News Reports for July 8, 2012

India: 1-yr-old tests positive for swine flu (Maharashtra)

A one-year-old boy from Bandra tested positive for the H1N1 swine flu virus on Saturday. This brings the total number of H1N1 cases in the city to 69.

"The baby was suffering from cold, cough and fever. He is now on Tamiflu and is stable," (Snip)

On July 3, a 13-year old girl from Navi Mumbai died of swine flu.

"The virus is more active during monsoon. (Snip) persistent fever and cold and cough should not be ignored," (Snip) http://www.hindustantimes.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 @ Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 06:39:58 AM UTC

ProMED: Influenza (11): Africa update, WHO

Influenza update number 163

Summary
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The influenza season is largely finished in the temperate countries of the northern hemisphere and most countries in the northern temperate zone have now stopped weekly reporting. A detailed review of the recent influenza season in the temperate countries of the northern hemisphere is available online at: http://www.who.int/wer/2012/we...  

In the tropical zone, Brazil, Paraguay and Honduras have reported notable influenza activity in the Americas; Ghana in sub-Saharan Africa; and southern China, including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Viet Nam in Asia.

The influenza season has commenced in most temperate countries of the southern hemisphere for which there is data. In Argentina, however, influenza remains nearly undetectable and although New Zealand has reported persistent increases in influenza virus detections over the last 3 reporting weeks, influenza-like illness (ILI) reports remained below the national baseline. -- Influenza A(H3N2) viruses were the most commonly reported type/sub-type in recent weeks in the Southern Hemisphere temperate region in Chile, South Africa, and Australia; however, significant numbers of influenza type B were also reported in South Africa and to a lesser extent, Australia. Very few influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses have been reported in the temperate region however A(H1N1)09 is currently the most commonly detected virus in active countries of Central and tropical South America.

Countries in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere

Influenza transmission in all reporting countries in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere has continued to decrease and is now largely at inter-seasonal levels. Influenza activity has been limited to only sporadic cases in Canada, the United States of America, Europe, and northern Asia. In the countries of northern Africa and the eastern Mediterranean, Oman reported persistent very low numbers of both influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B viruses.

Countries in the tropical zone

Sub-Saharan Africa In Sub-Saharan Africa, limited available data indicate very low level or no influenza activity in most countries. In western Africa, transmission of influenza A(H3N2) was reported in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, with very small numbers of influenza type B also reported in Ghana. In Madagascar H3N2 continues to be detected in high levels. Out of 30 samples analysed 77 percent were positive for influenza and the majority were influenza H3N2.

Countries in the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere

Temperate countries of Southern Africa In South Africa, the influenza season began in late May [2012] when the detection rate from the Viral Watch Programme rose to 21 percent and remained elevated subsequently. Since the beginning of the season, influenza A(H3N2) and type B have been detected in nearly equal numbers with A(H1N1)pdm09 virus detections accounting for less than 1 percent of subtyped viruses. Respiratory syncytial virus is also being reported in large numbers in the country. Continued: http://www.promedmail.org/dire...

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 @ Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 06:56:36 AM UTC

Flu fighters are wired

Two strains of flu can be diagnosed in minutes from exhaled breath using a nanowire biosensor. The inventors hope that their device will revolutionise flu diagnosis and help to control disease outbreaks in the event of a pandemic.

Annual flu epidemics are dominated by two main strains and result in up to 5 million severe cases each year, with up to 500,000 deaths. The typical human seasonal influenza A is type H3N2 or H1N1, also known as swine flu. (Snip)

Currently, the gold standard for diagnosis is the quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction in which RNA is extracted from respiratory fluids and amplified. This test takes several hours to complete and is not perfect, detecting non-infectious RNA and producing false negatives owing to low viral quantities and sampling problems.

Maosheng Yao and colleagues from Peking University and the University of Science and Technology, Beijing, China, have devised an alternative test, which is rapid enough for a clinical setting. It uses a biosensor made from a grid of silicon nanowires which have been functionalised with influenza A antibodies to trap proteins from the virus. Proteins that become trapped on the nanowires change the electrical conductance of the device in a manner that is proportional to viral concentration. 'Once the sensing system is ready, the entire detection time is about 2 minutes,' says Yao.

They have previously used a similar device for the real-time detection of airborne influenza viruses by continuous air sampling, but their new system is for exhaled breath. Patients breathe into a cooled collection device, the liquid is diluted 100-fold to eliminate potential interferences from other breath components before being applied to the sensor. The sensor is able to detect as little as 29 viruses/µL.

Accurate positive or negative diagnoses were given for 90% of cases tested. However, the test is not universal, says Euan Tovey from the University of Sydney Medical School, Australia, who studies human respiratory viruses in breath. 'If you are interested in what people in a population coming to a clinic are infected with then these methods will not look too good, unless you have multiplexed sensors. However, if you have - or fear - a nascent pandemic on your hands and you know exactly what you are looking for and you have the antibodies, then you have a possible way to do this.' Continued: http://www.rsc.org/chemistrywo...

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 @ Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 07:17:07 AM UTC

Mutations?

Um...

if you have - or fear - a nascent pandemic on your hands and you know exactly what you are looking for and you have the antibodies, then you have a possible way to do this.

Generally, the fact that it's suddenly pandemic means you don't know what you're looking for - it's a new strain! Am I being thick, or are they?? Almost seems like looking for your lost keys under a lamp post 'cause that's where the light is... also - sounds like the set-up is a bit complex; not real portable? Anyway, thanks for finding this...

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by: Cathy M @ Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 14:03:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hi Cathy

Even with the quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction test you have to have the correct primers to get accurate results. I imagine this would work the similar, as in requiring some type of "known factor" of some sort. According to this article, they have already developed the way to identify H3N2 and H1N1 from exhaled breath. If a mutated or new flu virus pops up then they could rapidly rule out seasonal H3N2 and H1N1 swine flu and probably adapt the nanowire biosensor to recognize the new strain as it is identified by the CDC or WHO and the sequences are released.

-- See here for the explanation of "primers": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P... --

Cathy, I am just guessing at this so what I have said here may be complete BS! LOL

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 @ Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 17:58:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Singapore: Farms take precaution against avian flu

Farms in Singapore are taking precaution against bird flu, after recent outbreaks in some parts of Asia. They have increased the disinfection frequency to twice a week - from once every week.

At N & N Agriculture farm in Lim Chu Kang, vehicles have to be thoroughly sanitised before they can enter. And they have to go through another round before they can enter the egg production area of the farm.

(Snip) some farm owners have also gone the extra mile to train their staff. (Snip) CEO of N & N Agriculture Pte Ltd, said: "Periodically we will have re-training for our workers to have a better understanding of the requirements in terms of - if their health are not good, if they have contracted flu, they should segregate themselves after informing the supervisor and return after they've fully recovered. Continued: http://www.channelnewsasia.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 @ Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 13:17:01 PM UTC

Thailand: Public Health Ministry orders 4 mil Tamiflu in case of bird flu outbreak

BANGKOK, 6 July 2012 -The Ministry of Public Health has reaffirmed that no outbreak of avian flu has been detected in Thailand, but to play it safe the ministry has ordered millions of doses of antiviral drugs of Tamiflu in case of emergency.

According to Department of Disease Control Director-General (Snip), the stocking up on Tamiflu is necessary because not only has the avian flu outbreak been reported in China **(Note: H5N1 in China)**, but also in Mexico **(Note: H7N3 in Mexico)**.

(Snip) the Ministry of Public Health is taking no chances. It has instructed public health volunteers across the country to monitor the poultry situation and notify authorities if the animals' deaths are suspected to have been caused by H1N1. **( Note: I think the reporter means H5N1)**

He claimed that no dead poultry in Thailand have been found infected by the avian flu so far. He assured the public that since Thailand is an exporter of poultry, it is unlikely for the avian flu to enter the country.

However, 4 million Tamiflu tablets will be obtained to make sure people receive the medication immediately should they develop the H1N1 **( Note: Again, I think the reporter means H5N1, not H1N1)** symptoms. Moreover, the quarantine zones along the Thai border have also been told to be extra cautious about all the birds imported into the country. 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 @ Sun Jul 08, 2012 at 18:38:15 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for July 9, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Mon Jul 09, 2012 at 04:17:58 AM UTC