Posted on 03/20/2006 11:08:51 PM PST by bd476
Influenza A (H5N1) is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly to them. Outbreaks of H5N1 among poultry are ongoing in a number of countries. While H5N1 does not usually infect people, human cases of H5N1 infection associated with these outbreaks have been reported Most of these cases have occurred from direct or close contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces; however, a few rare cases of human-to-human spread of H5N1 virus have occurred, though transmission has not continued beyond one person.
Nonetheless, because all influenza viruses have the ability to change, scientists are concerned that H5N1 virus one day could be able to infect humans and spread easily from one person to another. Because these viruses do not commonly infect humans, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population and an influenza pandemic (worldwide outbreak of disease) could begin. Experts from around the world are watching the H5N1 situation in Asia and Europe very closely and are preparing for the possibility that the virus may begin to spread more easily from person to person.
Human Cases: Summary of Current Situation |
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Since January, 2004 WHO has reported human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) in the following countries:
For additional information about these reports, visit the |
During August to October 2004, sporadic human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) were reported in Vietnam and Thailand. Beginning in December 2004, a resurgence of poultry outbreaks and human cases were reported in Vietnam.
On February 2, 2005, the first of four human cases of H5N1 infection from Cambodia were reported. And on July 21, 2005, the first human case of H5N1 in Indonesia was reported. Indonesia continued to report human cases from August 2005 into February 2006. Thailand reported new human cases of H5N1 in October, November, and December 2005, and Vietnam reported new human cases in November 2005. China reported the country’s first confirmed human cases in November 2005 and continued to report human cases in December 2005 and into 2006. Turkey reported the country’s first confirmed human cases on January 5, 2006 and has continued to report human cases. The first confirmed human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) in Iraq was reported on February 2, 2006.
Animal Cases: Summary of Current Situation |
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Since December 2003, avian influenza A (H5N1) infections in poultry or wild birds have been reported in the following countries:
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The avian influenza A (H5N1) epizootic (animal outbreak) in Asia and parts of Europe is not expected to diminish significantly in the short term. It is likely that H5N1 infection among birds has become endemic in certain areas and that human infections resulting from direct contact with infected poultry will continue to occur. So far, the spread of H5N1 virus from person-to-person has been rare and has not continued beyond one person. No evidence for genetic reassortment between human and avian influenza A virus genes has been found; however, the epizootic in Asia continues to pose an important public health threat.
There is little pre-existing natural immunity to H5N1 infection in the human population. If these H5N1 viruses gain the ability for efficient and sustained transmission among humans, an influenza pandemic could result, with potentially high rates of illness and death. In addition, genetic sequencing of influenza A (H5N1) viruses from human cases in Vietnam and Thailand shows resistance to the antiviral medications amantadine and rimantadine, two of the medications commonly used for treatment of influenza. This would leave two remaining antiviral medications (oseltamivir and zanamivir) that should still be effective against currently circulating strains of H5N1 virus. Efforts to produce vaccine candidates that would be effective against avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses are under way. However, it will likely require many months before such vaccines could be mass produced and made widely available.
Research suggests that currently circulating strains of H5N1 viruses are becoming more capable of causing disease (pathogenic) in mammals than were earlier H5N1 viruses. One study found that ducks infected with H5N1 virus are now shedding more virus for longer periods without showing symptoms of illness. This finding has implications for the role of ducks in transmitting disease to other birds and possibly to humans as well. Additionally, other findings have documented H5N1 infection among pigs in China and H5N1 infection in felines (experimental infection in housecats in the Netherlands and isolation of H5N1 viruses in tigers and leopards in Thailand ).
Notable findings of epidemiologic investigations of human H5N1 cases in Vietnam during 2005 have suggested transmission of H5N1 viruses to at least two persons through consumption of uncooked duck blood. One possible instance of limited person-to-person transmission of H5N1 virus in Thailand has been reported. This possibility is being further investigated in other clusters of cases in Vietnam and Indonesia.
The majority of known human H5N1 cases have begun with respiratory symptoms. However, one atypical fatal case of encephalitis in a child in southern Vietnam in 2004 was identified retrospectively as H5N1 influenza through testing of cerebrospinal fluid, fecal matter, and throat and serum samples. Further research is needed to ascertain the implications of such findings.
There is currently a ban on the importation of birds and bird products from H5N1-affected countries. The regulation states that no person may import or attempt to import any birds (Class Aves), whether dead or alive, or any products derived from birds (including hatching eggs), from the following countries: Albania, Azerbaijan, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Egypt, France (USDA – defined restricted zone only), India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Niger, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam and Israel (current as of March 20, 2006). For more information, see Embargo of Birds from Specified Countries.
Updated Information for Travelers about Avian Influenza A(H5N1) is available at the CDC Travelers’ Health Web site. Also see Guidelines and Recommendations - Interim Guidance about Avian Influenza A (H5N1) for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad.
CDC is monitoring the situation closely, along with WHO and other international partners. In addition, CDC continues to work collaboratively with WHO and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the development and testing of vaccine seed candidates for influenza A (H5N1).
NOTE: The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains situation updates and cumulative reports of human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1).
Page last modified March 20, 2006
Page found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/current.htm
Executive Order: Amendment to E.O. 13295 Relating to Certain
Influenza Viruses and Quarantinable Communicable Diseases
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 361(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264(b)), it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Based upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Surgeon General, and for the purpose set forth in section 1 of Executive Order 13295 of April 4, 2003, section 1 of such order is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:GEORGE W. BUSH
"(c) Influenza caused by novel or reemergent influenza viruses that are causing, or have the potential to cause, a pandemic.".Sec. 2. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 1, 2005.
Executive Order: Amendment to E.O. 13295 Relating to Certain Influenza Viruses and Quarantinable Communicable Diseases
World Health Organization
20 March 2006
The Ministry of Health in Egypt has confirmed the countrys first case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.
The case occurred in a 30-year-old woman from the Gaiubia governorate near Cairo. She developed symptoms in early March following close contact with diseased chickens, ducks, and a turkey in the household flock. She was hospitalized on 16 March and died the following day.
Monitoring of the womans family members and close contacts has found no signs of influenza-like illness.
Testing was conducted by the US Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-3), which is based in Cairo. Samples are being sent abroad for diagnostic verification and further analysis by a WHO collaborating laboratory. WHO will adjust the figures in its cumulative number of cases following the results of this external verification.
Egypt confirmed its first H5N1 outbreak in poultry on 17 February. The virus has since been reported in 18 of the countrys 26 governorates. In Egypt, poultry are often kept in close proximity to households, also in urban areas.
WHO: 20 March 2006 Avian influenza situation in Egypt
I know for a fact that I had seen a story floating around somewhere claiming that there had been 5 infected birds found in Canada. I wonder if that turned out to be some kind of misdiagnosis?
What about all the mammals that die so far ?
Dogs,cats,foxes,tigers,etc..?
Can cows get H5N1 ?
World Health Organization
Situation updates - Avian influenza with links 20 March 2006
Avian influenza situation in Egypt
Full text14 March 2006
Avian influenza situation in Azerbaijan - update
Full text13 March 2006
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia - update 7
Full text10 March 2006
Avian influenza situation in Azerbaijan
Full text10 March 2006
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia - update 6
Full text9 March 2006
Avian influenza H5N1 infection found in a stone marten in Germany
Full text9 March 2006
Avian influenza - situation in Nigeria - update 2
Full text8 March 2006
Avian influenza situation in China update 7
Full text6 March 2006
Avian influenza situation in China update 6
Full text1 March 2006
Avian influenza situation in Iraq - update 4
Full text28 February 2006
H5N1 avian influenza in domestic cats
Full text28 February 2006
Avian influenza situation (poultry) in Niger
Full text27 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in China update 5
Full text27 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia - update 5
Full text23 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in India update
Full text22 February 2006
Avian influenza - situation in Nigeria - update
Full text21 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in India
Full text21 February 2006
Avian influenza spread of the virus to new countries
Full text20 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia - update 4
Full text17 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in Iraq - update 3
Full text13 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in China update 4
Full text13 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia - update 3
Full text9 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in China update 3
Full text8 February 2006
Avian influenza - situation (birds) in Nigeria
Full text7 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in Iraq - Update 2
Full text6 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia - update 2
Full text2 February 2006
Avian influenza situation in Iraq - Update
Full text30 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Turkey update 7
Full text30 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Iraq
Full text25 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in China update 2
Full text23 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia - update
Full text19 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in China - update
Full text18 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Turkey update 6
Full text16 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Turkey - update 5
Full text14 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia
Full text12 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Turkey - update 4
Sequencing of human virus
Full text10 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Turkey - update 3
Full text10 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in China
Full text9 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Turkey - update 2
Full text7 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Turkey - update
Full text5 January 2006
Avian influenza situation in Turkey
Full text30 December 2005
Avian influenza situation in China update 51
Full text23 December 2005
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia update 50
Full text16 December 2005
Avian influenza situation in China update 49
Full text14 December 2005
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia update 48
Full text9 December 2005
Avian influenza situation in China, Thailand update 47
Full text7 December 2005
Avian influenza situation in China update 46
Full text6 December 2005
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia update 45
Full text29 November 2005
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia, China update 44
Full text25 November 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam update 43
Full text24 November 2005
Avian influenza situation in China update 42
Full text17 November 2005
Avian influenza situation in China, Indonesia update 41
Full text14 November 2005
Avian influenza situation in Thailand update 40
Full text9 November 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam update 39
Full text7 November 2005
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia update 38
Full text1 November 2005
Avian influenza situation in Thailand update 37
Full text24 October 2005
Avian influenza situation in Thailand, Indonesia update 36
Full text20 October 2005
Avian influenza situation in Thailand update 35
Full text13 October 2005
Avian influenza new areas with infection in birds update 34
Full text10 October 2005
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia update 33
Full text29 September 2005
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia update 32
Full text22 September 2005
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia update 31
Full text19 September 2005
Avian influenza - situation in Viet Nam update 30
Full text16 September 2005
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia update 29
Full text18 August 2005
Geographical spread of H5N1 avian influenza in birds - update 28
Situation assessment and implications for human health
Full text5 August 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam update 27
Full text29 July 2005
Avian influenza- situation in Indonesia update 26
Full text21 July 2005
Avian influenza situation in Indonesia update 25
Full text30 June 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam update 24
Full text28 June 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam update 23
Full text17 June 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam update 22
Full text16 June 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam update 21
Full text14 June 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam update 20
Full text8 June 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam update 19
Full text19 May 2005
Avian influenza cumulative number of cases update 18
Full text4 May 2005
Avian influenza situation in Cambodia - update 17
Full text14 April 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam - update 16
Full text12 April 2005
Avian influenza situation in Cambodia - update 15
Full text4 April 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam - update 14
Full text30 March 2005
Avian influenza outbreak in poultry in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea update 13
Full text29 March 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam and Cambodia update 12
Full text11 March 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam - update 11
Full text7 March 2005
Avian influenza situation in Viet Nam - update 10
Full text
ping
Boston Herald
Scared sick? Not to worry
By Jessica Fargen
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Bird flu, mad cow disease, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), bacterial meningitis, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, avian flu pandemic.
So many diseases of the month, so many ways to die.
But given the media frenzy flogging these exotic afflictions - and in the wake of a top Bush officials advice that we brace for a possible avian-flu pandemic by stocking up on tuna - how scared should we really be?
The answer, experts say, is hardly at all.
Theres a gap between our fears and what the facts seem to be as best science knows them, said David Ropeik, a risk communications instructor at the Harvard School of Public Health.
A new risk is scary because we dont have experience to help give us perspective, so we protect ourselves with worry and precaution.
Take the current strain of avian flu, H5N1. Worldwide its killed 93 people - out of 6.5 billion - with no cases yet in the United States.
Mad cow disease, meanwhile, has killed almost 150 people in Great Britain, but only three cases have been detected in U.S. cows.
Between them, EEE and bacterial meningitis killed five people last year in Massachusetts - five out of roughly 6.4 million Bay Staters.
West Nile virus struck six people in Massachusetts last year, killing one.
As for Lyme disease, health officials say it strikes at the rate of 23.7 per 100,000 people, with no fatalities reported in recent years.
On the other hand, experts estimate that a bird-flu pandemic could wipe out 20,000 people in Massachusetts alone.
But first the bird flu would have to mutate into a form that jumps from human to human. No one knows if or when an outbreak like that could strike.
Oddly enough, despite its higher fatality rate, pandemic flu is the one disease many people dont seem to be worried about.
We are wrapped up in our day-to-day life, said Virginia Tritschler, director of risk quality and regulatory affairs at the Visiting Nurse Association of Boston, which has worked on flu preparedness. Youd probably find people more concerned about Katrina or a terrorist attack. Those are things that happened here. The flu has not.
Heather Kennaway said she tries not to worry about the pandemic flu and wouldnt even consider stockpiling tuna and powdered milk, as Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt suggested last week.
Its not something I think about, said Kennaway, a 28-year-old South Boston resident. I just think people get obsessed. I couldnt live like that.
An exotic bug like SARS - thats a different story.
The respiratory disease killed 774 people around the globe in 2003, but failed to reach North America. But that didnt stop people from being afraid.
SARS spread as an idea far faster than it spread as an organism, Harvards Ropeik recalled. You have the first human-to-human case and it can be in New Guinea and people will be lining up at the hospital in Dorchester.
Victoria Scavo contributed to this report.
Scared sick? Not to worry
gnarledmaw wrote: "I know for a fact that I had seen a story floating around somewhere claiming that there had been 5 infected birds found in Canada. I wonder if that turned out to be some kind of misdiagnosis?"
The story sounds familiar but I couldn't find anything official. Here's the latest from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Current Avian influenza (H5N1) affected areas
Orlando wrote: "What about all the mammals that die so far ? Dogs,cats,foxes,tigers,etc..? Can cows get H5N1 ?"
The only reports I am aware of where transmission from bird to mammal occurred were when mammals (feral cats and tigers) caught and ate infected birds.
Thus far there have been no reports of the virus surviving heat used in cooking poultry.
Public Health Agency of Canada
The Respiratory Virus Detection Surveillance System reports on respiratory viruses in Canada. Each week, selected laboratories report numbers of tests performed and numbers positive for Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Parainfluenza, and Adenovirus to the Immunization and Respiratory Infections Division (IRID), Public Health Agency of Canada. From these reports are generated the following tables and graphs:
PDF File: Week 10 - Ending March 11, 2006 New 6 Pages - 203 KB
Public Health Agency of Canada: Respiratory Virus Detections/Isolations in Canada
Last Updated: 2006-03-15
Pandemic Flu.gov How Migratory Birds Blanket North America
Get Informed. Be Prepared.
One stop access to U.S. Government avian and pandemic flu information. Managed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Flyway map demonstrates how migratory birds blanket North America. [Credit: USFWS]
PandemicFlu.gov
familyop wrote:
" 'There is currently a ban on the importation of birds and bird products from H5N1-affected countries.'
But domestic birds can get the virus from wild birds. It seems that domestic birds would be protected by roofs and spaced, double fences as buffers (under the perimeters of roofed areas) to keep them away from wild birds and droppings. "
That's right. There are also plans to quarantine or slaughter any domestic poultry in the event the virus is transmitted to them.
The following areas: North Carolina, District of Columbia, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have new web sites, and press releases. They are making plans now.
There is a list of the current plans set up at PandemicFlu.gov.
[Note: Numbers are confirmed by World Health Organization and may not reflect news or country reports.]
Confirmed Human Cases by Country
PandemicFlu.gov
Ping.
bookmark
Here's a map I just posted from PandemicFlu.gov which shows
How Migratory Birds Blanket North America.
ping
Surveillance did pick up bird flu, but it wasn't the dreaded H5N1. There have always been various bird flu viruses going around. In fact, several years ago there was an outbreak in the South or mid-West of the US, killing thousands of chickens. There was no impact on humans.
Moral to this story; If you choke your chicken, wear gloves and a mask.
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