Category Archives: pandemic

VDU’s blog: H7N9 case announcements dropping: is Wave 2 under control? [UPDATED]

In the absence of any other data or a change in climate, I’m proposing that the case decline to a direct effect from the market closure. If that hypothesis is correct, we will see continued decline in cases in Zhejiang and wherever else markets were closed.

That decline in total H7N9 human case announcement began 3-days after Hangzhou markets closed. Given that most cases were accruing from Zhejiang province, I still think that’s a good place to watch.

via VDU’s blog: H7N9 case announcements dropping: is Wave 2 under control? [UPDATED].

Vietnamese gov’t urges drastic measures as avian flu breaks out in eight provinces – Xinhua | English.news.cn

In less than three weeks, Vietnamese Prime Minister (PM) has urgently issued two dispatches to authorities at all levels from ministries to sectors and localities over the spread of the disease.

Accordingly, in the latest message sent earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urged the establishment of inspection teams to promote anti-bird flu efforts at localities, especially those vulnerable to the epidemic.

The dispatch requested the minister of MARD, who is also the head of the National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Prevention and Control, to take immediate action to prevent the transfer of avian flu to human.

So far this year, Vietnam has reported two cases of human death from A/H5N1 avian flu in southern Binh Phuoc and Dong Thap provinces.

The prime minister urged competent agencies to take samples of poultry at markets to detect avian influenza in a swift manner, while also closely inspecting poultry trading in each locality, reported Vietnam’s state-run news agency.

The World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization have also warned about the risk of A/H7N9 avian flu penetrating Vietnam through northern provinces.

via Vietnamese gov’t urges drastic measures as avian flu breaks out in eight provinces – Xinhua | English.news.cn.

Avian Flu Diary: Malaysian MOH Statement On Imported H7N9

We have met the enemy who will perhaps spread a world pandemic that may kill half or more of the human race – It is us!

Last month, in Start Spreading the Flus, we talked about the potential downsides of using antipyretic meds (ibuprofen, acetaminophen or paracetamol, etc) when experiencing flu-like symptoms, as they can lull one into going to work or school, or even on vacation, and end up exposing others to the virus.

In 2009, in Vietnam Discovers Passengers Beating Thermal Scanners we looked at reports of people using fever reducing meds to evade airline passenger screening during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
When the bills have to be paid, a deadline has to be met, or a long-planned vacation is at risk, most people will try to find a way to fight through what they believe is a `minor’ viral infection.
And while penny wise and  pound foolish, society tends to reward perfect attendance and `toughing it out’ when sick, while punishing those who follow the advice of medical authorities to `stay home’ when sick.  All of which conspires to make it virtually impossible to stop even a moderately infectious respiratory virus from spreading rapidly in a susceptible population.

 

Avian Flu Diary: Malaysian MOH Statement On Imported H7N9.

Brother and Sister Confirmed First Two Deaths from Bird Flu This Year

Two siblings from Kratie province have died from bird flu, the first cases in the country for 2014, health officials confirmed Wednesday.

The boy, 8, and girl, 2, were brought to the Kampong Cham provincial hospital on Feb. 7, after falling ill with fever, sore throat and runny nose on Jan. 31, the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization said. They died in the hospital on the same day.

About 350 birds died from the H5N1 virus, also known as avian influenza, in their home village in mid-January, officials said. The children had contact with dead birds that were being prepared for cooking.

Sok Touch, head of the Ministry of Health’s communicable disease department, said the boy tested positive for the H5N1 virus, but his sister perished before she could be tested.

via Brother and Sister Confirmed First Two Deaths from Bird Flu This Year.

Israel’s waiver to discriminate: Sam Bahour | cleveland.com

Preferential treatment of Israel has, sadly, come to be expected in the United States. Too often, the United States turns a blind eye as Israel discriminates against American citizens, then rewards Israel for this unacceptable behavior.

The so-called visa waiver bill would reward Israel by allowing Israelis to travel to the United States without a visa — a privilege that is supposed to hinge on Israel reciprocating the gesture.

The bill’s main co-sponsor, Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, has defended a key provision of the bill that would allow Israel to continue discriminating against U.S. citizens. The provision, absent from the agreements that the United States has with all 37 other countries participating in the visa waiver system, gives Israel a green light to deny entry — on its own terms and for its own reasons — to any Americans whom it deems as “jeopardizing the security of the state of Israel.” No need to justify why. No need to explain. Just blanket U.S. capitulation to Israel’s discriminatory policies.

In other words, being American will count for nothing at Israel’s borders, and Israel will be free to continue discriminating against Americans it unilaterally deems unacceptable.

Mostly Arab-Americans are affected, many of them born in the United States and tracing their roots to historic Palestine. But when they try to visit the land of their ancestors, these American citizens are humiliated at Israel’s ports of entry, and many are turned away (or given abbreviated visas) by Israel, our “closest ally” in the Middle East.

via Israel’s waiver to discriminate: Sam Bahour | cleveland.com.

H7N9 Flu, Year Two: What Is Going On? – Wired Science

Poultry is a culturally significant dish for New Year festivities, and buying the bird live and having it killed remains a significant part of the process. Across Asia, persuading people to buy supermarket-style dead, cut-up chicken has been difficult just for normal family meals, and more difficult for holiday ones. Even when live-market closings have been ordered, the mandates are not always followed.

via H7N9 Flu, Year Two: What Is Going On? – Wired Science.

Avian Flu Diary: FAO On H7N9’s Cross Border Threat

The spread of the H7N9 virus among poultry in live bird markets (LBM) in China’s Guangxi Province has significantly increased the risk that it will progressively spread to other neighbouring countries of China, posing an increased human health risk, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned today.

 

The virus, which produces no detectable symptoms among infected birds, has seriously disrupted poultry production and markets in 14 provinces of China, as well as Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan Province of China. It has resulted in at least 290 confirmed illnesses with 66 human deaths from animal-to-human transmission. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission with many human cases being linked to poultry exposure at live bird markets (LBM).

 

Authorities in China have tracked movement of the infection to live bird markets in Guangxi between 24 and 28 January 2014, where the province’s first human casualty was also reported. Guangxi Province shares a border with Viet Nam while its neighbouring province, Yunnan, shares borders with Myanmar, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam.

via Avian Flu Diary: FAO On H7N9’s Cross Border Threat.

Chikungunya outbreak in Caribbean expanding | Vaccine News Daily

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control announced on Monday that 247 new cases of Chikungunya fever were reported in the Caribbean in the past week alone and the outbreak continues to expand.

The epidemiological data regarding the Chikungunya outbreak shows that it began in Saint Martin and is continuing to spread throughout the Caribbean. Most of the areas already affected have seen an increasing number of cases.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease. The chikungunya virus causes fever-like symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, rash, nausea and joint swelling, according to the World Health Organization.

via Chikungunya outbreak in Caribbean expanding | Vaccine News Daily.

Doctors warn of pandemic potential of the new H10N8 bird flu virus | South China Morning Post

Doctors warn of pandemic potential of the new H10N8 bird flu virus | South China Morning Post.

A novel bird flu virus that has killed one mainlander and left another critically ill has the potential to spread efficiently among humans, doctors warn.

They say the fact that the H10N8 bug jumped to humans for the first time in December is an important warning of a possible pandemic.

H7N9 avian influenza concerns escalate in China | Business, Political, and Cultural News in Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas

Tyson Foods CEO Donnie Smith said, the company is still committed to vertically integrating its operations there and at this time the two plants are running one shift with company controlled birds.

via H7N9 avian influenza concerns escalate in China | Business, Political, and Cultural News in Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas.