News Reports for January 29

to discuss UK preparedness exercise please go to

http://newfluwiki2.c...

You arm yourself to the teeth just in case.  You don't leave the gun near the baby's hand.

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by: lugon @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 03:34:50 AM CST

Taiwan conducts successful bird flu vaccine tests in animals; human trials next

I know this has come up before with some country coming up with a 'promising' vaccine.  And the general concensus at FW seems to be that it's unlikely it will help after the virus changes to be H2H efficient.  So I am wondering why countries/pharma companies keep alleging these breakthroughs that seem to imply they can do something about H5N1?

Anyway, I won't post the full drivel, just provide the link in case anyone wants to read.  Noted:  Taiwan joins the 'Oh Yeah, We Can Do It Too' club:

http://www.usatoday....

Meteorologist in Florida!?!  Now we're talkin'!!!

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by: Tempest @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 04:33:56 AM CST

On second thought...

I wonder if their stock exchange is being affective negatively by BF fears right now.  Perhaps it's propoganda

Meteorologist in Florida!?!  Now we're talkin'!!!

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by: Tempest @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 04:35:43 AM CST

[ Parent ]

we're getting great maps - now look at these! play with everything!

http://tools.google....

You arm yourself to the teeth just in case.  You don't leave the gun near the baby's hand.

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by: lugon @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 04:36:31 AM CST

Nigeria testing 14 human samples for bird flu

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria is testing samples from 14 people, including three who died, for possible bird flu, a senior official at the Health Ministry said on Monday.

Samples from a mother and daughter who died in Lagos and a woman who died in remote eastern Taraba state after suffering flu-like symptoms are being tested to determine whether the H5N1 strain of bird flu was present.

Authorities gave conflicting information about tests on the mother and daughter, however.

Lola Sadiq, in charge of monitoring Nigeria's bird flu crisis at the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Abuja, said they had tested negative for bird flu.

(Snip)

Abdulsalam Nasidi, in charge of efforts to prevent bird flu from spreading to humans in Nigeria, said the three had tested positive for flu which is very common at this time of year due to the seasonal harmattan wind.

"The tests will show if it was common flu or bird flu," Nasidi said, adding that they were being conducted at a laboratory in the capital Abuja. The other 11 samples are from people who came into contact with those who died.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, was the first on the continent to detect bird flu a year ago. The virus has spread to 17 of the 36 states but no human case has been confirmed so far.

(Snip)

Experts warn surveillance in Nigeria may not be completely effective because of poor health services. Many Nigerians die young of a variety of diseases and few families can afford the luxury of a doctor to determine the cause of death.

Nigeria is one of three countries regarded by experts as the weakest areas in the global attempt to stem infections among birds.

The disease was first discovered in the northern state of Kaduna a year ago and despite measures such as culling, quarantine and a transport ban on live birds it spread quickly across the country.

Millions of Nigerians keep live poultry in their backyards and in the absence of refrigerators in most households, birds are transported and sold live and killed just before eating.

The majority of Nigeria's 140 million people live below the poverty line and cannot afford to reject diseased birds. This has raised concern among experts that the country could become a permanent host to the virus.

http://www.newfluwik...

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 @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 06:18:21 AM CST

Thailand revises bird flu, human flu strategy

BANGKOK, Jan 29 (TNA) - Thailand's national committee on bird flu prevention will draft a revised strategy to control and prevent outbreaks of avian and human influenza virus for the long term, according to Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras.

Speaking after chairing a committee meeting on preparedness for preventing, responding and controlling both bird flu and human influenza, Mr. Kosit said the meeting agreed to draft the new strategy dealing with outbreaks of both bird flu and human flu viruses.

(Snip)

He reconfirmed that fresh outbreaks were found in only two provinces -- Phitsanulok in the north and Nong Khai in the northeast -- and that there were still 40 patients under close supervision whose status has not yet been determined.

Meanwhile, deputy permanent secretary for Agriculture Yukol Limlamthong said the new outbreaks come from the residual virus and from native birds, not domestic stocks. Flooding in many provinces last year also complicated the situation.

There have been 25 bird flu patients in Thailand since the most recent outbreak here in 2004, of whom 17 died of the H5N1 virus. (TNA)-E003

http://www.newfluwik...

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 @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 06:22:55 AM CST

Bird flu returns to EU in confirmed Hungarian outbreak

- "The European Commission has confirmed the first outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in the European Union since last summer, after tests on Hungarian geese proved positive.

An EU laboratory "has confirmed" the presence of the H5N1 strain, which can be deadly to humans, a spokesman for the European Health Commissioner said.

The lab in Weybridge, near London, carried out the tests after Hungarian authorities reported the bird flu outbreak among a flock of geese in Csongrad in the south-east of the country..."

..."The origin of the virus is still being investigated, but wild birds are considered "a strong possibility" by the European Commission."

http://www.abc.net.a...

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

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by: MaMa @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 07:26:57 AM CST

Hawaii- Airport clinic critical in pandemic-flu plan

- "Hawai'i health officials have begun implementing parts of a statewide pandemic-flu preparedness plan, including the re-establishment of an emergency medical clinic at Honolulu International Airport, one of the first places in the state the flu may show up.

The state Transportation Department this month began seeking a new provider of medical services at the airport. Part of the facility's requirements would be to help DOT officials train staff, educate the public, evaluate passengers who may arrive in Hawai'i with symptoms of a new flu strain and, when necessary, provide emergency medical treatment.

The airport facility and its flu- preparedness duties are just one aspect of what health officials say is the first implementation stage of a sweeping plan approved last year to mitigate the local effects of a possible worldwide outbreak of a killer flu strain.

"We've done the plan, and now we're doing the heavy lifting of putting it into place. Execution is the difficult part," said Dr. Paul Effler, the state's chief epidemiologist..."

more... http://www.honolulua...

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

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by: MaMa @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 07:29:13 AM CST

one of the first places flu may show up

Ya think? Especially when fedex brings in that first shipment of live virus to HU.

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by: Retired Paramedic MI @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 10:15:03 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Two more dead Hong Kong birds confirmed avian flu carrier

- "Two dead birds found in Hong Kong last week carried the fatal H5N1 strain of bird flu, taking to seven the number of birds found with the virus this year, local authorities said.

The agricultural department said laboratory tests had confirmed that the peregrine falcon and house crow had carried the H5N1 strain..."

http://www.abcmoney....

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

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by: MaMa @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 07:30:14 AM CST

Glaxo seeks EU okay for pre-pandemic flu vaccine

LONDON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - "A second-generation bird flu vaccine that could be given to people ahead of a pandemic has been accepted for review by European regulators, its maker GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK.L: Quote, Profile , Research) said on Monday.

Glaxo has already signed supply contracts with several governments interested in stockpiling the vaccine, which is expected to cost between 4 pounds ($7.83) and 7 pounds, about the same as a normal seasonal flu shot.

The new vaccine contains a special additive, or adjuvant, which allows a very low dose of active ingredient to be used in each shot..."

..."Glaxo also has a first-generation H5N1 vaccine, which last month won outline approval from the European Medicines Agency. However, this product would only be used once a pandemic has officially been declared and is not expected to be stockpiled..."

..."Any stockpiled H5N1 vaccine will not perfectly match whatever new strain emerges, but studies suggest it might help protect people from death."

http://investing.reu...

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

---

by: MaMa @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 07:46:05 AM CST

uh, which adjuvant? n/t

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by: crfullmoon @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 07:58:33 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I don't know crfullmoon, they don't say what it is in the article n/t

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

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by: MaMa @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 08:00:32 AM CST

[ Parent ]

just don't want some adjuvant so new that it is a problem,

http://www.cidrap.um... ...""The reactogenicity with the novel adjuvant was slightly more intense than without it, but it was not considered significant." ...

Just makes me wonder what that sort of thing means, and there was some sort of adjuvant posters seemed concerned about. (Especially with all the legislation to expedite panvax productions, and, hold manufacturers harmless if something hurts people.)

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by: crfullmoon @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 08:19:12 AM CST

[ Parent ]

no we wouldn't want that

That was one of the first things that I thought of when the subject of no-fault for pharmacutical companies in a pandemic situation- what if most of the essential services personnel are vaccinated and there is a very bad reaction to the vaccine? I understand the reasoning behind the decision, but can't help but wonder- what if?

Maybe someone else here will know what adjuvant they are referring to.

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

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by: MaMa @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 08:37:42 AM CST

[ Parent ]

couldn't help but notice the total suspect cases for egypt

are already more than double the total suspect cases last year, and indonesia is 2/3 of the way to reaching last years total, and already well past what it was for the first 9 months of the year.

Negatives or not, that's got to be significant...they weren't any less aware of bf last year were they?

Always have a plan B.

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by: maryinhawaii @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 09:53:16 AM CST

Comparing Apples to fruit that look like apples but might not be.

So far not apples to apples, but still of concern.

ITW(Joel J)
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
- Mark Twain
 

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by: Into The Woods @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 11:41:25 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Possible new case of bird flu, 9,400 goslings culled

Hungarian authorities culled 9,400 goslings in the southeastern part of the country becaus of suspicions of bird flu, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement Monday.

Some of the newly hatched stock on a farm in Derekegyhaz showed symptoms of a damaged nervous system, the ministry said.

Hungarian veterinarians tested the stock and suspected a bacterial infection. But local test results did not confirm that, it said.

"Because of the increased bird flu suspicion the culling of 9,400 geese was ordered," the statement said.

Last week, local laboratories detected the presence of the deadly H5N1 strain and culled some 3,300 geese on a farm in southeastern Hungary.

Testing at Hungarian laboratories will continue. Samples were immediately sent to the official European Union laboratory at Weybridge, England, for further testing, the ministry said.

(Snip)

Hungary's first case of H5N1, detected in February 2006, was found to be carried by wild birds including swans and gray geese, while the deadly virus was first found in domestic poultry in June.

(Snip)

The last case was in a German zoo when a dead swan tested positive
http://www.avianflut...

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 @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 10:51:24 AM CST

Russia finds H5N1 bird flu strain in three yards

MOSCOW (Reuters) - "Russia has recorded its first instances this year of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu in dead domestic birds, the country's animal and plant health agency said on Monday.

Rosselkhoznadzor said in a statement the presence of the virus was detected in dead birds found in three yards in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia..."

http://today.reuters...

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

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by: MaMa @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 10:57:57 AM CST

New Modeling Study from Indiana University

Scientists Assess Risk of Potential Flu Pandemic Spread Via Global Airlines
Posted on: 01/29/2007

An Indiana University School of Informatics-led team of researchers has constructed a model that predicts how an emerging pandemic influenza might spread across the globe by airliners. The study, "Modeling the Worldwide Spread of Pandemic Influenza: Baseline Case and Containment Intervention," appears in the January issue of the journal PLoS Medicine. The model they devised is said to be the world's largest-scale epidemic simulation of its kind.

Study investigators were Vittoria Colizza, informatics visiting assistant professor; Alessandro Vespignani, professor of informatics; Marc Barthélemey, informatics visiting scholar; Alain Barrat, Université Paris-Sud, France; and Alain-Jacques Valleron, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, France.

H5N1 avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu, has not yet resulted in a pandemic influenza because the virus lacks the ability to spread efficiently and sustainably among humans. However, public health officials are greatly concerned that a human flu strain could be triggered by the H5N1 virus, which is found in bird flocks around the world and has repeatedly crossed the species barrier and infected people.
[snip]

The researchers show that strict travel restrictions would do little, if anything, to prevent the flu from spreading throughout the globe.

Encouragingly, the model predicts that the use of antiviral drugs would significantly thwart a global flu outbreak within certain ranges of infectiousness if every country in the world had a drug stockpile sufficient to treat 5-10 percent of their populations.

Next, the study focused on realistic scenarios in which antiviral resources are not equally distributed, with a higher concentration in wealthy countries. Different strategies are compared: a selfish strategy in which each country relies on its own supplies, as opposed to a cooperative approach in which prepared countries would donate part of their resources for global use.

"Surprisingly," said Vespignani, who is internationally known for his research in the statistical analysis and computer modeling of epidemic spread, "the cooperative strategy is shown to be more effective in delaying the pandemic evolution and mitigating its impact on the population of both donor and recipient countries."

Predictions therefore are strongly in favor for a cooperative sharing of resources, which could be organized and managed by the World Health Organization, as an efficient way to deal with an emerging influenza pandemic waiting for vaccine development.

Link

Be kind, for everyone you meet is engaged in a great struggle.--Philo of Alexandria

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by: Melanie @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 11:11:59 AM CST

Decline in bird flu cases raises risk of complacency

By Jason Gale and John Lauerman, Bloomberg News Service  |  January 1, 2007

Bird flu infected fewer humans in the second half of the year, prompting experts to point to a new enemy in the fight against a possible pandemic: complacency. The lethal H5N1 strain of avian influenza was reported in people every two days in the first half. Since July, the number of cases has slowed to about one a week, and scientists say the virus hasn't found a way to easily infect humans......

"You don't stop airport security screening because there have been no hijacks for two years," Nabarro said in an interview from New York last week. "The danger of a pandemic is as profound now as it was a few years ago.".....

"H5N1 viruses have been around for nearly a decade and it might be tempting to conclude that if they were going to proceed to form or contribute to a pandemic strain, they would have done so by now," the influenza team at the European Centre for Disease Surveillance and Control said in a report last week.

Still, the strain that sparked the 1918 pandemic "had been around for some years before it became part of a virus that could efficiently transmit between humans," they said.

"Sooner or later there will be a highly lethal form of influenza, and who knows when sooner or later is?" Kenneth Hill, a visiting professor at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies in Cambridge, said in an interview last week. "I don't think we should be complacent."
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.

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by: bgw in MT @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 11:47:55 AM CST

Ah, the good old days. n/t

ITW(Joel J)
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
- Mark Twain
 

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by: Into The Woods @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 15:11:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

A vaccine development 'renaissance'

http://ktla.trb.com/...

Technology, boosted funding and higher profits are a shot in the arm for development.

By Daniel Costello, Times Staff Writer

January 28, 2007
.......As early as the end of the decade, scientists say, there may be new immunizations against herpes simplex and rheumatoid arthritis and a better seasonal influenza vaccine.

Researchers also are talking about a potential vaccine within five years to fight malaria - long one of mankind's deadliest and most elusive adversaries.

Other scientists are making progress with what are known as therapeutic vaccines, which fight already diagnosed diseases or conditions, including cancer and Alzheimer's, or addictions to substances such as nicotine, by "teaching" the body to fight back. They're further down the road but hold the potential to transform medical care, experts say.....

....... "It may turn out we have a perfect storm here of several different things coming together at the right time. This is a tremendous time of opportunity for both the developed and the developing world," said David Fleming, director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's global health strategies program, which has made vaccine development and access a cornerstone of its mission.

"It's clear there is a renaissance going on around vaccines," said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "We have made more progress with some [vaccines] in the past few years than we have in the past 30.".......

This is a very long and interesting article.

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by: bgw in MT @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 12:03:44 PM CST

News that hasn't happened yet this week

Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Efforts:

On Thursday 2/01, USA Today is expected to run a significant piece by Anita Manning pandemic influenza preparedness at the state, local and federal levels.  CDC efforts and experts are likely to be included in the story.

Interim Guidelines on Community Mitigation Strategies for Pandemic Influenza; On Thursday 2/01, Dr. Gerberding, Dr. Marty Cetron and Secretary Leavitt will participate in a press conference at CDC that will release the interim guidance document for community activities to reduce the impact of an influenza pandemic. This press event will also release HHS Public Service Announcements related to Pandemic Influenza preparedness. A press release or media advisory will also be issued to alert reporters.

(Indirectly via a CDC source)

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by: big critter @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 13:52:35 PM CST

thank you big critter!

I've been wondering when this would come out...January I had heard.  DemFromCt told me toe xpect that would mean the last Friday in January most likely, he wasn't far off!  (-:

GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

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by: Average Concerned Mom @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 14:13:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Please pass along any info that comes out on Webcast etc. n/t

ITW(Joel J)
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
- Mark Twain
 

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by: Into The Woods @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 15:12:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Info

http://www.newfluwik...

ITW(Joel J)
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
- Mark Twain
 

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by: Into The Woods @ Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 13:37:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

very good news

It is great to hear that they will be running this story in USA Today, the kind of mass media that reaches many, many, average people.  This is the kind of step that needs to be taken to reach the general public.

PSA's on PI preparedness, run on TV and radio,  will also be a big improvement in outreach on the part of CDC/DHHS.

(So...how much does a Superbowl ad slot run again?)

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by: Pixie @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 22:30:18 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Re: Superbowl ad

$1.05 million this year for a 30 second slot during the second half! ;-)

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by: Bronco Bill @ Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 07:41:37 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Thailand: Poultry flu shots plan to be readied Major outbreak will kick off programme

- "Comprehensive guidelines for poultry vaccination will be drawn up to prepare for a major bird flu outbreak in Thailand, the national committee on avian influenza prevention and control decided yesterday. But poultry vaccination is still prohibited in the country while the situation remains under control, said committee member Yukol Limlamthong, deputy permanent-secretary for agriculture.

The committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras, has told officials to prepare to stockpile vaccine and draft procedures for the vaccination plan.

Initial guidelines for poultry vaccination, tabled yesterday for committee consideration, say vaccine will be used only in the event of a major bird flu outbreak and only as temporarily measure to stop the virus from spreading further.

Vaccination will stop once the outbreak is brought under control.

A ''major outbreak'' is defined as the spread of bird flu from one tambon to seven other tambons within seven days, and the outbreak continues spreading for two weeks.

The vaccine must be produced from the virus strain found in the affected localities and the vaccine must meet World Organisation for Animal Health standards, according to the initial guidelines.

Poultry samples would be regularly collected to test for possible virus mutation..."

http://www.bangkokpo...

more... http://www.bangkokpo...

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

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by: MaMa @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 16:57:55 PM CST

Nebraska: Lincoln Lab May Help Get Bird Flu Vaccine To Masses

Local Research Could Have Global Reach

- "A Lincoln laboratory may eventually help to immunize people from bird flu, and do it at a low cost..."

"...What we've done is develop technology to make massive quantities of DNA using fermenting technology," said researcher Clague Hodgson..."

"...We need to make these vaccinations about $1 per individual in order for it to be cost effective on a humanitarian level," he said..."

..."The National Institute of Health, in Maryland, is doing human testing on the new bird flu vaccine..."

more... http://www.ketv.com/...

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

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by: MaMa @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 17:10:40 PM CST

Japan: Third farm does have bird flu, but H5N1 not confirmed

All 12,000 birds will be killed and the farm disinfected.

The farm is in Takahashi in Okayama prefecture.

  [snip]Movement of people and goods within a 10km (6 mile) radius of the farm was to be restricted, it added.[snip]

http://www.thepenins...

I wonder if restricted means traveling only after disinfection or if it means forbidden.  Or, "Is this trip necessary?" questioning.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 18:02:22 PM CST

Okayama farm bird flu confirmed as virulent H5

(still waiting on more test results for the rest)

[snip]The Hashimoto Nojo farm in Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture, has some 12,000 chickens for laying eggs, according to prefectural officials. In line with the Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control Law, the birds accommodated in eight facilities will be gassed before being incinerated or buried, they said.

The prefectural government Sunday checked 15 chicken farms and three farms that also have chickens all within a radius of 10 km from Hashimoto Nojo.

These farms together have around 950,000 chickens and will be forbidden to move the birds or eggs, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said.

The prefecture convened a meeting headed by Gov. Masahiro Ishii to discuss measures against bird flu and decided to require all vehicles that enter the 10-km radius from the farm to be disinfected.

Disinfection stations were also established at three points on national and prefectural roads.[snip]

http://search.japant...

Hope this does the trick.  They even have netting over the chicken yard to keep out wild birds, the news said this weekend.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 20:09:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Thailand.....Govt considers building human-flu vaccine factory

The government has assigned the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) to combine a scheme to fight human influenza with the second phase of efforts against bird-flu.

The Public Health Ministry has proposed a budget to build a factory producing vaccines against influenza following the death of three people from human flu this year.

The government's bird-flu panel meeting yesterday assigned the NESDB to work with related agencies to boost the second phase plan so that it includes emergency measures for avian or human influenza outbreaks, said Deputy Agriculture and Co-operatives Minister Rung-ruang Isarangkura na Ayudhya.

Thailand has experienced two bird-flu outbreaks in Nong Khai and Phitsanulok so far this year, but no reports of bird-flu infections in humans to date and only 40 people currently on the bird-flu watch list, Rungruang said.

(Snip)

Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras said he had approved a budget of Bt100,000 for each province, as requested by the Public Health Ministry, to carry out annual bird-flu drills to ensure provinces are well-prepared for a possible outbreak.

The ministry also proposed the building factory to make a vaccine for human influenza on the grounds that Thailand lacks an adequate supply of vaccines, and imports were limited to 300,000 doses.

Disease Control Department chief Dr Thawat Suntrajarn said the factory proposal would be submitted to the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday, or the Public Health Minister would make a request to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to ask the Chinese government for co-operation on technology-sharing for the factory. The plant would cost between Bt400 million and Bt600 million to build.

Thawat said the meeting also approved the use of a bird-flu vaccine for poultry in the event of a 'third-level epidemic' - following the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) resolution. A third-level epidemic is a large-scale outbreak that persists for a continuous two-week period, he said, quoting the Livestock Development Depart-ment.

Such an outbreak would need about 50,000 doses of vaccine - worth around Bt68 million.

In regard to the three deaths from the H3N2 strain of human flu, the Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla urged the public not to panic and rush to be vaccinated, as only at-risk groups such as the medical profession and disease control officials needed it.

Piyanart Srivalo,
Duangkamon  Sajirawatthanakul
The Nation
http://www.nationmul...

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 @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 18:53:27 PM CST

WHO: Nigeria Bird Flu Tests on Humans Negative

Sokoto

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday that initial tests on samples from 14 Nigerians, including three people who died, showed they were not victims of bird flu.
In Geneva, a WHO official said all 14 samples had tested negative for the H5 strain of flu but positive for another type. Samples from the 14 would be sent to a reference laboratory in London for more checks, said David Olaleye, a WHO doctor taking part in the testing at a laboratory in Abuja.
"We have done two rounds of tests over the weekend and those were negative ... Today we are re-running another round of tests and I am waiting for the results," Olaleye said.
He added that arrangements had been made to transport the samples to the London laboratory today.
Samples have been taken from three people who died of unknown causes and 11 people who came into contact with them.
Read more here.....http://www.thisdayon...

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 @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 19:39:00 PM CST

Russia registers new outbreak of H5N1 bird flu

Date : 30/01/2007 @ 00:01
Source : AFX

MOSCOW (XFN-ASIA) - Russia has registered its first cases of the deadly H5N1bird flu since an outbreak hit dozens of towns and villages last year, Russian media reported.

"A laboratory analysis uncovered the H5N1 bird flu virus," in poultry at three locations in the southern Krasnodar region, said Aleksei Alekseyenko, an official at the country's agricultural inspection agency Rosselkhoznadzor, theRIA Novosti news agency reported.

"A series of anti-epizootic measures are being undertaken in the unfortunate areas to control the infection," he said.

The three infected areas are located near the country's Black Sea coast.

(Snip)
http://orange.advfn....
 

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 @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 20:11:53 PM CST

Azer boy

This is the one that was negative by local test. Just for info- lived by the Kura River:

"Azhdar Askerov, 14, who was taken to hospital with suspected avian influenza several days ago, died at the Lung Disease Research Institute in Baku on Sunday.

A source at the Azerbaijani Health Ministry said the boy died of pneumonia. A special laboratory of the Agriculture Ministry's veterinarian service did not find the bird flu virus in the boy's bloodstream. Nevertheless, blood samples were sent to a London laboratory of the World Health Organization (WHO) for more tests.

Askerov lived in the Salyan district on the bank of the Kura River, where migrant birds hibernate. Several bird flu cases occurred in the area last year. Five people died, including four from the village of Daikend. Three were close relatives of the deceased boy. "

http://www.itar-tass...


Be Prepared

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by: DennisC @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 21:36:24 PM CST

AUSTRALIAN drug company CSL has developed a vaccine it says will prevent the deadly bird flu

[snip]Trials results show that two 30mg doses of the antigen developed by CSL are effective in preventing bird flu in adults aged up to 65.[snip]

[snip]CSL has developed its vaccine using an Indonesian strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus but says it can easily be adapted to combat other strains of the virus[snip]

[snip]CSL spokeswoman Dr Rachael David said the company can produce doses of the vaccine within six weeks.

`We could make sufficient doses of the vaccine for the entire Australian population within six months," she said.[snip]

http://www.news.com....

This doesn't look like a PR release, but a newspaper story in the National section. 

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 22:09:59 PM CST

An article on the Dengue outbreak in Indonesia

[SNIP]

Changes in the way we fight dengue fever are imperative, too, now that some patients may not display the usual symptoms found in the past. The characteristic bright red rashes have not appeared in some infected people, which may prompt doctors to diagnose them with ordinary flu.
  [CONTINUED]
http://www.thejakart...

[COMMENT]
Maybe the cases without the red rashes ARE something else. Maybe not.

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 23:27:24 PM CST