News Reports for October 11, 2012

Nepal: 38 Nepalese patients suffer from swine flu within week of outbreak

KATHAMANDU, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Within a week of the outbreak of Swine Flu virus with influenza A and B (Snip) more than 38 patients have been affected by the virus, doctors said.

(Snip)

According to the hospital, among 172 patients undergone blood tests at the hospital, 118 people were infected with influenza A while, 38 with influenza B. But doctors at the hospital said there is no need to panic about the virus.

(Snip)

This is a respiratory disease which exhibits the symptoms of headache, high fever, cough, cold, body pain and vomit. Dr. Pant said once the swine flu is treated on time, it could easily be cured. It is cured within five to seven days, he said. However, children, elderly people, people with high blood pressure and chronic diseases are mostly affected with the swine flu.

Dr. Pant suggested that drinking plenty of water, liquid foods, using masks, and washing hands time to time and remaining aloof while coughing and cold could prevent the swine flu to some extent.

Earlier to this, a week ago, on Oct. 7, a total of 19 patients visiting different hospitals were found H1N1 positive. The hospital said no patient suffering from the virus have met their death. All are safe and are undergoing treatment, Dr. Pant said. Prior to this, H1N1 virus was detected in 2009 in Nepal. http://news.xinhuanet.com/engl...  

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 @ Thu Oct 11, 2012 at 02:12:27 AM UTC

India: 'Swine flu cases may be under-reported' (Maharashtra)

NAGPUR: A two-year old was taken to the doctor as he was suffering from fever and coughing continually. The doctor suspected the little one was suffering from swine flu and asked the parents to get him tested at a government authorized centre. The parents hesitated to go to the government hospital and said they would take a second opinion. Two days later, the child passed away with the doctor still telling them he was sure it had been suffering from swine flu.

A woman from a village in Katol consulted a doctor from the city for a fever that was not subsiding despite medications. Being weekend, she could not get screened before two days. So, the doctor gave her some antibiotics. Three days later, the fever had subsided. City doctors believe that the number of swine flu victims with the government may be less than the actual incidence of the disease. They say the similarity of the symptoms to other viral infections, the increased immunity against H1N1 and delay in going to the government authorized screening centre are among the reasons for this.

"As the symptoms of cold, viral fever and swine flu are similar, many times the disease may be confused with other infections. Many times a higher dose of antibiotics may heal the infection, specially in considerably healthy people whose immune systems can fight the virus. At times, it is not possible for us to follow the cases after we advise them to get screened," said Dr Prashant Nikhade, ENT specialist and former president of city branch of Indian Medical Association. He added that even if someone was detected with H1N1, there should be no panic as the disease could be treated with proper and timely medication.

Senior paediatrician Dr Uday Bodhankar agreed. He said, "Cough, fever, fatigue and diarrhoea are common symptoms of all viral diseases including swine flu. These days we are seeing more people with dengue-like fever that raises the suspicion of swine flu. It is highly likely that the cases of the disease are being under detected and so under-reported." Also, swine flu would not top the doctors mind when the common flu-like symptoms show, he said. Continued: http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

(Note: Is it just me or do these doctors seem confused and undertrained??)

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 @ Thu Oct 11, 2012 at 02:21:24 AM UTC

UK: Study - Flu can trigger myocardial infarction

Acute respiratory infections, especially influenza, can act as a trigger for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), say the findings of a study from London published yesterday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The study group comprised 11,208 patients who experienced AMI from Jan 1, 2003, to Jul 31, 2009, and were 40 years of age or older at the age of first AMI.

The authors analyzed their records to determine whether there was any association of AMI in the group with acute respiratory infection (ARI). They found that 3,927 (35.0%) of the AMI patients had been seen for ARI during the study period. These patients had 8,204 episodes of ARI (mean, 2.1 per person), their median age was 73.1 years, and 60% were male.

The authors found that the risk of AMI was substantially higher during the first 3 days after ARI (adjusted incidence ratio, 4.19 [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.18-5.53), an effect that tapered over time. The risk was highest in older patients, with an adjusted incidence ratio in patients 80 and older of 5.94 (95% CI, 3.90-9.04) for AMI in the 3 days following ARI.

Patients whose respiratory infection records contained at least one indicator of influenza (Snip) also had a significantly greater risk of AMI than those without any indicators (incidence ratio, 5.39 [95% CI, 3.89-7.45] vs 2.38 [95% CE, 1.37-4.11; P = .012]). Continued: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...  

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 @ Thu Oct 11, 2012 at 06:21:43 AM UTC

US: Changes in select agent rules concern public health labs

Oct 10, 2012 (CIDRAP News) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its list of potentially dangerous biological agents and toxins and the regulations covering them, and some of the changes have public health laboratories concerned.

The CDC has dropped 23 items from the official list of "select agents and toxins" and has added three viruses to the list: the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus and two hemorrhagic fever viruses: Lujo, from Africa, and Chapare, from South America.

"At the end of the day the list is shorter. We think it's more focused on the agents of highest concern to public health," said Rob Weyant, PhD, director of the CDC's Division of Select Agents and Toxins.

In addition, the agency has designated a new category of agents, called Tier 1, for those deemed to pose the biggest risk of deliberate misuse with potential for high casualties and economic and social disruption. Labs that handle these agents will be subject to new security requirements, including a "personal reliability" program to ensure that personnel with access to the agents are trustworthy.

It's the Tier 1 requirements that concern the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), according to Chris N. Mangal, MPH, the APHL's director of public health preparedness and response. She said the association is worried that the new security requirements will prove too burdensome and may prompt labs to give up their registration with the federal Select Agent Program. And that in turn could impair their ability to respond to infectious disease threats, she said.

The Tier 1 list includes Ebola virus, Francisella tularensis (the cause of tularemia), Marburg virus, variola major and minor viruses (smallpox), Yersinia pestis (plague), Clostridium botulinum and botulinum toxin (botulism), Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Burkholderia mallei (glanders), and Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis).

(Snip)

There are 312 labs that participate in the CDC Select Agent Program covering human pathogens and toxins, according to CDC spokesman Jason McDonald. Another 50 labs are in involved in the animal and plant Select Agent Program under the US Department of Agriculture's supervision.

Personnel screening, physical barriers
Weyant said the personal reliability program required for labs that handle Tier 1 agents has two parts: a formal pre-access screening program and ongoing monitoring. The latter is intended to provide reporting avenues for staff members who have concerns about suspicious behavior by other lab workers, he told CIDRAP News in an interview.

Increased physical security will also be required for labs working with Tier 1 agents, Weyant said. For example, "A Tier 1 entity needs to have three demonstrable barriers between the public and regulated material. We've established a good guidance document about that." In addition, he said, "We require that at least one barrier have an intrusion detection system, something that would tell a security function that an unauthorized person is trying to get in."

(Snip)

"Where I'm concerned is that they've retained a lot of the agents that state and local public health labs test for," Mangal said. "B anthracis is in the Tier 1 category, which means that a lot if not all of our state public health labs will be impacted by the new requirements that come along with Tier 1."

APHL sought exemptions
The APHL had formally asked the CDC to exempt Laboratory Response Network (LRN) reference labs from the Tier 1 requirements. "We based that on the existing practices in the labs, and also the fact that they possess very limited quantities of select agents," Mangal said. The LRN is a network of about 165 labs, including 100 public health labs, designated by the CDC and APHL to help respond to potential bioterrorism events and other infectious disease threats.

Continued with lots more: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidr...  

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 @ Thu Oct 11, 2012 at 07:31:17 AM UTC

Cipagalo Residents Worry Bird Flu Virus

http://m.inilah.com/read/detai...
October 10, 2012
Bandung, Indonesia:  After the death of TL (8), of Kampung Ciganitri RT 4 RW 4 sub Desa Cipagalo Bojongsoang Bandung Regency, which was allegedly caused by avian flu (H5N1),  village residents fret though death toll from the virus has not been shown.

"Especially when there are unknown chickens that tested positive for bird flu virus.  Of course we worry, despite similar disinfectant fluid sprayed by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries," said Henry Gunawan (37), a resident of RT 2, Wednesday (10 / 10/2012).

Moreover, they  have known since October 4 yesterday that a lot of chickens died suddenly in his village.  Thus, he and his family chose to clean up the house and keep poultry cages, poultry, or pet birds.

"We'd better stop, before the incident.  Moreover, based on the news that I have seen in a variety of media, if any of the birds are found, then the area can be declared as endemic," he said.

Henry said there were a number of chickens owned by residents in his hometown that died suddenly, the first time this has happened.  Previously, there was never any here.  Thus, because of the incident, he and other villagers were quite surprised.  

"From the first, then there are events like this.  I do not know what the cause is," he said.

However, he and other residents have a little breathing space after the Department of Livestock and Fisheries and the Department of Health directly intervened.  Thus, although there is still a feeling of worry, he and other residents began to know the procedures for the handling of poultry, or how to handle if there is one resident who had a flu or fever who should be quickly brought to the nearest health center.

"Just as officers of the government came to spray enclosures while providing counseling," he said.

As reported previously, TL (8) of Kampung Ciganitri RT 4 RW 4 sub Desa Cipagalo Bojongsoang Bandung regency, allegedly died of bird flu (H1N1 virus).  The victim died on Saturday (10/06/2012).  This assumption is in line with the dozens of chickens that died suddenly in the village.

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

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by: History Lover @ Thu Oct 11, 2012 at 14:51:11 PM UTC

India: Chhattisgarh sounds alert as swine flu claims five lives

In the wake of five deaths due to swine flu within less than a fortnight, the Chhattisgarh government Thursday issued a high alert (Snip).

(Snip) Dozens of people, including two government doctors in Raipur, are suffering from the disease," (Snip).

The state government has also directed the hospitals of all the 27 districts to distribute Tamiflu, free of cost, (Snip).

Chhattisgarh government has also asked people to go to the nearest hospital if they find any symptoms of the disease that include high fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, chills and fatigue that can be extreme. http://www.newstrackindia.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 @ Thu Oct 11, 2012 at 19:31:35 PM UTC

New York: Doctors looking for volunteers to receive flu vaccines

10/11/2012 9:26 AM

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center are looking for volunteers to help them better understand how flu vaccines work.

Doctors are seeking 38 healthy people between the ages of 18 and 42 for the studies, which pay $650 or $1,700, depending on the study.

snip

Anyone interested in participating should call 585-273-3990. Participants must be in good health, not pregnant and not allergic to eggs.

For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website

www.whec.com.

http://www.whec.com/news/stori...

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www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Thu Oct 11, 2012 at 20:10:43 PM UTC

H3N2v Transmission At 2011 Washington County Fair

Recombinomics Commentary 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 @ Thu Oct 11, 2012 at 20:30:44 PM UTC

Tawau monitors live chicken imports amidst bird flu alert

http://www.theborneopost.com/2...
October 11, 2012
TAWAU: Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) will call for a meeting with all the relevant enforcement agencies here to discuss the need to monitor the import of live chickens, ducks and other aves species from Indonesia to ensure no bird flu carriers are brought into the district.
TMC President Datuk Ismail Mayakub said he was informed by the Agriculture Department that they have been busy collecting blood samples from chickens and ducks from 34 villages and all farms to ensure none are carriers of bird flu.  Birds, especially chickens, are being brought in from Sebatik Island through the Batu-Batu jetty and are being sold in town, which is worrying as Sebatik Island is part Malaysia and part Indonesia, he said.

Ismail said he was informed that chickens are also being brought in from Sungai Nyamuk, Indonesia through barter trading and are being sold in Tawau.  He said it is necessary to stop the import of birds from this area, as Nunukan, Indonesia has been experiencing a bird flu outbreak since July this year.  During the TMC full board meeting yesterday, it was revealed that chickens, including fighting cocks, from the neighbouring country are being brought to Simpang Tiga and Serudong, and the practice must be stopped.  Ismail said he was informed that blood samples collected from July until September tested negative for bird flu, but still the practice must be stopped to ensure no bird flu carriers are brought into Sabah.

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

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by: History Lover @ Thu Oct 11, 2012 at 21:10:57 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for October 12, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Fri Oct 12, 2012 at 04:32:10 AM UTC