she said.

As the former director of Hong Kong's health department, Ms. Chan oversaw the world's first outbreak of bird flu in humans and ordered the culling of the territory's entire chicken population of 1.3 million birds over three days.

She said the WHO was working with Asian and Pacific nations, where a bird-flu pandemic is most likely to originate, to create a world wide strategy for dealing with a possible outbreak of the disease in humans.

Ms. Chan said improving bird-flu surveillance and cross-national communication were the top priorities in preventing the spread of the disease in humans.

"Pandemic influenza is not a local issue, it is by nature an international problem that requires an international solution through international cooperation," she said.

In Indonesia, a 28-year-old guide and a 39-year-old vendor at a popular zoo in the capital were hospitalized Tuesday with symptoms of bird flu, said I Nyoman Kandun, director general of Communicable Disease Control.

Earlier, 19 eagles, peacocks and other birds tested positive for the virus at the zoo, which will be closed for three weeks, during which time all staff and birds are to be tested.

Health Minister Siti Fadila said the government was "very concerned" about the spread of bird flu and had assigned 44 state-owned hospitals to treat avian influenza patients, who will receive free medication.

Those with symptoms of the disease could be admitted by force, she said, adding that the "extraordinary" status would last 21 days but could be renewed if necessary.

Copyright (c) 2005 The Associated Press

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB...8445947,00.html
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/09200503/H5N1_H2H_Jakarta.html

Increasing Human to Human Transmision of H5N1 in Jakarta

Recombinomics Commentary
September 20, 2005

About the government`s decision on Monday to declare the outbreaks a National Extraordinary Happening (KLB), the minister said it was intended to make the public throughout the country alert to the disease.

"Besides, previously there was only one danger point, namely Pak Iwan Siswara but now there are two more danger points, namely RD and MG," she said.

The above "danger points" refer to three individuals who appear to be transmitting H5N1 to other people. The efficient human-to-human transmission is the major area of concern with regard to a catestrophic flu pandemic. H5N1 appears to be getting more and more efficient at such transmissions.

This transmission results in infections via casual contact and is becoming clearer at the Ragunan Zoo where three zoo employees have symptoms as well as in Tangang where the three human-to-human clusters are clustering.

The initial danger point was Pak Iwan Siswara who was a government auditor who died from H5N1. He is cited because he is the only member of his family listed as an official H5N1 case, but the index case was his 8 year old daughter, Sabrina Nurul Aisyah who developed bird flu symptoms on June 24. She is not listed as a confirmed case because there were only two serum samples collected and they were collected just 3 days apart so although both samples were positive and the antibody level was higher in the second collection, the increase was not 4 fold, which is the WHO standard, although that rise is expected in samples collected with longer time intervals between collections. Sabrina's 1 year old sister, Thalita Azizah, developed bird flu symptoms on June 29, but she died on July 9, so again she was not confirmed because of the lack of samples. Sabrina's father did not develop symptoms until July 2 and samples were collected at the appropriate time and he was PCR positive for H5N1. All three died within 5 days of each other, between July 9 and July 14 at Siloam Gleneagles Hospital in Tangerang. The onset dates strongly suggested that Sabrina infected her 1 year old sister and then one of the sisters infected their father.

Between this cluster and the current clusters, there were 20 suspect cases who tested negative. However, if view of the limited number of samples collected in the first cluster, false negatives cannot be easily ruled out.

The new series of clusters began with RD who was Rita Dina, Indonesia's second confirmed H5N1 case. She developed symptoms on August 31, was hospitalized on September 6 and died September 10. Although she lived in the same general area as the earlier cluster, she also lived 100 meters from a chicken slaughterhouse. At the time she developed symptoms, a 2 month-old boy, Livo Rustini (LR), died of pneumonia. He had bird flu symptoms and lived above a chicken slaughterhouse, which may have bee the same slaughterhouse 100 meters from Rita Dina's home. If not, the two slaughterhouses were near each other, because Livo's mother was interviewed while waiting in line for tests being offered to neighbors of Rita Dina.

A more direct connection with Rita Dina was her nephew who also tested positive for H5N1. The nephew has also recently developed symptoms and is currently hospitalized.

Media reports indicated that one of Rita Dina's neighbors also had bird flu symptoms and was hospitalized. This neighbor was probably a 6 year old girl with initials MG. MG was also from Tangerang and also tested positive for H5N1. She was initially hospitalized at Siloam GlenEagles Hospital in Tangerang and subsequently transferred to the Sulianti Saroso infectious disease hospital on September 14. She is in stable condition and is described above as a "danger point".

The description is consistent with rumors that she is a contact of an eighteen month old girl with initials RH. RH was admitted on September 18 with bird flu symptoms and is in critical condition.

Thus, at this time there appear to be two clusters linked by contact, RD and her nephew, and MG and RH. However, geographically MG and LR are also probably linked to RD raising serious questions about casual transmission of H5N1.

The concerns have led to the National Extraordinary Happening which is cause for concern.
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
http://effectmeasure.blogspot.com/

Monday, September 19, 2005
Bird flu: H2H in Indonesia?

Because of my intermittent connections while traveling I have been unable to get all the details of latest developments in Indonesia, but the reports I see this morning are unusually ominous. Three children have been hospitalized with symptoms of bird flu, while at least 19 birds of various species have been infected in Jakarta's Ragunan Zoo, which is being closed for 3 weeks (Yahoo News). The children are reported to be between the ages of three and nine. Two have been in intensive care for 6 days. The third was admitted to the hospital yesterday. All have high fever. and respiratory problems (Xinhua). BBC reports that one of the children is the relative of the 37 year old woman who died of bird flu last month.

Indonesian authorities have been reluctant to take strong measures (such as mass culling) against bird flu, believing they could contain it. As many have suggested, this is a ridiculous misjudgment. Even WHO believes this is a vain hope. Regarding the zoo closure:

"It confirms what we have thought for a while, that the H5N1 virus is widely spread in Indonesia," Georg Petersen, the World Health Organisation's (WHO) representative in Indonesia said when asked to comment on the latest developments. (News.com, Australia)
Along with southeast asia, this huge island nation is now a gigantic incubator for H5N1. In July a government auditor, with no detectable history of exposure to infected birds, died of bird flu as did his two daughters. Most observers believed this was a cluster of human to human (H2H) transmission. With the three children, one at least a contact with another case, the possibility becomes a probability. One can expect human to human transmission to become still more efficient.

Meanwhile, the US still has no final pandemic influenza plan. Like the generals, this government is still fighting the last battle, not preparing for the next one. Expect the pandemic flu plan, when it finally appears, to contain massive monies for Halliburton to rebuild the bird flu levees in Republican states.

Update (9/19/05, 10 am EDST): The Indonesian government is urging all tourists and zoo visitors to be alert for symptoms of influenza. Blood testing of zoo employees is being done. In addition, ChannelNews Asia reports:

Zelfino, Indonesia Health Ministry, said: "From our tests, there are two workers who appear infected with flu. They will be referred to Sulianti Hospital - one of the hospitals designated to treat the bird flu victims."

Besides closing the zoo and carrying out blood tests on all its animals and staff, authorities are also reaching out to thousands of residents living in the zoo vicinity.

They are encouraged to seek immediate treatment should they developed the flu symptoms in the past few days.

Anton Apriantono, Agriculture Minister, said: "We are urging those who recently visited the zoo to go to the hospital immediately if they display symptoms of avian flu, and all expenses will be covered by the local administration."

posted by Revere at 5:22 AM

Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Indonesia, more


The news from Indonesia continues to be worrisome. Recombinomics has a summary of the three or four children reported hospitalized with probable bird flu, including a nephew of last week's confirmed bird flu death. Today Indonesian health authorities announced "extraordinary" measures in the face of what might be a widening circle of infection:

JAKARTA: Suspected bird flu patients can be forced into hospital under "extraordinary" measures welcomed by the World Health Organization to counter a widening outbreak of the virus in Indonesia, officials said.

A day after declaring the country faces an "extraordinary incident" because of bird flu, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said the number of cases has continued to rise in the country where four have died from bird flu over the past two months.

She said six patients are now being treated at a hospital for respiratory ailments.

"Two are almost certain to be bird flu cases. Four others are still under observation but judging from the symptoms, they are similar to those of bird flu although there is yet no laboratory evidence that they are positive," the minister said after the opening of a regional health ministers' meeting. (AFP via ChannelNewsAsia)
Two of the cases are reported to be in employees of Jakarta's popular zoo, which discovered over the weekend 19 infected birds of various species. One was a 28 year old tour guide and the other a 39 year old vendor. Thus neither were in continual and habitual occupational contact with the birds. Both have been hospitalized with symptoms of bird flu (CBS News).

It should be obvious that this represents an extremely serious situation. We should know within the next few days if we have entered WHO's pandemic phase five (Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans, but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk)) or even phase 6, the start of a pandemic (Pandemic: increased and sustained transmission in general population).

A good source of information on local,national and international pandemic preparedness plans and much other information is the Flu Wiki. Read it, use it, build it.

posted by Revere at 6:07 AM
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAN329042.htm

APEC to issue action plan on bird flu -US official
November 18-19 APEC meeting to plan action

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

MANILA, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Pacific Rim nations are preparing steps to cope with the likely devastating economic impact of a bird flu pandemic, a senior U.S. economic official said on Tuesday.

Michael Michalak, the U.S. representative to the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, said the action plan would include measures to improve cooperation on detecting and limiting the spread of a human version of avian flu.

He gave no specific details, but said APEC would issue a strong statement and a detailed action plan on bird flu during a summit of its leaders in South Korea on November 18-19.

"Avian flu is what we see as the next potential disaster," he told reporters in the Philippine capital Manila.

"What we're really worried about is if and when we do detect the pandemic, the economic effects could be severe."

The H5N1 bird flu virus, which surfaced in southern China and Hong Kong eight years ago, has killed 64 people in Asia since 2003 and forced the culling of millions of birds.

Eventually, it is likely to mutate into a form that can easily be passed between humans, triggering a pandemic that could kill millions and which would play havoc with the global economy.

APEC's member account for more than a third of the world's population, over 50 percent of global GDP and more than 41 percent of world trade.

Michalak said Washington had set aside $25 million to fund capacity-building projects to fight the spread of the disease in affected APEC countries.

But he said countries needed to be better prepared for the disruptive effect that an outbreak would have on trade and transport links as countries close their borders.

Officials say there are wide disparities in preparedness levels in Asia, where many poorer countries do not have the anti-viral drugs or strong health infrastructure that would help limit the impact of an outbreak.

The World Health Organisation estimates that a full-blown pandemic could put two-thirds of a country's workforce out of action, raising questions how to maintain transport, policing and food supply.
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
World has slim chance to stop flu pandemic
Sep 20 1:48 AM US/Eastern

By Michael Perry

NOUMEA, New Caledonia (Reuters) - The initial outbreak of what could explode into a bird flu pandemic may affect only a few people, but the world will have just weeks to contain the deadly virus before it spreads and kills millions.

Chances of containment are limited because the potentially catastrophic infection may not be detected until it has already spread to several countries, like the SARS virus in 2003. Avian flu vaccines developed in advance will have little impact on the pandemic virus.

It will take scientists four to six months to develop a vaccine that protects against the pandemic virus, by which time thousands could have died. There is little likelihood a vaccine will even reach the country where the pandemic starts.

That is the scenario outlined on Tuesday by Dr Hitoshi Oshitani, the man who was on the frontline in the battle against SARS and now leads the fight against avian flu in Asia.

"SARS in retrospect was an easy virus to contain," said Oshitani, the World Health Organization's Asian communicable diseases expert.

"The pandemic virus is much more difficult, maybe impossible, to contain once it starts," he told Reuters at a WHO conference in Noumea, capital of the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. "The geographic spread is historically unprecedented."

Oshitani said nobody knew when a pandemic would occur, it could be within weeks or years, but all the conditions were in place, save one -- a virus that transmitted from human to human.

The contagious H5N1 virus, which has killed 64 people in four Asian countries since it was first detected in 2003, might not be the one to trigger the pandemic, he said. Instead a genetically different strain could develop that passes between humans.

While bird flu cases continued to spread throughout Asia, with Indonesia this week placed on alert after reporting four deaths, Oshitani said the winter months of December, January and February would see an acceleration in cases, and the more human cases the greater risk that the virus would mutate.

Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia were most vulnerable due to the large domestic poultry populations, he said.

MASSIVE, RAPID CAMPAIGN

When a pandemic is first detected, health authorities will need to carry out a massive anti-viral inoculation campaign within two to three weeks to have any chance of containment, said Oshitani.

"Theoretically it is possible to contain the virus if we have early signs of a pandemic detected at the source," he said.

Scientists estimate that between 300,000 and one million people will immediately need anti-virals, but there are only limited stocks. WHO will receive one million doses by the end of 2005 and a further two million by mid-2006.

Even when an avian flu vaccine is fully developed, production limitations will mean there will not be enough vaccine.

"Right now we have a timeframe of four to six months to develop and produce a certain quantity of vaccine and that may not be fast enough," said Oshitani.

Last week French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis won a $100 million contract to supply the United States a vaccine against H5N1. The United States has also awarded a $2.8 million contract to Britain's GlaxoSmithKline for 84,300 courses of an antiviral. The purchases are part of a U.S. plan to buy vaccine for 20 million people and antivirals for another 20 million.

Oshitani said the early vaccines were unlikely to protect against the pandemic virus. "The vaccine should match the pandemic strain. So a vaccine developed for the virus in Vietnam now may not protect you from another virus," he said.

But Oshitani fears that once a pandemic occurs, the world's rich nations may dominate vaccine supply.

"The distribution of a vaccine will be a major issue when a pandemic starts. There is no mechanism for distribution," he said. Asked whether poorer Asian nations such as Cambodia and Vietnam would get a vaccine, Oshitani said "probably not."

Avian flu has moved west from Asia and into Russia, with many fearing migratory wild birds will spread the virus to Europe and possibly the United States via Alaska.

But Oshitani casts doubt on the impact migratory birds are having on the spread of avian flu, saying different sub-types of the H5N1 virus are in Asia and Russia.

"There are so many uncertainties about the pandemic. We don't know how it will start. We don't know exactly how it is spreading," he said.

Oshitani said that the successful containment measures used against SARS, such as quarantining those infected and cross-border checks, would fail against an avian pandemic, as people spreading bird flu may not show early symptoms.

"The pandemic is likely to be like the seasonal influenza, which is much more infectious than the SARS virus," he said.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/..._SCH016489.html
 

Martin

Deceased
Indonesia to forcibly hospitalize people with bird flu symptoms
Tuesday September 20, 2005
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The government imposed ``extraordinary'' measures Tuesday to keep a bird flu outbreak that has killed four people in Indonesia from spreading, including the forced hospitalization of people who exhibit symptoms of the disease.

In addition to the fatalities, six patients suspected of having the H5N1 strain of bird flu have been admitted to Jakarta's infectious diseases hospital, officials said, two of them zoo employees. Blood samples from the patients have been sent to Hong Kong for testing.

Health Minister Siti Fadila said the government was ``very concerned'' about the spread of bird flu and had assigned 44 state-owned hospitals to treat avian influenza patients, who will receive free medication.

Those with symptoms of the disease could be admitted by force, she said, adding that the ``extraordinary'' status would last 21 days but could be renewed if necessary.

Meanwhile, zoos across the country were taking measures to protect their animals from the virus. Some zoos tested birds for the virus while others sprayed disinfectant in bird cages and stopped accepting any new animals.

``With such measures, we believe the park is safe,'' said Asep Firmansyah, a spokesman for Taman Safari Indonesia just outside Jakarta. ``However, we will welcome health officials testing the birds at this park.''

The virus has swept through poultry populations in large swaths of Asia since 2003, killing 63 people and resulting in the deaths of tens of millions of birds.

A 28-year-old guide and a 39-year-old vendor at a popular zoo in the Indonesian capital were hospitalized Tuesday with symptoms of bird flu, said I Nyoman Kandun, director general of Communicable Disease Control.

Earlier, 19 eagles, peacocks and other birds tested positive for the virus at the zoo, which will be closed for three weeks, during which time all staff and birds are to be tested.

Most human cases of bird flu have been linked to sick birds. But the World Health Organization has warned that the virus could mutate into a form that can be easily transmitted between humans, possibly triggering a global pandemic that could kill millions.



http://wcbs880.com/international/Indonesia-BirdFlu-ai/resources_news_html
 

O2BNOK

Veteran Member
AVIAN INFLUENZA - ASIA (29): INDONESIA, ZOO BIRDS
*************************************************
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The Lancet Infectious Diseases
<http://infection.thelancet.com>

Date: 19 Sept 2005
From: T Kuiken <t.kuiken@erasmusmc.nl>


In the recent post [PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza - Asia (27): Indonesia, zoo
birds], avian influenza virus was reported in Ragunan Zoo, Jakarta,
Indonesia. Of 27 samples from various birds, including pygmy chickens and
eagles, 19 tested positive. Management measures included closing of the zoo
to the public for one month, sterilization of the area, and killing
infected birds, unless they belonged to a protected species.

This report and the identity of the virus involved remain to be confirmed.
Another management option for the protection of captive collections of
endangered bird species is preventive vaccination. This option was used in
Dutch zoos during an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
(H7N7) in poultry in the Netherlands in 2003. When the area of the outbreak
threatened to encroach on Dutch zoos, the Dutch Federation of Zoos
requested permission from the European Commission for preventive
vaccination of zoo birds to avoid pre-emptive culling of valuable and
sometimes endangered bird species in their collections.

The European Commission granted permission (for details, see European
Commission directive,
<http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_105/l_10520030426en00340036.pdf>)
providing that the zoos fulfilled strict conditions. These conditions
included collection of blood before and after vaccination, registration of
all vaccinated birds, and a specific standstill of vaccinated animals and
products of vaccinated animals.

Birds in 10 zoos from the Netherlands were vaccinated with an
inactivated,adjuvanted H7N1 virus vaccine previously used in poultry. The
difference in the neuraminidase (N1 in the vaccine strain instead of N7 in
the field strain) made it possible to distinguish vaccinated birds from
infected birds. Of 211 birds in 13 orders tested, 81.5 per cent developed a
titre of 40 or higher, which is considered protective in chickens. The
results of this study (see abstract below) suggest that vaccination with a
heterologous strain is a useful tool for the protection of birds in zoos
against highly pathogenic H7 virus infection, and is a suitable alternative
or additional measure for confinement and pre-emptive culling when
implemented together with virological monitoring and strict bio-security
measures at zoos.

We are aware that the 2003 outbreak of H7N7 virus in the Netherlands
differs in certain aspects from the ongoing outbreak of H5N1 virus in Asia.
Despite these differences, we strongly feel that preventive vaccination of
bird collections in zoos by use of a high-quality, adjuvanted H5 virus
vaccine should be considered as part of the protective management strategy
against H5N1 virus infection. Definitely, when collections of endangered
bird species are involved, this option should not be neglected.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H7N7): vaccination of zoo birds and
transmission to non-poultry species. Joost DW Philippa(1,2), Vincent J
Munster(1), Hester van Bolhuis(3), Theo M Bestebroer(1), Willem
Schaftenaar(2), Walter EP Beyer(1), et al. 1. Institute of Virology,
Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 2. Rotterdam Zoo, Rotterdam, The
Netherlands 3. Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, and
Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Vaccine, in press.

Abstract:
In 2003 an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H7N7)
struck poultry in the Netherlands. A European Commission directive
(Commission Decision 2003/291/EC of 25 April 2003) made vaccination of
valuable species in zoo collections possible under strict conditions. We
determined pre- and post-vaccination antibody titres in 211 birds by
haemagglutination inhibition test as a measure of vaccine efficacy. After
booster vaccination, 81.5 per cent of vaccinated birds developed a titre of
40, while overall geometric mean titre (GMT) was 190 (95 per cent
confidence interval: 144 to 251). Birds of the orders Anseriformes,
Galliformes and Phoenicopteriformes showed higher GMT and larger
percentages developed titres 40 than those of the other orders. Antibody
response decreased with increasing mean body weight in birds 1.5 kg body
weight. In the vicinity of the outbreak, H7N7 was detected by RT-PCR in
wild species (mallards and mute swans) kept in captivity together with
infected poultry, illustrating the potential threat of transmission from
poultry into other avian species, and the importance of protecting valuable
avian species by means of vaccination.

--
Joost Philippa(1,2), Thijs Kuiken(1), Albert Osterhaus(1,2)
1. Institute of Virology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2. Rotterdam Zoo, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
<t.kuiken@erasmusmc.nl>

[Thanks very much to Joost Philippa, Thijs Kuiken, and Albert Osterhaus for
providing unique information on the importance of vaccination as one
control strategy for the current Jakarta Ragunan Zoo dilemma. It is
extremely helpful to garner the experience of someone who has used
vaccination as a preventive measure in a zoo setting, especially since they
were systematic enough about their observations to yield a publication. We
are including the abstract of the associated study to be published in
Vaccine and the author's contact information because this information may
be highly valuable to those involved in the current outbreak.

Our Dutch colleagues make one point that should be emphasized -- the
situation in Jakarta is different from the Netherlands in some significant
respects. Foremost is the propensity of this H5N1 to cause human deaths and
that Jakarta itself has been declared an "extraordinary case region".

Nevertheless, the vaccination strategy detailed above does appear to have
several advantages when combined with strict biosecurity. First, it can
differentiate between vaccinated birds and H5N1-infected birds. Secondly,
if the protection levels are adequate in the captive birds, zoo keepers and
other personnel would have enhanced protection against being infected.
Finally, vaccination as one tool in a comprehensive strategy might allow
for the preservation of very rare or endangered species until H5N1 can be
controlled and possibly eliminated from Jakarta. - Mod.PC]

[see also:
Avian influenza - Asia (28): Indonesia, zoo birds 20050919.2768
Avian influenza - Asia (27): Indonesia, zoo birds 20050918.2760
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (125): Indonesia, conf. 20050916.2736
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (124): Indonesia, susp. 20050912.2703
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (123): Indonesia, susp 20050911.2694
2004
---
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (24) 20040213.0480
Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (23) 20040211.0461]

..............pc/pg/sh

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Martin

Deceased
U.S. Bird Flu Scenario Eyed
Sept. 21, 2005


An infectious disease expert says a doomsday scenario is awaiting the nation if it experiences an avian flu pandemic.

Michael Osterholm, head of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, warns an avian flu pandemic in the U.S. could claim many more lives than Hurricane Katrina.

"It is not if it [avian flu] is going to happen," he said. "It is when, and where, and how bad," Osterholm said at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.

So far, avian flu has killed about 60 humans in Asia, while being mostly restricted to birds. But experts expect the virus to change enough to spread from human to human. Osterholm said it would likely claim around 1.7 million Americans in the first year, as vaccine was slowly produced.

Canadian medical journalist Helen Branswell said she feels no one, including the World Health Organization, is ready to deal adequately with an avian flu pandemic.

"Welcome to my nightmare," she said at the conference.

The World Health Organization is prepared to begin distributing large-scale quantities of an antiviral drug to treat bird flu in humans "if and when a pandemic starts," a top WHO official said Wednesday.

Dr. Shigeru Omi, director for WHO's Western Pacific region, said the U.N. agency was ready to open its stockpile of oseltamivir, an antiviral drug, to help avert a global pandemic of the disease.

The announcement came as Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadila Supari on Wednesday warned of a possible bird flu epidemic just hours after the death of a 5-year-old girl who was hospitalized with symptoms of the disease.

A bird flu outbreak there could quickly turn into an epidemic, the health minister warned.

Bird flu has killed at least four people in Jakarta and is suspected of sickening several others, prompting Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono to declare a mass cull of chickens in areas found to be "highly infected" with avian influenza.

WHO currently maintains a stockpile of about 80,000 treatment courses of oseltamivir, known commercially as Tamiflu, Omi told reporters outside a WHO conference in New Caledonia.

Asked if WHO was prepared to send tamiflu to Indonesia, Omi replied: "If and when a pandemic starts, we can send this (drug)."

The organization regards a pandemic as a multi-country outbreak of bird flu, in which the disease has been passed from human to human.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has swept through poultry populations in large swaths of Asia since 2003, killing at least 63 people and resulting in the deaths of tens of millions of birds. Most of the human deaths have been in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Health officials in parts of Russia and Kazakhstan are also monitoring its spread.
Omi also echoed the organization's repeated calls for wealthy nations to make some of their stockpiles of Tamiflu available to poorer nations.

Last month, Swiss-based Roche Holding AG announced it would donate 3 million treatment courses of Tamiflu to a WHO-managed stockpile, but the first million courses will not be ready until early next year and the remaining 2 million will not be ready until mid-2006.

Branswell said several key lessons should have been learned following Canada's recent experience with the deadly SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

"In the modern world, infectious diseases travel at jet speed," she said. "Pandemic planners tell us we may have up to three months before a pandemic virus hits North America. I have no idea why they are so optimistic. SARS was raging in Toronto hospitals before it even had a name, before the WHO warned anybody to be on the lookout for the disease."

"In general terms, we are not much better able to handle acute respiratory distress syndrome, in any number of cases today, than we were in 1918," when as many as 100 million people died worldwide, Osterholm said.

But he takes heart that President Bush mentioned bird flu last week at the United Nations, and then again this week, saying the nation "needs to be mindful of this potentially devastating disease."

Last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said on CBS News' The Early Show bird flu is "the pandemic we're worried about currently."

"We're doing things that I believe are common sense," he told co-anchor Harry Smith. "We're increasing the amount of surveillance or early warning that we have in other countries."

Wednesday, health ministers and policy makers from more than 30 countries meeting in Noumea, New Caledonia, endorsed an Asia-Pacific strategy to contain emerging diseases, including H5N1.

Addressing the assembly, Omi said Asian countries must change the way they raise animals if future pandemics are to be averted.

"Every year we have (had) new emerging diseases for the last 20 years. Some are from Africa, some from Asia, (but) every one are zoonoses, animal diseases," Omi told the assembly.

Zoonoses are animal diseases that can cross species.

Omi said preliminary research into the spread of avian influenza in birds and humans had shown the disease had a greater prevalence in regions with higher population densities and larger numbers of domestic birds.

Outbreaks of bird flu in areas of Europe had been successfully contained in part because of more stringent controls on farming practices, he said.

"Unless we address these factors we have to expect more emerging diseases, especially zoonoses," Omi said. "If we are lucky to avoid this pandemic (bird flu), the next will come certainly."

The Asia-Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases calls on governments to enact local action plans or pass legislation to reduce the prevalence of animal-borne illnesses.

In particular, Omi said Asian governments must educate farmers about the risks of keeping ducks — which can carry H5N1 without showing any symptoms — and chickens in close proximity.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/21/health/printable870945.shtml
 

Martin

Deceased
Influenza A (H5N1): Will It Be the Next Pandemic Influenza? Are We Ready?
John G. Bartlett, MD, and Frederick G. Hayden, MD

20 September 2005 | Volume 143 Issue 6 | Pages 460-462




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Influenza experts have predicted the next pandemic flu for many years. What they fear most is an event like the Spanish flu of 1918 to 1919—the largest outbreak of fatal infectious disease during the past century. Avian influenza (influenza A [H5N1]) appears to have that potential. Dramatic response strategies have been undertaken in some countries, but the response in others has been far more measured. For example, the United Kingdom has committed to stockpile enough oseltamavir to treat 25% of its population in an effort to be prepared; the United States has enough in its Strategic National Stockpile for less than 1% (1). So how real is this risk?
Most influenza viruses occur in birds, particularly the aquatic waterfowl that are their natural reservoir. Only a few types of influenza virus have circulated widely in humans. "Bird flu" refers colloquially to both influenza in birds and to instances when these avian viruses jump the species barrier to cause human disease. The influenza A genome encodes 2 major surface glycoproteins, the hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) proteins. The subtypes of these proteins are antigenetically distinct, having 16 H subtypes and 9 N subtypes. All of these subtypes may be found in birds, but only H1, H2, and H3 have caused pandemics and epidemics in people. Influenza viruses are constantly evolving into new antigenic variants, which accounts for vulnerability and the need for annual vaccination. Minor changes, or "drifts," are the rule; major changes, or "shifts," represent new hemagglutinin with or without new neuraminidase proteins that result in a novel virus for which the population lacks specific immunity.

As noted, "Spanish flu," involving influenza A (H1N1), was the largest rapidly fatal pandemic in human history. The virus traversed the world in less than 1 year, causing at least 40 million deaths. We are accustomed to influenza-associated morbidity and mortality. In the United States, the usual influenza season brings 30 000 to 40 000 deaths, but most of these occur in frail persons described as the "elderly elderly," meaning those older than 85 years of age, or patients with serious comorbid conditions. The 1918 influenza pandemic was distinctly different—most of the victims were young, previously healthy adults at an average age in the 30s. That pandemic reduced life expectancy in the United States by an astonishing 13 years. Many people died within a few days of the onset of symptoms. Autopsies often showed a characteristic hemorrhagic, necrotizing viral pneumonia—not a bacterial superinfection that might now respond to antibacterial agents. Of note, the average time to death in 1918 was about 7 to 9 days after the onset of illness (2), an interval that might allow for intervention with specific antiviral therapy, if available. Subsequent studies of the 1918 strain showed that it had a constellation of genes that account for this unique virulence (3), although recent studies have pointed to a unique virulence related to the hemagglutinin of the 1918 strain (4).

Since 1918, there have been 2 other influenza pandemics representing antigenic shifts of influenza A. In 1957 to 1958, "Asian flu," involving influenza A (H2N2), caused about 70 000 deaths in the United States, and in 1968 to 1969, "Hong Kong flu," caused by influenza A (H3N2), caused 34 000 deaths in the United States. Both of these more recent pandemics involved influenza A strains with gene combinations from human influenza strains and avian influenza strains.

In 1997, a cluster of avian influenza due to influenza A (H5N1) occurred in people in Hong Kong (5). This outbreak was unique and alarming because it was the first recognized direct transmission of influenza from birds (poultry) to people, it involved a unique strain (H5N1), and it was highly fatal: Six of 18 (33%) recognized case patients died. To cause a global influenza pandemic, the virus needs 3 properties: 1) ability to infect people, 2) substantial antigenic novelty naiveté, and 3) efficient person-to-person transmission. Investigation of the Hong Kong outbreak showed that H5N1 clearly had the first 2 properties, but only minimal evidence of human-to-human transmission was noted (6, 7). Nevertheless, the decision was made to cull all chickens and other poultry in Hong Kong. Many view this to be a heroic, albeit temporizing, decision.

In late 2003 and early 2004, new outbreaks of influenza A (H5N1) in poultry occurred in 8 Asian countries: China, Cambodia, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, and Laos. Over 100 cases of this infection have been reported in patients in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The alarming fact of the disease in humans is that the overall mortality rate is approximately 50%, far higher than the 2% mortality rate of Spanish flu (8), and that, like Spanish flu, most of the deaths have occurred in young, previously healthy adults or children. Autopsies also show a similar hemorrhagic, necrotizing pneumonia, and genetic and structural studies show that the hemagglutinin of influenza A (H5N1) has some of the characteristics of the Spanish flu strain (9). Of note, only 2 amino acid changes in the receptor-binding pocket of H5 lead to a virus that efficiently recognizes receptors on human cells (10). Attempts to control this virus include widescale culling—over 100 million birds have now either died of H5N1 infection or have been killed in the attempt to control the epidemic—and immunization of poultry in some countries. Despite these attempts, many authorities now feel H5N1 is enzootic in much of the bird population of Asia, in areas that account for about one third of the global human population.

Influenza scientists have been predicting another pandemic for years. It is believed not to be a question of whether a pandemic will occur but when, and H5N1 has made these predictions particularly worrisome. Efforts to prepare for a global pandemic of H5N1 have included the use of reverse genetics to produce seed virus for a live-virus vaccine (11). This vaccine is currently in human trials, although there is some concern that the necessary studies of safety and efficacy may require an extended amount of time. Consequently, the virus is likely to traverse the globe before the vaccine could be mass produced. Furthermore, earlier studies of candidate human H5 vaccines found that this hemagglutinin was a poor immunogen (12-14).

Oseltamivir and zanamivir, but not rimantadine or amantadine, are active against H5N1 in vitro and in animal models of influenza (15-17). However, clinical utility of these drugs for treatment or prevention of H5 disease has not been rigorously studied, the supply is inadequate for a global pandemic, and antiviral resistance occurs in N1-containing viruses during oseltamivir treatment (18).

How concerned should we be? As noted, a flu pandemic requires human-to-human transmission. This currently seems to be the Achilles' heel of H5N1. There is one apparently confirmed case (19), but to date, no human genes indicating reassortment have been detected in the analyses of H5N1 strains and sustained human-to-human transmission has not occurred. Indeed, some would speculate that, with this much disease in poultry over 9 years, if a pandemic were to happen it would have happened already (8). Also, some have reported serologic evidence of avian influenza antibodies (H5, H7, H10, and H11 strains) in 2% to 38% of humans, suggesting that bird flu infections involving multiple strains have gone on for years but have only recently been reported (3, 20, 21).

Despite these reassurances, we must not ignore the possibility of an H5N1 pandemic. Even if it does not materialize, the planning and development of effective interventions will provide the necessary preparations in the event that another avian strain jumps the species barrier (Table) or a known human pathogen like H2N2, to which large segments of the population lack immunity, reemerges. One of the most important and relevant observations made in recent years is that the number of avian strains now recognized as human pathogens is relatively large (Table). Preparation for the next pandemic will enhance our ability to cope with annual epidemics and their substantial toll. Conversely, wider use of vaccines and antiviral drugs during the interpandemic period will provide the foundation for responding to the next pandemic. In this regard, greatly expanding national, health care institutional, and perhaps even personal stockpiles of antiviral agents makes good sense in the near term, especially until an immunogenic H5 vaccine for humans has been developed. The Infectious Diseases Society of America has recommended that the United States have sufficient oseltamivir to treat up to 50% of the population (22); at present, we are not even close to that goal.



http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/143/6/460
 

O2BNOK

Veteran Member
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN - EAST ASIA (132)
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The Lancet Infectious Diseases
<http://infection.thelancet.com/>

Date: Wed 21 Sep 2005
From: Shamsudeen Fagbo <oloungbo@yahoo.com>
Source: Reuters report, Wed 21 Sep 2005 [edited]
<http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050920/wl_nm/birdflu_who_dc>


WHO - Asia must change age-old farming practices to stop
disease
----------------------------------------------------------------
Asia must change age-old farming practices to reduce contact
between people and poultry to limit avian influenza and
prevent new animal diseases infecting humans, the World
Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday [21 Sep 2005].
In launching a 5-year plan to combat emerging diseases in
the Asia-Pacific region, WHO said on average one new disease
had occurred every year for the past 20 years, mainly in
Africa and Asia, and eventually one will become a pandemic.
"Even if you control avian influenza, the next one is
coming," said Dr Shigeru Omi, WHO's regional director for
the Western Pacific, which stretches from China to Fiji. "I
think it is similar to tsunamis and earthquakes ... we do
not know when," Omi told WHO's Western Pacific annual
conference in Noumea, capital of New Caledonia in the South
Pacific.

Avian influenza was 1st detected in South Korea in 2003,
only months after SARS was contained, and quickly spread
within months to Taiwan, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Thailand,
Malaysia and China. The contagious H5N1 strain of the
disease has since killed 64 people [only 59 of these cases
have been confirmed by laboratory tests - Mod.CP] in 4 Asian
countries and has spread to Russia and Europe [that is,
European Russia], sparking global fears it could mutate and
become a pandemic killing millions of people. The latest
deaths prompted Indonesia on Wednesday [21 Sep 2005] to say
an outbreak in the capital Jakarta could be called an
epidemic. [Only 2 deaths in Indonesia have been definitively
attributed to avian influenza virus infection by laboratory
testing. - Mod.CP]

Millions of poultry have been culled since 2003, but bird
flu still spreads. "In my view, this is connected to the
differences in the farming practices. In the West, farming
practices are well controlled: ducks, chickens, and humans
do not mingle together," Omi said. "Unless we address this
fast, we have to expect more emerging diseases, particularly
zoonoses."

Omi said the spread of avian flu in Asia over the past 2
years was related to areas of high population and high
human-to-poultry contact. "If you look at the poultry
density for Asia, southern China, Viet Nam, (and) Cambodia
have very dense populations. In the past 2 years, outbreaks
of avian influenza correspond to where (poultry) population
density is very high," he said. Cambodia and Viet Nam, where
poultry is farmed in backyards and where farmers live in
close proximity to chickens and ducks, have borne the brunt
of avian flu deaths. Omi said Western Europe had equally
dense poultry populations but did not experience the same
level of diseases as Asia.

WHO said 75 per cent of infectious diseases in the past 30
years originated from animals (zoonoses), and the
Asia-Pacific was "the epicenter for such epidemics." Dengue
fever, Japanese encephalitis, leptospirosis, Nipah virus and
drug-resistant malaria are some of the diseases now
entrenched in the region, it said. Omi said globalization,
which had seen an increase in the movement of goods and
people in Asia, and common borders had also contributed to
the spread of diseases like SARS and avian influenza. "There
is an urgent need to strengthen inter-country and
bioregional collaboration," he said. WHO's "Asia-Pacific
Strategy for Emerging Diseases" plan launched on Wednesday
[21 Sep 2005] calls for greater cooperation between
Asia-Pacific nations to ensure early detection and rapid
response to emerging diseases. The plan said that although
most countries had surveillance systems for communicable
diseases, they were not capable of being used as early
warning systems.

"Many countries are still vulnerable to future disease
outbreaks, and most countries are still not well prepared
for early detection and rapid response to emerging disease,"
it said.

[byline: Michael Perry]

--
Shamsudeen Fagbo
<oloungbo@yahoo.com>

[see also:
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (131): Indonesia
20050921.2785
Avian influenza - Asia (04): EU update, H5N1
20050818.2426
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (117): WHO Update
20050818.2423
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (105): CDC update
20050724.2144
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (79): WHO update
20050519.1376
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (09): CDC update
20050116.0144
2004
---
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (52): update
20041004.2738
Avian influenza, human - East Asia (35): Update
20040717.1939
Avian influenza - Thailand: OIE update
20040207.0438
2000
---
Avian influenza virus, update 20001028.1878]

.......................cp/msp/sh

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Veteran Member
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/09210507/H5N1_Zoo_Child_2.html

Commentary
.
Another Child Hospitalized with H5N1 After Ragunan Zoo Visit

Recombinomics Commentary
September 21, 2005

Raka Detyo (8) was reconciled from RS Loyal the Partner because of suffering the sign that was similar to the illness that was caused by this virus.

Raka arrived in RS the Infection (RSPI) Sulianti Saroso, Wednesday (21/9/2005) struck 23.00 WIB.

Beforehand, Raka could be treated in RS Loyal the Partner, Street RS Fatmawati, Cilandak West, Southern Jakarta, for 7 hours. However after the team of the doctor from Department of Health Research And Development carried out the inspection, finally Raka was severed to be reconciled to RSPI.

Information that succeeded in being assembled Detikcom , when entering to RS Loyal the Partner, Raka suffered the fever and experienced breathless. And to last September 17, Raka could visit the Ragunan Zoo.

As noted in the above machine translation, 8 year-old Raka Datyo was transferred to Sulianti Saroso on Wednesday. Raka was the 4th admission with bird flu symptoms and the second child who had visited the Ragunan Zoo recently. In addition, 3 or 4 zoo workers have also showed signs of bird flu.

The zoo cluster has been growing almost hourly. The zoo was closed Monday after it was reported that only four of 27 randomly selected birds at the zoo were negative for H5N1. The birds were asymptomatic and it is unclear when they became infected, but the number of zoo visitors or workers with bird flu symptoms has grown steadily.

Similarly a cluster of cases in the Jakarta neighborhood of Rini Dina , who was H5N1 confirmed positive has grown steadily. Her nephew and neighbor have also tested positive for H5N1 and another neighbor died with bird flu symptoms. Similarly a contact of one of her neighbors also has been hospitalized with bird flu symptoms.

These two clusters are cause for concern as are several additional cases from around Jakarta. Two of these additional cases also died on Wednesday.

This dramatic increase in cases with bird flu symptoms signals a significant change in the ability of H5N1 to infect humans and clearly places the pandemic at phase 5.
 

O2BNOK

Veteran Member
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/09210505/H5N1_Indonesia_Recombination.html
Commentary
.
H5N1 in Indonesia Evolving Via Recombination

Recombinomics Commentary
September 21, 2005


Petersen said that a genetic sequence analysis of the virus from the dead woman, a 37-year-old worker at Jakarta's airport, had just been completed in Hong Kong.

The sequence showed that the virus was essentially the same A(H5N1) avian influenza virus that had already been circulating in poultry in Indonesia, he said.

Malik Peiris, the Hong Kong University expert who did the genetic sequence, cautioned that not all the virus had been analyzed yet, but the segments analyzed so far match avian versions of the virus.

This suggests that the virus has not mixed with human flu viruses and thereby acquired the genetic material that would allow it to pass more easily among people.

The above comments indicate that the H5N1 in Indonesia has not reassorted and is similar to H5N1 in poultry from Indonesia. The same conclusion was reached for sequences from the earlier cluster in Indonesia.

However, H5N1 has been found in several forms in human since 1997 and none of these forms how evidence for reassortment with human genes. Instead, H5N1 evolves via recombination, and most of the recombination has generated small changes scattered through all eight genes. In many instances the pieces of genes acquired have match mammalian sequences.

Thus, the above data indicates the dramatic change in H5N1's ability to infect humans is due to additional recombination. It would be useful to make such sequence data public. There have been no 2005 sequences from Indonesia released, even though H5N1 is endemic in poultry in Indonesia and was recently isolated from swine and people.

The behavior of H5N1 clearly shows more efficient transmission to humans. Release of the sequences will allow the determination of the recombination that has led to this change. This is no evidence that reassortment with human gene will be required. Indeed, H5N1 has achieved increased transmission in humans and maintained a case fatality rate of 100%.

Release of the sequence data of the virulent H5N1 would be useful
 

O2BNOK

Veteran Member
http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=JAK237787

Indonesia to ban poultry farms in capital
Thu 22 Sep 2005 5:33 AM ET
JAKARTA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Indonesia will re-arrange zoning for the poultry industry, banning farms and slaughterhouses in the teeming capital in a bid to stop the spread of the bird flu virus that has killed four people, an official said on Thursday.

"Looking ahead we will rearrange the poultry industry in Indonesia to prevent the passing of zoonotic diseases from animals to humans," Mathur Riady, director-general of poultry at the Agriculture Ministry told reporters.

"For instance, there should not be any slaughtering houses for chickens in greater Jakarta," he said.

"A metropolitan city like Jakarta should not turn into the home of poultry farms," Riady added. He did not say whether the new rules would cover backyard slaughtering.

Zoonotic diseases are those that can be transmitted between or are shared by animals and humans.

It was unclear when the new measures would be effective, and Riady conceded that the move to ban slaughterhouses and farms in the capital, a congested city of about 12 million people, would face social and economic problems.

Some poultry farms in greater Jakarta lie near or in the middle of residential areas.

Many urban-area households in Indonesia also keep livestock, especially chickens, in their yards.

Riady said the number of chickens killed by bird flu was 800,000 so far in 2005, from 5.3 million in the whole of 2004.

The U.N. World Health Organisation last week warned bird flu was moving towards a form that could be passed between humans and the world had no time to waste to prevent a pandemic.

Indonesian doctors are observing 11 patients with bird flu-like symptoms, the health minister said on Thursday, amid fears the avian influenza outbreak is spreading.

On Monday, the government imposed a state of high alert, which gives authorities the power to order people showing symptoms of the virus to be hospitalised.

Besides Indonesia, bird flu has killed 44 people in Vietnam, 12 people in Thailand and four in Cambodia.



© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.
 

O2BNOK

Veteran Member
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD27669.htm


Australian firm to start trials of bird flu vaccine
22 Sep 2005 10:24:18 GMT

Source: Reuters

CANBERRA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Australian company CSL Ltd will begin human trials of a bird flu vaccine next month as the government warned travellers on Thursday about an outbreak of the deadly virus in parts of Asia.

CSL is the world's top maker of human plasma products and spokeswoman Rachel David said the vaccine against the H5N1 strain of avian flu would be tested on 400 human volunteers. Results were expected by the end of the year.

Bird flu has killed a confirmed 64 people in Asia since late 2003. Indonesia is suffering an outbreak of the disease, which has killed at least four people while 11 are under observation in hospital with bird flu-like symptoms.

The Australian government gave CSL A$5 million ($3.8 million) in July to fast-track development of a vaccine.

"What we're testing in the trials is the dose that we need to use for the vaccine to be effective. The technology is tried and true but what we need to find out with this completely new strain is whether the doses we are using are effective," David said.

She said if the tests were successful then the vaccine could be rushed into production if needed.

"In an emergency, if the dose that we tested was successful and the strain remains the same, it would take us three months to produce 40 million doses. We would start to get the product out of the factory within six weeks," she said.

The most advanced bird flu vaccine is one developed by France's Sanofi-Aventis, which has proved effective at stimulating an immune system response in healthy adults.

"That used an enormous dose of antigen. In fact, the dose of antigen was so large that we wouldn't even go down that path because it would just take too long to make," David said. Antigen is the key vaccine component that triggers an immune response.

"Essentially we are all sharing information so that whoever comes up with the preferred process can share the information as quickly as possible."

U.S.-based Chiron Corp. aims to test its H5N1 vaccine later this year and Britain's GlaxoSmithKline Plc plans large-scale clinical trials in 2006.

The Australian government reissued a flood of travel warnings for Asia to alert Australians to the bird flu outbreak.

The H5N1 strain first emerged in Hong Kong in 1997, where it killed six people, and surfaced again on the Korean peninsula in 2003.

It has since been found in birds in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. ($1 = A$1.30)
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
Top birdflu scientist warns against antiviral abuse

Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:47 PM BST
By Tan Ee Lyn

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/new...SISTANCE-DC.XML

HONG KONG (Reuters) - A top scientist warned on Thursday against misusing oseltamivir, the antiviral drug that governments are stockpiling to fight a possible human pandemic caused by the H5N1 birdflu, saying that could lead to resistance.

The warning from microbiologist Yi Guan, from the University of Hong Kong, comes after The Lancet medical journal published two research papers which showed that resistance to anti-flu drugs had risen by 12 percent worldwide in the past decade.

In some countries in Asia, such as China, drug resistance exceeded 70 percent, suggesting that drugs like amantadine and rimantadine will probably no longer be effective for treatment or as a preventive in a pandemic outbreak of flu.

Kim: (Because China was giving their poultry human antivirals!)

Guan described that as a tremendous blow because amantadine, a far cheaper drug than oseltamivir, helped control the H5N1 in Hong Kong where it made the first known jump to humans in 1997.

That year, the disease killed six out of 18 people. But by 2003, when the disease began spreading in parts of southeast Asia, amantadine was no longer as effective, Guan said.

Guan said the prudent use of oseltamivir, which is known by its brand name Tamiflu, was of utmost importance if the world wanted to preserve it for a H5N1 pandemic.

"We have to be very careful right now. We don't want a lot of drug resistance for Tamiflu because if the pandemic comes, it may become useless ... we will then be completely disarmed. We will be finished, this is the concern," said Guan, who has been studying the H5N1 strain since 1997.

Although some experts say another antiviral, zanamivir, may be effective in controlling H5N1 in humans, the World Health Organization has recommended that governments stockpile oseltamivir -- although its high price tag has made it too expensive for poorer nations.

Indonesia, for example, has only 10,000 oseltamivir tablets, or just a course each for 1,000 people. Alarm is spreading in the populous country after the disease killed four people.

Eleven people are now under observation in Jakarta, and officials are awaiting laboratory results to confirm if the virus killed two others, both children.

Experts' greatest fear now is that the H5N1 virus, which has the power to kill one out of every two people in infects, could set off a pandemic if it gains the ability to be passed easily among people. While they say the virus could have passed in a few cases from person to person who had had very close and sustained contact in the last two years, it has yet to mutate into a form which would allow it to do that easily.

Guan said amantadine would have been a good option to help control the H5N1, had viruses not become resistant to it.

"Amantadine is a cheap, commercially available drug and where there is no Tamiflu, this would have been an important option to control the disease. It makes you concerned," he said.

China-born Guan said there was good reason for the sudden growth in resistance to amantadine in China, where the SARS virus made its first known jump to humans in 2003. SARS went on to infect people in 30 countries, killing about 800 people in all.

"It's not accidental that resistance is highest in China. Something happened. When SARS happened, everyone went crazy. So people take antivirals now, they think they have birdflu (when they could have just the common flu or cold)," Guan said.

"Amantadine is so resistant in China. Will Tamiflu become like amantadine? I don't know. If everyone abuses it, then there will be trouble. We have to worry about drug resistance."
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
Indonesia plays down talk of bird flu epidemic as more cases emerge
(AFP)

22 September 2005

JAKARTA - Indonesian health officials Thursday played down talk that the country faces an epidemic of bird flu amid rising public concern over the outbreak that has killed at least four people here.

As the government sought to qualify Wednesday’s comments by Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari that the archipelago faced an ”epidemic”, a hospital official said the disease may have claimed one more life.

Awang Yunani, head of a hospital in Samarinda, East Kalimantan province, told local radio that a five-year-old boy died there from suspected bird flu. Samples from the boy have been sent to Jakarta for testing.

On Wednesday, a five-year-old girl died in Jakarta’s Sulianti Saroso Hospital showing symptoms of bird flu but Supari said Thursday tests have not yet confirmed bird flu as the cause of death.

A two-year-old girl who died Wednesday at a hospital in Jakarta could be another bird flu victim, Supari said.

“We say that only five persons were definitively positive, four of them died and one is still alive,” she told reporters.

The survivor is among 13 patients being treated for symptoms of bird flu at Jakarta’s Sulianto Saroso Hospital, an increase from nine on Wednesday.

A strain of bird flu known as H5N1 has killed 63 people in Southeast Asia since 2003, the majority of them in Vietnam. Indonesia’s health ministry has confirmed that the country’s four victims died from H5N1.

The World Health Organization’s biggest fear is that H5N1 may mutate, acquiring genes from the human influenza virus that would make it highly infectious and lethal to millions in a global pandemic.

On Wednesday Supari warned of more infections and told reporters: “This can be classified as an epidemic and most definitely there will be others as long as we are unable to positively identify the sources.”

However, the health ministry sought Thursday to play down her comments.

“What the minister said yesterday was that if it was not handled properly, it can turn into an epidemic. It has not reached that stage yet and officially it is still at the status of an outbreak,” the ministry’s acting spokesman, Sumardi, told AFP.

The Indonesian government on Monday gave bird flu “extraordinary incident” priority status to focus attention on the outbreak in the world’s fourth most populous nation, where the first deaths occurred in July.

Among its measures, extraordinary status allows for the forced hospitalization of suspected bird flu patients.

Kartono Muhammad, a former chairman of the Indonesian Doctors’ Association, said Thursday the government had been too hasty in declaring the “extraordinary” situation.

“To declare the extraordinary condition for the entire country is a bit too rash and will only lead to panic and fear among the population as well as people intending to travel to the country,” he told AFP.

Jose Rizal Jurnalis, a doctor with the private Medical Emergency Rescue Committee, said public information campaigns could help stem infections.

“The government should be tireless in informing the public, through the media, of the dangers, possibilities and ways to prevent infection,” he told AFP.

Some public announcements about hygiene and the prevention of bird flu are already airing in the country where chickens roam at will through tightly-packed city neighbourhoods.

“Chickens and fowl are taken care of as if they are family members... Bird and fowl markets are widespread,” the Kompas daily said in an editorial.


http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Display...eworld_September617.xml&section=theworld&col=
 

Martin

Deceased
SPIEGEL'S DAILY TAKE

Bird Flu

Bird flu ruffles feathers in Europe as the disease makes its way to the Ural Mountains, which divide Europe from Asia. Workers in Stuttgart find a Jewish mass grave. Plus, model Kate Moss's career hits rock bottom.



DPA
A grim job for Indonesian poultry farmers
Jakarta has closed a zoo this week and will disinfect its poultry markets after a health minister warned about a possible avian-flu epidemic in Indonesia. Exotic birds at the zoo had the disease, and two girls in Jakarta died with symptoms of it on Wednesday. Their blood still needs to be tested for the virus, but the Indonesian panic has sent a tremor through Europe, and doctors and veterinarians will meet in Brussels on Thursday to work out what to do.

The disease, alarmingly, has drifted west this summer: Russian doctors think migratory birds brought it from Southeast Asia to Siberia in the spring, and the first cases (in chickens and geese) were found west of the Ural Mountains last month. The Urals separate Asia from Europe, geographically, so concern here in Europe is on the rise. Though public health experts are now calling it a panic reaction, the Netherlands responded to those reports by ordering all its free-range poultry indoors.

No humans have died of the disease in Europe or Russia. According to the World Health Organization, 60 people have died from exposure to avian flu in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia combined. The great fear is that the virus will mutate into a contagious disease which the human immune system can't fight, causing a flu pandemic like the one that killed millions of people around the world in the years after World War I.

Right now, those fears are just horror stories. Almost every person who has died of bird flu has come in contact with a live, infected bird -- not a single case has been linked to cooked food -- and an Australian health minister who reacted to the news from Indonesia says there's no sign of a human pandemic. "I am advised that currently there is no evidence that this has happened," said Australian Health Minister John Horvath.

But images of burning chickens from Vietnam and Indonesia recall the mountains of burning cattle in Europe four years ago -- during the mad-cow disease outbreak -- and European health experts want to avoid a similar catastrophe. The first step is to monitor birds migrating to Europe and (given enough money from the EU) to stockpile medicines in Asia. "It's very important to have a fully coordinated response to various animal health threats," EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said at a news conference this week in Brussels, in what was seen to be a veiled criticism of the chicken-protecting measures taken by the Netherlands and a few German states.

The threat in Europe still seems restricted to migratory birds. Last March, the coordinator of WHO's global influenza policy, Dr. Klaus Stohr, told Spiegel Online that he was surprised to see the virus had spread to ducks. All chickens die from the virus, but ducks can stay healthy and carry it somewhere else. "Protecting yourself from a healthy, quacking duck is much more difficult than from a dead chicken lying on its back on the ground," he said. Now ducks and geese have carried the virus across the Urals, and it's Stohr's job to assume there will be a problem.

"Influenza pandemics are a little bit like earthquakes," he said in March. "We know that they are going to happen but we don't know exactly when or how strong they are going to be."

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,375998,00.html
 

Martin

Deceased
More birds die in Mongolia from avian flu

Thursday • September 22, 2005

Mongolian authorities said 563 birds have died from avian flu across the country since late July, prompting teams of emergency workers to be sent to the worst-hit areas.

The first birds who died at a lake in Hovsgol province near the Russian border in late July were later identified as having the H5N1 virus, which experts fear could mutate into a form easily passed from person to person.

Test results of the most recent deaths have yet to be completed.

Ch Ganzorig, from the Hovsgol General Emergency Office, said that so far 563 birds, mostly migratory, have been found dead in 16 provinces nationwide, including 250 at Erkhel Lake in Hovsgol, popular with tourists

"The infected birds stagger like drunk men," he said.

While no human infection has been found nomadic herdsman are worried as they traditionally bring their animals to the lake for the winter months, he added.

Authorities have dispatched 50 emergency workers and health specialists to the lake area armed with vaccine.

Experts fear the H5N1 bird flu virus could mutate into a form easily passed from person to person, creating a powerful new strain of influenza that could catch governments off guard and kill millions of people worldwide.



http://www.todayonline.com/articles/74017print.asp
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
Nine H5N1 Admissions Today Including Four Ragunan Zoo Visitors

Recombinomics Commentary
September 22, 2005

Thursday (15/9/2005) then, according to Hermawan, Elisabeth with his grandmother and his mother as well as several of the family's members other visited to the Ragunan Zoo. ....

Beforehand struck 19.00 WIB had a patient had the initials JT (2) from Bekasi that also entered to RSPI. To struck 18.30 WIB also had the patient had a name Muji the Well-being (26) that was reconciled by RS Hermina in Plumpang. Muji could last Sunday visit to the Ragunan Zoo.

The above machine translation describes 3 more patients admitted to Sulianti Saroso this evening, including two more children who had visited the Ragunan Zoo on 9/15 and "last Sunday". This morning two other children were admitted and yesterday there were two more who had visited the zoo. Thus, there are now 6 zoo vistors admitted and 115 zoo visitors with symptoms, who were turned away because they were not yet sick enough.

Patients have been admitted all day today. Media reports describe 9 admissions today ranging in age from 1.5 to 55. In addition to the children, there were farmers whose chickens died last week and an assortment of other instances from locations throughout the Jakarta area.

The hospital now has eight from the zoo (two workers and eight children) that cover several dates in the past week. These transmissions appear to be casual, Two of the children were 1.5 years of age. More admissions are expected.

Clearly the efficiency of H5N1 bird flu infections has increased, as the number of admitted cases doubles daily.

The H5N1 pandemic appears to be at phase 5 heading for phase 6. There are no major antiviral interventions.

WHO press releases are still in denial.

H5N1 does not read press releases.
 

selah

Inactive
I wonder how many people have been exposed, hopped on an airplane and carried the disease to other countries? I see this as a much bigger threat than Rita will ever be.

editing to add that last year there was an outbreak of avian flu at a poultry farm not too far from here.. the government then killed every fowl from the point of origin west to the ocean, commercial or hobby farm..
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
Bird flu may see NZ close borders
23 September 2005
By LOUISE BLEAKLEY

New Zealand may lock down all air and sea ports if a lethal bird flu epidemic takes hold internationally, potentially turning planes around and putting all arrivals into quarantine.

The disease has killed more than 50 people, but it has not yet learned to rapidly transmit between humans.

In late October, New Zealand border agencies would look at the logistics of stopping all people and imports, such as food and medicine, from entering the country in the event of a pandemic, Customs business development unit manager John Ladd said yesterday.

Enormous problems would accompany such a move, he said.

"What do you do when you have got a whole lot of people in quarantine? Are there legislative processes available to stop New Zealanders coming into the country?"

The agencies would have to consider whether it was reasonable to direct planes in mid-air not to land in New Zealand.

People may need to be quarantined for as long as eight days if New Zealand hoped to stop the outbreak spreading while keeping its borders open, Ladd said. "How do we feed all these people?"

AdvertisementAdvertisementEven closed borders or quarantines might not stop the deadly flu from spreading to New Zealand.

"It's quite possible it will come into the country before we even know there's an outbreak," he said.

Customs officials will visit Christchurch next Wednesday to discuss a plan of action with airport staff.

This week, Indonesian officials battled to contain the threat of an epidemic that was prompting reports of widespread panic.

Two girls who died in Jakarta are thought to have contracted the deadly H5N1 strain, while several patients in Jakarta hospitals are showing symptoms of the disease.

Christchurch microbiologist Ben Harris said New Zealand borders might need to be closed for many months to allow the pandemic to run its course.

"To do that, all those people overseas on holiday would not be allowed in either. It sounds a good idea, but I would find it interesting to see whether it could ever be done," he said.

Protective gear such as masks would not be 100 per cent effective against the deadly strain if it became as contagious as conventional influenza, Harris said.

"It may never come. It may come mildly or it may be like a blast from hell. Personally, I'm very concerned. It makes one look at one's values in life," he said.

Bird flu kills one in two victims.

In Canterbury, Civil Defence will begin stockpiling protective gear as health authorities and emergency services crank up efforts to manage an outbreak.

Health authorities met emergency services this week to discuss how they would co-ordinate efforts if the region were hit by bird flu.

Canterbury District Health Board chief medical officer Nigel Millar said local authorities had discussed various strategies, such as limiting social gatherings, to restrict the spread of the disease.

Staff would have to think about whether it was safe to go home to their families at the end of a working day.

"The key thing is to manage processes so health workers are protected if we want them to front up and see people," he said.

Health Ministry acting director of public health Ashley Bloomfield said the ministry would release advice today about whether people travelling to or living in Asian countries should obtain antivirals or use other treatment options to prepare for an outbreak.

"The ministry and other government agencies are taking the potential pandemic influenza threat very seriously. There were three influenza pandemics last century and it is certain there will be another one. What we don't know is when this will happen," he said.

Bloomfield said the ministry employed 26 part and full-time staff on pandemic planning projects.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3419499a11,00.html
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
http://www.canada.com/health/story.html?id=e05b34c6-68d9-49a1-9d6e-5837d364c155

Indonesian avian flu case confirmed, could be human-to-human transmission

Helen Branswell
Canadian Press

Thursday, September 22, 2005

(CP) - The World Health Organization confirmed an additional human case of avian influenza in Indonesia on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Geneva-based agency confirmed the patient, an eight-year-old boy, may have caught the virus from another person.

The boy, who is recovering in hospital, is the nephew of a woman who died of H5N1 avian flu in Jakarta on Sept. 16. He had contact with his aunt after she became ill. Onset of his symptoms occurred four days after she became sick.

"It's possible that there's a common source (of infection). But . . . given the timing, we can't rule out human-to-human transmission," Maria Cheng, a WHO spokesperson, said in an interview from Geneva.

"I don't think we have enough information right now to form any definite hypotheses."

The woman, 37, became ill on Aug. 31, was hospitalized on Sept. 6 and died on Sept. 10.

It's not certain how she became infected with the virus, though it is known she lived near a poultry slaughterhouse and some of her neighbours kept chickens and ducks. Her nephew did not live with her, said Cheng, with the WHO's communicable diseases branch.

The boy, who was hospitalized on Sept. 17, is being kept under observation until it is deemed he is no longer a source of possible infection for others.

Viruses from the woman and the boy are undergoing genetic sequencing, Cheng said, adding results may be available sometime next week.

That work will show scientists whether the viruses are still comprised only of avian flu genes or whether they have swapped genes from flu strains that infect humans or other mammals.

The latter scenario would conceivably be more worrisome from the point of view of the virus's potential to spark a human flu pandemic. Genes from mammalian influenza viruses could make it easier for the avian viruses to infect humans and acquire the ability to spread easily from one person to another.

Experts have been anxiously watching the behaviour and composition of H5N1 viruses, believing that if the viruses acquire the capacity to pass easily and in a sustained fashion among humans that a flu pandemic would be inevitable.

Anxiety is currently high in Indonesia, where two young girls suspected of having H5N1 flu died Wednesday and 11 other individuals are reportedly in hospital on suspicion of having contracted avian influenza. Tests results that would rule those suspect cases in or out are still pending.

The official WHO case count for the country now stands at three - the boy, his aunt, and a 38-year old man who died July 12. Two of the man's daughters died and they are believed to have constituted a cluster of cases. But they were never added to the official list because their test results were ambiguous.

According to official WHO figures, there have been 115 confirmed cases of H5N1 influenza since early 2004 and 59 of those people have died.

© The Canadian Press 2005
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=8050535f86a274dd9ba814968d39969a

Avian Flu Crisis -- A Question of When
Q&A, Andrew Lam,
New America Media, Sep 22, 2005

Editor's Note: The avian flu virus, H5N1, has the potential to kill millions once it learns how to jump from human to human. So far, most people who become infected have worked with live chickens. But scientists say it's a matter of time before avian flu makes the leap. The virus most recently surfaced in Indonesia, where four people have died. PNS and NCM editor Andrew Lam spoke with Dr. David Relman, professor of medicine and of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University.

NCM: Should we ask if avian flu will jump from animal-to-human transmission to human-to-human transmission -- or is it a question of when?

DR: It probably is a question of when, not if. This virus is progressing right down the path you would predict for a virus that will eventually become quite good at human-to-human transmission.

NCM: Is there a timeline?

DR: That's the hard thing. Some people say it could be as early as this winter. Those of a more optimistic sort say maybe two years, or five. I think the really important question is, when it acquires that capability (human-to-human transmission), what will it cost the virus? Most people think it won't be as virulent.

NCM: Since the number of people who have died so far is small, can we really speculate about the number of fatalities avian flu could cause?

DR: Right now, of the known cases of avian flu in humans, it has killed about 50 percent. The big question is, are there others out there walking the streets, sitting in their homes, eating dinner and talking to their family members who have become infected and didn't even become sick? I don't think there are many. There are some surveys out there of blood from people who are healthy to see if they have evidence of exposure to this virus, and there haven't been many episodes or incidences of that. But it's still possible.

NCM: How will it be transmitted among humans? I imagine if it is airborne, like SARS, it is going to be very contagious.

DR: Correct. It almost certainly will behave just like all the influenza viruses before it, meaning that it will be aerosol-transmitted. In fact, the current human-to-human flu viruses that we all experience each winter are more transmissible than SARS. They actually become transmitted easily through fine-particle aerosols, person to person. SARS required large droplets or even direct contact.

NCM: I was traveling in Asia near the beginning and at the end of the SARS epidemic, and the attitude regarding SARS, especially in big cities, was one of sheer panic. Yet with avian flu the attitude is 180 degrees different. In Hanoi friends said to me, "Oh, it's just farmers who get it, so just don't eat chicken now and you'll be OK."

DR: It probably reflects something about human nature. At the time you're talking about, during the height of the SARS event, there were a lot of people who were sick. There were hospitals that were shut down. There was already a fairly substantial impact on the health care system in a few major world cities.

We're not there yet with Avian flu. I think the inevitable course will be that this virus will become better at human-to-human transmission, and when it does that, SARS unfortunately may look like quite a small little blip.

NCM: What about the new vaccine being developed against avian flu?

DR: The vaccine does appear to induce what should be protective immunity in humans. That's the good news. The bad news is that even with the prototype vaccine in hand, we still don't have the production infrastructure to make enough doses quickly. If every vaccine producing factory in the world were devoted solely to the purpose of making this new influenza vaccine, at current levels of production we would only have enough for maybe 50 to 100 million doses worldwide, for a whole population that needs 10 times more doses.

NCM: Why do you think the last few diseases of concern -- SARS, avian flu and now swine flu -- all seem to originate from one particular area, either Southeast Asia or South China?

DR: For reasons that are still unclear, influenza, even yearly, seems to evolve out of the bird population of Southeast Asia. Nobody knows why. SARS seems to also have found a natural home in animal populations of China, and then moved into humans when those animals were moved about. But every continent has its sites for the origin of a new emerging infection.

NCM: But are there common conditions that promote the development and spread of such viruses?

DR: Where you see emerging infections around the globe, you see dislocations of animals, you see disease in animals because of crowding, you see displacements of humans, crowding of humans, poor sanitary conditions, poor hygiene, war, famine -- anything that perturbs what might have previously been a fine-tuned balance in nature.

NCM: Has our changing relationship with animals encouraged the rise of new diseases?

DR: There have been major changes in the way we manage animal populations. One of the most important in the more developed world is the rise of very large-scale, industrial scale livestock management, farming that involves populations of hundreds of thousands of millions of animals all packed together. It's easy to see where an infectious agent might have lived and died within a small population of animals, but now has the opportunity to move within millions very easily.

We also move animals about the globe in ways that we never ever did ten, 20 years ago. Look at monkey pox, which showed up in the United States two years ago. How did it get here? We are importing millions of exotic strains and species of animals that have no place being in North America, due to Americans' desires for exotic and unusual pets.

NCM: So basically the rise of new diseases, or a lot of them anyway, are the direct cause of our human behavior?

DR: Correct. We are at fault in many ways.

NCM: But with technology we are also quicker in defining and isolating the cause of diseases.

DR: Yes, you have to hope that on the one hand, while we're the cause of many of our own problems, we are also the potential solution.

Lam is author of "Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora," forthcoming in October from Heyday Books.
 

Kim99

Veteran Member
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/21/health/main870945.shtml

U.S. Bird Flu Scenario Eyed
(Page 1 of 2)

Sept. 21, 2005

"In the modern world, infectious diseases travel at jet speed."
Canadian journalist Helen Branswell

AT A GLANCE
What Is It: A form of influenza believed to strike all birds, though domestic poultry are believed especially prone to it. It also has jumped to humans, though no human-to-human transmission has been reported.

How It's Passed: Infected birds spread the virus through saliva, feces, and nasal secretions.

So far, only humans with direct contact with sick birds have caught the disease. But scientists are worried that bird flu could link with regular human influenza, mutate, and become a deadly new virus and trigger a pandemic

Symptoms In Birds: Loss of appetite, ruffled feathers, fever, weakness, diarrhea, excessive thirst, swelling. If the strain is virulent, mortality rate can range between 50 percent to 100 percent.

Symptoms In Humans: Fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, eye infections, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia.

Treatment For Humans: World Health Organization says this year's strain is resistant to cheaper anti-viral drugs, amantadine and rimantadine. Scientists are exploring more expensive treatment.

WHO also recommends quarantining sick people.

Food Safety: There's no evidence that the virus is being passed through eating chicken products, health experts say. Heat kills viruses, and WHO says chicken products should be cooked thoroughly at temperatures of at least 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit). WHO also says people should wash their hands after handling poultry and ensure that poultry carcasses do not contaminate other objects.

Sources: World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization (AP)


(CBS/AP) An infectious disease expert says a doomsday scenario is awaiting the nation if it experiences an avian flu pandemic.

Michael Osterholm, head of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, warns an avian flu pandemic in the U.S. could claim many more lives than Hurricane Katrina.

"It is not if it [avian flu] is going to happen," he said. "It is when, and where, and how bad," Osterholm said at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.

So far, avian flu has killed about 60 humans in Asia, while being mostly restricted to birds. But experts expect the virus to change enough to spread from human to human. Osterholm said it would likely claim around 1.7 million Americans in the first year, as vaccine was slowly produced.

Canadian medical journalist Helen Branswell said she feels no one, including the World Health Organization, is ready to deal adequately with an avian flu pandemic.

"Welcome to my nightmare," she said at the conference.

The World Health Organization is prepared to begin distributing large-scale quantities of an antiviral drug to treat bird flu in humans "if and when a pandemic starts," a top WHO official said Wednesday.

Dr. Shigeru Omi, director for WHO's Western Pacific region, said the U.N. agency was ready to open its stockpile of oseltamivir, an antiviral drug, to help avert a global pandemic of the disease.

The announcement came as Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadila Supari on Wednesday warned of a possible bird flu epidemic just hours after the death of a 5-year-old girl who was hospitalized with symptoms of the disease.

A bird flu outbreak there could quickly turn into an epidemic, the health minister warned.

Bird flu has killed at least four people in Jakarta and is suspected of sickening several others, prompting Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono to declare a mass cull of chickens in areas found to be "highly infected" with avian influenza.

WHO currently maintains a stockpile of about 80,000 treatment courses of oseltamivir, known commercially as Tamiflu, Omi told reporters outside a WHO conference in New Caledonia.

Asked if WHO was prepared to send tamiflu to Indonesia, Omi replied: "If and when a pandemic starts, we can send this (drug)."

The organization regards a pandemic as a multi-country outbreak of bird flu, in which the disease has been passed from human to human.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has swept through poultry populations in large swaths of Asia since 2003, killing at least 63 people and resulting in the deaths of tens of millions of birds. Most of the human deaths have been in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Health officials in parts of Russia and Kazakhstan are also monitoring its spread.
 

Martin

Deceased
World Waking Up to Bird Flu Threat
By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
23 September 2005




Until recently the bird flu virus has been considered largely an Asian problem, but experts are now waking up to the fact that it could be a global threat unless measures are taken to contain the disease.


Indonesian Agriculture Ministry officials give bird flu vaccine to a chicken at during a door to door search for poultry in Jakarta
Concern is growing that the H5N1 virus, which causes bird flu, may mutate into a form easily passed between humans, causing a pandemic that could kill millions of people.

The bird flu virus has swept across Asia since 2003, causing the deaths of more than 60 people in four countries and decimating the region's poultry industry. The latest deaths occurred in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, where four people died in the last two months.

Although most of the victims caught the disease from close contact with infected poultry, the infection source for those who died in Jakarta has yet to be determined.

Last week a Jakarta zoo was closed when several species of birds, including eagles and peacocks, tested positive for the virus.

Steven Bjorge, an epidemiologist for the World Health Organization in Jakarta says this calls into question the assumption that people are being infected by poultry alone.

"Certainly the information from the zoo raises a lot of questions about whether or not the true exposure in Jakarta is something other than chickens and poultry, maybe it's some other species of birds that are spreading the virus," he said.

Mr. Bjorge also says the H5N1 virus may be changing in birds into one that can more easily infect people, as may have been the case for the 1918 Spanish flu, which killed tens of millions of people globally. "The 1918 virus was a bird virus through and through - and the current thinking is that it did modify itself to be more easily transmitted to humans," he said.

But although health experts do not know exactly how the virus is spread, they say governments can still take effective preventative measures.

Diderik de Vleeschauwer, Asia-Pacific spokesman for the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization says the Indonesian government must improve procedures to contain the recent outbreak.

"We feel the bird flu has become endemic in Indonesia - and it indeed seems that it is continuing to spread," he said. "That is definitely a worrying situation and it is necessary for the government to improve on its virus control policies."

Indonesia announced earlier this week emergency measures to contain bird flu, including a mass cull of chickens and the forcible hospitalization of people suspected of having the disease.

The recent H5N1 outbreak in Indonesia and the discovery last month of the virus in poultry in Russia and Kazakhstan have prompted the United States to launch an international partnership on avian flu and call for early warning pacts with Southeast Asian governments.

Bob Dietz, the W.H.O.'s Asia-Pacific spokesman says Western nations are increasingly aware of the need to help Asia fight the virus. "Western nations now realize that if they contain this in Southeast Asia, in fact they might minimize the jeopardy to their own citizens," he said. "They are now starting to put money into helping these countries develop surveillance systems, helping these countries to prepare to contain this disease within their own countries."

But Mr. Dietz is still concerned about the ability of Asian countries to contain the virus. "Most of Asia, where we're seeing a lot of this H5N1 activity is not very well prepared, mainly because they don't have the resources to meet the challenge," he said.

Health experts from the United States, Australia, and Canada have begun arriving in Jakarta to help Indonesia deal with its growing bird flu problem.



http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-09-23-voa34.cfm?renderforprint=1
 

O2BNOK

Veteran Member
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/09220503/H5N1_Jakarta_9.html

Commentary
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Nine H5N1 Admissions Today Including Four Ragunan Zoo Visitors

Recombinomics Commentary
September 22, 2005


Thursday (15/9/2005) then, according to Hermawan, Elisabeth with his grandmother and his mother as well as several of the family's members other visited to the Ragunan Zoo. ....

Beforehand struck 19.00 WIB had a patient had the initials JT (2) from Bekasi that also entered to RSPI. To struck 18.30 WIB also had the patient had a name Muji the Well-being (26) that was reconciled by RS Hermina in Plumpang. Muji could last Sunday visit to the Ragunan Zoo.

The above machine translation describes 3 more patients admitted to Sulianti Saroso this evening, including two more children who had visited the Ragunan Zoo on 9/15 and "last Sunday". This morning two other children were admitted and yesterday there were two more who had visited the zoo. Thus, there are now 6 zoo vistors admitted and 115 zoo visitors with symptoms, who were turned away because they were not yet sick enough.

Patients have been admitted all day today. Media reports describe 9 admissions today ranging in age from 1.5 to 55. In addition to the children, there were farmers whose chickens died last week and an assortment of other instances from locations throughout the Jakarta area.

The hospital now has eight from the zoo (two workers and eight children) that cover several dates in the past week. These transmissions appear to be casual, Two of the children were 1.5 years of age. More admissions are expected.

Clearly the efficiency of H5N1 bird flu infections has increased, as the number of admitted cases doubles daily.

The H5N1 pandemic appears to be at phase 5 heading for phase 6. There are no major antiviral interventions.

WHO press releases are still in denial.

H5N1 does not read press releases.
 
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