News Reports for June 5, 2012

China: No bird flu mutation as tot fights on

The bird flu virus that left a two-year- old boy fighting for life in hospital has not mutated but health experts warn Hongkongers not to let their guard down. Experts said the quick detection of the case means Hong Kong has the right system to catch in midtrack the deadly H5N1 avian flu - seen as a potential pandemic strain even before H1N1 swine flu emerged in 2009.

The boy, who caught the virus in Guangdong, remains in serious condition in the pediatric intensive care unit at Princess Margaret Hospital. Doctors gave him the antiviral drug Tamiflu in a bid to save his life.

He was admitted for five days to a general pediatric ward at Caritas Medical Centre and treated for obstructive hydrocephalus - or water in the brain - before the H5N1 diagnosis. He was then transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital and put in isolation while his Hong Kong father and mainland mother were quarantined. Hong Kong health officials have asked the Guangdong authorities to monitor the boy's grandmother who lives with the family.

Children in the Caritas ward were among 80 people put on medical surveillance for 10 to 14 days. Others include doctors and staff at a private clinic in Mong Kok the boy visited and the ambulance workers who transferred him.

The toddler caught bird flu when a duck that his mother bought in a Guangzhou wet market was slaughtered in front of them. He also has an "atypical" presentation of hydrocephalus, which puzzled doctors, said Malik Peiris, professor of virology at the University of Hong Kong School of Public Health.

Gene sequencing analysis announced last night by the Centre for Health Protection found the H5N1 that infected the boy belongs to the dominant strain - clade 2.3.2.1, the same one as isolates from wild birds detected this year and last, and in an imported human infection case in late 2010.

University of Hong Kong professor of virology and gene sequencing expert Guan Yi said the strain has been detected in Hong Kong, the mainland, Mongolia and Eastern Europe. The center added that the genes are of avian origin and there is no evidence that the strain is resistant to Tamiflu.

Peiris said: "I don't think we can remain relaxed, we should remain vigilant about H5N1. "We know this virus remains endemic and established in poultry in many countries all the way to Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Vietnam Cambodia, Guangdong and other provinces, infecting poultry and humans." Continued: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/...

(Note: The imported human infection case in late 2010 mentioned in this article was also imported from mainland China. If I remember correctly, a woman visited relatives on the mainland and was diagnosed with H5N1 shortly after returning to Hong Kong.)

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 Jun 05, 2012 at 06:19:55 AM UTC

China: Boy's case isolated, bird flu outbreak unlikely

All of the contacts of a 2-year-old boy who tested positive for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland were either asymptomatic or tested negative for bird flu, authorities of the special administrative region and Guangdong province said, suggesting that the chance of an outbreak was slim.

The boy was still in serious condition after a week of treatment in Hong Kong. He is being kept isolated in the pediatric intensive care unit at Princess Margaret Hospital.

It was the city's first human case of bird flu in 18 months. The boy is thought to have been infected with the deadly virus during his visit to a wet market in Guangzhou last month.

Hong Kong kept the bird flu alert level at "serious" after raising it on Friday, and stricter visiting restrictions were imposed in the city's public hospitals.

Imports and sales of poultry have continued as usual - unlike in December, when an infected live chicken was found. Samples collected from 30 local chicken farms on Sunday all tested negative for bird flu, a spokesperson from the city's agriculture, fisheries and conservation department said.

York Chow Yat-ngok, secretary for food and health, assured the public that it was an "isolated" case and the city is well guarded against all types of infectious diseases. "We feel that there is no need for panic among Hong Kong residents," he said. "All in all, I would only advise the public to maintain a good level of personal and environmental hygiene."

Though summer is not considered a peak season for flu, Chow said human flu cases are not seasonal in nature, as observed in tropical countries, like Vietnam and Indonesia.

The boy's illness was first reported before midnight on Friday. His condition was said to be stable, but it worsened to serious on Saturday. The boy, who lives with his parents and maternal grandmother in the Haizhu district of Guangzhou, had visited a wet market on Nanyuan Street in mid May where his mother had bought a live duck.

Returning home from a three-day tour to Anhui province, the boy developed a fever and runny nose on May 23. He was taken to a private medical clinic in Hong Kong three days later. Continued: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/c...  

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 Jun 05, 2012 at 06:31:33 AM UTC

Thailand: Illness not bird flu, army says (Bangkok)

It is not bird flu as first feared, but the illness that has stricken 15 soldiers in Uttaradit and put another 125 under observation was thought serious enough to close an army hospital to all outside patients.

The Phraya Phichai Dabhak Army Camp Hospital where the soldiers were being treated was put under quarantine after the 15 soldiers contracted a lung infection. Hospital director Col Kuldanai Supim said the hospital is expected to reopen today, however, as the 15 affected soldiers had recovered steadily while test results showed the 125 others had not contracted the disease.

(Snip) an epidemiologist attached to the army, said laboratory tests on the ill soldiers showed that the infection was caused by mycoplasma - a bacteria that can be contracted through sneezing or coughing or close contact with infected people. Thailand already has a medicine - clarithromycin - for treatment of the disease, (Snip) the soldiers had not contracted any severe acute respiratory diseases such as bird flu, as had been feared and rumoured (Snip)

The first case detected was that of Pvt Kittirat Meeplong, a native of Tron district. He was diagnosed with the illness on May 29. A day later, three more army privates at the camp came down with the flu-like symptoms. The soldiers had a high fever, sore throat and cough. Continued: http://www.bangkokpost.com/lea...

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 Jun 05, 2012 at 06:51:37 AM UTC

Thailand: Public Health warns residents of influenza spread during rainy season

BANGKOK, 4 June 2012  - The Public Health Ministry has warned residents to be aware of the spread of influenza during the rainy season, citing up to 900,000 people have been infected with the virus each year.  

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has revealed that influenza usually spreads during the rainy season. The DDC and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) are therefore offering free vaccines against AH1N1, AH3N2, and B-type viruses to (Snip) (1) people with chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and immunodeficiency, (2) elderly over 65 years of age, (3) people heavier than 100 kilograms, (4) autistic patients, (5) children from 6 months old-2 years old, (6) pregnant women, and (7) medical practitioners and officials who work with poultry.

The Ministry expects to give the vaccines to 3.55 million people. (Snip) http://www.pattayamail.com/new...  

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 Jun 05, 2012 at 06:59:07 AM UTC

China: Boy with bird flu still in serious condition in HK

HONG Kong's health authority said yesterday that the two-year-old boy confirmed with Influenza A (H5N1) infection on Saturday is receiving intensive care at Princess Margaret Hospital and his condition remained serious.

According to the health department's investigation, the H5 gene of the isolate belonged to clade 2.3.2.1, which is the same clade as the isolates from wild birds detected in 2011 and 2012 and in the imported human infection case in late 2010. So far, all the genes characterized belong to avian origin and there is no evidence of resistance to the antiviral agent oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

Officials have kept some 80 contacts under medical surveillance. Nasopharyngeal aspirates from the parents and the five contacts who have reported respiratory symptoms tested negative for Influenza A (H5N1). Continued: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/a...

(Note: I think the two most recent human cases in (mainland) China were also infected with clade 2.3.2.1 and both of them died. The first one was a man from Shenzhen and he died the end of Dec. 2011 and the other man was from Guizhou and he died in Jan. 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 Jun 05, 2012 at 19:09:24 PM UTC

New Zealand: Severe flu season tipped this year

A leading influenza expert says the coming flu season is likely to be more severe than last winter's and is urging people to get vaccinated. Continued: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/...

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 Jun 05, 2012 at 19:13:22 PM UTC

India: Swine flu - 72-year-old woman tests positive (Maharashtra)

Despite summer in the city having reached its peak, swine flu cases continue to be reported with another case confirmed on Tuesday. The patient, a 72-year-old woman from Cuffe Parade, was diagnosed positive for the H1N1 virus, taking the total number of total positive cases in the city to 28 this year. (Snip) She is being administered Tamiflu and is stable," (Snip) http://www.indianexpress.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 Jun 05, 2012 at 19:33:13 PM UTC

New Zealand: Two dangerous flu strains lurking

Two flu strains - one potentially dangerous for the elderly and the other deadly to children - could be rampant this winter. Cases of H3N2, to which elderly people are particularly susceptible, have already been identified in New Zealand.

A major outbreak of the animal-to-human strain could cause a surge in hospital admissions and deaths, National Influenza Specialist Group virus expert Lance Jennings said.

Influenza B is also expected to dominate. Three healthy children died rapidly from that virus in 2005. Normally it affected school age children and was behind an increase in classroom absenteeism, Dr Jennings said. Continued: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominio...

(Note: I assume this statement is referring to the H3N2v strain, which was found in 1 adult and a number of children in a few states in the US recently. "A major outbreak of the animal-to-human strain could cause a surge in hospital admissions and deaths." H3N2v is a swine flu strain.)

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 Jun 05, 2012 at 19:45:45 PM UTC

WHO: Avian influenza - situation in China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong, SAR) - update

http://www.who.int/csr/don/201...

(No new information that hasn't already been reported elsewhere)

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by: AlohaOR @ Wed Jun 06, 2012 at 01:24:00 AM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for June 6, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Wed Jun 06, 2012 at 04:08:43 AM UTC