A young girl, testing positive for H5N1 after an initial test, was said to be Indonesia's 89th human death from H5N1. However, after a second test was performed, the Ministry of Health is now reporting that she did not die of H5N1, though they have not reported an alternate cause of death.
"The 10-year-old was admitted to hospital on Saturday suffering symptoms that led doctors to suspect she could be carrying the H5N1 virus ..."
If the ministry result is positive, a second test is carried out at a separate laboratory before a patient is confirmed as infected with bird flu in Indonesia.
The young girl's aunt, who presented with similar symptoms, also died over the weekend.
Full story, via H5N1 blog: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071022/hl_afp/healthfluindonesia_071022161333;_ylt=A9G_Rz3P0hxHFEcBjiWTvyIi
Monday, October 22, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Demand for animal products will increase the need for food safety
As the population of the world continues to expand by about 78 million people per year, the demand for animal products will also increase. With this increase comes the necessity for ensuring the safety of our food resources.
"The growing population will increase the demand for animal products coming from developing countries" said Francois Le Gall, of the World Bank. Le Gall also agrees with Bernard Vallat, the director of the World Organization for Animal Health, that only 40 out of 200 countries could respond to a health crisis that originates from animal disease."
For instance, to date, avian influenza has forced the culling of about 100 million birds in Asia, especially in Vietnam. Other problems include farmers embracing antibiotics a little too fully, and causing antibiotic resistance in their livestock.
Anni McLeod of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says "more genetic diversity may be needed in the future. In poultry, for example, there are about three or four companies that control most of the poultry breeds in the world. If nothing is done to prevent diseases in livestock for human consumption the world could face a major crisis in the next 10 years."
In order to meet this coming challenge, international organizations are working together on several fronts of the issue such as "food safety, veterinarian services, packing, and transportation."
Click here to view the full story: http://www.flulab.com/overview.php?a=2007-10-16-fl54
"The growing population will increase the demand for animal products coming from developing countries" said Francois Le Gall, of the World Bank. Le Gall also agrees with Bernard Vallat, the director of the World Organization for Animal Health, that only 40 out of 200 countries could respond to a health crisis that originates from animal disease."
For instance, to date, avian influenza has forced the culling of about 100 million birds in Asia, especially in Vietnam. Other problems include farmers embracing antibiotics a little too fully, and causing antibiotic resistance in their livestock.
Anni McLeod of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says "more genetic diversity may be needed in the future. In poultry, for example, there are about three or four companies that control most of the poultry breeds in the world. If nothing is done to prevent diseases in livestock for human consumption the world could face a major crisis in the next 10 years."
In order to meet this coming challenge, international organizations are working together on several fronts of the issue such as "food safety, veterinarian services, packing, and transportation."
Click here to view the full story: http://www.flulab.com/overview.php?a=2007-10-16-fl54
Summit on Business Preparedness for Pandemic Influenza
This speech, given by WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, was delivered February 5, 2007 at CIDRAP's Summit on Business Preparedness for Pandemic Influenza in Orlando, FL. It remains an up-to-date statement which addresses two main issues: "the assessment of threat as perceived by staff and experts at WHO, and a description of what might occur during the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century."
In assessing the pandemic, the Director-General said "H5N1 has been circulating in poultry in Asia since at least mid-2003. It has caused the largest outbreaks in birds and the highest number of human cases on record for any avian influenza virus. Over the years the virus has lost none of its persistence in nature and non of its virulence for humans. Experts concluded that the threat is not likely to diminish in the near future and that the virus has evolved in alarming ways in domestic poultry, migratory birds, and humans in the past four years. Also, H5N1 survives longer in the environment and at higher temperatures, and are more lethal to chickens. Yet another alarming development is that we've lost one of our warning signs to the virus. Domestic ducks can now become infected and excrete large quantities of lethal virus, yet show no signs of illness. "
In her description of what we might expect to see during a pandemic, Dr. Chan said the following: "all countries will be affected, international spread will be rapid, widespread illness will occur, excess mortality will occur, medical supplies will be inadequate, hospital capacity will be inadequate, and economic and social disruption will occur."
For the full presentation, please visit: https://umconnect.umn.edu/chan/
In assessing the pandemic, the Director-General said "H5N1 has been circulating in poultry in Asia since at least mid-2003. It has caused the largest outbreaks in birds and the highest number of human cases on record for any avian influenza virus. Over the years the virus has lost none of its persistence in nature and non of its virulence for humans. Experts concluded that the threat is not likely to diminish in the near future and that the virus has evolved in alarming ways in domestic poultry, migratory birds, and humans in the past four years. Also, H5N1 survives longer in the environment and at higher temperatures, and are more lethal to chickens. Yet another alarming development is that we've lost one of our warning signs to the virus. Domestic ducks can now become infected and excrete large quantities of lethal virus, yet show no signs of illness. "
In her description of what we might expect to see during a pandemic, Dr. Chan said the following: "all countries will be affected, international spread will be rapid, widespread illness will occur, excess mortality will occur, medical supplies will be inadequate, hospital capacity will be inadequate, and economic and social disruption will occur."
For the full presentation, please visit: https://umconnect.umn.edu/chan/
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Updated guidelines from WHO
WHO has recently updated their guidelines for containing an outbreak in the initial stages of a pandemic
"Changes to this version of the protocolThis document replaces previous versions of the protocol. In brief, key changes include:
Updated WHO Interim Protocol: Rapid operations to contain the
initial emergence of pandemic influenza at
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/guidelines/draftprotocol/en/
"Changes to this version of the protocolThis document replaces previous versions of the protocol. In brief, key changes include:
- More emphasis on rapid containment and less on rapid response which is covered in WHO guidelines for invetigation of human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) published in 2007.
- An expanded discussion of the decision-making process.
- Refinement of the containment strategy emphasizing the localized geographical approach and describing the key activities for Containment and Buffer Zones.
- A proposed approach for estimating the duration of a containment operation.
- New or updated annexes on ethical issues, non-pharmaceutical interventions, communications and laboratory preparedness.
- Annexes on antiviral stockpile planning and preparedness issues are under revision and and will be added in the near future.
The protocol will be updated and revised as new information becomes available and more detailed guidance and tools are developed."
Updated WHO Interim Protocol: Rapid operations to contain the
initial emergence of pandemic influenza at
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/guidelines/draftprotocol/en/
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
12 year old boy dies of H5N1 in Tangerang
The 12 year old boy with H5N1 in Tangerang, a city near Jakarta, passed away this weekend.
"The child, identified as Irfan, was brought to a local midwife on Oct. 3 after suffering from fever for three days, Head of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Section at the Tangerang District Health Office dr Yuliah Iskandar said on Monday.As his health condition deteriorated, Irfan was later transferred to Tangerang Regional Hospital where he underwent a medical test on Oct. 8, Yuliah said.He was later moved to Persahabatan Hospital in Jakarta on Oct. 9 for further medical treatment as he had tested positive for bird flu based on the result of a laboratory test conducted by the Health Research and Development Agency and the Eijkmann Institute, she said.To anticipate the possible spread of the H5N1 virus in the area, the district health office had sent officers to Ceger village to take samples of the blood of Irfan`s relatives and neighbors, she said.Yuliah said Irfan did not have contact with dead chicken before being infected with the bird flu virus. Neither did his parents raise poultry in their backyard."But there is backyard poultry about 500 meters from the victim`s house," she said."
From Antara News: http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2007/10/15/ai-takes-another-life-in-tangerang/
"The child, identified as Irfan, was brought to a local midwife on Oct. 3 after suffering from fever for three days, Head of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Section at the Tangerang District Health Office dr Yuliah Iskandar said on Monday.As his health condition deteriorated, Irfan was later transferred to Tangerang Regional Hospital where he underwent a medical test on Oct. 8, Yuliah said.He was later moved to Persahabatan Hospital in Jakarta on Oct. 9 for further medical treatment as he had tested positive for bird flu based on the result of a laboratory test conducted by the Health Research and Development Agency and the Eijkmann Institute, she said.To anticipate the possible spread of the H5N1 virus in the area, the district health office had sent officers to Ceger village to take samples of the blood of Irfan`s relatives and neighbors, she said.Yuliah said Irfan did not have contact with dead chicken before being infected with the bird flu virus. Neither did his parents raise poultry in their backyard."But there is backyard poultry about 500 meters from the victim`s house," she said."
From Antara News: http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2007/10/15/ai-takes-another-life-in-tangerang/
Thursday, October 11, 2007
More on how viruses interact with bacteria
Many deaths from influenza are actually caused by secondary bacterial infections. However, the link between influenza viruses and bacteria are not well understood. Researchers at St. Jude's are studying this question, which has public health preparedness implications for stockpiling antibiotics to prevent excess mortality.
"Dr. Jonathan A. McCullers from the Department of Infectious Diseases at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee and colleagues examined this interaction by studying a newly discovered influenza A virus (IAV) protein, called PB1-F2. The gene encoding PB1-F2 is present in nearly all IAVs, including highly pathogenic avian IAVs that have infected humans and the IAV associated with the 1918 pandemic. "PB1-F2 was recently shown to enhance viral pathogenicity in a mouse infection model, raising questions about its effects on the secondary bacterial infections associated with high levels of influenza morbidity and mortality," explains Dr. McCullers.
The finding that PB1-F2 promotes lung pathology in primary viral infection and secondary bacterial infection also provides critical information for the future. "Given the importance of IAV as a leading cause of virus-induced morbidity and mortality year in and year out, and its potential to kill tens of millions in the inevitable pandemic that may have its genesis in the viruses currently circulating in southeast Asia, it is imperative to understand the role of PB1-F2 in IAV pathogenicity in humans and animals," says Dr. McCullers. "These findings also reinforce the recent suggestion of the American Society for Microbiology that nations should stockpile antibiotics for the next pandemic, since many of the deaths during this event are likely to be caused by bacterial super-infections."
"Dr. Jonathan A. McCullers from the Department of Infectious Diseases at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee and colleagues examined this interaction by studying a newly discovered influenza A virus (IAV) protein, called PB1-F2. The gene encoding PB1-F2 is present in nearly all IAVs, including highly pathogenic avian IAVs that have infected humans and the IAV associated with the 1918 pandemic. "PB1-F2 was recently shown to enhance viral pathogenicity in a mouse infection model, raising questions about its effects on the secondary bacterial infections associated with high levels of influenza morbidity and mortality," explains Dr. McCullers.
The finding that PB1-F2 promotes lung pathology in primary viral infection and secondary bacterial infection also provides critical information for the future. "Given the importance of IAV as a leading cause of virus-induced morbidity and mortality year in and year out, and its potential to kill tens of millions in the inevitable pandemic that may have its genesis in the viruses currently circulating in southeast Asia, it is imperative to understand the role of PB1-F2 in IAV pathogenicity in humans and animals," says Dr. McCullers. "These findings also reinforce the recent suggestion of the American Society for Microbiology that nations should stockpile antibiotics for the next pandemic, since many of the deaths during this event are likely to be caused by bacterial super-infections."
New human H5N1 case in Indonesia
From Reuters: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/JAK196146.htm
"A 12-year-old Indonesian boy has tested positive for bird flu, and is being treated in a Jakarta hospital, a health ministry official said on Thursday. The ministry's bird flu centre's Muhammad Nadirin said it was not clear how the boy from Tanggerang city in West Java, contracted the virus, but some chickens had died in his neighbourhood.
The most common way to contract the deadly virus is through sick fowl.
The disease is endemic in the bird population in most parts of Indonesia, where millions of backyard fowl are kept in close proximity to humans and where education campaigns often do not reach remote areas.
Muchtar Ichsan, a doctor at the hospital, said the boy has been taken to an isolated room and was on a respiratory device.
Indonesia has 109 confirmed cases of human bird flu, 87 of them fatal, the highest in the world.
Scientists are concerned the H5N1 virus could mutate into a form that passes easily between humans, triggering a pandemic in which millions could die."
"A 12-year-old Indonesian boy has tested positive for bird flu, and is being treated in a Jakarta hospital, a health ministry official said on Thursday. The ministry's bird flu centre's Muhammad Nadirin said it was not clear how the boy from Tanggerang city in West Java, contracted the virus, but some chickens had died in his neighbourhood.
The most common way to contract the deadly virus is through sick fowl.
The disease is endemic in the bird population in most parts of Indonesia, where millions of backyard fowl are kept in close proximity to humans and where education campaigns often do not reach remote areas.
Muchtar Ichsan, a doctor at the hospital, said the boy has been taken to an isolated room and was on a respiratory device.
Indonesia has 109 confirmed cases of human bird flu, 87 of them fatal, the highest in the world.
Scientists are concerned the H5N1 virus could mutate into a form that passes easily between humans, triggering a pandemic in which millions could die."
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