Category Archives: pandemic

Major study! Avian Influenza and Ban on Overnight Poultry Storage in Live Poultry Markets, Hong Kong

Totally validates my research into influenza and its connections to live markets and especially in live markets leading up the Lunar New Year celebrations and Spring holidays. Read this and you will see why Hong Kong is no longer a primary breeding ground or virtual laboratory for new flus!

Previous influenza pandemics originated from influenza viruses of birds (1). Live poultry markets play a crucial role in maintenance, amplification, and dissemination of avian influenza viruses (2,3) and are high-risk locations for potential zoonotic transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus (H5N1) to humans (4,5). From September 1999 through May 2011, fecal dropping samples were collected monthly under the poultry cages in live poultry markets in Hong Kong as part of a systematic longitudinal avian influenza surveillance program. During the 12-year period of surveillance, several interventions were implemented by the Hong Kong government in response to outbreaks of influenza virus (H5N1) in live poultry markets and on poultry farms. In July 2001, a monthly rest day was first implemented; under this system, all poultry in live poultry markets must be sold or slaughtered at the end of the day, poultry stalls must be cleaned and disinfected, and the stalls must be left free of live poultry for 1 day before restocking any live poultry the next day. In February 2002, a ban on sales of live quail was implemented in because an influenza virus (H9N2) lineage commonly isolated from quail possessed the internal genes of the virus that caused the avian influenza (H5N1) outbreak in Hong Kong in 1997 (6). In response to further incursions of avian influenza (H5N1) into poultry markets and farms in Hong Kong, a second monthly rest day in live poultry markets was introduced in March 2003, and a complete ban on holding live poultry overnight in live poultry markets was implemented in July 2008.

via Avian Influenza and Ban on Overnight Poultry Storage in Live Poultry Markets, Hong Kong.

How serious is this H7N9 flu? Read this! Avian Flu Diary: HK CHP: Notification Letter To Doctors On H7N9 Case

Dear Doctors,

A Confirmed case of Human Infection with Avian Influenza A(H7N9) virus and Activation of Serious Response Level of Government’s Preparedness Plan I would like to draw your attention to a confirmed case  of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in Hong Kong. The patient  is a 36-year-old Indonesian maid. She lives with her employer\’s family (six family members)  in Tuen Mun in Hong Kong.

 

She had onset of cough on 21 November 2013 and developed fever on 22 November. She sought medical attention from two general practitioners on 25 and 26 November.  She developed shortness of breath on 27  November and attended Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun hospital (TMH) and chest X-ray on admission showed right lower lobe consolidation.  She was admitted to TMH and was transferred to intensive care unit for treatment on 29 November.  Her condition deteriorated and she was transferred to Queen Mary Hospital for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on 30 November by ambulance.

 

Her nasopharyngeal swabs and aspirates were tested positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for influenza A and H7 and N9 on 2 December, confirming the diagnosis of influenza A (H7N9) by Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).  Her current condition is critical.

via Avian Flu Diary: HK CHP: Notification Letter To Doctors On H7N9 Case.

Poultry market to shut over bird flu fears | Shanghai Daily

This will do more to cut flu cycle than any other step! After five years, it will revolutionize their poultry market and the fight against annual and novel flus!

Shanghai will suspend live poultry trading from January 31, the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, until April 30 to prevent a recurrence of the bird flu.

The suspension will be an annual feature for the next five years, dependent on the evaluation and warning of the bird flu and the seasonal onset, according to a joint statement issued by the Shanghai Agricultural Commission and the Shanghai Commerce Commission.

All the designated wholesale and retail markets will be banned from trading in poultry and violators face hefty fines between 10,000 yuan (US$1,641) and 30,000 yuan under a new rule that took effect in June.

via Poultry market to shut over bird flu fears | Shanghai Daily.

Taliban’s actions threaten Turkey, Europe with polio outbreak (SETimes.com)

Officials in Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria are already taking steps to prevent the spread of the disease. The UN Health Agency and Turkey started a massive vaccination campaign to immunise all refugee children younger than 5.

Genetic sequencing by experts has shown that the strain of virus found in Deir al-Zor Province, Syria, originated from Pakistan. Experts blame the jihadist militants who travel from Pakistan to Syria to take part in the Syrian civil war for the spread.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been doing everything it can — from attacking and sometimes killing vaccination team members, or threatening parents and their children — to stop Pakistanis in the tribal region from getting the oral polio vaccine (OPV).

via Taliban’s actions threaten Turkey, Europe with polio outbreak (SETimes.com).

Syria polio outbreak reaches 13 cases among children | Vaccine News Daily

Both the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization assessed there is a considerable risk that polio could spread to other countries in the region. There is also a risk of infection in European countries that received Syrian refugees.

via Syria polio outbreak reaches 13 cases among children | Vaccine News Daily.

When We Lose Antibiotics, Here’s Everything Else We’ll Lose Too – Wired Science

The ability to treat cancer, and to transplant organs, because doing those successfully relies on suppressing the immune system and willingly making ourselves vulnerable to infection. Any treatment that relies on a permanent port into the bloodstream — for instance, kidney dialysis. Any major open-cavity surgery, on the heart, the lungs, the abdomen. Any surgery on a part of the body that already harbors a population of bacteria: the guts, the bladder, the genitals. Implantable devices: new hips, new knees, new heart valves. Cosmetic plastic surgery. Liposuction. Tattoos.

We’d lose the ability to treat people after traumatic accidents, as major as crashing your car and as minor as your kid falling out of a tree. We’d lose the safety of modern childbirth: Before the antibiotic era, 5 women died out of every 1,000 who gave birth. One out of every nine skin infections killed. Three out of every 10 people who got pneumonia died from it.

via When We Lose Antibiotics, Here’s Everything Else We’ll Lose Too – Wired Science.

Garden-Fresh Foods Shuts Down over Recalls

The Garden-Fresh Foods plant in Milwaukee has halted production and reassigned about 100 employees because of product recalls, the company said Saturday.

Garden-Fresh has recalled tons of products in eight separate recalls since the end of August. The first was announced Aug. 30, after routine sampling of retail products by Michigan food safety officials detected Listeria bacteria.

The recalls include various fresh-cut vegetables and ready-to-eat slaws, dips and spreads, as well as 50 tons of ready-to-eat chicken and ham products that were the subject of a late-October recall. Among the brand names they have been sold under are Garden-Fresh, Grandpa\’s, Weis, Finest Traditions, Archer Farms, Market Pantry, D\’Amico & Sons.

via Garden-Fresh Foods Shuts Down over Recalls.

SPIN and ? Causing problems to improve food safety? FDA Extends Comment Period for Food Safety Rules

Fears of small farmers and natural food enthusiasts are being stoked, I expect, by big food interests to make food safety improvements no so much.  Too bad;  lots of folks will be sick and too many die because of supposed threat to small farmers ability to make a living.

The Food and Drug Administration has extended the comment for food safety rules for farmers by an additional week after people said they had technical problems submitting their views online.

New Hampshire Rep. Annie Kuster led a New England delegation in asking for the extension. The original deadline was Friday; the new deadline is Friday, Nov. 22.

Earlier this year, farmers attended FDA sessions on the rules, which would require them to take new precautions against contamination, including ensuring workers\’ hands are washed, irrigation water is clean and that animals stay out of fields. New England farmers say many aspects of the rules were derived from large-scale farming practices that don\’t apply to the region\’s smaller farms.

via FDA Extends Comment Period for Food Safety Rules.

TheLancet.com – antibiotic resistance – our bad

Within just a few years, we might be faced with dire setbacks, medically, socially, and economically, unless real and unprecedented global coordinated actions are immediately taken. This Commission describes the global situation of antibiotic resistance, its major causes and consequences, and identify key areas in which action is urgently needed.

via TheLancet.com.

Part of solution and problem still – Danish Pig Farmers Reduce Antibiotics to Prevent Drug Resistance – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Farming/breeding so many pigs under one roof is still the problem – since it creates perfect environment for spread of diseases. Lowering amount of drugs is good but this way of raising animals still damages us all, in the long run.

Denmark first slammed on the brakes and began strictly regulating the use of antibiotics 20 years ago. If farmers\’ usage increases despite these regulations, they face sanctions. In Germany, on the other hand, until recently there was no data on the amount of antibiotics used in agriculture. And analysis broken down by species or by individual farm, as is available in Denmark, doesn\’t exist in Germany.

via Danish Pig Farmers Reduce Antibiotics to Prevent Drug Resistance – SPIEGEL ONLINE.