News Reports for October 8, 2012

India: Two Chattishgarh doctors test positive for swine flu

RAIPUR: Two senior specialists at Bheemrao Ambedkar Hospital are tested positive for swine flu (Snip) "The doctors include associate professor at ENT department and his counterpart at the department of Skin Diseases," (Snip).

(Snip)

He said the hospital administration has asked all doctors, especially those working at Out Patient Departments (OPDs), to take precautionary measures like wearing masks to protect themselves.

Gupta said the condition of both the doctors is stable and they are asked to take rest at home.

(Snip) two out of eight patients tested positive for Swine flu so far, have died. http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

(Note: According to the figures given here, that puts the CFR at 25%.)
 

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 05:42:13 AM UTC

India: Swine flu claims seventh victim in Indore (Madhya Pradesh)

Indore: Swine flu claimed seventh victim in the city on Sunday. The deceased, 30-year-old Subhash Patel of Depalpur area had been diagnosed with swine flu positive on Oct 4 and was admitted to Choithram hospital.

He was later referred to Bombay Hospital on Sunday where he died late in the evening. (Snip) http://daily.bhaskar.com/artic...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 05:50:45 AM UTC

China: HK probes suspected case of new coronavirus

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's health authority received a report from a local hospital on Sunday, over a suspected case of severe respiratory disease associated with new coronavirus affecting a four-year-old boy who came from Jeddah of Saudi Arabia, the city government said in a statement.

The boy presented with fever, cough and vomiting today and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Ruttonjee Hospital on Hong Kong Island. The boy has been transferred to Queen Mary Hospital for isolation, and his current condition is stable. Respiratory specimen has been taken from the patient and test result is pending (Snip).

(Snip) the boy traveled with his father from Saudi Arabia to Hong Kong on October 3. His father also had fever two days ago but has recovered.

A spokesman with the Center advised travelers who fall sick within 10 days after visiting from affected countries should put on a mask and seek medical advice immediately, as well as report their travel history to the doctor concerned.

(Snip) two cases of acute respiratory syndrome with renal failure had been reported from two persons who had both traveled to Middle East, and a novel coronavirus has been later confirmed relating to the two cases. 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

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 06:00:07 AM UTC

Arabian Coronavirus: Plot Thickens But Virus Lies Low

It now appears that the new coronavirus found on the Arabian Peninsula is more widespread than initially thought, even though only two people are known to have gotten sick from it.

At first it seemed likely that the two known cases of illness from the new cousin-of-SARS virus may have been exposed in or near the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast. But now it's pretty certain that a 49-year-old Qatari man who had traveled to Jeddah last month didn't pick up the virus there. Investigators say he probably got infected after he returned home to Qatar, a tiny Persian Gulf kingdom 825 miles to the east. A report in the journal Eurosurveillance traces the man's movements, which hadn't been publicly known before.

(Note: See timeline chart: http://www.npr.org/blogs/healt... )

"It is likely that the patient's infection was acquired in Qatar, as he was in Qatar for the 16 days prior to the onset of his most recent respiratory illness in September," write researchers from the U.K.'s Health Protection Agency and co-workers.

The man remains on life support in a London hospital after he got infected last month by the previously unknown coronavirus. He can't breathe on his own, so requires treatment called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, basically an artificial lung. He has also suffered kidney failure.

The other known victim of the coronavirus was a 60-year-old Saudi man who died back in June. Continued: http://www.npr.org/blogs/healt...  

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 06:10:20 AM UTC

Swine influenza cases on the rise in India

New Delhi: The end of the monsoon season has once again resulted in a spurt of cases of swine influenza (Snip) across India. Pune is the worse affected city in the country. 226 people were affected by the H1N1 infection killing 9 between June and September this year. According to reports, four people died in September alone in Pune.

In Madhya Pradesh, over a hundred persons have tested positive for swine flu so far, with 19 persons dead so far this year. At Indore, a lady doctor in Indore was tested positive a week ago for H1N1 virus (Snip). In Bhopal alone, the infection has claimed 10 lives. Indore, Ujjain and Gwalior account for six, two and one deaths respectively, sources said. Swine flu cases have also been reported from Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and other parts of the country. Continued: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/swi...

(Note: This article says there have been 9 deaths in Pune. An article I posted yesterday said there have been 19 deaths in Pune. http://articles.timesofindia.i... I seriously wonder if the Indian government has an accurant account of the number of positive cases and deaths or not. If I had to guess, I would say they don't, not even close!)

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 06:33:24 AM UTC

US: High-dose flu vaccines ready for seniors

Senior citizens know they can't turn back the clock, but there is one way they can make their immune systems operate like a young person's - with a flu shot.

Public health officials are again touting a high-dose influenza vaccine for seniors. The shot, made by Sanofi Pasteur Inc. (Snip) is designed to create a stronger immune response in people who, because of age, don't have quite the virus-fighting capability they once had.

"So many people don't understand that as they age, they are at higher risk for influenza and its complications," said Donna Cary, a Sanofi spokeswoman. "It's both a function of age and underlying medical conditions."

The higher-dose vaccination delivers four times the antigen found in the standard flu shot.

This will be the second full year that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the high-dose vaccination for people 65 and older. Cary said about 12 percent of senior citizens who received flu shots last year chose the high-dose version. The higher-dose vaccination is covered by Medicare Part B, with no co-pay, said Amy Szydlowski, executive director of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Northeast District.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the safety profile of the high-dose vaccination is similar to that of the regular flu vaccine. But adverse reactions, which are usually mild and temporary, occurred more frequently after the high-dose shot. They include pain, swelling and redness at the injection site, headache, muscle aches, fever and general malaise. The CDC said most people had minimal or no adverse reactions (Snip)

Health officials say the potential for a brief adverse reaction is worth the benefit of protecting an individual, as well as their co-workers, family members and care-givers. Continued: http://www.mcall.com/health/mc...


Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 07:31:45 AM UTC

China: Suspected case of novel coronavirus found to be flu

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/c...

Hong Kong health authorities ruled out a suspected case of a novel coronavirus infection on Oct 8.

The case is a 4-year-old boy who came to Hong Kong from Saudi Arabia on Oct 3 with his father. (snip)

The Center for Health Protection of Hong Kong's Department of Health tested specimens drawn from the boy's airway and found he had H1N1 flu, not novel coronavirus. (continued)

---

by: AlohaOR @ Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 12:46:16 PM UTC

Boy 8 Years Dies Suspected Bird Flu

October 8, 2012
http://m.inilah.com/read/detai...
Bandung, Indonesia:  Tia Lia Lestari (8), of Kampung Ciganitri RT 4/4 sub Desa Cipagalo Bojongsoang Bandung regency, died on Saturday (10/06/2012).  Lia allegedly died from bird flu (H1N1).  This assumption is in line with the dozens of chickens that died suddenly in the village.

"In addition, one of the doctors who care for children in RSHS asked me who was raising chickens at home or in the past few days were there chickens that died suddenly?  And indeed in this ward, precisely at RT 2, since 4 October today there are dozens of chickens that died suddenly," said Entis Sutisna (40), a parent of the deceased Lia when he was found at his residence, Monday (08/10/2012).  According to Entis, children are often playing at RT 2 with his aunt called Rohimah (35).  The distance of their homes to RT 2 was only about 300 meters.  

"When the doctor at RSHS also asked, I said we do not raise chickens.   So could my child have been exposed to bird flu at RT 2 while playing there," he admitted.

Sutisna said it was early to tell what happened to his son.  On Friday (09/29/2012) then Lia began developing fever illness.  He took him to a doctor who practices near their home.  However, Lia's fever does not go away, and he brought back him to the doctor for the second time.  However, Lia's condition was getting worse, and the doctors raised their hands and advised Entis to take him to RSHS.

"My son was experiencing shortness of breath, dizziness and fever.  On Friday (10/05/2012) night, I take it to RSHS. Following treatment, including intravenous fluids, the disease does not go away," said Entis.

Then, at night, feeling tired, Entis intended to go home to rest.  While in RSHS, Lia's brother-in-law, Yono (25) awaited.  However, just as Entis reached his home, Yono called and let him know that Lia was in critical condition.

"Recently I got home, then I went back to RSHS.  Officials there suggested that Lia was immediately taken to have the autopsy report.  But after the hospital officials saw his room upstairs was full," he said.

Unfortunately, before getting back care, Lia's life, the boy who had just sat in class 2 SD's, was not helped.  Lia exhaled on Saturday (10/06/2012) at 9:45 pm.  

"My son died shortly after I was looking for a post mortem room," he said softly.


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

---

by: History Lover @ Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 20:46:23 PM UTC

India: Uncommon flu goes viral in city (New Delhi)

The city's health officials, already grappling with a spurt in dengue and malaria cases over the past few weeks, have a stupefying problem on hand as the common viral flu has taken a rather aggressive form.

The spectrum of virals and similar infections this season have become a reason to worry as hospitals have reported that patients afflicted with the illnesses were showing severe symptoms and longer recovery period.

"The old adage that any fever beyond 4-6 days is usually not a viral has taken a beating. We have now begun to question that theory, considering the disease profile of the patients we are getting," Dr S Chatterjee, senior consultant in Apollo Hospital's internal medicine department, said. The recovery time, doctors said, has gone up to 10 to 12 days and the symptoms also varied.

"We have a range of symptoms from fever and persistent joint pain to symptoms resembling encephalitis, meningitis and hepatitis. We are calling them viral-like diseases because most are showing negative test results for all identified viruses. Even the atypical pathogen profile, a test that diagnoses virals like influenza and H1N1 outside the spectrum of dengue, chikungunya and viral hepatitis, is not showing positive results," Dr Vikas Ahluwalia of Max Hospital, Saket, said.

In such a situation, doctors put these diseases in the broad category of "viral-like symptoms" - meaning the bug cannot be properly identified.

The symptoms are severe because of the longer recovery period. Doctors said patients, particularly the elderly and diabetics, are showing symptoms characteristic of the H1N1 virus such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in which the lungs get inflamed.

Dr Atul Gogia of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said: "The viruses mutate over time and these are becoming resistant to anti-virals just like the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We have patients on ventilator support and have seen deaths from the flu-like symptoms. These patients had tested negative for all notifiable viral diseases such as dengue and malaria."

Dr Ahluwalia of Max Hospital agreed. Many patients suffering from common viral-like diseases required ventilator support, he said.

"We have seen patients with all kinds of fevers... delirious with fever, aggressive rashes on the body or simply severe, prolonged joint pains characteristic of chikungunya, when the patient has actually tested negative for the bug," he said.

This has led to a higher number of patients with low or dropping blood platelet counts. Continued: 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

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 21:06:07 PM UTC

Why isn't WHO testing these?

Dang - WHO has dropped the ball on this one! How fast did they manage to find "cousin of SARS" once it landed in Britain, but all of these weird "unclassifiable" flu's are not even being checked out? In a land with such a huge urban population? Very scary...  

---

by: Cathy M @ Tue Oct 09, 2012 at 01:45:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Found this article from Sept. 17

This monsoon, new viral strain creates alarm
Durgesh Nandan Jha, TNN Sep 17, 2012, 05.30AM IST

NEW DELHI: A new strain of virus causing influenza, fever, cough and cold is taking a toll on Delhiites this monsoon. Doctors say these mild ailments, which are generally short-lived, are taking much longer to cure. In some patients, a relapse of the illness has also been observed.

Children, elderly and those suffering from health problems like asthma, bronchitis, diabetes and kidney diseases are the worst affected. "Viral infections are recurring more commonly this season. We're coming across cases in which the infection has neurological manifestations too. The need for hospitalization has gone up, which is not usually the case," said Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant, internal medicine, Apollo Hospital.

Continued:  http://articles.timesofindia.i...

Something appears to have changed...  At least the local Docs seem to think so.

Howdy ya'll.  I check in about once a day, and then chase news when something catches my eye.  This is one of those times...  

---

by: Okieman @ Tue Oct 09, 2012 at 02:26:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Great to see you again, Okieman! n/t

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue Oct 09, 2012 at 04:21:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

And this from Sept 26

Flu capital: One in four Delhiites down with influenza
HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, September 26, 2012

High fever, runny nose, headache and sore throat - one in four Delhittes is down with flu these days. Thanks to the delayed monsoon and the sudden dip in temperature, viruses are wreaking havoc on the health of residents in the national Capital.

"There is a spurt in the cases of
viral pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections. Post-monsoon, we usually expect a rise in such cases but this time it has been unusually high," said Dr Monica Mahajan, senior consultant, department of medicine at Max Healthcare, Saket.

"There is a clustering of cases in households where one family member becomes the primary patient and then others get infected," she said.

Doctors said the symptoms may range from mild - sore throat and runny nose - to very severe with high grade fever, headache, cough with sputum and in some cases, pneumonia. Most hospitals are also registering patients with severe viral pneumonia or pneumonia with bacterial infection.

Continued:  http://www.hindustantimes.com/...

Hat tip to Ronan Kelly over at Flu Trackers for this article:  http://www.flutrackers.com/for...

---

by: Okieman @ Tue Oct 09, 2012 at 02:50:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Boy 8 Year Residents Bojongsoang Suspected Bird Flu Deaths

http://bisnis-jabar.com/index....
October 8, 2012
BOJONGSOANG, Indonesia:  A boy named Lia Lestari (8) of Kampung Ciganitri, Cipagalo Village, District Bojongsoang, Bandung regency allegedly died from bird flu (H1N1) on Saturday (6/10).   The victim's father, Entis Sutisna, 40, said initially Lia suffered on Friday (29/9).  Later, his son was given drugs and recovered.

"However, starting Tuesday my son's pain was back," he said when met at his house on Monday (8/10).

At that moment, he took her straight to the doctor to be checked twice.  "My son was taken to the doctor twice.  But, when they examined the child on Friday, the doctors could no longer (do anything?) and referred him finally to  RSHS,"  he said.  On Friday (5/10) at 22.00 pm, they arrived at RSHS, and she was cared for.  "Until there she had to be handled by a doctor.  However, my son continued fever, stomach nausea, and shortness of breath," he explained.
New on Saturdays at 12.00 pm Lia died at RSHS.  "After Lia's death, the doctor inquired whether or not we had chickens in the house?   Then I said, that the first had a month back and had been cut (killed?)," he said.

Then, he continued, the doctor informed him that Lia was a suspected bird flu positive.  The victim's mother, Yani Maryani, 38, added that her son often played at his aunt's home in the RT02 Rohimah RW04.  

"There were a lot of dead chickens.  Maybe my son contracted this there," he said, adding that a lot of chickens had died since October 4.  "Earlier also there was a check from the government, about four chickens that died suddenly," he explained.

In the meantime, Head of Animal Health (Keswan) Department of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Bandung regency, Euis Rohayani admitted his office had come to the scene and inspected that poultry that died suddenly and lived.

"For a while, the conclusion was that there were found suspected birds that tested positive for bird flu.  It was derived from the results of the quick samples," he said.

According to him, some samples will be examined during the first 14 days.  After that, the new note is much more suspected avian bird flu or not. Euis said that this region does not include the bird flu endemic areas.  However, he added, that with the discovery of the dead birds, then it will be endemic.  

"One was that included in the endemic area," he said.

He explained that when there are birds that die suddenly, people can directly report to the village or services if there are signs of sudden deaths of poultry, then they will move quickly to get down to the field.  Asked when bird flu had occurred in Bandung Regency, he said it happened in Cileunyi to two people in 2006.  

"They tested positive for bird flu and died," he said.

During the year 2011, there were eight areas in Bandung Regency infected.  The eight areas included the Village District Cijagra Paseh, Village Pangauban Katapang, Village Cileunyi Cileunyi Kulon District, village constable Cimaung District, Village District Margahurip Banjaran, Village Waluya Cicalengka District, Village Patrol Arjasari Sari subdistrict, district and village Maruyung Pacet.  Maria explained that most infections with bird flu were caused by the average free-range chicken.

"To prevent the spread of infection, the eight regions will be re-vaccinated for Avian Influence (AI / AI), including Newcassel Deases (ND / Tetelo).  Besides, we also provide biosecurity in each poultry cage belonging to farmers," he said, adding, all areas will be given the same biosecurity.

Graphing the spread of bird flu, usually occurs in early January-June and November-December.  "This happens because of bad climate and growing population without handling poultry biosecurity and good health," he explained.


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

---

by: History Lover @ Mon Oct 08, 2012 at 21:10:01 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for October 9, 2012

Thank you!

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue Oct 09, 2012 at 04:22:12 AM UTC