Indonesia confirms 115th human case

Yet another case from Tangerang, a satellite city of Jakarta


"Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A 47-year-old man from the outskirts of the Indonesian capital has been confirmed as the 115th person to be infected with bird flu, the health ministry said Wednesday.The man is being treated in a Jakarta hospital for the deadly disease, which has claimed 92 lives in Indonesia.Two laboratory tests on the man showed that he was infected with the highly pathogenic virus, a statement from the ministry's bird flu information centre was quoted by AFP as saying.Two positive results of tests on blood and tissue samples from a victim are needed before Indonesian authorities can confirm a bird flu infection.The man, who is from the satellite city of Tangerang, was first admitted to a private hospital there on December 5, three days after he began to feel ill.He was referred to the Jakarta hospital on December 10.The ministry statement said it had not confirmed if the man had any contact with infected poultry."

http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2007/12/12/indonesia-confirms-115th-human-bird-flu-infection/

92nd Death Confirmed in Indonesia

A young woman in Tangerang died from H5N1 infection, bringing the nation's deaths from the virus to 92. Currently, the source of infection in unkown, though the government is testing poultry near the woman's home. Also, the woman worked as a plant seller and could have come in contact with the virus through contaminated fertilizer (though at this point possible sources of infection are speculation only).


"A 28-year-old mother has died of bird flu at a Jakarta hospital, bringing the total death toll from the disease to 92 in Indonesia, the local press said Tuesday.
The woman, a mother of two in the Jakarta suburb of Tangerang, died during treatment at the Persahabatan Hospital early on Monday, reported major national newspaper Kompas.
Her relatives said she had suffered respiratory problems, high fever and severe pneumonia since last week.
When she was admitted to the hospital, her conditions were already at worst.
"Test results by the Health Ministry's research and development center confirms that (she) is positive of having H5N1 virus," I Nyoman Kandun, a senior official with the ministry, told the newspaper."



http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/11/content_7229757.htm

Eggs from H5N1 affected farms went on sale in Poland

Even European countries have difficulties in protecting the food supply during an outbreak, as we've seen several times...

"40,000 eggs from the H5N1-infected farms in Zuromin have been discovered on sale in groceries of Warmia and Mazury, north-east Poland.
2,500 were sold on Sunday, whereas 5,000 were withdrawn from sale.
A list of the shops where the eggs were available has been posted on the website of Sanepid, State Sanitary Inspectorate.
Since yesterday Sanepid has also been monitoring the shops where H5N1-infected eggs may be available."

http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/news/?id=71473

Suspected H5N1 Outbreak in Benin

Two suspected H5N1 outbreaks were discovered late last night in Adjarra, about nine miles north of the capital Porto Novo, and on a farm in the commercial capital Cotonou of the West African country Benin. Several dead birds tested positive for H5N1, but the reports have yet to be confirmed by further testing. Samples have been sent to Italy; however, health officials are convinced that "these (bird) deaths are due to the H5N1 strain of bird flu." Several hundred birds have been culled as a result of the findings. In addition, farms in a 5 mile radius have been cleaned and disinfected and the import of poultry has been banned.
Full story: http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL07605997.html

Foreign donors pledge $406 million to combat H5N1

"Foreign donors have pledged $406 million in additional funds for efforts to combat bird flu, but another $800 million is still needed and countries still need to be better prepared for any pandemic, officials said on Thursday.

The funds were pledged on the final day of a three-day summit in New Delhi, India, of experts on avian influenza from across the world, aimed at coordinating strategies to combat the disease.

Last year at a similar meeting around $475 million was pledged by donors, but experts played down the apparent shortfall in funding, saying they were confident further funds would be forthcoming.

The United States, the largest donor in the fight against bird flu, raised its pledge to $629 million, an additional $195 million in funding."

Full story: http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINDEL16049420071206

H5N1 death in mainland China: What was the source?

"A 24-year-old man, who had no known contact with infected or dead poultry, died from avian flu on Sunday."

Mainland ministry of health officials are trying to piece together what exposure he may have had to the virus. Sixty-nine of his contacts in the days leading up to his death are being closely monitored. None have shown signs of H5N1 symptoms. Officials are cautioning people not to jump to conclusions and that there is no current evidence to point to human-to-human transmission.

Questions have been raised, particulalry by virologist Julian Tang Wei-tze, about the man's contact history with poultry, noting that it may have simply been incomplete.

Full Story: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=58026&sid=16579988&con_type=1&d_str=20071204&fc=2

H5N1 on a farm in central Poland

Two poultry farms in central Poland were confirmed to have outbreasks of H5N1 among their flocks, prompting the culling of over 10,000 turkeys.

Though Polish authorities noted that there is no need to expand the so-called "danger zones" surrounding the two farms, other countries fear the virus may be spreading.

Ukraine, China, and most EU countries have banned Polish poultry imports.

Full Story: http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/human-interest/?id=70967