News Reports for August 7, 2012

US: More swine flu cases confirmed in Ohio

Four additional cases of the H3N2 virus or swine flu have been confirmed in Butler County according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are now 14 cases identified in Butler County linked to swine exposure at the Butler County Fair and one case in Clark County linked to the exposure to hogs at the Ohio State Fair, the CDC announced Monday.

Those who were sickened are between the ages of 3 and 36 years old, and none have resulted in hospitalization.

Also on Monday, the Ohio Department of Health hosted a statewide conference call with all local health departments. Local departments have been urged to work with agriculture and fair officials to post necessary signage and to speak directly with those working in livestock facilities to ensure necessary care is taken to avoid further transmission of the H3N2 strain.

The first cases in Ohio surfaced during the final days of the Butler County Fair and by the end of last week 10 cases had been confirmed in the county with another 10 samples taken for testing (Snip) Four additional cases were found from that testing.

(Snip)

The H3N2 virus that made visitors to the Butler County Fair sick last week was first discovered last fall. Other confirmed cases were in Indiana and Hawaii, according to CDC officials. Continued: http://www.journal-news.com/ne...

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 05:33:21 AM UTC

China: New swine flu strain in US sparks concern

The government has touched base with the World Health Organization and the US health authorities about an uptick in cases of a new strain of human swine flu in the United States.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 16 people have been infected with a new strain of influenza A (H3N2) swine flu virus in the past three weeks. The new strain has not been detected locally. Of the US patients, 12 were infected in the last full week of July, with 10 of them in Ohio, and one each in Indiana and Hawaii. All had had direct or indirect contact with swine. But none needed hospitalization and there were no fatalities.

A Department of Health spokesman said the Centre for Health Protection has contacted both the WHO and the US center to understand the latest development and their risk assessment of the situation in the United States.

"So far this virus has not been detected in Hong Kong. We have a sensitive laboratory surveillance system for influenza and we can detect this virus if it occurs here," the spokesman said.

In case of an outbreak, the government will implement the flu prevention and control measures according to a three-tier response level system and has also stockpiled antiviral drugs. (Snip) there is no commercially available vaccine for this new swine flu virus (Snip) "[The center] will keep close collaboration with the WHO and the concerned health authorities to monitor the situation."

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said that the territory does import US pork but it does not have any information on whether this includes pork from Ohio, Indiana and Hawaii. He said the government tested 1,100 pigs at the Sheung Shui slaughterhouse between February and April and no human swine influenza virus was detected.

(Snip) symptoms among most patients infected with the new swine flu virus include fever, cough, a runny nose, sore throat and muscle aches.

(Snip)

In Beijing, a Ministry of Health spokesman said they have taken note of the sharp increase in new swine flu cases in the United States but there have been no cases in the mainland so far. He stressed that the ministry has an effective monitoring system and will issue warnings in case this new flu is detected. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/...

(Note: The central Chinese government (Beijing) is worried over a few H3N2v cases in the US? What a freaking joke!! They should be worried about all the H5N1 in their country and how dangerouse it is to the whole world, especially when they cover up the facts as they so often do. They should take lessons from the Hong Kong government, who have always alerted the world about H5N1 cases and be honest about how serious H5N1 is on the mainland. JMO)

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 05:55:36 AM UTC

US: 1 of 15 Ohio swine flu cases linked to state fair

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) A swine flu virus has been linked to the just-concluded Ohio State Fair, bringing to 15 the number of confirmed cases in humans this summer in Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Health says there are 14 Butler County cases so far. All have been tied to the southwest Ohio county's fair that ended in late July.

The other case is a Clark County resident who was at the state fair in Columbus. Authorities declined to provide other information on the patient.

Officials say the current strain of the virus is similar to a seasonal flu that responds quickly to treatment. There have been no hospitalizations reported in Ohio. Continued: http://www2.wjtv.com/news/2012...  

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 06:02:46 AM UTC

US: Indiana State Fair officials dismiss swine over influenza concerns

State Fair officials dismissed all animals from the Swine Barn following concerns over swine flu Monday. The Board of Animal Health recommended dismissing the animals one day earlier than scheduled after six pigs in the 4-H show developed temperatures above 105 degrees.

All pigs who arrived at the State Fair had their temperatures taken before they were allowed out of their trailers. The tests came after four confirmed cases of swine flu in people were reported at the La Porte County Fair. Unconfirmed cases were also possible in Hendricks, Jackson and Monroe Counties.

Samples from the hogs sent home have been submitted to the Purdue Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Results won't be available for several days. Continued: http://www.fox59.com/news/stat...

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 06:10:40 AM UTC

US: Pigs at Washington County Fair tested positive for swine flu (Indiana)

WASHINGTON CO., Ind. -- (Snip) sick pigs at the Washington County Fair have tested positive for swine flu.

Only eight pigs were tested but they all came back positive. The Washington County Health Department says they won't know until later this week if any humans were infected with the virus.

During the fair last week the pigs were quarantined after several of them exhibited flu like symptoms. Continued: http://www.whas11.com/news/loc...  

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 07:13:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bird Flu Jumps to Seals, Humans Could Be Next

August 6, 2012 - A bird flu virus known for 10 years has now infected aquatic mammals, and the scientists who discovered the source of the infection are warning that the virus could become a public health threat.

The virus, known as avian H3N8 influenza A, was responsible for an outbreak of fatal pneumonia that has infected harbor seals in New England, a scientific team has found. The death of these seals is a U.S. federally recognized "unusual mortality event."

The discovery of the connection between the bird flu virus and the seal deaths was made by a team of scientists from the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the New England Aquarium, the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center, SeaWorld and the EcoHealth Alliance.

"This outbreak is particularly significant, not only because of the disease it caused in seals but also because the virus has naturally acquired mutations that are known to increase transmissibility and virulence in mammals," the scientists write in the current issue of "mBio," a journal published by the American Society for Microbiology.

Wildlife officials first became concerned in September 2011, when seals with severe pneumonia and skin lesions suddenly appeared along the coastline from southern Maine to northern Massachusetts. Most were younger than six months of age, and a total of 162 dead or moribund seals were recovered over the next three months.

Analysis of postmortem samples revealed the presence of an avian H3N8 influenza A virus. "This pathogen is similar to a virus circulating in North American waterfowl since at least 2002 but with mutations that indicate recent adaption to mammalian hosts," the scientists write.

"When initial tests revealed an avian influenza virus, we asked the obvious question - how did this virus jump from birds to seals?" (Snip) Testing and analysis shows that the virus, now called seal H3N8, has acquired the ability to bind to receptors that are commonly found in the respiratory tracts of mammals, including humans. The scientists warn that seal H3N8 could pose a threat to public health, given these findings along with the long history of the spread of avian influenza to humans. Continued: http://ens-newswire.com/?p=47615

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 06:53:58 AM UTC

Avian Flu linked to seals dying off along the N.H. seacoast

http://www.seacoastonline.com/...

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 07:33:22 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

US: New Strain of Flu Hits State Fairs (Iowa)

DES MOINES-- A virus commonly found in pigs is believed to have added a gene which has made it easier to be transmitted from pigs to people. And where folks are picking this flu up is state fairs.

On Thursday, the streets of the Iowa State Fair Grounds will be flooded with people and the barns with animals. This year though, veterinarian and fair officials will be keeping a closer eye on what gets unloaded into the Ag barns.

"We have gotten reports from Ohio County Fair and Indiana, they have seen it a couple of spots were they had swine shows going on," said Gary Slater, CEO of the Iowa State Fair.

It's a new strain of influenza A (H3N2) that has sickened at least 12 people last week. Scientists believe the virus commonly found in pigs has added a variant, causing it to jump in humans. In total, 29 cases has been confirmed and all involved contact with pigs at agriculture fairs.

"We certainly will be on guard and checking every animal that is offloaded from their trailers into the barn," Slater said. The Iowa Department of Agriculture is also working with the fair to monitor the animals that will on display. "If there are sick pigs or cattle or anything, they are sent home," said Dr. David Schmitt, Iowa State Veterinarian. "Any sick animal is sent home no matter what species." Continued: http://www.woi-tv.com/story/19...

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 07:07:36 AM UTC

US: Iowa State Fair officials watching for swine flu (Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa State Fair officials are on alert but not overly worried about swine flu cases showing up at the fair as it begins Thursday.

(Snip)

Iowa State Fair manager Gary Slater told The Gazette that the state veterinarian has been checking fairground preparations before up to 3,500 pigs start arriving Tuesday.

Each animal must have papers from its local veterinarian, attesting to the animal's health. Slater says any pig that appears to be sick will be sent home if necessary. http://www.desmoinesregister.c...

(Note: With 3,500 pigs enclosed in a relatively small area and several hundred thousand people attending the fair, I expect to see new human H3N2v cases pop up by the first of next week! JMO)

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 20:57:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

France: Scientists map critical portion of flu enzyme

Scientists recently mapped the three-dimensional structure of a portion of the influenza virus that is critical in the replication process. Experts say that the knowledge could potentially lead to a new class of influenza drugs (Snip)

The researchers, a team from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Grenoble, France, established the structure of part of the flu virus RNA polymerase, specifically on the enzyme's endonuclease. The endonuclease is responsible for the unique mechanism that allows a virus to fool the host cell into producing viral proteins.

(Snip)

If the active site of the enzyme can be blocked by an inhibitor, the enzyme would cease to function, preventing the virus from replicating.

"Based on this detailed structural information we can now design new synthetic chemicals which bind even more tightly to the endonuclease active site and thus will potentially be more potent inhibitors of influenza virus replication," (Snip) http://vaccinenewsdaily.com/va...

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 07:54:14 AM UTC

Confirmed H3N2v Cases At Monroe County Fair - Indiana

Recombinomics Commentary

Two people who were in contact with pigs at the Monroe County Fair last week contracted variant influenza A (H3N2v), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "As far as I know, the two people experienced some mild flu symptoms but are now doing very well," said Penny Caudill, administrator of the of the Monroe County Health Department....

Results from tests on several other people who had contact with Monroe County fair pigs - and had nasal swabs sent to the Indiana State Department of Health Laboratory - are still pending confirmation from the CDC, she said.

The above comments describe two confirmed H3N2v cases at the Monroe County Fair in Bloomington, Indiana, as well as ongoing testing of additional symptomatic cases.  Earlier reports had noted that the swine barn had been closed after 75% of the pigs at the fair were symptomatic.  Recent reports also indicated that 9 of the test swine were H3N2v confirmed.

The confirmed human cases increase concerns that the symptomatic cases in Jackson County may be contributing to the confirmed cases in central and southern Indiana.  Although symptomatic cases were noted for six weeks, testing did not begin until four confirmed H3N2v cases were reported at the LaPorte County fair in northwestern Indiana.  The first confirmed case after the LaPorte cases was from Jackson County, as noted in the August 2 press release by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). Four confirmed cases were cited in the August 3 press release, raising the total to 4 or 5 from Jackson County.  Moreover, a CIDRAP report cited three more confirmed cases in Indiana, which was in addition to the 11 cases cited in the August 3 press release.

It is unclear if the three additional cases included the two case described above, or were associated with more cases from Jackson County or other areas in Indiana.  Symptomatic cases have also been reported at the Washington County fair, were some have tested as influenza A positive locally, and swabs have been sent to ISDH.  Confirmed cases have also been reported in Tipton and Jennings counties, in addition to four or five confirmed cases in LaPorte. Continued: http://www.recombinomics.com/N...

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 20:45:37 PM UTC

India: Swine flu cases in Mumbai rise to 250 (Maharashtra)

With four swine flu cases detected on Tuesday, the tally of infected patients has risen to 250 since January, this year. In August, 37 positive cases have been reported.

A 32-year-old man (Snip), a 75-year-old woman (Snip), a 48-year-old man and a 45-year-old man (Snip) are seeking treatment for H1N1 virus in private hospitals. Last week, a 19-year-old boy in Chembur died of swine flu (Snip) http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai...

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 @ Tue Aug 07, 2012 at 20:49:15 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for August 8, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Wed Aug 08, 2012 at 04:47:20 AM UTC