Saturday, June 26, 2010

The health secretary warns of the presence of a deadly virus in Asia

June 23rd, 2010



Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos, launched on Tuesday a warning by the presence in the Asian H5N1 virus is considered more lethal than the A-H1N1 which last year caused a worldwide epidemic.




"Anytime you can recombine with the H1N1 and become a more serious pandemic," warned the head of the agency who need the new virus is found in countries like Indonesia and Vietnam.
Cordova Villalobos said the ability of the H1N1 influenza virus to recombine it more aggressive and easily transmitted.

.
According to the secretary, the numbers of infection with H1N1 virus, known as human influenza, are on the decline, noting that despite some isolated deaths, has fully covered the application of vaccines scheduled for 27 and a half million people.

The Chamber of Commerce-Mexico delivered to Health Secretary Double Eagle Award
por su acertada conducción ante la epidemia de influenza en 2009, informó la agencia Notimex.
for his wise leadership to the influenza epidemic in 2009, the agency Notimex.

Reject possibility of H5N1 influenza in Edomex register

Reject possibility of H5N1 influenza in Edomex register
Sábado 26 de Junio, 2010
Last updated: 13:36
The State Health Secretary of Mexico, Gabriel Cuevas O'sea rejected the possibility that the entity is an outbreak of H5N1 influenza.

He said that this new virus appeared in Asia, is more aggressive than the A (H1N1), "The problem with this virus, which has a high fatality. H5N1, which causes a more aggressive type of influenza and the evolution is faster. "

In addition, said its incubation period is 24-36 hours, and the mortality rate is 60 percent.

Cuevas O'sea ruled that the spread of the disease was recorded among humans, "has to occur from bird to human," but he said should not lower our guard.

Mexico State commented that the entity is prepared to fight pandemics of any kind, "I believe that in the State of Mexico, we are prepared for any pandemic, so we left the A (H1N1), which we have everyday.

He reiterated that the secretariat in charge, has anti-viral vaccines, consisting of 60 000 doses of Oseltamivir and Zanamivir 20 more

New Evidence Suggests Southern China as a Common Source of Multiple Clusters of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus.

J Infect Dis. 2010 Jun 16;

Authors: Wu B, Wang C, Dong G, Guo Y, Nolte DL, Deliberto TJ, Xu J, Duan M, He H

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza is considered an avian disease, although there is some evidence of limited human-to-human transmission of the virus. A global effort is underway to control or eradicate the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in poultry and prevent human exposure, both of which may also reduce the risk of pandemic emergence.

Hemagglutinin gene sequences from 215 human H5N1 influenza viruses were used to trace the source and dispersal pattern of human H5N1 influenza viruses on a global scale.

A mutation network and phylogenetic analyses of the hemagglutinin gene show that human H5N1 influenza viruses can be clearly divided among 4 clusters across geographic space. On the basis of analysis of the N-glycosylation sites at positions 100 and 170 in the hemagglutinin protein, human H5N1 influenza viruses were also divided into 3 types.

When we combined these analyses with geographic information system data analyses, we found that Southern China is often a common source of multiple clusters of H5N1 influenza viruses and that each cluster has different dispersal patterns and individual evolutionary features. In summary, the genetic evidence presented here provides clear evidence for multiple clusters of human H5N1 influenza viruses that initially originated in Southern China.

Mexico: Rule out bird flu alert

National News Date :25-06-10 The Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos, ruled out an imminent H5N1 bird flu epidemic, in any case, she said, the Ministry of Agriculture should monitor poultry farms, where the virus spreads. 'The fear is that they remonstrated with the H1N1 virus, which it spreads very easily, because then give us a more aggressive, but not yet, nor has increased, and there is no need for alerta\". He reported that next Monday, the meeting of the General Health Council, will remember the date for lifting the H1N1 influenza alert, but does not imply that epidemiological surveillance is completed. The Secretariat
Agriculture should develop a monitoring system on farms where chickens were raised because it is in birds where H5N1 is developed, and so "to prevent spread or has an increased risk of infection \"

Toll in respiratory infection touches 27

Toll in respiratory infection touches 27


Agartala, Jun 26: The death toll in the week-long respiratory infection rose to 27 in the remote tribal Kangrai locality along the Mizoram-Tripura border in North Tripura.Principal Secretary, Health, Y P Singh said here today that
Health Minister Tapan Chakraborty accompanied specialist doctors to the village yesterday and camps had been arranged.
He said initial reports revealed that the causes of death were acute infection in the respiratory system and gastroenteritis. But he said only 14 deaths were recorded in the hospitals.

However, sources in the area stated that so far 57 people, including 26 children, had been admitted to several hospitals of the sub-division and the administration had sent blood samples of the affected people to Agartala for investigation.

Mr Singh, however, pointed out that there was a report of outbreak of water borne diseases in Autharamura foothills. But no deaths had been reported.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Subal Bhowmik, who brought the matter to light, said, ''There are also incidences of spread of malaria in the villages. The health department did not take any proactive measure to contain the situation.''

Friday, June 25, 2010

Is ruled out bird flu in Colombia

00 06/25/2010
District Health Secretary, Héctor Rodríguez Zambrano, reported Friday that according to World Health Organization, WHO, Latin America there is no presence of the H5N1 virus or bird flu.
In this way, the secretary made the aclaraci Zambrano

ion to speculation that in Colombia there were cases of the outbreak, which is stronger than H1N1.

In a statement from the Secretariat

ed of Health, noted that "according to reports from the World Health Organization, at present the H5N1 virus only affects Asian countries, so has ruled out the presence of the epidemic in countries of America and the European continent. "

It explains
or that "today in the world there are 492 confirmed cases of the new virus and 291 people have died in Asia."
In both
recent years, the District Department of Health conducted two simulations in Bogotá in order to test the capability of immediate response to a suspected or confirmed cases of influenza of avian origin, in which saw the participation of authorities in Eldorado Airport Hospitals Public Network Bogotá.

Anyway, was reported
or that health authorities in Colombia are kept in constant disease monitoring and prevention activities ahead of possible pandemic of the virus or similar.

No hitches in anti-swine flu campaign

Friday, 25 June 2010

Bird flu: In the plumage the secret of virus spread success

Public release date: 25-Jun-2010

Today in PLoS ONE

International team of Italy-US scientists reports discovery of a new mechanism of avian influenza virus circulation and transmission in nature

A team of scientists, led by Mauro Delogu, virologist from the Veterinary Faculty of the Bologna University and researchers from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, Tennessee) have discovered a new way of avian influenza transmission. The study, which offers new insights into ecology, surveillance and prevention strategies of avian influenza viruses (AIVs), may ultimately be important in the fight against influenza. The study has been published in a recent issue (June, 25/2010) of PLoS ONE, a highly reputed international Journal.

The scientists actually discovered that the preen oil gland secretions, by which all aquatic birds make their feathers waterproof, support a natural mechanism that concentrates AIVs from water onto birds' bodies. They found that a progressive virus "sticking" on feathers occurs because AIV-contaminated waters interact with the preen oil gland secretion. Since waterbirds use to spread preen oil over their own (self-preening) or other birds' (allo-preening) plumage, it is easily understandable how these preening activities could facilitate the diffusion of the viruses in nature.

The discovery, adds Delogu, has also important implications in the surveillance of avian influenza viruses.

In fact, virus on feathers could escape detection by the current surveillance strategies which assay the virus secreted in the cloacal and tracheal samples only. Lack of detection of these viruses may greatly complicate surveillance and rapid responses to new virus emergence and spread. For this reason, Delogu said, in routine surveillance programs, additional sampling methods could be necessary to detect AIVs on birds' bodies. Our results also suggest that a preened body surface could be the common denominator that explains how AIV infection occurs in different taxonomic groups of aquatic birds and future studies are needed to determine the common uropygial component that could promote interaction with AIVs in all aquatic bird species. Studies to reproduce the preening-mediated AIV infection mechanism in the animal model are in progress.

Finally, Delogu concludes, our discovery really opens a door to explain the highly pathogenic H5N1 circulation and persistence in Eurasia, as well as the only recorded human case of fatal infection passed from wild birds in February 2006. All infected humans were involved in defeathering of dead wild swans after a massive die-off of these aquatic birds occurred in Azerbaijan.

###

These data are the results of a collaboration study between Institutions as specified below:

1Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy; 2Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy, 3Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy, 4Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, Lugo (RA), Italy, 5Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Mauro Delogu1, Maria A. De Marco2, Livia Di Trani3, Elisabetta Raffini4, Claudia Cotti1, Simona Puzelli2, Fabio Ostanello1, Robert G. Webster5, Antonio Cassone2, Isabella Donatelli2

Thursday, June 24, 2010

More die of H5N1 in poultry

Work No. 143 Date 24/06/2010 Last Updated: 9:46 AM, 24/06/2010


(Labor) - On 23/06, the provincial Animal Health Department said samples of household poultry Nguyen Duc Hoan (Trung Thanh Nguyen TP.Thai) positive for H5N1 virus.
Before that, the veterinary agency has conducted 533 full destruction of household poultry as signs of his complete dead birds scattered, and sent samples to be tested at the Veterinary Diagnostic Center T. U.

This is a hard bird flu Monday in Thai Nguyen province since early 2010.

On 10.5, a drive poultry were positive for H5N1 virus outbreak in Dong Congenital, TP.Thai Highlands.

While blue ear epidemic is showing signs of slowdown, 24/32 of communes, wards have been over 21 days without a new outbreak arise.

ANTHRAX, HIPPOPOTAMUS - UGANDA (03): (QENP) CONFIRMED PLUS ELEPHANTS

[1]
Date: 22 Jun 2010
Source: New Vision [edited]
<http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/18/723490>


Anthrax killed hippos - experts
-------------------------------
Tests done at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Entebbe have
confirmed that anthrax killed the 30 hippos in Queen Elizabeth National Park.


Dr. Nicholas Kauta, a commissioner in the agriculture ministry, on
Friday [18 Jun 2010] said the disease affects all warm blooded
animals except birds. He said animals that feast on carcasses of
infected hippos can catch the disease. The agriculture state
minister, Col. Bright Rwamirama, with a team of doctors from the
ministry, on Friday found a dead hippo in the middle of Lake George.

The minister called for quick intervention, saying this was the 3rd
time hippos were dying of anthrax in the national park. Since the
national park lost about 300 hippos about 6 years ago, the population
of hippos had multiplied to 5500.


Rwamirama observed that if necessary, the hippos should be moved
elsewhere to enable spraying of the affected areas. He observed that
the excavators used to bury the animals are expensive and that the
method used was risky.

The minister explained that an excavator is hired at sh. 1m [451 USD]
to bury one hippo. Rwamirama advised cattle-keepers in the
neighbouring areas not to graze their animals in the park to avoid
catching the disease.

[Byline: Abdulkarim Ssengendo]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[This report is both a confirmation and a report on additional
deaths; the total is higher than previously. A very similar report
can be seen at:
<http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g6dbALzsp4_uvLl__SVo8_X9mYew>
- Mod.MHJ]

******
[2]
Date: 23 Jun 2010
Source: EFE [edited]
<http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2Fnews%2Furl%3Ffd%3DR%26sa%3DT%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.terra.cl%252Fnoticias%252Fterraverde%252Findex.cfm%253Fid_cat%253D1001%2526idpost%253D18116%2526idblog%253D62%2526titulo_url%253DTreinta_hipopotamos_mueren_en_brote_de_antrax%26usg%3DAFQjCNFBw_AtiQ25hjCAiXf9QJUASKcYxA&tl=en&sl=es>



Thirty hippos die in outbreak of Anthrax
----------------------------------------
At least 30 hippos have died from anthrax in Queen Elizabeth National
Park, a wildlife reserve in western Uganda, but local authorities say
they have managed to contain the outbreak.

According to Lillian Nsubuga, communications officer of the Uganda
Wildlife Authority, which oversees all activities in nature reserves,
all the hippos dead were buried in the park after being examined by
veterinary and medical public health sector.

The virulent outbreak of anthrax has killed between 10 and 15 elephants.

"This is the 2nd outbreak of anthrax that is recorded in Queen
Elizabeth National Park, where a similar outbreak in 2004 left a
balance of 300 hippos dead. This time we have not had many problems
because we knew that the disease was, in contrast to the outbreak 6
years ago, when we had no idea of what we faced," Nsubuga said.

The operators of the Ugandan tourism industry have expressed fears
that the outbreak of anthrax could negatively affect their business
to keep out visitors from home because the bacteria that causes it
can also infect humans.
Nsubuga made clear, however, that the remains
of all dead animals from anthrax has already been buried and that the
tourism industry has nothing to fear.

This is high season for tourists who come to Uganda from Europe, USA
and other world regions. "This is high season for all our
destinations and, so far, we have not had any negative effects," said
Nsubuga, who stressed that the National Park Queen Elizabeth,
Murchison Falls and the Bwindi Impenetrable (famous for its mountain
gorillas) and Kibale Forest "have already received many visitors."

Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for its variety of wildlife
and the easy access of tourists to its natural habitat.

The reserve, called by that name in honor of Queen Elizabeth II of
England, was one of the awards to Prince Charles in November 2007,
when he accompanied his mother to the Summit of Heads of State and
Government of the Commonwealth meeting in Kampala.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[As elephants are very large animals and hard to miss the Ugandan
wildlife authorities should know how many have died. Unfortunately
elephant meat is very popular so we can assume that we may shortly
see some human cases in Western Europe, if not in Kampala. Note the
recent post on 'bushmeat' sales outside of Africa
; 20100621.2079,
20040905.2484, and 20000411.0514] - Mod.MHJ]

[Information on Queen Elizabeth National Park is available from
<http://greatlakessafaris.com/uganda/queenelizabeth.php>. Maps of the
park and the Kazinga Channel are available from
<http://www.strollingguides.co.uk/workshop/library/maps/menuMap.php?Map=qenpMap>.

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Uganda is available at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00W*>. - Mod.SH]

China reports 537 deaths from hand-foot-mouth disease this year

2010-06-24 19:00:54

BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Almost 1 million people in China had been infected with hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) this year by Tuesday, and 537 had died while 15,501 were in critical condition, China's Health Ministry announced Thursday.


With HFMD in its peak season, May to July, the work of HFMD control and prevention was arduous and the ministry would continue to intensify monitoring of and precautions against the disease, said a statement from the ministry.

The ministry would also strengthen the treatment of patients and the training of grassroots medical staff in rural areas, it said.

Wang Zijun, an official with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said HFDM was a common infectious disease, and was particularly infectious to children.

People infected with HFMD usually had minor symptoms, but in serious cases the disease could lead to complications such as encephalitis and pneumonia, he said.

People could be infected through close contact with excreta and respiratory secretions, among other ways, he said.

hattip shiloh

Health officials declare whooping cough epidemic in California

Whooping cough cases soar in Sonoma County
By KERRY BENEFIELD
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 7:50 p.m.Health officials declared a whooping cough epidemic in California on Wednesday at the same time Sonoma County officials are reporting 48 confirmed cases locally — up from four at the same time last year.



California had 910 recorded cases of whooping cough as of June 15, five of which resulted in deaths. All five deaths were Latino children under 3 months of age.

Infants are particularly at risk from whooping cough because even with a full vaccination schedule that begins at six weeks of age, full protection does not occur until a baby reaches six months, said Mary Maddux-Gonzalez, Sonoma County’s public health officer.

“They are more likely to get it, and they are more vulnerable to the complications,” she saidWednesday. “You really want to make sure that everyone who comes in contact with that child has been appropriately immunized.”

It’s often transmitted from parents,” she said. “We are really encouraging parents to get immunized.”

Lack of information and inoculations in agricultural regions in the state’s Central Valley — home to many Latino farm workers — might be the reason for the high current incidence in that community, said Dr. Gilberto Chavez, the deputy director of the California Department of Public Health’s Center for Infectious Disease.

Locally, health officials said they have reached out to primary care physicians, day care providers and prenatal support personnel, using a communication system last employed to disseminate information about swine flu.

California is on pace to break a 50-year-old record for annual infections of whooping cough, also known as pertussis...

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Tajikistan polio outbreak raises risk to other regions

Wednesday Jun. 23, 2010 7:08 PM ET
TORONTOThe Canadian Medical Association Journal is warning that a large outbreak of polio in Tajikistan is threatening to reignite spread of the dangerous virus in other regions of the world.
An editorial in the journal warns that places where polio vaccination rates have sagged are at risk of having renewed spread of the disease if the outbreak isn't brought under control.
The journal's top editors say Canada needs to ramp up polio vaccination rates here, because there are communities where immunization rates aren't high enough to keep polio from spreading if it is introduced.
The World Health Organization says that as of Wednesday there have been 275 confirmed cases of polio in Tajikistan and test results are still pending on another 300 possible cases.
Dr. Bruce Aylward, who heads of the WHO's polio eradication program, says the outbreak there appears to be coming under control, but it is too soon to say for sure.
The WHO and several partner organizations have been trying to eradicate polio for the past 22 years but the goal keeps evading them.

H5N1 -Thai Nguyen province -Birds

On 23-6, Thai Nguyen Department of Animal Health has officially announced a positive result for influenza A virus (H5N1) for birds of the family said Nguyen Duc Hoan, residing in the 30 wards Trung Thanh, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen province.


Leaders of Thai Nguyen Department of Animal Health said: Immediately after receiving reports of his family complete with dead poultry, veterinary forces were sent to take test samples at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center Central and conducting destroy all poultry, including 533 children of the family complete.


Immediately after the outbreak, the sterilization, disinfection was implemented in all wards. In addition, Trung Thanh also enhance the control of movement of poultry and poultry products into the area. The Ward family has signed a commitment to service is not hidden, not trade, movement of poultry, not slaughtering poultry are translated; not eat dead poultry, poultry not properly dispose of indiscriminately. ..


This is a bird flu outbreak was discovered Monday in Thai Nguyen province in 2010.

Mexico Ready reasonably to any H5N1 epidemic


Health - Wednesday, June 23 (16:20 hrs.)


They report that the virus is transmitted in stage three
The country has learned the lesson of how to deal with a threat of this magnitude: Alejandro Macias

The online Financial

Mexico, June 23 .- Mexico is reasonably prepared for an influenza pandemic H5N1 or another that came to be developed or presented in the world, as we have learned the lesson of how to deal with a threat of this magnitude, said Alejandro Macias.

In an exclusive interview, the special commissioner for the Care of the Health Sector Human Influenza stressed that "Mexico is undoubtedly one of the countries best prepared to receive a subsequent influenza epidemic."

He said the flu "has no word of honor" and although it is prepared the impact of an epidemic is important, as happened with the virus A (H1N1).

But he cautioned that if from the epidemic H5N1, also known as avian influenza, although it is a preparation in epidemiological surveillance of how to act and has reserves of medicines and equipment "will most likely have a major impact that the epidemic H1N1" .

The infectious disease specialist at the National Institute of Nutrition and Medical Sciences Salvador Zubirán "the SSA said the H5N1 virus, the initial cases occurred in 2005 in Asia, is very different and has no known history.

That's why, he said, that cases in the world, about 500, have been substantially more harmful pathogens and the H1N1 virus, so constant vigilance is maintained not only in Mexico but throughout the world, to act immediately and prevent it from becoming an epidemic.

Alejandro Macias explained that so far there have been cases in countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Egypt, and even have seen that with early treatment reduces mortality by 10 per cent, although the level of lethality of the virus is 50 percent , compared with less than one percent of the A (H1N1).

"It does not mean that tomorrow will start the epidemic, which has been indicated that the virus exists in the world and when combined with the current H1N1 virus can exit a result which is a virus that inherits the pathogenic potential of H5N1 and H1N1 its great potential on the transfer, "he said.

That would, he said, an epidemic that would be more serious of which was held in Mexico.

The specialist of the Ministry of Health (SSA) says the country has learned its lesson, and plan efficiently applied to deal with influenza, also went to report the value of time where the new virus to which act and alert the world.

Now, he insisted, "we are reasonably prepared because we have the diagnostic tools have been trained first-level services care and have adjusted intensive care services and work on having more and better beds in that area."

Also has antiviral medications in stock and intensive care. "All that we have, that is preparation for influenza. An additional part of the preparation is to have a vaccine available to mitigate the epidemic, if there was H5N1, but that still does not have anybody," he said.

What is not desirable nor feasible, he said, is that in case of an epidemic be contained in airports and terminals, because the flu has a range of events ranging from those with no discomfort to those who have all the symptoms , so it is difficult to detect.

"The influenza preparedness is not trying to stop things at the border or at airports, is in any case at borders and airports have health information and convenient as far as some level of detection," he said.

He reported that currently there are at airports and borders of Mexico some level of health screening for the H5N1 virus, because it is where we say that it is transmitted and sustained human to human, but it could be in a country of East, Africa or Asia, and will be there when you need to refine the plan preparation.

Hernández Macías added that to establish whether this constitutes an epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified six levels or stages, and the influenza H5N1 is found in the three, which means that the virus is pathogenic and has powers transmitted from animals to humans.

"This is not theoretical, there, there are already 500 reported cases of H5N1 transmission from animals to humans, in this case birds, but that should not cause undue alarm, it does not mean that it is transmitted efficiently from person to person as happened with the H1N1 "he said.

Abounded that "there is a sporadic transmission from animals to humans, not from human to human, and that is what most likely happen in the future, we do not know is when that's the difference."

WHO notes that when a transmission from human to human in a sustained manner is passed to stage four, and that seen in April 2009 in Mexico with the virus A (H1N1).

Finally he said that the risk of this epidemic of H5N1 is present, and Mexico is ready, although he acknowledged that if it were to affect millions of people no country has that level of preparation, because it would be almost impossible to handle that size.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Russia Reports Two New Outbreaks of ASF

Monday, June 21, 2010
RUSSIA - The Russian veterinary authorities have reported two new outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in the country.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received follow-up report no. 3 on Friday, 18 June.

Both outbreaks took place in Rostovskaya. The first outbreak, which occured on 16 June, reveals that four swine were infected, while 277 were found susceptible to the disease. The second outbreak also took place on the same date, but in this case, wild boar were affected. Two cases were detected while 1000 showed signs of susceptibility. All affected animals, in both outbreaks, were destroyed.

The source of the outbreak is still under investigation.

On 16 June, direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were carried out at the Rostov Regional Veterinary Laboratory. Both tests confirmed the presence of the ASF virus.

Monday, June 21, 2010

More than 360 carcasses of sick birds disposed of in Tuva

Today, 05:09
367 carcasses of patients with wild waterfowl is disposed on the lake Uvs Nuur in the border with Mongolia region of Tuva, the press service of the Government of the Republic.

Anti-epizootic measures in the Ovyurskogo area began June 16 - after, we recall, June 11 analysis of biological samples taken from birds killed in the Uvs-Nour, identified the bird flu virus.

"Specialists vetnadzora examined all the monastery in nearby Soumont. Traces of influenza were detected.
Works agreed to complete ", - says the official report.

Add that the outbreak of the disease have been observed in Tuva at the lake Uvs Nuur in 2006 (died about 4000 birds) and 2009 (more than 500 carcasses).

Japan - The FMD disaster


22 Jun 2010

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Miyazaki Prefecture has spread further from its origin and could expand to the entire prefecture.
New infections have been confirmed in cities including Miyakonojo, which is located about 50 kilometers from the epidemic's locus in the eastern part of the prefecture. The epidemic now has reached a crucial juncture--whether the disease will spread outside the prefecture. Prime Minister Naoto Kan visited the prefecture Saturday and pledged the government would take all possible steps to support affected livestock farmers. The central and prefectural governments must strengthen epidemic prevention measures and do all they can to contain the disease.

The central and prefectural governments have been trying to prevent further infection by slaughtering and burying cows and pigs on disease-affected livestock farms, as well as by restricting movement and transfer of the livestock in the vicinity.

At farms within a 10-kilometer radius of major outbreak locations, livestock that have not been infected with the disease are being vaccinated to prevent the virus from spreading and then culled.

However, infections have been confirmed on farms far from the locations of the disease's initial outbreak about 50 days ago. It must be asked whether there has been any lapse in preventative measures against the disease's spread since then.

===

Minimize infections' impact


What is now necessary is to minimize damage to areas where new infections have been detected.

The city of Ebino in the prefecture successfully contained the disease by slaughtering livestock immediately after infections were confirmed. Learning from its example, the Miyakonojo city government began culling livestock after informing the central government of certain animals' symptoms through photos, without waiting for results of genetic tests conducted by the central government. Such swift responses are necessary to deal with the disease from now on.

One of the reasons for the spread of infections seems to be the fact that the cull of cows and pigs has not been conducted smoothly because it is difficult to find people to slaughter the livestock and places to bury the animals. It is possible the virus might have spread from these livestock. Slaughter of the remaining 30,000 cows must be sped up.

A special law on foot-and-mouth disease that took effect June 4 allows the central government to slaughter healthy livestock without farmers' consent if necessary. The legislation aims to prevent new infections by creating a livestock-free "blank area" where animals are culled.

The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry does not plan to apply this law in areas where new infections have been confirmed. However, if infections do expand, it is inevitable that this measure would be taken.

===

Find out how disease spread


Also, it is an urgent task to find out why foot-and-mouth disease has spread. One theory holds that people and vehicles that visit livestock farms have slipped through designated sterilization points. Others noted the possibility soil with the virus was carried by the wind. The government should strengthen field studies by epidemic prevention experts.

Miyakonojo produces some of the best livestock in the country. Neighboring Kagoshima Prefecture is well known for its Berkshire pigs and black cattle. The spread of the disease to Kagoshima Prefecture would immensely impact the country's livestock industry as well as adversely affect people's diets.

We hope the Kan Cabinet will place top priority on tackling foot-and-mouth disease.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Cholera heavily hits Mekong delta

June 20, 2010


LookAtVietnam - Provinces in the Mekong delta are fighting cholera as near-epidemic of cholera is plaguing the region with over 50 people infected and over 500 persons suffering from acute diarrhea.

Cholera strikes Mekong Delta

Four Mekong delta provinces of Ben Tre, Tien Giang, An Giang and City Can Tho reported cases. Ben Tre is one of eight provinces with fifty cases and over 500 acute diarrhea patients.

Meanwhile An Giang after three month hiatus, medical workers confirmed four cholera cases in Long Xuyen City and district Cho Moi, first cholera case is reportedly positive for the virulent vibrio cholera virus in Tien Giang’s district Cai Be.

Medical workers fretted about the waste treatment in the Cu Lao Minh General Hospital in Ben Tre where is overloaded with cholera patients because they have carried out tests and found the virulent vibrio cholera virus present in a Mo Cay River and a river in An Giang’s district An Phu.

69 cholera cases have been reported in nine provinces and cities this year, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, deputy minister Trinh Quan Huan said on June 7.

The bacterium that has been causing cholera in Vietnam since 2007 is growing more toxic and dangerous, the Ministry of Health reported on June 7.

The ministry noted that the current strain of V.chlerae and type O1 is different from that which caused the acute intestinal disease in Vietnam before 2007, adding that the new type has a far longer lifespan in the environment. Mr. Huan pointed out the current strain in Vietnam is similar that caused pandemic in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.

Again, Bird Flu in Prabumulih Animal Attack



SRIPO / MUKSIN TM
Officials from the Office of the middle Prabumulih PPKPP destroy cattle infected chickens Avian Influenza virus, Sunday (20 / 6) in the Village of Cape Raman, Prabumulih. Earlier the virus was also attacked chickens in a village Sukajadi, Prabumulih.Sriwijaya Post - Sunday, June 20, 2010 15:44 AM
Prabumulih - Bird flu outbreak in Prabumulih back. After the previous attack Sukajadi Village, now the H5N1 virus that attacked the village of Tanjung Raman region, South Prabumulih, Sunday (20 / 6).

The virus that attacked dozens of birds were known to attack chickens belonging Herwanto, residents of Cape Raman Village. Herwanto confess, before reporting the incident to the Office of PPKPP, chicken flocks are found in conditions of sudden death in the last three days.

Herwanto initially suspected chicken pecked to death of snakes. But the next day was another chicken that died even up to the chicks.

"Because I was afraid to report to DPPKPP," he said.

Raman Cape region had handed over a suspected bird flu disease. Almost all chickens die suddenly unless his cattle.

Head of Department PPKPP Ir H Soegiono and his staff including Nora drh Gustina came down with full equipment when down to the location to declare the chickens that died of bird flu positive. Unfortunately, they have difficulties when they want to destroy the remaining chicken because whole chicken is outside the cage.

Officers then mengakalinya with feed and rice that have been given poison. This was done so that the chickens are eating dead food. However, it is less effective measures. Digestion of chicken slow poison reaction mengakibatnya not work optimally. Officers eventually shot and killed dozens of chickens initiative is left with a BB gun.

This method is quite effective, although the officers had to work hard and styled like a hunter in the woods, all chickens belonging Herwanto died instantly. After slaughtering the chickens out alleged to have been infected with bird flu, the officers immediately sprayed all over the cage and the house, including offices located around the site.