News Reports for July 13, 2012

Chicken vaccines combine to create deadly virus

Australian scientists have found that two different vaccines used to control an infectious disease in chickens can recombine to create new lethal virus strains. The research, to be published today in the journal Science, has prompted authorities to review vaccine use in animals.

But the scientists, from the University of Melbourne, say the findings are not only important for vaccines in chickens, but also for any vaccine which might be able to multiply - including those used in humans.

Chicken respiratory virus ILT can lead to birds dying in a pool of bloody mucus, but vaccines that were meant to protect them have instead led to their deaths. (Snip) the deaths were caused when two vaccines used to treat the virus combined. "These new strains were formed by recombination from the different vaccine strains and that they were actually more virulent than the vaccine strains that gave rise to them," she said. "This is something we've never before seen before in the field."

Live vaccines, where a weaker version of the virus is introduced to allow the immune system to build up its own defences, are quite commonly used for animals and humans, and include polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox and rabies.

These new strains were formed by recombination from the different vaccine strains and that they were actually more virulent than the vaccine strains that gave rise to them. (Snip) The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is now consulting with industry to control the use of these vaccines. Continued: http://www.abc.net.au/news/201...  

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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 05:18:55 AM UTC

Officials Kill Millions Of Birds Due To Flu Outbreak

In containing a recent bird flu outbreak, 2.5 million birds were killed in Mexico. (Snip) Officials traveled to 148 poultry farms, found bird flu in 31 of those farms, and discovered that 34 other farms did not have any of the viruses. There was a total of 3.4 million affected poultry.
(Snip)
The Telegraph reported that, on June 20, the outbreak was first discovered in the state of Jalisco. As a result, the Mexican government decided to declare a national animal health emergency on July 2 to face the growing epidemic. The government then imported one million vaccines from Pakistan and farming officials have stated that they created a seed-made vaccine that would be produced at four laboratories. A total of 80 million doses of vaccines would be produced in the initial run.
(Snip)

The news of the massive killings of birds also follows a report that the H5N1 bird flu virus can quickly mutate into deadly human pandemic form after three steps. A recent article in the Daily Mail addresses "pre-pandemic vaccinations" to immunize people years before a flu pandemic could possibly occur. Public health professionals believe that it would be wiser to be prepared beforehand rather than scrambling to rush to create vaccines for a new pandemic.
(Snip)
"The bottom line is that current production will never solve the problem. You'll always get at least one, if not two waves of infection before you can get sufficient quantities of vaccine to do anything significant ... If you want to get ahead of it, you've got to have a different strategy."

As a result of requests from the World Health Organization, pharmaceutical companies have worked fervently to invest in flu vaccine production. Studies have been done on the various vaccines that could be produced. While the H5N1 hasn't mutated to be able to easily pass from birds to humans, it still killed about 60 percent of people who were infected. Continued: http://www.redorbit.com/news/h...
 

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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 05:37:13 AM UTC

South Africa: 8000 ostriches slaughtered

About 8000 ostriches in the Western Cape are being slaughtered after a fresh outbreak of avian flu (Snip). Infected ostriches were found on a farm near Albertinia and on two farms near Heidelberg two weeks ago. All birds found on an infected farm had to be killed as part of the government's "stamping out" policy.

The industry had recently stated it had brought the H5N2 disease in the province under control and was a step closer to having its export status re-instated. (Snip)
(Snip)
"We have to look at other control measures because this stamping out is possibly not the way to go." http://www.iol.co.za/business/...

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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 05:43:44 AM UTC

India: Bird Flu is Back in a Stronger Avataar

New research shows that the H5N1 virus can become contagious. But is the government prepared for a pandemic?

This may not be the influenza season, but news about the virus that causes the pandemic has been infecting us in the last few weeks. First, two academic groups published their much-debated research about a lab-engineered strain of bird flu (H5N1) that shows how it can acquire the ability to rapidly spread among humans, even though now it only hops from bird to bird. For six months, various agencies, including the World Health Organization, had debated whether public knowledge of this research would help fend off pandemics or aid bioterrorism. It was then followed by a slew of recommendations on preventive measures and preparedness, urging the governments and regulators around the world to enhance surveillance and collaboration.

On June 27, the medical journal Lancet published an analysis of the 2009 swine flu (caused by H1N1 strain, which had jumped from pigs to humans) deaths across 13 countries, rich and poor, which shows 284,400 people died in the first year, eight times the officially reported figure. It hints that the forthcoming analyses could reveal even higher numbers.

In this context, the new research that shows how H5N1, which can become contagious without mixing with other animal and human viruses (as was the case with previous pandemic viruses, including the Spanish flu of 1918), paints a prospect that is scary. It could become a reality in days or decades. There isn't enough understanding today to accurately predict such events.

Still, the scientific community is not surprised. Since the influenza virus mutates very fast and can acquire new traits easily, anything can happen, says VM Katoch, director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. Now that the specific mutations are public knowledge, the surveillance programme can keep a vigil on the virus for these mutations, he says.

But there is no active surveillance in the country. It's mostly event based, says AC Mishra, director of the National Institute of Virology in Pune which monitors bird flu outbreaks.

This year has seen a 10-15 percent rise in bird flu and mortality, including deaths of crows in West Bengal and Jharkhand. Continued: http://forbesindia.com/article...

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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 05:55:37 AM UTC

Australia: Flu warning (New South Wales)

FLU season has arrived and health experts are warning it could be a particularly severe season for NSW with two and half times the number of people visiting the emergency department with flu-like illnesses than at the same time last year.

NSW is the second worst state affected by the flu with 2391 diagnosed cases and experts are saying this is only the tip of the iceberg as thousands more cases are going undiagnosed.

NSW Public Health Albury office's Tracey Oakman said while it is difficult to state exact presentations of influenza at the Cootamundra hospital, she confirmed that presentations at emergency wards across the state are above what they were at the same time last year.

Seasonally, there is also a higher than normal presentation of people over the age of 65, presenting at hospitals across the state, Ms Oakman said. Ms Oakman reminded Cootamundra residents that the vaccine is free to people over the age of 65.

"A lot of the cases are a slightly different strain, however the vaccine still offers some protection," Ms Oakman said. Continued: http://www.cootamundraherald.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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 06:04:56 AM UTC

Australia: Flu hits town (Queensland)

Port Douglas - A strain of influenza has struck town with many doctors reporting an unusually large number of cases in the past few days.

Dr Ron Bleier of News Horizons For Health said the clinic's three doctors have been attending to patients struck down by the illness. "We don't see the flu all year round so it we're experiencing cases lately that we don't normally see.

"We see a lot of it in tourists because they are travelling, going through airports, they're vulnerable to catching it. Some people are coming from colder climates so they come up with the flu and they arrive here for their holiday and the next day they're crook."

He said there were a number of symptoms that accompany the flu and, distinct from the common cold, can include fever, chills, aches and pains, headaches, and even nausea and diarrhoea. He said symptoms can come on very quickly and can be severe, likening some of the symptoms to Dengue or Ross River Fever. "They (sufferers) are toxic, they're really sick and can't do anything, they're bed ridden and it's quite a disabling condition compared to getting a cold."

Dr Bleier said treatment varies depending on the symptoms experienced, and said he personally subscribes to alternative medicines to fight off flu. Continued: http://www.tourismportdouglas....

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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 06:16:14 AM UTC

Australia: GP shortage blamed for flu rush (Western Australia)

WA's health chief has blamed the State's alarming GP shortage for the surge in flu patients going to hospital emergency departments.

Director-general of health Kim Snowball said the increased demand overflowing to hospitals from the early winter flu season showed WA was critically short of GPs. "WA has the lowest ratio of GPs to people per capita than any other State," Mr Snowball said.

"This is now more apparent than ever, as more people are choosing to go to an ED rather than wait to get an appointment with their local GP."

Mr Snowball urged people with flu-type illnesses to try to see their GP first before going to Perth's emergency departments, which handled 6500 flu patients last month alone - 2000 more than at the same time last year.

He has written to GPs asking them to look at ways they can deal with the demand, including extending opening hours. "While some people will require treatment in a hospital emergency department, the vast majority of people with a flu-like illness who are seeking medical advice or are in a high risk group can be adequately cared for by a GP," Mr Snowball said.

Vaccination still offered the best protection against the flu and there was time to get vaccinated for this year's flu strains, he said. Continued: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewe...

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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 06:22:06 AM UTC

Study reveals most dangerous zoonoses

http://www.globalmeatnews.com/...

(Note: This is copyright protected so I can only give you a link to the article.)

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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 20:17:48 PM UTC

Australia: Flu Season Causing Worries in Queensland

The flu season has once again arrived and the residents of Toowoomba have been put on alert. This year, Queensland has reported the highest cases of flu. Therefore, people and authorities need to be geared to battle with the worst flu season.

It has been reported that in Queensland about 2530 flu cases have already been confirmed. Dr. Hume Rendle-Short from Medicare Local said that this year the flu season has come quite earlier as compared to previous years. He further told that this year worst cases of flu have been reported. People are advised to consult their doctors if they experience any symptoms similar to flu. However, getting jabs to prevent being affected with flu is the best way of prevention.

It is estimated that in the month of August, the cases of flu could multiple. Continued: http://topnews.ae/content/2123...

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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 20:35:38 PM UTC

Philippines: Lawmakers want to institutionalize emergency plan for influenza pandemic

MANILA - Lawmakers have moved to institutionalize an emergency plan that will enable the country to recognize and manage an influenza pandemic.

(Snip) a preparedness plan may help reduce transmission of the pandemic virus, reduce cases of hospitalization and deaths and maintain essential services to reduce its possible adverse economic and social impact.
(Snip)
"Such a threat should be given serious attention by the Philippine government given its implications. Cases of highly pathogenic influenza have resulted in the death of the infected humans," he said. Arroyo said no researches have been concluded to rule out human-to-human transmission of the avian virus. "The severity and schedule of an influenza pandemic is not predictable. (Snip)

Arroyo said the bill aims to conduct a comprehensive information dissemination and education campaign on the nature, causes, prevention and treatment of Avian Influenza in every community, in schools, government sectors and even provide mandatory education to all individuals traveling abroad, whether foreigners or Filipino citizens.

Under the measure to be known as the "Pandemic Preparedness Act," the Pandemic Emergency Council is established. It shall be responsible for setting up health care facilities and isolation centers which shall undertake pandemic prevention and preparedness services and activities and shall respond to any public health emergency, particularly avian influenza.

The bill gives all heads of families, persons in-charge of places such as hotels, boarding houses, schools, orphanages, medical practitioners and other health care providers the responsibility to inform the nearest city or municipal health officers if someone is suspected to be suffering with or has recently suffered from any infectious disease.

The bill mandates the Department of Health (DOH) in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Immigration (BI), and Local Government Units (LGUs) in the information dissemination campaign about the virus.

The bill likewise gives protection to all health workers through vaccination with the most recent seasonal human influenza vaccine. http://www.zambotimes.com/arch...

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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 20:57:32 PM UTC

Flu season spreads through Southeastern Australia

Southeastern Australia is experiencing a rise in influenza cases this year, with twice as many confirmed infections as the same time last year.

According to the National Center for Immunization Research and Surveillance, Australia averages more than 4,000 hospitalizations from influenza and 85 deaths each year. (Snip) "When there is a good match between the influenza strains in the vaccine and those causing current disease, the vaccine can prevent illness in about 70 to 90 percent of healthy children and adults," the NCIRS said, according to News.com.au.

The Influenza Specialist Group, a not-for-profit group, has alerted the public to the presence of H3N2, which is a slightly different strain than the one in the vaccine. Approximately 98 percent of the cases diagnosed in Southeastern Australia have been the result of H3N2.

"The strain that's in the vaccine almost certainly will provide some protection against the H3N2 strain that is circulating, but it's not exactly the same," (Snip) "That may be contributing to the fact that we're seeing more of that H3N2 strain." Continued: http://vaccinenewsdaily.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 @ Fri Jul 13, 2012 at 21:06:39 PM UTC

Bronco Bill, it's Friday joke time!

Your jokes are here: http://www.newfluwiki2.com/dia...

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 @ Sat Jul 14, 2012 at 01:07:21 AM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for July 14, 2012

Thank you!

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 @ Sat Jul 14, 2012 at 05:56:16 AM UTC