News Reports for September 15

Canada

Health officials watching whether flu viruses are becoming resistant to drug

TORONTO - As flu season approaches, public health authorities will be keeping an anxious eye on one family of flu viruses to see if an unwelcome phenomenon that cropped up last winter will stage a repeat performance.

To the surprise and dismay of scientists and governments, H1N1 viruses that were resistant to Tamiflu suddenly appeared in high numbers in Northern Europe.

Testing elsewhere has since shown viruses resistant to the key drug - whose generic name is oseltamivir - have spread to North and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, parts of Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

North American officials say they will quickly test for resistance once the northern hemisphere flu season begins and H1N1 viruses start to spread. And in the U.S. at least, authorities are entertaining the possibility they may have to tweak the advice they give doctors on which flu drugs to use should - as most expect - the problem recur.

"We are thinking about the various sorts of scenarios that might occur," says Dr. Tony Fiori, who develops antiviral drug and vaccine policy in the influenza division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga.

"It's hard to imagine we'd be at a point of telling people not to use oseltamivir. We might look at possibilities like pushing people towards using zanamivir when they can, since there hasn't been resistance seen to that." Continued: http://canadianpress.google.co...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 04:28:15 AM UTC

USA - Guam - 3 p.m. - Senator stresses need for region-wide pandemic plan

Story
Sen. Tina Muña-Barnes, who's running for re-election, met last week with Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Palau's minister of Health and representatives of several Japanese companies on the creation of a plan to address a possible region-wide pandemic.

"Right now, plans for preventing or containing a pandemic outbreak in our region are inadequate," Muña-Barnes said. "To the east of us, there is this deadly tuberculosis; to the west, Indonesia and ongoing cases of H5N1. We are surrounded by the potential for disaster that will stagger our economy and our society. Someone has to get this discussion started so we can prepare for these serious risks."

Source
http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pb...

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:56:28 AM UTC

USA - `Flu Fatigue' Poses Public Health Threat, WHO Says (Update1)

Story
Apathy toward the pandemic risk posed by bird flu is one of the greatest threats to public health and may undermine efforts to improve disease detection and control systems in developing countries, a World Health Organization official said.

``The threat of a pandemic, of a virus jumping from animals into humans, is still there, but the biggest threat that we have now is `flu fatigue','' Dr. Julie Hall, deputy regional adviser on communicable disease surveillance and response with the WHO's Western Pacific region, told reporters in Sydney today.

Misconceptions that the pandemic threat is ``a storm in a teacup'' may sap investment in surveillance for bird flu as well as other infectious diseases, particularly in parts of Asia, where systems are ``very weak,'' Hall said.

Source
`Flu Fatigue' Poses Public Health Threat, WHO Says (Update1)  

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:59:23 AM UTC

Here's a link

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/...

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by: Okieman @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 13:00:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you for posting the link I missed. n/t

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 16:37:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

USA - Little flu factories (not bird flu but a good look at flu)

Story - not H5N1 but some good insight into vaccination programs

Lots of youngsters on your street? Watch out: Flu may strike your community sooner and harder than it hits the hip singles neighborhood down the road.

Flu-shot season begins this month, and for the first time vaccination is being pushed for virtually all children - not just those under 5.

It's a huge change, and one bolstered by provocative new evidence that children are key flu spreaders. Over four winters, Harvard researchers matched hacking adults' visits to Boston-area emergency rooms with Census data for 55 zip codes. Flu-like symptoms struck first and worst in the zip codes that were home to the most kids.  

Every 1 percent increase in the child population brought a 4 percent increase in adult ER visits, researchers reported this summer in Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Source
http://www.telegram.com/articl...

News story allows unregistered comments to be left

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:05:32 AM UTC

Philippines - EC holds avian influenza prevention workshop in Cebu

Story
International experts on avian influenza prevention are in Cebu City to conduct the five-day training workshop on the prevention of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the Philippines from September 15 to 19.

Dr. David John Hadrill and Andrew Almond, international experts on avian influenza prevention have been commissioned by the European Commission (EC) to conduct the training course in the country where Cebu is the venue for the Visayas workshop.

Source
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=...

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:16:19 AM UTC

Ukrain - Trainings against bird flu start in Ukraine

Story
 Opening ceremony of the international trainings "Rough and ready 2008" on resistance to bird flu starts today in Kyiv, at one of the city fire stations. The trainings are to be held till September 20.

 The purpose of the trainings is to examine and test the procedure of obtaining the international help in case of an outbreak of the bird flu and pandemic and to improve cooperation of central bodies of the executive power

Source
http://en.for-ua.com/news/2008...

Comments
http://en.for-ua.com/forum/lis...

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:32:57 AM UTC

USA - VT - Officials to discuss flu pandemic preparedness Tuesday

Story
Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss and Vermont Health Commissioner Wendy Davis will host a press conference on pandemic flu preparedness at 11 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall.

The event is about Burlington's participation in "Take the Lead," a national
campaign designed to raise awareness about the importance of personal preparedness in the event of pandemic influenza.

Source
http://www.burlingtonfreepress...

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 16:39:42 PM UTC

USA - NY - Ask About Emergency Preparedness

Story
This week, Dr. Irwin Redlener, associate dean for public health preparedness at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University and a nationally recognized expert on disaster preparedness, will be taking readers' questions. City Room blog readers are invited to submit questions below about how best to prepare for epidemics and pandemics, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and other crises, particularly in New York City. His answers will be posted over the course of the week.

Source
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes....

Commets section open

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 16:59:55 PM UTC

Kobie said:

"It is not me but my neighbors I worry about. I am only as safe as they are prepared."

LOL - you sound like me!

Tell the truth

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by: Goju @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 17:19:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I've learned from you - You have made a difference.

Goju,

Hi. Caught red handed using your words ;-) I put the spin of my neighbors "keeping the grid up" v.s. being ambushed and burned out for my preps.

In your opinion did it sound like the feds have spoken, there are people who want to listen but it is the local government that have dropped the ball??  

I'm glad the post made it.

 Next time I'll quote you as the source.

Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 17:50:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I am

much too humble a servant to need credit Kobie. (blush)

People may listen if they have something to lose that is valuable to them... like their kids.

local Gov has severely dropped the ball... well, they never really picked it up did they?

Tell the truth

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by: Goju @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 20:21:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

eye on the ball

Goju,

 Humble or not - give credit where it is due. I do not want to take what is not mine.

 You said "They have never really picked up the ball"  I laughed. I like to think TPTB have their eye on teh ball. No they are not intending to do anything, they just watch it to see if anything will happen. If it will do anything.

 Yes TPTB may feel like they are doing something "keeping their eye on the ball" but it only counts when others win.  

 Yes I am being hard on TPTB but there is so much they could do. Look at the Fluwiki - just one of many flul blogs. Give people tools and some will use them. Most of that group will use them politely and constructivly to help strangers!

 While TPTB watch, we toil and I hope others read and take head.

Kobie

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by: Kobie @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:45:45 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Netherlands - New AI vaccine developed (poultry only)

Story
 Vaxin has now developed a vaccine that can be rapidly produced and mass administered. This vaccine was recently featured at the Immunotherapeutics & Vaccine Summit in Boston.

 Kent Van Kampen, Vaxin's COO and an authority on vaccine development: "Our vaccine uses a neutered cold virus to carry a tiny snippet of influenza DNA, rather than the entire influenza virus," Van Kampen said. "When the immune system responds, it actually learns how to be immune to the target disease - avian influenza in this case."

Source
http://www.worldpoultry.net/ne...

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 17:04:42 PM UTC

McCain & Obamma weigh in on Pandemics

 The two presidential candidates have weighed in on science questions.

Question # 6
"Pandemics and Biosecurity. Some estimates suggest that if H5N1 Avian Flu becomes a pandemic it could kill more than 300 million people. In an era of constant and rapid international travel, what steps should the United States take to protect our population from global pandemics or deliberate biological attacks?"

Their answer at:
http://www.sciencedebate2008.c...

Kobie
"Live passionatly and life will reward you"

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by: Kobie @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 17:53:20 PM UTC

Bird flu back in Africa

Google translation

Bird flu back in Africa

 Bird flu is back in Africa.  

Earlier this week, authorities in Togo have emphasized the mass death of poultry on a farm in southeastern pays.Selon the communiqué adopted by the African media, farm settlement, located Agbata, housed 4 500 poultry whose 3 600 y died suddenly.  

The tests have detected the avian influenza virus (H5N1).  In the meantime, the government has taken stringent measures.  

In particular, "the ban on movement of poultry regardless of distance, slaughter, cremation and burial of dead chickens in the pits by the competent ministry."

Last August, the presence of the virus was also detected in Nigeria.  

This has led, last week, a dozen African countries affected by bird flu in the past two years, to meet in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) to review the situation and strengthen measures Security.  

The meeting was held under the aegis of FAO, the UN agency responsible for food and agriculture, to strengthen and harmonize national plans of epidemiological surveillance.  

It was an issue also for participants to "identify priority actions to be implemented in the short term in the country particularly vulnerable" and strengthen cooperation between the countries concerned "in the prevention and control," Recently, a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, previously unknown in sub-Saharan Africa, was discovered in Nigeria for the first time.  

"This new strain has raised serious concerns because it is unclear how it was introduced on the continent" of Africa, said the representative of FAO, to justify this meeting, scheduled for completion Friday.

In addition to Côte d'Ivoire, represented by its Minister of Animal Production and Fisheries Resources, Alphonse Douati, this workshop brings together delegations from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Togo.  

After fears of a pandemic arising from the risk of mutation of the virus highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, scientists worry that another strain known as H9N2, could be a threat.  

his study was conducted by a team of researchers from St. Judes Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and the University of Maryland in College Park.  

"Our results suggest that the existence and prevalence of the virus H9N2 in poultry pose a threat to humans consistently," the researchers write in PLoS ONE.  

The mechanisms of transmission between humans from avian influenza virus are still poorly understood, according to Daniel Perez associate professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Maryland and lead author of this research on the H9N2 virus.

Dalila B. Dalila B.
http://www.lemaghrebdz.com/lir...

Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: mojo @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 18:56:55 PM UTC

Madagascar/west coast threatened

9-15-08 http://fr.allafrica.com/storie...

Madagascar: Bird flu threatens the west coast  

2008 September 15, 2008
Published on the web September 15, 2008

Mahefa Rakotomalala

Cases of bird flu have already been reported in Djibouti. The Great Island today imposes a permanent monitoring all along its west coast.

The threat of avian flu has again become topical Madagascar. With the end of winter, the massive return of migratory birds is expected throughout the month of September.  Thus, the risk that the disease appears, is the maximum. The western coast is now regarded as the most vulnerable because birds from Africa are the main carriers of avian flu.

"The entire west coast is a danger zone, along wetlands further inland, such as lakes and Itasy Alaotra," says Dr. Raymond, national coordinator of prevention against bird flu.

In warning

More than 280 species of birds migrate each year between Africa and Madagascar. These include flamingos and sarcelles.  Since the first outbreaks of the disease, outbreaks have been recorded in some sixty countries, including a dozen in African countries like Egypt and Nigeria.  According to information published on the website of the United Nations Food and Agriculture, suspected cases have also been reported in Togo.

No cases of avian flu has so far been discovered in Madagascar. However, the return of migratory birds increases the risk. According to Dr. Raymond, all devices are in place to guard against any eventuality.  Several teams are on alert and deployed in all dangerous areas, through partnership antennas of the National Bureau of risk management and disaster.

"All officers on the ground have been trained and equipped with kits to achieve a rapid if a bird dies of a suspect. A communication system is also set to launch the alert as soon as possible, "explains Dr. Raymond.  

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by: pugmom @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 00:13:30 AM UTC

Hong Kong/2 suspected cases

9-16-08 http://www.appleactionews.com/...

Return to Hong Kong with suspected bird flu fever

When the two are mother and son to the hospital wearing masks, ambulance staff were put on full protective gear.              

Two 40-year-old and 4-year-old son, yesterday at 9 am returning to Hong Kong via the Lok Ma Chau, due to a fever and had contact with sick chickens suspected of being infected with bird flu, rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital by ambulance to an isolation ward Admitted to observation.

When the two are mother and son to the hospital wearing masks, ambulance staff were put on full protective  

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by: pugmom @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 00:32:27 AM UTC

Goju Map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms...

Tell the truth

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by: Goju @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 00:51:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

thanx Goju n/t

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by: pugmom @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:09:34 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Blurb on Princess Margaret Hospital and location

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P...

Princess Margaret Hospital or PMH is a hospital in south Kwai Chung, near Lai Chi Kok, Hong Kong. It is a major hospital mostly serving Kwai Tsing District and managed by Hospital Authority. Although it is not the main teaching hospital of the two medical faculties in Hong Kong, it provides tertiary specialist services in urology and nephrology and has been widely regarded by Hong Kong people as the best specialist hospital in kidney related services and research.

Another hospital nearby, Kwai Chung Hospital provides psychiatric services.

[edit] Background
Established in 1975, Princess Margaret Hospital is an acute hospital serving the Kowloon West and New Territories South regions in Hong Kong, which include Lai Chi Kok, Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Tsuen Wan and Tung Chung areas. The Hospital has about 1,200 beds and a staff of over 3,000.

The hospital was named after the late Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II.

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by: pugmom @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:44:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Picture of mom and son

is 4th picture from left, when you call up link. They are walking and wearing masks, don't appear to be on death's door.  

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by: pugmom @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:38:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

UK - Body exhumed in fight against flu

Story
The body of an aristocrat who died nearly 90 years ago has been exhumed in the hope that it will help scientists combat a future flu pandemic.

Yorkshire landowner Sir Mark Sykes died in France in 1919 from Spanish flu.

Sir Mark was buried in a lead coffin which scientists hope may have helped preserve the virus.

Source
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_...

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by: Kobie @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:50:14 AM UTC

Austrailia - Pandemic influenza in Australia: Using telephone surveys to measure perceptions of threat and willingness to comply

Story
Baseline data is necessary for monitoring how a population perceives the threat of pandemic influenza, and perceives how it would behave in the event of pandemic influenza. Our aim was to develop a module of questions for use in telephone health surveys on perceptions of threat of pandemic influenza, and on preparedness to comply with specific public health behaviours in the event of pandemic influenza.

Methods: A module of questions was developed and field tested on 192 adults using the New South Wales Department of Health's in-house Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) facility.

Source
http://7thspace.com/headlines/...

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by: Kobie @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:51:50 AM UTC

USA - GA - Attendees flock to preseminar presentaions

Story

 Dedicated security professionals arrived early in Atlanta to take advantage of the various preseminar programs on offer at the Marriott Marquis. The programs, which were held on Saturday and Sunday before the launch of the ASIS International 54th Annual Seminar and Exhibits, offered information on various topics. Some of the programs offered were security consulting, detecting deception, security management for beginners, college and university security, developing business acumen, critical infrastructure protection, and convergence

The problem with campus security after Virginia Tech, according to Gollotti, is that everyone fears the high cost, low probability events most, when more mundane things such as fires in residence halls or college students crossing busy city streets gets short thrift. *"Somewhere in the next few weeks someone's going to ask how you've planned for a pandemic [flu outbreak]," he said, stressing his point.*

Source
http://www.securitymanagement....

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by: Kobie @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 02:03:12 AM UTC

GUAM - Region Needs Pandemic Response Plan, Senator Warns

Story
A Guam senator is calling for development of a coordinated regional response network to deal with an outbreak of bird flu or other pandemic, the Marianas Variety reports.

Sen. Tina Muna-Barnes says she's discussed the issue with Palau President Tommy Remengesau on a number of occasions. She warned that the Guam government has not developed a protocol to handle an outbreak of bird flu.

Source
http://www.pacificmagazine.net...

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by: Kobie @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 02:04:54 AM UTC

Togo: Recent bird flu outbreak is deadly H5N1

Togo: Recent bird flu outbreak is deadly H5N1

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Originally published 08:45 p.m., September 15, 2008, updated 08:49 p.m., September 15, 2008

LOME, TOGO (AP) - Tests performed after the first ever outbreak of bird flu in the West African nation of Togo have confirmed the presence of the virulent H5N1 strain of the virus, state media said Monday.

The virus was detected at a poultry farm housing more than 4,500 birds in the village of Agbata outside the capital, Lome, according to the government.

The presence of the deadly strain raises special concern because it has the potential to infect humans. At least 235 people have died of bird flu worldwide since 2003, according to the World Health Organization.
more at link
http://www.washingtontimes.com...

Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: mojo @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 03:41:14 AM UTC

Please post new articles to the September 16 News diary

News Reports for September 16

Thank you!

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by: Nimbus @ Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 03:43:11 AM UTC