News Reports for November 6, 2012

India: Avian flu virus spreading in Hesarghatta (Karnataka)

After the outbreak of avian flu (H5N1) at the Centre Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) (Snip) the virus is now suspected to have spread out of the institute campus in Hesarghatta.

Villagers from Hesarghatta claimed that about 20 chicken deaths were reported since Sunday evening. The officials from the CPDO and the Department of Animal Husbandry visited the spot and have taken samples of dead birds. "The samples will be sent to the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals in Hebbal," (Snip).

(Snip) So far, 33,000 birds, including turkeys, chickens, emus and ducks have been culled in the CPDO premises. http://www.asianage.com/bengal...  

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 Nov 06, 2012 at 08:09:28 AM UTC

India: 40 chickens die in private farm (Karnataka)

Death of nearly 40 chickens at a private farm near Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) in Hessarghatta has panicked residents in the surrounding areas.

(Snip) 40 birds died at R Venkatesh's farm in Vinayaknagar, which is around half-a-kilometer from the CPDO, where birds had earlier died due to bird flu. Area within 10-km radius around the CPDO has been declared as surveillance zone. Doctors visited Vinayaknagar on Sunday and blood samples of the dead birds were sent for testing. "The samples were tested at the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Hessarghatta and the results showed negative to bird flu. However, we will get a report on the same from High Security Animal Disease Laboratory at Bhopal," (Snip)

Authorities have intensified preventive measures by visiting private farms to create awareness. "In case people find dead birds, they have been told to inform the authorities and also dispose them of by burying them. If a dead chicken is disposed in an open area, there are chances of the suspected influenza getting communicated through those which feed upon them," a CPDO doctor said.

(Snip)

R Venkatesh too is sacred. "I have lost most of my chickens. I am in a situation where I cannot sell the remaining chicken." A team of 10 personnel, including doctors from CPDO are visiting private poultry farms in the area.

Sale of chicken in villages around CPDO is banned. However, some people have started to eat chicken fearing their chicken will anyway die. "Doctors have told us that we can consume chicken after heating it in over 70 degrees," Venkatesh said. http://newindianexpress.com/ci...

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 Nov 06, 2012 at 08:43:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

New Zealand: US spends millions researching Kiwi flu trends

Auckland hospitals are studying flu cases like never before in an effort to predict flu trends in the Northern Hemisphere. The US Government is funding a five-year project in the hope they will be able forecast the strains of flu likely to affect Americans over their upcoming winter. The information will then be used to produce more effective flu vaccines.

Staff at Auckland and Middlemore hospitals have been monitoring flu cases closely. "We'd see patients coming in with high fever, difficulty with breathing, headache, body aches, sometimes a runny nose, sore throat, diarrhoea, vomiting," said Auckland Hospital nurse Deborah Aley.

The study has so far revealed almost 17,000 people were diagnosed with severe respiratory problems in the past four months.

Tests showed just fewer than 300 had the flu. Ten of those people were admitted to intensive care and one died. The US researchers funding the study are surprised by the results.

"There's far more flu here than I think was appreciated fully in New Zealand," said Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Dr Marc-Alain Widdowson "A lot of cases of pneumonia and respiratory disease can now be attributed as due to flu. That's important because there's something we can do to prevent it, like a vaccination."

(Snip)

Researchers are also watching out for fresh flu strains that are yet to arrive in the United States.

The study has also revealed children aged between one and four years old were among the hardest hit this season.......  

Continued with more info and a video: http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/...

(Note if only 300 of the actual cases tested positive then clearly the test are not working well and there are a lot of false negatives. JMO)

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 Nov 06, 2012 at 08:21:58 AM UTC

US: State in brief: Flu study pupils to wear tracking devices (Pennsylvania)

CANONSBURG - About 450 southwestern Pennsylvania school students will be wearing electronic devices that will track how often they come in contact with one another at school - and on their day off during Election Day - to help researchers track how the flu may be spread among them.

The University of Pittsburgh's Social Mixing and Respiratory Transmission in Schools, or SMART, study was prompted by the H1N1 flu outbreak in 2009. (Snip)

The students in the Canon-McMillan School District will wear electronic motes around their necks (Snip).  Researchers hope that will help them figure out how children interact and how the flu could spread among them. http://tribune-democrat.com/lo...

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 Nov 06, 2012 at 08:26:52 AM UTC

US: Hospital Employee To Be Disciplined For Refusing Flu Shot (Missouri)

WEST ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. (KPLR) - A Mercy Hospital employee is facing disciplinary action after refusing to get a flu shot. The employee did not want FOX 2 to reveal her identity. "I am scared to get the shot because of the proven adverse reactions people have had," she said.

The hospital adopted a mandatory flu shot policy this year.

"It is in the best interest of our patients," Chief of Quality at Mercy Hospital Keith Starky said. "We know that influenza is a leading killer for the elderly and it is just not a risk we can take."

The policy states that employees can forgo the shot for a few specific reasons, including religious.

The employee refusing to take the flu shot said she is a Christian. "My religious reasons request was denied," she said. Now she is facing the possibility of a written warning. Continued: http://kplr11.com/2012/11/05/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 @ Tue Nov 06, 2012 at 08:34:44 AM UTC

Bird flu hits Indian government poultry agency

(Note: I can only post the link to this article because it is copyright protected.)

http://www.globalmeatnews.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 @ Tue Nov 06, 2012 at 21:27:39 PM UTC

India: Don't fear bird flu - Authorities (Karnataka)

After several chickens died in a farm outside the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO), authorities are reassuring residents that there is no reason to fear the spread of the bird flu virus.

(Snip)

(Snip) Dr Devaki Umesh, Chief Health Officer, BBMP said that there is nothing to get worried about. "The Animal Husbandry Department is confirming whether these chickens died due to Avian Influenza by sending the samples to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal. Since this is an airborne disease, there is no way of finding out if the disease has spread around the institute. However, for people within the BBMP limits, there is nothing to fear," she said.

According to experts, humans can contract the disease if it spreads, but now, with the surrounding areas put on high medical alert, it is believed that the virus is under control and no need to worry. http://newindianexpress.com/ci...

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 Nov 06, 2012 at 21:34:38 PM UTC

US: First Kansas Flu Case Of The Season Identified By KDHE

An adult in south central Kansas has a confirmed case of influenza, the first case in the state this season. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said the case was confirmed last week.

"Flu has arrived once again in the state. While there is little flu activity right now, flu normally rises during the holidays before peaking around February. Influenza can continue to circulate through spring, and the flu can be unpredictable," said Robert Moser, M.D., KDHE Secretary and State Health Officer. "There is still time for everyone to get a flu vaccination to protect themselves, their loved ones and the community."

(Snip)

During the last flu season in Kansas, the virus directly caused or contributed to more than 1,300 deaths. Continued: http://www.kake.com/news/headl...

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 Nov 06, 2012 at 21:40:32 PM UTC

India: One dies of swine flu (Gujarat)

AHMEDABAD: Six more people have tested positive for H1N1 (Snip) in the past week even as one person succumbed to it, (Snip) putting this year's death toll at 25 and number of confirmed cases to 78. (Snip). It said availability of medicines is sufficient. 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 Nov 06, 2012 at 21:53:14 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for November 7, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Wed Nov 07, 2012 at 06:16:16 AM UTC