News Reports for December 25, 2012

Low-Path Bird Flu Reported in Germany

GERMANY - A flock of birds on a farm in northern Germany has been found with sub-clinical low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI).

The veterinary authority sent an Immediate Notification dated 21 December (Snip) OIE.

The report describes the finding of LPAI in a flock of 1,522 birds on a farm in Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany on 18 December. All the birds have been destroyed.

The virus has been identified as an H5 sub-type. Continued: http://www.thepoultrysite.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 Dec 25, 2012 at 06:47:41 AM UTC

Australia: Bird flu danger finally passes (New South Wales)

Restrictions on the movement of birds and bird products in Maitland have been lifted after tests revealed there were no further signs of avian influenza in the area.

The virus was detected at an egg production farm north-east of Maitland last month. (Snip) the NSW Department of Primary Industries destocked and decontaminated the farm.

"Follow up testing and surveillance over five weeks on nearby poultry facilities indicates that the virus has not spread to surrounding properties," (Snip).

"A range of restrictions on the movements of birds and bird products within, into, or out of the area have now been lifted." (Snip).

This virus was not the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that has gained worldwide attention - nor was it closely related to that strain.

Australia has previously had a small number of outbreaks of A1 viruses and all were quickly and successfully eradicated. (Snip). http://www.maitlandmercury.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 Dec 25, 2012 at 07:13:32 AM UTC

Nepal: Bird flu reported in Kathmandu for first time in 3 years

Bird flu was reported in Nepali capital Kathmandu for the first time in three years, (Snip) officials said Tuesday.

Manjushree Poultry Farm, a hatchery in suburb Ramkot-6 has been identified as a bird-flu affected farm, (Snip).

A team of the Ministry is preparing to visit the site Tuesday afternoon to inspect and take measures to prevent the spread of the avian influenza.

Bird flu has already been reported in the suburbs of Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts which are in the same mountainous valley where Kathmandu, too, is located.

"Bird flu is more dangerous to people who work in the poultry farm than to those who consume chicken," said Dr. G. D. Thakur, Director with the Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit (Snip).

Nepal shares a porous border with India and it is believed that bird flu has been transmitted to the country through India via Kakarvitta border in the eastern plains. Bird flu was first reported in Saranamati of Jhapa district that is adjacent to West Bengal and Bihar states of India. http://www.globaltimes.cn/cont...

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 Dec 25, 2012 at 07:23:14 AM UTC

Comment: The strain infecting poultry in Nepal and India is H5N1.

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 Dec 25, 2012 at 07:25:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

US: Flu hits North Jersey (New Jersey)

The flu is spreading rapidly in North Jersey, and tossing that fistful of snacks into your mouth just might give you more than some pretzels and nuts - like one of the handful of influenza strains circulating among youngsters, college students and the elderly.

Influenza activity is at a high level, according to the state health department (Snip).

"We are escalating to a kind of activity level considered by New Jersey standards as high," said Dr. Gary Munk, director of clinical virology at Hackensack University Medical Center. "It's remarkable - we went from seeing no cases to these heightened levels early in the season."

During the first week of December, New Jersey physicians said they were starting to see the first cases of influenza, but two weeks later the number of patients complaining of flu-like symptoms jumped significantly. Doctors attributed the rise to the refusal of many residents to get vaccinated.

"It's a willful ignorance - they believe the vaccine will make them sick," said Dr. Thomas Birch, president of the medical staff at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck. "But if someone feels like they have a cold after getting the vaccine, it's just a coincidence. The vaccine doesn't cause illness."

Despite the prevalence of the illness in several schools, Dr. Jeffrey Bienstock, director of pediatrics at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, said he's seeing reluctance on the part of some parents to have their children vaccinated. "They tell me they don't believe it's going to be bad this season," (Snip). "But it's bad. We're seeing a lot of case compared to what we see at this time of year." Continued: http://www.northjersey.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 Dec 25, 2012 at 07:46:25 AM UTC

US: Flu season under way in region (Wisconsin)

The flu season is under way earlier than usual, and Shawano and Menominee counties are no exception, according to the Health Department.

The state does not keep track of the number of cases reported in each county unless it results in hospitalization and/or death, so it is unclear how much of an impact the flu virus is having on the area, Health Director Becky Hovarter said.

"What we hear is by rumor, and we have not heard of any particular increases in our region," Hovarter said. "It's out there, but as far as how many cases, we don't know." Continued: http://www.shawanoleader.com/m...

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 Dec 25, 2012 at 07:51:34 AM UTC

US: Health roundup - Early flu season is in full swing

"USA Today" Flu report: The flu is now widespread in 29 states and increasing in most regions of the country, confirming that the season is off to an early start, say officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors are seeing high levels of flu-like illness in 12 states: Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. It's still not too late to get a flu vaccine, health officials say. http://www.usatoday.com/story/...

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 Dec 25, 2012 at 07:57:38 AM UTC

India: Dengue, H1N1 claimed 47 lives in 2012

PUNE: Dengue, the mosquito-borne infection, hit the headlines this year as the virus affected over 1,000 people and claimed 12 lives in the city in 2012.

(Big Snip)

Besides, the city's battle against influenza A H1N1 virus aka swine flu, which began in August 2009 continued to spill over with the virus infecting around 500 people and claiming 35 lives since April this year. However, unlike last year, when the virus triggered much panic, increased awareness and availability of vaccines helped citizens tide over the fears. Delay on part of patients to seek treatment continues to be one of the biggest causes for more swine flu deaths. Continued: http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

(Note: For the record, I think they are undercounting both H1N1 swine flu cases and the number of deaths. 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 Dec 25, 2012 at 08:17:30 AM UTC

Bangladesh: Bird flu in Gazipur

Authorities in Gazipur's Kaliakoir upazila started culling more than 1.5 lakh (150,000) poultry and destroying 5 lakh (500,000) eggs from Monday night after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed.

The order came after tests showed that poultry at a privately-owned farm, Bay-Agro Industries Ltd, in Telirchala had died of avian influenza. Around 150 workers had been engaged in killing the infected fowls.

(Snip) owner of the farm, said he noticed that fowls started dying in his farm since December 20. Later, samples of the dead poultry were sent to Dhaka for laboratory test (Snip).

(Snip) Gazipur district authorities gave instructions to the district livestock department to cull the birds and damaging the eggs. At least two more days will be required to complete the culling operation, an official of the livestock department said.

Confirming the incident, Mejbah Uddin Khandokar, officer of Kaliakoir Upazila Livestock Department, said the reason for the outbreak was being investigated.

The department officials were also monitoring whether domestic chickens, ducks and other birds within one kilometre range of the affected farm had been infected, he added. Continued:  http://www.thedailystar.net/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 @ Tue Dec 25, 2012 at 22:30:09 PM UTC

Please post new news stories ...

...to News Reports for December 26, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Wed Dec 26, 2012 at 04:45:05 AM UTC