Saturday, April 21, 2012

Jordon Pulmonary Disease Totals 14



Home News increased incidence of pulmonary disease mysterious, who appeared in a hospital in the blue state to 14 state until Friday. live staff and auditors hospital horror, where he was granted many of the staff themselves to leave for fear of injury, especially after the death of nurse emotions that had contracted the disease a few days ago She died on Thursday evening. said the hospital director, Dr. Marwan Habashneh that the condition of patients in good health except for the brother of Pathogenic deceased, adding that the hospital administration has taken all necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of new cases, adding that the administration is working to diagnose the disease, which led to the death of a nurse and wounding nine people other. and he was sent samples to Egypt in order to detect a lung disease that the most important symptoms are cough and high temperature.and the Ministry of Health confirmed that the health status of patients with pneumonia of cadres of hospital blue public good and stable. The Secretary General of the ministry, Dr. Daifallah Lozi in a press statement Friday that the ministry has taken immediate action and preventive and therapeutic in the hospital and patients were conducted a survey and endemic in the hospital and its surroundings to determine the source of infection and take action to stop its series, stressing that he did not record any disease outside the scope of the staff working in the hospital except for the brother of Pathogenic deceased. He explained that the ministry closed the intensive care unit at the hospital for sterilization as well as a sterilization process inclusive of the other sections of the hospital, who works and receives his patients as usual, pointing out that to provide the conditions for the sterilization process has been rushed directly to the Prince Hamzah Hospital. A team technician is currently conducting a sterilization process inclusive the hospital according to established technical and scientific procedures. The Lozi that the incidence of lung diseases are common in this season, especially with the weather conditions. He denied any connection with epidemic between the death of the girl child in a hospital Ramtha governmental northern Jordan and injuries pneumonia in a hospital in the blue government, explaining that the death of the child with caused by two of her meningitis.




















20/04/2012 20:21:43

Friday, April 20, 2012

Hospital staff refrain from work after the death of a mysterious pneumonia epidemic nurse #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

Hospital staff in the blue government to refrain from work after the death of a mysterious pneumonia epidemic nurse


Source: petra Friday, April 20, 2012 20:12
Arab News - declined to a number of workers in a hospital in the blue government from carrying out their duties after the death of their colleague steady drumbeat of news nurse the day before yesterday was hit by a mysterious epidemic of pneumonia, according to medical sources at the hospital.
The sources confirmed that a state of fear Antapt hospital staff and reviewers at the announcement of the death of one of the injured, the center of strong interest to wear protectors medical as a precaution to prevent infection.For his part, admitted the hospital director, Dr. Marwan Habashneh reluctance of some medical staff from work following the announcement of the death, explaining that the hospital administration understood the situation they are experiencing after the death of their colleague nurse.He pointed out that all staff will adhere to its work as of today, and otherwise will take appropriate action against the abstainers, especially that the situation does not contain any dangerous, noting that the case of nurses injured and currently in a private hospital in stable condition, adding that they would leave the hospital within the next two days as confirmed by his doctor supervisor of their condition.

The hospital has resumed work Baksmi intensive care and intensive day before yesterday, after he witnessed the process of closing and evacuation of twice in two weeks, following the emergence of a mysterious lung disease injuries. Dr. Habashneh in previous statements, the sections were re-opening after sterilization and disinfection of a comprehensive, stressing that the mysterious lung disease does not pose a threat to human life.
The director of the Directorate of health care in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bassam Hijjawi said in remarks for "tomorrow" that the ministry is working according to the procedures for infection control to prevent the aggravation of it as it is an infection hospitals did not move to the community, pointing out that the team monitoring the infection had worked for 3 days follow the chain of infection.

He explained that what matters is the process of diagnosing the ministry of the bacterial infection is known, pointing out that he will be identified after the results of cultivation of pathogens conducted by the laboratories of the ministry.For their part, expressed reviewers for hospital blue government deplored what they saw as the "lack of transparency" by the authorities concerned about what the infectious disease.Faris Ibrahim said that he see the hospital several times during the past week, and that all what he heard was "assured" and complete control of the disease.He added that the state of terror suspicions yesterday that auditors in the sections of the hospital upon hearing the death of one of the infected.Mahmoud Ahmed said that the health systems in blue failed to inform the auditors need to exercise caution when their review of the hospital, which may cause the spread of the epidemic among reviewers and medical staff, especially the emergency department in a hospital under review by government Blue hundreds of patients every day.And that he did not touch during the review of the hospital last week, any precautionary measures in the crowded sections to prevent the spread of the disease, urging health authorities to disclose the truth about illness and symptoms of the real and the incubation period...

Zarqa hospital ICU closed after nurse dies from infection #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

by Khetam Malkawi | Apr 20,2012 | 22:15       
(MCT photo)
AMMAN The Ministry of Health on Friday closed the Intensive Care Unit at the Zarqa Public Hospital that is believed to be the source for an infectious disease that affected a number of staff working in the hospital, one of whom died on Thursday.
In a statement that was sent to The Jordan Times on Friday, the ministry’s Secretary General Daifallah Louzi said seven nurses, a doctor and a family member of one of the nurses, were infected with the disease that is believed to be “pneumonia”.
He noted that the investigations proved that the ICU was the source of this infection, adding that one of the nurses died on Thursday.
According to Louzi, the doctor was discharged from hospital after receiving the needed treatment while three are expected to discharged within the next 24 hours.
He explained that patients who contracted the disease were transferred to Amman’s Prince Hamzeh Hospital.
In addition, the ICU at Zarqa hospital will be reopened after being sterilized, Louzi said, adding that infection control measures are currently implemented in other facilities at the hospital which continues to receive patients as normal.
Meanwhile, nurses working at Zarqa hospital blamed its management for not taking the proper infection control measures when the first case was diagnosed.
“The management refused to let us use masks claiming that other patients will be terrified … as they would think there is an outbreak at the hospital,” a Zarqa hospital nurse told The Jordan Times on condition of anonymity.
She also claimed that nurses used to purchase masks from pharmacies as the hospital’s management refused to provide them with masks.
The hospital’s management was not available for comment despite repeated attempts by The Jordan Times.  http://jordantimes.com/zarqa-hospital-icu-closed-after-nurse-dies-from-infection

-Pneumonia outbreak at Jordan hospital #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

3 stories... they say aren't linked to swine or bird flu.. but not identified.

.. nine cases of illness, including doctor and seven nurses and staff nurses from the hospital and the nurse's brother, who died yesterday was her first as severe.


Medical alert to detect the cause «infections blue»


The Ministry of Health described the emergence of cases of pneumonia in a hospital in the blue government as «limited natural pandemic», as was confirmed by the director of primary health care in the ministry d. Bassam Hijjawi. And Hijjawi's that all cases not linked to swine flu, or influenza.For his part, predicted captain Mohammed Hatamleh nurses to leave the nurses who were infected in the hospital today and tomorrow, noting that there has been a significant improvement on their state of health. The Ministry of Health denied the existence of any epidemiological link between the death of the girl child in a hospital Ramtha government and injuries in the hospital with pneumonia blue. It showed that the death of the girl with two years of age in a hospital in her Ramtha caused by meningitis.The Secretary General of the Ministry, Dr. Daifallah Lozi in press statements that the health status of patients with pneumonia of the blue hospital staff is good and stable government.In the province of blue widow after Friday prayers yesterday the nurse who died of pneumonia as a result of her to a cemetery of Jordan. And follow-up to the emergence of infections in the hospital, monitored the «constitution» great manifestations of fear among citizens in the province, especially the health staff in the hospital. The director of Blue State Hospital, Dr. Marwan Habashneh, who succeeded in convincing the nursing staff to return to the practice of his work, that the owners of the urgent needs are driven to enter the hospital at the moment.
http://www.addustour.com/ViewTopic.aspx?ac=%5CLocalAndGover%5C2012%5C04%5CLocalAndGover_issue1647_day21_id408421.htm
Health confirms the stability of state Victims blue hospital with pneumonia

AMMAN (Petra) - The Ministry of Health that the health status of patients with pneumonia of the blue hospital staff is good and stable government.The Secretary General of the ministry, Dr. Daifallah Lozi in a press statement on Friday that the doctor with the disease left the hospital two days after the entry where the injury is simple and treated home and recovered completely, while leaving four people during the next 24 hours, and leave the other three after assessing their health status once and for all as they are recovering well.The registration had been nine cases of illness, including doctor and seven nurses and staff nurses from the hospital and the nurse's brother, who died yesterday was her first as severe.Dr. Lozi that the ministry has taken on the spot preventive measures and treatment in the hospital and patients were conducted a survey and endemic in the hospital and its surroundings to determine the source of infection and take action to stop its series, stressing that he did not record any disease outside the scope of the staff working in the hospital except for the brother of Pathogenic deceased.He explained that the ministry closed the intensive care unit at the hospital for sterilization as well as a comprehensive sterilization process for the rest of the sections of the hospital, who works and receives his patients as usual, pointing out that to provide the conditions for the sterilization process has been rushed directly to the Prince Hamzah Hospital.The technical team is currently conducting a specialized sterilization process inclusive of the hospital according to established technical and scientific procedures.He explained that the Lozi infections such as pneumonia are common in this season, especially with the prevailing weather.He denied any link between the epidemic and the death of the girl child in a hospital Ramtha government and injuries in the hospital with pneumonia blue state, explaining that the death of the girl with her two caused by meningitis.
Health»: «cases of blue» confined pandemic flu not linked to pigs or birds
Ministry of Health denied the existence of any epidemiological link between the death of the girl child in a hospital Ramtha government and injuries in the hospital with pneumonia blue state.The Ministry made clear that the death of the child of two years of age in a hospital in her Ramtha caused by meningitis, confirmed that there have been no disease outside the scope of the staff working in a hospital in blue except for the brother of the deceased nurse.This denial came on the lips of the Secretary General of the Ministry d. Daifallah Lozi after the entry into a number of rumors about the transmission of infectious virus from the blue state hospital to another hospital.The Lozi in press statements that the health status of patients with pneumonia of the blue hospital staff is good and stable government.He said the doctor with the disease left the hospital two days after the entry where the injury is simple and treated home and fully recovered, he said in his statement yesterday that he «would leave the hospital four patients during the next 24 hours, and leave the other three after assessing their health status is final as they are recovering well ».He d. Lozi that the ministry has taken immediate action and preventive and therapeutic in the hospital, for people with a survey has been endemic in the hospital and the surrounding environment to determine the source of infection and take action to halt its series.He explained that the ministry closed the intensive care unit at the hospital for sterilization as well as a comprehensive sterilization process for the rest of the sections of the hospital, who works and receives his patients as usual.He pointed out that to provide the conditions for the sterilization process of the injured were taken directly to the Prince Hamzah Hospital.And that he is a specialist technical team performed a comprehensive sterilization of the hospital according to established technical and scientific practice, noting that the incidence of diseases such as pneumonia are common in this season, especially with the prevailing weather.In context, and within the state of alert and witnessed by the Ministry of Health, stressed the ministry to all medical staff working health measures need to follow the infection control and take the necessary precautions in addition to the need to wear masks available in hospitals to reduce the capture of viruses from the air. The move comes in under the relentless pursuit by the ministry to make sure that the spread of pneumonia, following the initial infection to stop the spread of it and eliminate the inventory of the epidemic in the land.Medical sources revealed that the ministry has sent samples to the laboratory of Egypt to be scanned in the reference laboratories of the World Health Organization in Cairo, the results are expected in the next 48 to 72 hours.The aim of the laboratory tests to make sure what virus or bacteria causing the inflammation, especially in light of the prevailing belief that inflammation is resistant to treatment.

«Confined to a natural pandemic»The Ministry of Health described the emergence of cases of pneumonia in a hospital in the blue government as «limited natural pandemic», as was confirmed by the director of primary health care in the ministry d. Bassam Hijjawi.And Hijjawi's »Constitution» that all cases suffered from pneumonia did not know the cause (viral or bacterial), a contagious and resistant to treatment, stressing that all cases are not linked to swine flu, or influenza.He pointed out that Hijjawi were transferred 6 of the injured in hospital government blue to Prince Hamza Hospital were isolated reserve in dealing with one case in the Islamic Hospital doctor patient was transferred to his home for his responsiveness to treatment, explaining that the general condition is good.And linking Hijjawi deaths of public health and immunity, noting that the existence of any health problems or chronic diseases, contributing to high mortality rate, in addition to the lack of systematic health action during treatment, which also contributes to raising the proportion of deaths.And that any infectious disease that needs to take action immediately and leave the isolation distance of almost a meter between the patient and staff care for and prevent the entry and exit to the section and to prevent visits.On the onset of symptoms to the nurse's brother, the deceased, he explained that the disease is contagious Hijjawi injury and that moved him because of communication with them.He Hijjawi that the emergence of cases of pneumonia in this season is to be expected as it is a disease seasonal linked completely climate variability, indicating that a large number of cases in the capital Amman and the epidemic or pandemic did not turn to the case of community-based, calling for all health staff working to abide by the procedures infection control in hospitals, health staff and take into account these measures because they are totally the way to stop transmission.And that the symptoms of the disease Hijjawi is the high temperature and cough, indicating that the disease is not diagnosed photos only radial, stressing the need to maintain personal hygiene.He added that the cadres of primary health care all in a fully alert in the Ministry and the blue and Prince Hamzah Hospital, pointing out that the ministry is also used to all specialists in the King Hussein Cancer Center and the Royal Medical Services Hospital and King of the founder.For his part, predicted captain Mohammed Hatamleh nurses to leave the nurses who were infected in a hospital in the blue state today and tomorrow, noting that there has been a significant improvement on their state of health.He's Hatamleh »Constitution» nurses had been transferred for treatment at a government hospital last, and sterilization units that have been moved inside the infection in hospital blue.He stressed, during his stay in the hospital yesterday blue state, he did not record any new cases among nurses or doctors or citizens, calling for attention to be paid for any injury may be recorded to avoid a repeat of what happened.

Fear in the blueIn the province of blue widow after Friday prayers yesterday the nurse who died of pneumonia as a result of her to a cemetery of Jordan.And follow-up to the emergence of infections in hospital blue, spotted «constitution» manifestations of fear among senior citizens in the province, especially the health staff in the hospital.The director of public hospital blue d. Marwan Habashneh that the owners of the urgent needs are those who resort to the hospital at the moment, where do without those who are without the need for urgent and critical cases from entering the hospital, citing the example at the Department of Children, which is considered one of the most sections are vital to him, where there are 6 cases only out of 63 cases are present in the section to the situation of natural and normal.D and succeeded. Habashneh persuading staff nurses to return to their places of work after hours of dialogue and persuasion through his commentary on the nature of the disease and how the safety of the transmission through the entry of the sections of the hospital by himself after washing hands and wearing masks and doing some work direct medical with some patients, which contributed to the deployment of trust between among the nurses, most of them and then return to work, calling for medical personnel and citizens not to overstate the fear in particular that all sections of the hospital open after it has been sterilized more than once, describing the situation in the hospital b »a state of epidemic monitoring».He stressed Habashneh that «can not release the name of a disease it can be called inflammation», noting that he has been sent samples to hospital founder King in Irbid, medical services and the King Hussein Cancer Center as well as the Ministry of Health, to make sure what the infection.He noted that the symptoms of infection is high temperature, cough, shortness of breath and changes in the lung appeared through radiological images.

Specialists: Easy to move

If you do not take the necessary measures, It was agreed a number of specialist doctors in the field of respiratory diseases with a description and the Ministry of Health, the emergence of human cases of pneumonia in a hospital in the blue government b »pandemic cabin», but they warned of the subject turned to the state of community if they are not taken prudent measures and caution that the disease is contagious and easy to move if you do not take the necessary measures in homes, hospitals, and raising awareness about the mechanism of transmission.The professionals need to take the current situation very seriously because of the high incidence of pneumonia, acute resistant to treatment in a number of cases, noting that the disease rose a remarkable during the past month also increased the proportion of entries to hospitals and to the rooms intensive care for the same reason.They have shown that the SARS disease seasonal but it is noticeable spread significantly, confirming that the phenomenon need to study and follow-up and monitoring of the fact that a fatal disease to a large number of categories, especially in light of the high rate of chronic diseases in Jordan in general, what contributes to increase the seriousness of the disease and high mortality rate .The doctors stressed that the input is necessary in some cases, especially for children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases.He doctors fear through their observations of the high rate of injury or attack of pneumonia for young people and the inability of their bodies young to resist, as this phenomenon is clear for nearly two years, two references not being able to resist to the neglect of health and high incidence of chronic diseases and stay away from health behaviors in eating and life in general.And among doctors that the immunity of the body play a strong role in the face of inflammation in general and pneumonia in particular, stating that the body's immune strong can resist inflammation, the body exhausted basis of other diseases, there is no strength to resist and develop into acute inflammation in the lung and increase the likelihood of injury in people who suffered from a viral infection long ago and those with lung disease or heart disease or stroke or who suffered seizures or swallowing problems as well as addicts.The doctors stressed the need to work procedures for infection control in hospitals because they are the safest in the treatment of patients and maintain medical staff and the need to adhere to nearly a meter away from the injured and the use of masks and washing hands and maintaining personal hygiene.He called on doctors to adhere to personal hygiene and not sharing fully in the use of personal tools, and detergents to use sterile and sterile surfaces of the hands, warning of eating argela participatory.Referred to the inflammation of the lung, according to doctors, is a viral or bacterial infection or inflammation caused by the fungus, one or both lungs.Doctors and shows that before the emergence of treatments and medical advances a third of people with pneumonia die, and that as a result of medical progress and scientific ratio began less, but pneumonia is still occupying the centers of advanced into the causes of deaths in the world's most advanced Komrica and Britain.And symptoms of pneumonia acquired from the community is different, but often appear suddenly. These signs and symptoms include: chills, fever, sweating, shortness of breath, a cough that produces Bulgma thick tends to color the greening or yellowing, however, the high-risk groups are the largest include the elderly, or chronically ill, or who suffer from poor immune system and often What symptoms less than groups exposed to less danger. Instead of high temperatures that characterize pneumonia syndrome in the elderly community to be their natural heat.No injuries Balshaaa in IrbidThe Director of Health Dr Ali Al Saad Irbid-free hospitals in the province of injuries meningitis following the death of a child in the second-year-old on Friday at a hospital Ramtha government were infected with the disease.He said Saad's (Petra) that the Ministry of Health formed a committee of competent doctors for the detection of the girl who Khaltnha sisters to make sure of their safety as a precaution have been vaccinated family members as a matter of prevention.Date: 21/04/2012
http://www.addustour.com/ViewTopic.aspx?ac=%5CLocalAndGover%5C2012%5C04%5CLocalAndGover_issue1647_day21_id408372.htm

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Schmallenberg Virus Spreads Across Europe

 Apr 18, 2012 1:01pm EDT 

After its outbreak in Western Europe last year, Schmallenberg virus has now hit Europen Union countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Spain and Britain.
Thought to have been spread for hundreds of miles across Europe by biting midges and warm winds, this virus has been particularly harmful to the off springs of infected animals. These early pregnancy infections result in stillbirths and malformations such as brain deformities, twisted spines and locked joints.
So far, the research shows that this virus poses no threat to humans.
A former virologist and head of the animal health unit at the European Commission however warned that the rapid spread of the schmallenberg virus should be a cause for concern.
Farmers are waiting nervously in Britain, where the virus has been detected as far as the English Midlands.
There has been a limited direct impact on European Union's livestock producers so far.
Despite the fact that Schmallenberg does not affect pigs, the pig producers are facing significant indirect costs. This is due a ban on livestock imports to the bloc's biggest export market - Russia .
The European Commission also stated that the direct loses had not yet been quantified but range between several thousands to a few million euros.
The commission doesn't confirm that the circulation of the virus is limited to Europe but European Union countries are officially reported to being affected confirmed that director general of a Paris animal healthy body. http://tv.ibtimes.com/livestock-virus-spreads-across-europe/5035.html

Female Birdflu suspect in Indo

Two weeks experienced cough, shortness of breath and fever

  Breastfeeding mothers in Cirebon, Suspected Bird Flu Suspect

  Thursday, April 19, 2012 17:48 PM
  A mother breastfeeding Watiah (27) in Block Asem Balong RT 02/01, Village Babakan, District Sources, Cirebon regency, West Java, suspected suspect bird flu.
 It is said Watiah, namely cough and fever, throat pain, shortness of breath, almost simultaneously after a hundred and twenty chickens died suddenly in his home due to H5N1 virus.
  The mother of two children said to LICOM, since two weeks experienced cough, shortness of breath, fever, and abdominal complaints.  Suspect claims he contracted the bird flu fear, let alone that he was being breast-feeding her second child, Raka, who was only 2 months. "Shortness of breath until I could not sleep. lalu,”  My body was cold from about two weeks ago, "said Watiah, when met at his house.
  Even Watiah brother, Rupiah (47) and the residents surrounding the house, namely, Mrs. Here (50), Bandi (45), Mrs. Sawer (53), also raise chickens and the average pet them hanging around the house, pet chickens died suddenly .
  When touched on the health office, Watiah, until now. He claimed to have met officials from the Department of Health (Health Office). Cirebon regency health office head Endang Susilowati and staff could not be reached.
  Meanwhile, H Ali Efendi, Head of Department of Agriculture Livestock Forestry and Plantation Cirebon, said the cause of the sudden death of chickens in the village Babakan the H5N1 virus. “Hasil rapidtes positif flu burung. "The bird flu positive rapidtes.  We've check spaciousness, about a hundred chickens died suddenly of H5N1 virus, "he said simply. http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=id&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://www.lensaindonesia.com/2012/04/19/ibu-menyusui-di-cirebon-diduga-suspect-flu-burung.html&usg=ALkJrhivrEOEKXcALjfKAH0wtOxCJngpZg

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

CDC: Influenza A and B Virus Attachment to Respiratory Tract in Marine Mammals

Abstract

Patterns of virus attachment to the respiratory tract of 4 marine mammal species were determined for avian and human influenza viruses. Attachment of avian influenza A viruses (H4N5) and (H7N7) and human influenza B viruses to trachea and bronchi of harbor seals is consistent with reported influenza outbreaks in this species.


[click on title for full document]

Nine Newcastle Disease Outbreaks In Israel

 - 17 April 2012 09:56:20 GMT

The Israeli veterinary authorities have reported nine outbreaks of Newcastle disease in Hazafon, Hadarom and Hamerkaz.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received Follow-up Report No. 14 on Sunday, 15 April. The affected population consists of broilers ranging from 4 to 6 weeks of age.
Out of 252000 susceptible broilers, approximately 25500 cases were identified, and 8900 deaths were reported. 106100 birds were destroyed and 127000 were slaughtered.
The source of the outbreak remains inconclusive, and the epidemiological investigation is ongoing.

China-95,000 chickens have been culled #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

The Ningxia occurred from bird flu in poultry outbreak 95,000 chickens have been culled2012-04-18 18:45:29
Xinhua Beijing, April 18, according to the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture Information Office on the 18th the Guyuan Yuanzhou occur from poultry H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian flu.

It is understood, April 13, Yuanzhou District in Ningxia head 营镇 Yang Lang village, some farmers kept hens suspected bird flu symptoms, the incidence of chicken 23880. 18, the outbreaks by the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of H5N1 subtype.

After the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture immediately sent a working group to the affected areas guidance bashing epidemic, local people's government regulatory requirements in accordance with the relevant contingency plans and prevention techniques, prevention and control, in accordance with the law and the scientific prevention and control, really good job in the outbreak of the disposal of the work, tight blockaded epidemic, strengthen disinfection off the source and monitor the investigation, culling and safe handling of the chickens and the same group of chickens all 95000. At present, the outbreaks under control.

Guyuan outbreak of #H5N1 avian influenza outbreak #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

18.04.2012 18:30
Guyuan Yuanzhou the outbreak of the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic. A farmers raising chickens, on the 5th began to suspected bird flu symptoms, the incidence of more than 23,000 chickens, the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory confirmed the outbreak. Ministry of Agriculture has sent a working group to the local region 90000 5000 chickens were culled and processing blockaded epidemic, the epidemic has been controlled.

Guyuan from poultry of #H5N1 avian influenza outbreak occurs #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

 Apr 18, 2012 18:08 Xinhua
Xinhua News Agency,
 Beijing, April 18 (Reporter Yu Wenjing) - According to the Ministry of Agriculture Information Office on the 18th, the the the Guyuan Yuanzhou occur from poultry H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian flu.
It is understood, April 13, Yuanzhou District in Ningxia head 营镇 Yang Lang village, some farmers kept hens suspected bird flu symptoms, the incidence of chicken 23,880.
18, the outbreaks by the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of H5N1 subtype.
After the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture immediately sent a working group to the affected areas guidance bashing epidemic, local people's government regulatory requirements in accordance with the relevant contingency plans and prevention techniques, prevention and control, in accordance with the law and the scientific prevention and control, really good job in the outbreak of the disposal of the work, tight blockaded epidemic, strengthen disinfection off the source and monitor the investigation, culling and safe handling of the chickens and the same group of chickens all 95000. At present, the outbreaks under control. 

White House Responds to Congressman's Questions About H5N1 Flu Papers

on 17 April 2012

White House science adviser John Holdren has replied to questions asked last month by Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) about how the Obama Adminstration has handled the controversy surrounding two studies that showed how to make the H5N1 avian influenza virus transmissible between mammals.
-snip-

In his 9 April response, Holdren wrote that "the circumstances surrounding the recent review of H5N1 manuscripts are unprecedented." It marked the first time a government advisory body, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), had recommended withholding information from a scientific paper, he added. "Thus, the [U.S. government] until now had not needed to have a system in place specifically for restricting dissemination of the results of DURC." But NSABB ultimately supported publication of the papers, he noted, after government reviews revealed "serious legal and procedural hurdles to the establishment of such a dissemination system that could not be overcome on a timescale that would be relevant to the publication of these papers." The government has issued a new policy for reviewing taxpayer-funded research for DURC potential, he noted.

In a statement, Sensenbrenner said he was only partly satisfied:
In his response, Dr. Holdren wrote that, until now, the United States government has "not needed to have a system in place" for restricting dissemination of dual use research or concern because this is the first time the NSABB recommended restricting publication. I believe the Administration needs to be more proactive than that and prepare for possible threats before they occur. The new policy is a good, if belated, first step, and I will be watching its implementation closely.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Recombinomics Commentary: Accumulation of H5N1 Transmission Changes in Egypt

Recombinomics Commentary 13:45
April 17, 2012

With all four mutations, the virus spread even more easily. Kawaoka exposed six more uninfected ferrets to sick peers in adjacent cages. Within a week, he had found signs of the virus in all of them.

Three of these mutations are new, at least in public databases.

The above comments describe the effects of the four H5 changes (N158D, N224K, Q226L, T318I) that were associated with ferret to ferret transmission via aerosol in the Kawaoka experiments. However, the claim that only one of the four changes (N158D) is present in public data bases is false. N224K is present in waterfowl in Egypt (A/duck/Egypt/10185SS/2010) and Vietnam (A/Muscovy duck/Vietnam/NCVD-11/2007), while T318I is present in waterfowl in China (A/mallard/Xuyi/10/2005, A/spotbill duck/Xuyi/18/2005, A/duck/Guangxi/53/2002).

Although Q226L has never been reported in natural H5, the ability of N224K to substitute for the other receptor binding domain (RBD) change, G228S, raises concerns that H5N1 is naturally evolving toward human transmission, since N224K has been found in natural sequences.

The presence of this RBD change in a duck in Egypt,
A/duck/Egypt/10185SS/2010, is of particular concern because H5N1 in Egypt is clade 2.2 and therefore has already fixed N158D in H5 and E627K on PB2, which was also present or introduced in transmission studies by the CDC or Ron Fouchier (and use of an H1N1pdm09 PB2 in the Kawaoka studies substituted for the E627K change).

Moreover, the above sequence is from clade 2.2.1 G, which also has S133del and T155I, which has been linked to a seasonal H1N1 profile via bioinformatic analysis. This association has also increased concerns because all public human H5N1 sequences from Egypt since mid-2009 are clade 2.2.1 G, which have S133del, T155L, N158D and PB2 E627K.
In addition, recently released H5N1 sequences from Egypt have PB1 and PB2 acquisitions of significant stretches of seasonal H1N1, H1N1pdm09, and H3N2v, supporting recombination between H5N1 and influenza sequences that are linked to efficiently transmitting human outbreaks in the past or present.

The changes however, are not being carefully analyzed due to a lack of transparency, coupled with limit sequencing. NAMRU-3 does the sequencing of human H5N1 cases in Egypt, and there is virtually no data on sequences of internal genes. Although NAMRU-3 sequences are typically limited to HA and NA, these sequences have also been withheld from public databases. The last release was in mid-2010 and included sequences from 2009 to mid 2010. This, release of most of those sequences was delayed for 3-12 months. However, the delay time has increased, since no human H5N1 sequences have been released in almost two years. 2011 sequences were released to WHO, and these sequences are represented in phylogenetic trees in WHO updates on pandemic vaccine targets, but these trees only represent a subset of sequences, and do not provide information on the acquisition of polymorphisms such as H5 N224K or T318I or changes in internal genes.

The potential for such H5 acquisitions is high because wild birds fly into the region each year because of overlapping flyways in Egypt. Moreover, clear examples of recombination have been noted in H5N1 in Egypt, which included an silent NA acquisition, G743A, as well as S133del coupled with T155I.

The concurrent acquisition of G743A provided compelling evidence for recombination since it appeared on multiple clade 2.2 backgrounds in Egypt, as well as Kuwait, Russia, Ghana, and Nigeria in early 2007 (followed by spread throughout Europe in 2007).

The acquisition of S133del couple with T155I played a role in the seasonal H1N1 bioinformatic profile, and the role of recombination was highlighted by the acquisition of both changes in Egypt clade 2.2 and Indonesian clade 2.1.

Thus, the accumulation of significant changes in Egypt H5, coupled with a lack of transparency, increases pandemic concerns.

Bangladesh H1N1 - 5 Nurse Trainees Ill on Monday, on Wed. there are 55 ill

55 trainees at the Kurigram district hospital nursing institute have been infected by an un-identified pathogen. A 5-member specialists’ team has been sent from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research to treat the patients and investigate the infection. The team is being led by Doctor Ashraful Alam.

Trainee nurses at the institute in Kurigram started having sudden fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea since Tuesday night. Nursing institute class-rooms have been turned into temporary medical wards to ensure emergency treatment for the infected. Those suffering from the illness said that at first, five of them fell ill on Monday. On Tuesday a total of 43 trainees became ill. The number affected by the disease rose to 55 today.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Osterholm's Letter to the National Institute of Health

From the previous post (link to this letter is included in the post):

His letter was obtained by the news department of the journal Science. They published it on their website, ScienceInsider.

The letter was addressed to Dr. Amy Patterson, associate director for science policy at the National Institutes of Health, and the official to whom the NSABB reports. It was copied to members of the 21-person board and to NSABB staff....



Osterholm's Letter [bolding and editing are mine]
Excerpt
For you to better understand my concerns, I will detail specific examples of how I believe the
agenda and selected speakers resulted in the one-sided risk-benefit analysis that I described
above. I will use in part the general considerations and conclusions in the April 11th draft
NSABB findings and recommendations document as the framework for these points.
-snip-
As director of one of the five NIH-supported centers of excellence in influenza research and
surveillance, I can speak with firsthand knowledge and experience that the voice of an important
group of senior influenza researchers not doing similar mutation/transmission work was not
heard regarding this issue. I personally tried to have their voices represented at the meeting. They
were not invited. One of them wrote me a very clear and compelling comment on the potential
for the information in one of the manuscripts to be immediately and directly enabling. He stated;
“I am an influenza virologist myself, and we routinely create viral mutants in my
lab using reverse genetics, so I have a good sense of the technical issues involved.
As such, I can recognize that some outspoken researchers in our field have been
under-representing the increased risk that would be entailed by full publication of
the specific mutations versus the current situation where only the general outline
of the ferret-passage scheme is known. A ferret-passage experiment is expensive
and technically demanding, and could only be done by a handful of labs in the
world. Once the mutations are public, individuals in my lab (or many other labs)
could generate the mutants in a few weeks given several thousand dollars for gene
synthesis.
I remain agnostic about what is the best policy going forward. I recognize that
there also important potential benefits from this research, and think that research
along these lines does have valid scientific and public-health justifications. But
these benefits need to be carefully weighed against the real risks, and I am
definitely concerned that there has been a rush to judgment for full publication
within our own research community.”
I have talked with many similarly minded influenza researchers from around the world who
agree with the above statement. Yet these voices were notably absent in the NSABB
deliberations.

The data may benefit public health and surveillance efforts.
The Board received no formal or informal presentation from those on the front lines of H5N1
animal surveillance and control. Specifically, no one with H5N1 virus surveillance and control
expertise from either the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) or the World Organization
for Animal Health (OIE) were invited to participate. I have discussed with officials from both
organizations the implications of sharing the mutation data; the general response indicated that
such information without major new resources and government commitment to active animal
surveillance and control would not fundamentally change current surveillance and control
practices in most of the endemic H5N1 countries. Yet, there was a series of very general and
unsubstantiated statements made by others invited to the meeting who are not involved in the
day-to-day animal surveillance activities in the H5N1 endemic countries (including the authors)
as to the benefits of making the mutational data available for this purpose.

Expert slams process for releasing bird flu studies; 'kicked can down the road'

A member of the U.S. biosecurity panel that recently lifted its objections to the publication of two controversial bird flu studies has slammed the way the decision was reached, saying the meeting held to reconsider the issue was "one-sided" and designed to produce the eventual outcome.

Michael Osterholm, a flu expert and a member of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, warned that the decision to recommend the two studies could be published in full merely "kicked the can down the road" towards what may be another standoff with one of the scientists involved in this affair.

Osterholm revealed that Ron Fouchier, the Dutch virologist who led one of the studies, told the NSABB at a closed-door meeting in late March that he had discovered another mutation that makes it easier still to engineer H5N1 flu viruses that transmit from mammal to mammal.

"This work ... surely must be considered as a candidate for the next manuscript to be before the NSABB for review," said Osterholm, whose term on the board is coming to an end.

His letter was obtained by the news department of the journal Science. They published it on their website, ScienceInsider.

The letter was addressed to Dr. Amy Patterson, associate director for science policy at the National Institutes of Health, and the official to whom the NSABB reports. It was copied to members of the 21-person board and to NSABB staff.

Osterholm wouldn't comment on the sharply worded seven-page letter, which read like a minority report. (The NSABB's full report has not yet been made public.)

"I have no comment beyond: the letter speaks for itself," Osterholm told The Canadian Press.

In the letter, Osterholm, who is the director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, suggested experts who made presentations to the board about various aspects of the issue had an interest in the outcome of the meeting.

"I believe there was a bias toward finding a solution that was a lot less about a robust science- and policy-based risk-benefit analysis and more about how to get us out of this difficult situation," he wrote.

The controversy has dragged on since last fall, enmeshing influenza researchers, two prominent scientific journals, the U.S. government and even the World Health Organization in a messy fight where it seemed capitulation, not compromise, was the inevitable outcome.

The controversy started when research teams led by Fouchier at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam and Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin-Madison tried to publish scientific papers revealing they had managed to mutate H5N1 viruses to the point where they could transmit easily among ferrets.

Ferrets are used a stand-in for people in this type of work because they are considered the best animal model for predicting how flu viruses will act in humans.

Currently H5N1 viruses in the wild decimate poultry flocks, but do not readily infect mammals. Occasional human cases occur, but spread from person to person is believed to be rare and transmission quickly peters out.

Fouchier and Kawaoka have been working — with funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health — to try to see what it might take to make the virus transmissible among mammals. Their proof that H5N1 can make these changes means the virus must be considered a pandemic threat.

The journals Science and Nature have accepted the studies for publication. But the papers were referred to the NSABB because of fears the information in them qualified as so-called "dual use research of concern" — legitimate science that could be used for dangerous purposes.

Fouchier would not comment on Osterholm's letter, which said the Dutch scientist had discovered a mutation that makes H5N1 viruses transmit by aerosol without requiring the virus to be passaged. Passaging is the scientific process of serially infecting animals in an attempt to force mutations, a labour-intensive and time-consuming step.

In an email, Fouchier noted Dutch export control law currently bars him from publishing or talking publicly about his H5N1 transmission work.

Late last fall the NSABB recommended that the Fouchier and Kawaoka papers be published in abbreviated or redacted form only. Acting on that advice, the U.S. government asked the journals to publish without the details of how the work was done.

But a meeting organized by the World Health Organization in February concluded that publishing redacted versions of the papers was unworkable.

When material is withheld for security reasons, export control laws in the United States and the Netherlands come into play. Those laws could conceivably prevent Fouchier from sending his study to his U.S.-based publisher, Science, or Kawaoka from sending his to U.K.-based Nature.

And those laws would prevent the information in the studies from being shared across borders with public health authorities or influenza scientists with a legitimate need to see the complete material.

At a second meeting held March 29 and 30, the NSABB changed its position, voting unanimously that Kawaoka's paper should be published in full. In a 12-to-6 vote, it also agreed that Fouchier's paper should be published.

Osterholm was one of the six who objected to full publication of Fouchier's paper.


Online:

Osterholm's letter can be found on the ScienceInsider website at:

http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/NSABB%20letter%20final%2041212_3.pdf