Ebola: Uganda sends medical team to Congo

Publish Date: Aug 20, 2012

 

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By Anne Mugisa And Ismael Kasooha
The Ministry of Health will send health experts to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help them combat an outbreak of the deadly Ebola haemorrhagic fever there.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr. Asuman Lukwago, said this was intended to prevent the disease from spilling over into Uganda, which is emerging from another Ebola epidemic.
By yesterday, reports indicated that one person had died of Ebola and three others were infected in northeastern Congo.
The outbreak is in Isiro, a busy town in the DRC’s Oriental province which shares a border with Uganda.
“We are just coming out of battling Ebola. We have to take all measures, including the possibility of sending a team there to help them stop it and ensuring that it does not spill over here,” Lukwago said yesterday.
“We usually co-operate with our neighbours as well as the international organisations when such outbreaks happen,” he added.
Experts say that the Ebola virus strain in the DRC outbreak is different from the one that Uganda has been battling over the past four weeks. They say there is no connection between the two strains of the disease whose mortality rates can go as high as 90%.
According to the experts, Congo’s health system is permanently stretched which could make preventing the disease from spreading from the town, a provincial transit point, a challenge.
Meanwhile, over 287 people who have been under surveillance after having been in contact with the victims of deadly disease have completed 21 without developing signs of the disease. The 21 days is the window period during which the symptoms of the disease appear after infection.  http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/634322-ebola-uganda-sends-medical-team-to-congo.html

DRC-86 contacts under surveiliance for ebola

Monday, August 20, 2012

  DRC: a strain of Ebola kills nine people After Uganda in early July, is now the DRC which is affected by an outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever.

Eleven cases "probable or confirmed" were identified in the town of Isiro in the northeast of the country. Of these, nine deaths have been reported.  Several teams of the Ministry of Public Health, WHO and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are working on site. The virus strain identified is less deadly than other known strains, but remains very dangerous.

Anja De Weggheleire

 Medical coordinator for MSF Belgium in DRC

  86 cases of contact (virus) have been identified and that we should follow. On ne les a pas encore tous vus. It has not yet seen them all. And suspected cases, there is still work that is underway by the field teams to make a definitive list.
 http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rfi.fr%2Fafrique%2F20120820-rdc-neuf-morts-virus-ebola-msf-belgique-ouganda-oms-epid%25C3%25A9mie-%3Fns_campaign%3Dgoogle_choix_redactions%26ns_mchannel%3Deditors_picks%26ns_source%3Dgoogle_actualite%26ns_linkname%3Dafrique.20120820-rdc-neuf-morts-virus-ebola-msf-belgique-ouganda-oms-epid%25C3%25A9mie-%26ns_fee%3D0

DRC Ebola blamed on an antelope

 Monday, August 20, 2012

 "The DRC is now affected by an outbreak of Ebola virus, the first strain identified is bundi budio" is the statement by the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Felix Kabange Numbi to the press on Friday August 17, 2012 in the meeting room of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).

  This epidemic has been reported in the Eastern Province precisely in Dungu, Viadana and Isiro. . In these three jurisdictions has already recorded 12 confirmed cases including 7 deaths: In Dungu, there was 1 death; Isiro, 3 deaths and Viadana, 3 deaths. The current outbreak of Ebola in the Eastern Province is part of a hunter who dépiécé an antelope found dead in the forest. ..

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lobservateur.cd%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D7964%3Aministre-de-la-sante-publique-la-fievre-hemorragique-debola-signalee-dans-la-province-orientale%26catid%3D47%3Anation%26Itemid%3D49

First case of influenza A (H3N2) variant detected in Michigan

Sunday, August 19, 2012 10:32 am

The Michigan Department of Community Health this week announced that the first case of variant H3N2 influenza infection in Michigan has been reported in a Washtenaw County child.
State laboratory results indicate the child has tested positive for influenza A (H3N2) variant, or H3N2v. The child, who had recent exposure to swine at the Ingham County Fair, experienced mild illness and was not hospitalized. The state laboratory results will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmatory testing. MDCH is working with local health departments to identify any other potential cases.

“While this strain of flu is new to Michigan, it’s important that people remember the common-sense, simple steps that can be taken to protect their health as we would with any flu season,” said Dr. Dean Sienko, interim chief medical executive of the MDCH.
“This is not a food safety issue as influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You cannot get influenza from eating pork or pork products,” said Dr. Nancy Frank, assistant state veternarian for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Michigan joins the national investigation of recent H3N2v ..

http://www.ourmidland.com/news/article_24c639ae-e9a6-11e1-a757-0019bb2963f4.html

Kenya Issues Ebola Virus Alert

August 19, 2012.
Information gathered from Kenya News Agency states that in order to prevent the Ebola virus from spreading into Kenya, a 24 hour screening of travelers from Uganda is now in effect.
According to Kenya News Agency, a 24 hour screening of travellers from Uganda at the frontier office at Malaba border post has been ordered as a measure to check Ebola spreading into Kenya.
Speaking on behalf of Teso North District Disease Surveillance and Response Committee, the Medical Officer of Health Dr. Melisa Lutomia informed the press that the number of medical staff attached to the frontier office has been increased to enable them operate in shifts during the day and night.  http://www.informafrica.com/health-africa/breaking-news-africa-kenya-issues-ebola-virus-alert/

* Quang Binh People's Committee has decided to publish all H5N1 bird flu in two districts of Le Thuy and Quang Ninh.

* Quang Binh People's Committee has decided to publish all H5N1 bird flu in two districts of Le Thuy and Quang Ninh. http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=vi&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thanhnien.com.vn%2Fpages%2F20120819%2Ftin-van-ngay-19-8-2012.aspx

14 cases of Ebola in DRC

DR Congo: Ebola outbreak confirmed in the Eastern Province
Sunday, August 19, 2012

 (Xinhua) - At least 14 cases of Ebola virus, including seven deaths, were recorded in the Eastern Province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), confirmed Saturday Felix Kabange Numbi, the Congolese Minister of Public Health .

 "In a few days we will find preventive measures and the spread of this epidemic will be stopped," he reassured. [link to www.afriscoop.net]

EBOLA FEVER - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (03): (ORIENTALE) BUNDIBUGYO VIRUS CONFIRMED

[Laboratory investigations conducted at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda, have established the causative agent to be the ebolavirus species Bundibugyo virus (BDBV). Consequently the outbreaks presently occurring in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are likely to be independent events. The Ugandan outbreak is caused by the ebolavirus species Sudan virus and the DRC outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus (originally identified in an earlier outbreak occurring in Uganda). Further information is awaited.



A map of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo is available at

http://www.mapsofworld.com/democratic-republic-of-congo/democratic-republic-of-congo-political-map.html. The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the Democratic Republic of the Congo can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/008z.

Resurgence of Ebola in DRC

Resurgence of Ebola in DRC
August 18, 2012

Twelve cases including seven deaths victims of the epidemic of Ebola haemorrhagic fever have been recorded in the Eastern Province. This was said Minister of Public Health, Felix Kabange Numbi Friday evening before the press. "The Ebola virus is present in Gungu, Isiro, and to Vianaga Boundi Boudjo, we are here in the Eastern Province," said Felix Kabange...

.... "The Angolan government has ordered the suspension of migratory movements in its north-eastern border," to prevent individuals and diamond smugglers are carrying the virus, citing wrote Angop Health Minister Jose Van-Dúnem. It has also strengthened information campaign on how to prevent the spread of the virus and the epidemiological surveillance of the area...

....Beyond the technical equipment in the laboratories of the WHO, UNICEF, Cdi Atlanta, the Congolese government has allocated about 136 million Franc Congolais pour a strong awareness campaign to reach the mass extension of the epidemic throughout the Congolese territory, "informed the Minister of Public Health.
http://www.sangordc.org/?p=1088

Twelve cases including seven deaths

Twelve cases including seven deaths. Such is the toll from the epidemic of Ebola haemorrhagic fever have been recorded in the Eastern Province. This was said Minister of Public Health, Felix Kabange Numbi Friday evening before the press. "The Ebola virus is present in Gungu, Isiro, to Vianaga Budjo and Bundi, we are here in the Eastern Province" said Felix Kabange. He invited all Congolese and other foreigners living in the Democratic Republic of Congo strict measures of individual and collective hygiene...  http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsangordc.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F08%2Freapparition-de-la-fievre-hemorragique.html

Swine flu cases found in Maryland

Strain traveling the country comes to Maryland

August 17, 2012
Six Queen Anne's County residents have been diagnosed with a strain of swine flu that has been infecting people across the country, including many who have been attending state and local agricultural fairs, according to state health officials.

There have been 224 cases identified nationally by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state agricultural officials confirmed that the five children and one adult in Maryland from different families all came in contact with pigs at the Queen Anne's County fair as well as other locations...Officials say only rarely has the virus been transmitted from person to person.
The findings are preliminary and the H3N2v strain will be confirmed by additional testing, said officials at the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Those infected have not become seriously ill or hospitalized, but they do have common influenza symptoms...
[link to www.baltimoresun.com]

Isiro: the crisis committee epidemics moves against Ebola

  Last Update August 18, 2012 at 7:14

Isiro met this Saturday, August 18, the Crisis Committee epidemics Isiro District in Eastern Province has taken measures to restrict the spread of Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The population should not shake hands or be in contact with someone with this disease. So far, Ebola has killed six people. These latest figures revealed by the Chief Medical Officer of Health District interim, Dr. Jacques Gumbaluka, revise down those Friday who reported seven deaths.
Declared epidemic in DRC Friday, August 17, the Ebola haemorrhagic fever has killed six of the ten suspects registered. For now, few patients are in isolation and other supervision, as stated by the Chief Medical Officer of Health District ad interim:
"Currently, we have two patients in isolation, etquarante-four "44"contacts under surveillance. Of these suspects, there are eleven health professionals and thirty-three family members of suspected cases. " While these patients are followed, the crisis committee epidemics Isiro District in Eastern Province has taken measures at the community level:
■ do not shake hands;
■ Do not touch any animal found dead in the forest;
■ Do not handle the meat;
■ Do not touch unprotected vomit, blood, stool from a patient with Ebola or has been unsuccessful;
■ Do not sleep with the patient from the Ebola;
■ not be left unprotected by a patient with Ebola;
■ Do not touch or handle the clothing and other contaminated objects;
■ Do not touch and / or washing the corpses;
■ be injected under conditions of protection set by the standards in such circumstances.
On Friday, the Minister of Public Health, Felix Kabange Numbi, has invited the public to observe measures of individual and collective hygiene. He recalled that to date there is no drug or vaccine to fight against this epidemic. Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Uganda has resurfaced at the beginning of July. One that has been identified in the health area is the type of Isiro "Mbudibugio".
http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2012/08/18/isiro-le-comite-de-crise-des-epidemies-prend-des-mesures-contre-la-fievre-debola/

47 people contacts are under surveillance IN DRC

HATTIP RONAN KELLY
Democratic Republic of the Congo (the)
The DRC confirmed cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Isiro, Capital of Upper Uele (Eastern Province).

Note for Media No. 47
The Minister of Public Health of the DRC, Dr. Felix Kabange Numbi confirmed Friday, August 17, 2012 the occurrence of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Isiro, County town health district of Upper Uele, about 570 kilometers northeast of Kisangani, capital of Orientale Province.
To date, "a total of 11 probable or confirmed cases (10 to 1 in Dungu and Isiro) with 9 deaths (8 to 1 in Dungu and Isiro) have been reported," said the Minister of Health during a press conference in Kinshasa, adding that laboratory results provided by the Institute of Uganda Virus Research Entebbe (UVRI) have confi rmed two positive cases Ebola Bundibugyo strain Isiro, city of more than 200 thousand inhabitants.
Currently, 47 people contacts are under surveillance in the area of ​​health Isiro which 44 are from the village of Zambasende and 3 of the Health Zone Dungu.
Meanwhile, emergency crews mixed the Ministry of Public Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), Center for Disease Control (CDC-Atlanta) and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) are working closely on site for the response to this outbreak.
"I ask all people of the DRC to take action to address this epidemic, observing the strict measures of collective and individual hygiene and avoid eating meat from animals found dead in the forest, or even touch the corpse of a dead person of viral haemorrhagic fever, "said Dr. Kabange Numbi.
"This hemorrhagic fever, a highly contagious and kills between 25 and 90% of patients," noted for its part, the WHO Representative in the DRC, Dr. Léodégal Bazira. He launched a "call to action for all partners to stop the epidemic as soon as possible".
For additional information, please contact:
Dr. Léodégal Bazira, WHO Representative in the DRC
Email: baziral@cd.afro.who.int
Mr. Eugene Kabambi, Communication, Media & Advocacy, DPR / WHO DRC
Email: kabambie@cd.afro.who. int  http://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/la-rdc-confirme-des-cas-de-la-fi%C3%A8vre-h%C3%A9morragique-%C3%A0-virus-ebola-%C3%A0

Ebola: 11 probable or confirmed cases with 9 deaths in DRC

 Eleven probable or confirmed cases of viral haemorrhagic fever Ebola, with 9 deaths have been reported in the city of Isiro, in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), said Saturday the Minister of Health of this country, Dr. Felix Kabange Numbi.
The minister said in a statement quoted the World Health Organization (WHO), laboratory tests, conducted by the Institute of Uganda Virus Research Entebbe (UVRI), confirmed the presence of strain Bundibugyo of this disease in this city of 200,000 inhabitants.

Isiro, capital of Upper Uele in Orientale Province, is located a few hundred kilometers from the Ugandan region affected by this disease in recent weeks.

Sixteen people died in Uganda since the beginning of the last outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in early July in western countries. The home was located in western Uganda, some 200 kilometers from Kampala and about 50 kilometers from the border with DRC.

A Ugandan official had said earlier this week told AFP that the outbreak was under control.

In the DRC, emergency crews mixed the Ministry of Public Health, WHO, the Center for Disease Control (CDC-Atlanta) and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) are working closely together on site, said the WHO.

According to the WHO press release, the Minister asked the entire population of the DRC to take action to address this epidemic, observing strict measures of collective and individual hygiene, and avoiding eating meat from fallen in the forest, or to touch the corpse of a dead person of viral haemorrhagic fever.
http://www.mediacongo.net/show.asp?doc=23303

INFLUENZA (70): A(H3N2)V UPDATE

In this update:

[1] USA: WHO update

[2] USA (Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio)


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[1] USA: WHO update

Date: Fri 10 Aug 2012
Source: WHO Influenza at human-animal interface, monthly risk assessment summary [summ., edited]
http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/HAI_Risk_Assessment/en/index.html


Human infection with other non-human influenza viruses
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The United States of America (USA) has recently reported an increase in the number of human cases of A(H3N2)v2 infection. As of 10 Aug 2012, the total number of confirmed human cases of influenza A(H3N2)v for 2012 increased to 154, mainly as a result of follow up investigations of the initial cases in Ohio and Indiana. One case was also reported from Hawaii and one in Illinois.

Most cases were children who had direct or indirect exposure to pigs in agricultural fairs, no further human to human transmission has been documented for the 2012 cases. Clinically, these cases are similar to seasonal influenza cases, and all patients have recovered from their illness. Investigations around cases and contacts is ongoing.

Limited serological studies indicate that adults may have some pre-existing immunity to this virus but children do not. Seasonal vaccines do not provide cross-protection to influenza A(H3N2)v in adults or children. 3 candidate vaccine viruses specific for A(H3N2)v have been developed in the USA and could be used to produce an (H3N2)v vaccine if needed.

Overall public health risk assessment for influenza A(H3N2)v viruses: further human cases and small clusters may be expected as this virus is circulating in the swine population in the USA. Sporadic human cases and small clusters of human infection with the virus are expected and do not change WHO's current assessment of pandemic risk at this point.

However, because influenza viruses evolve constantly and change characteristics and behavior unpredictably, WHO continues to stress the importance of global monitoring of variant influenza viruses and recommends to all member states to strengthen routine surveillance activities. Countries experiencing outbreaks of influenza virus infection in animals should implement appropriate biosafety measures to protect people working with or living nearby infected and potentially infected animals. Collaboration with animal health partners is necessary to optimally control this disease and decrease risks to public health.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail


******
[2] USA (Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio)
Date: Thu 16 Aug 2012
Source: CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy) News [edited]
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/news/aug1612variant.html


3 states report new cases of variant H3N2
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This summer [2012] 2 more states -- Michigan and West Virginia -- reported their 1st cases of variant swine-origin H3N2 influenza (H3N2v) that has been linked to exposure to pigs at fairs. Also, Ohio health officials are reporting 72 cases, an increase of 18 from the total the state released on 14 Aug 2012. The new cases from Ohio, plus the cases in Michigan and West Virginia, appear to push the national number of new H3N2v cases this summer to 198. The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) said yesterday [15 Aug 2012] that its 1st patient is a child from Washtenaw County who was recently exposed to pigs at the Ingham County Fair. Dean Sienko, the MDCH's interim chief medical executive, said in the statement that although the virus is new to Michigan, simple steps, such as washing hands frequently with soap and water after exposure to animals, can be taken to avoid getting sick. Meanwhile, the Michigan's assistant state veterinarian, Nancy Frank, emphasized that the new virus doesn't pose a food safety risk, because influenza isn't transmitted by food, and people can't get sick with influenza from eating pork and pork products.

Meanwhile, West Virginia yesterday [15 Aug 2012] reported its 1st 3 H3N2v cases of the summer, which occurred in Mason County, according to a statement from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR). Marian Swinker, West Virginia's state health officer and commissioner for public health, said in the statement that the 3 cases were linked to attendance at the Gallia County Fair in Ohio, where swine were present. "We will not be surprised to identify more cases of H3N2v in West Virginia as surveillance efforts to detect this illness have increased," she said. The WVDHHR said it would post updates on new H3N2v cases in West Virginia each Thursday on its website. In December 2011, West Virginia reported 2 H3N2v infections, both in children who were daycare contacts and had no history of exposure to pigs, according to previous reports.

In other developments, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) said today that the number of H3N2v cases in the state has risen to 72, up from 54 cases on 14 Aug 2012. Infections have been reported from 20 counties, though more than half of them are from 3 counties: Butler, Champaign, and Gallia.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[The number of cases of influenza A(H3N2)v virus infection continues to increase probably mainly as a consequence of enhanced surveillance and the availability of appropriate diagnostic reagents. All patients have recovered and no onward transmission of the virus from human to human has been documented. Clinically, these cases are similar to seasonal influenza cases. Limited serological studies indicate that adults may have some pre-existing immunity to this virus whereas children do not. The current seasonal vaccines may not provide cross-protection to influenza A(H3N2)v virus infection in adults or children. Fortunately candidate vaccines are available now for use should the H3N2v influenza virus acquire the ability to spread from human to human. - Mod.CP

Vietnam-Thanh Hoa: #H5N1 bird flu has appeared in many local

 (AP) - Currently in the province of Thanh Hoa has appeared avian influenza in some communes of Hau Loc district with total poultry to slaughter up to 13,000 children. However, this local has yet to announce bird flu.



Local government and industry functions are destroyed poultry flocks infected with H5N1 flu.


 H5N1 flu situation has appeared in Thanh Hoa province over a week now in the area such as Social Contact Loc, Hoa Loc, Thinh Loc Hau Loc district. Earlier, in Yen Dinh district and Sam Son town has also appeared H5N1 avian influenza infection.
At Loc Thinh commune, from 3/8 appeared avian influenza. 2600 Poultry and ducks his family Tong Van Luyen and more than 600 birds, including chickens, ducks and thousands of his family, Van Duy Vu, Hoa Binh village, there are abnormalities, initially only few die simultaneously then the whole flock.

After authorities sampled and tested positive for the H5N1 virus, local authorities were quick to destroy the bird.


In three days, since the outbreak began, Loc Thinh commune with all 12 households with poultry infected with H5N1 flu, with the total number of birds to be destroyed is 11,584 children.


At Lien Loc, bird flu outbreak began on 10/8. These abnormalities occur in poultry household Nguyen Van Nam, village 2 with 725 birds (of which 150 chickens, 25 ducks and 550 ducks). Then, also in village 2, households Nguyen Van Tien has discovered nearly 500 birds infected with H5N1 flu, soon after to bring destruction.

Thus, to the present time, in Lien Loc has destroyed 725 birds and basically prevent the outbreak from spreading. Hoa Loc commune also has 280 birds to be destroyed because of infection.

Disinfection, sterilization in the area destroying infected poultry.

.....According to the understanding of journalists, before 3/8, has discovered two outbreaks in two districts that Sam Son and Yen Dinh, in Sam Son has discovered more than 300 animals culled poultry. In Yen Dinh discovered and destroyed more than 295 human diseases. Shortly after the outbreak detection vets along with two local leaders and Sam Son Dinh Yen reported to Department for comments directed to immediately destroy infected poultry. The two localities have more than 21 days does not appear to add new outbreak.


On the morning of 17/8, talk to people location, Le Van Hien, Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thanh Hoa, said: "After the service, PPC and the Department of the Veterinary Department had written to direct the local prevention and suppression services. From 13/8 so far, in these localities without incurring new outbreak. These are small outbreak, is under control should the province not to declare the epidemic. To this point, khhong discovering new outbreaks in the previous local epidemic. As for the new Hau Loc district outbreak because we had put out the service to direct and immediately destroyed, but due to rainy weather should affect prevention. For the two units is Sam Son and Yen Dinh far not incurring any more outbreaks. "  http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=vi&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdantri.com.vn%2Fc7%2Fs7-631377%2Fthanh-hoa-dich-cum-gia-cam-h5n1-xuat-hien-tai-nhieu-dia-phuong.htm&anno=2

VIETNAM: Farmers brace for bird flu

 

Photo: Martha Ann Overland/IRIN

Farmers on edge with bird flu outbreaks

HANOI, 16 August 2012 (IRIN) - Farmers in north and central Vietnam are bracing for a new wave of bird flu outbreaks as local authorities are urged to take precautions against the disease.

In the past two weeks, local news reported around 67,000 poultry infected with the H5N1 virus in the northern city of Hai Phong, and 17,000 in Ha Tinh Province in the centre of the country. This follows six outbreaks in late July in the north that led to almost 30,000 birds being culled, according to figures reported to the Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
Farmers are afraid of financial loss. “I am very worried about bird flu outbreaks because my chickens and ducks weigh two kilograms each now. It is nearly time to sell them, so if bird flu appears, I will lose them,” Vu Van Chuc, 42, told IRIN. She has 100 ducks and chickens on her farm in Hai Duong Province in the north.

Chuc said she used to have 2,000 chickens but stopped investing in large numbers of birds after suffering a big loss in 2008 because of bird flu.

“How can I make that money in the countryside? It’s not easy now. I want to raise more [chickens] but I am afraid of bird flu. If there is a bird flu outbreak, I will go bankrupt.”

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged local authorities to tighten the inspection of poultry imports to stop infected birds entering the country. Local news reports blamed a lack of awareness among poultry farmers, and poor preparedness in disease prevention and control, but the cause is still unknown, according to OIE.

Chuc said she does her best to protect her poultry by sterilizing her farm and vaccinating the birds, but the government is not doing enough to support farmers. “They don’t do much. They just broadcast information on the radio, advising us to protect our chickens, but they do not give us medicines to protect our chickens. I have to buy the medicines myself.”

The government has handed out over three million doses of vaccine against the virus since it was discovered in Vietnam in 2003, and has destroyed nearly 100,000 poultry. Last year, the virus killed 151,300 birds, but this was 50 percent fewer than in 2010.

The risks are too great for some. Nguyen Thi Hang, a farmer in Soc Son District on the outskirts of the capital, Hanoi, said her family raised chickens for more than six years. “In 2009 we had 500 chickens but we suffered big losses because of bird flu. We tried raising them again, but the more we raised, the more we lost, so in the end we decided to stop raising them.”

Four people are reported to have died from the disease this year - the first cases in 21 months. According to the World Health Organization, there have been 121 confirmed human H5N1 infections and 61 deaths in Vietnam since the virus first appeared in the country in 2003.  http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96111/VIETNAM-Farmers-brace-for-bird-flu

Ebola patients bounce back to good health but suffer stigma

Mr Mugabi and his children leave Kagadi Hospital recently.

 PHOTO BY Francis Mugerwa

By FRANCIS MUGERWA & NIcholas KALUNGI (email the author)

Posted Saturday, August 18 2012 at 01:00

In Summary

According to Kibaale authorities, the worst stigma is being experienced in Kakindo and Muhorro sub-counties.

Kibaale/Kampala.

John Mugabi, 35, was a prosperous farmer and businessman dealing in agricultural produce. The resident of Butumba B LCI, Nyanseke Parish in Muhorro Town Council, had largely had a healthy and happy life with his family.

However, an illness that struck on the afternoon of July 29 changed the course of his life. Mr Mugabi developed high fever. A few hours later he began vomiting and suffered intense stomach pains. “When I was taken to Kagadi Hospital, I was put in an isolation ward,” he said as he rested his cheek on his left hand.

Luckily, he was one of the more than 50 patients who were admitted with clinical signs similar to those of Ebola disease but turned negative.

Instead of receiving warm reception from their communities, the more than 40 patients are being shunned. “Some people still fear to socialise with me. They fear that I may have Ebola” Mugabi says. “Whenever I go to buy goods, people run away from me. My businesses are suffering.”
He was discharged together with his children Costa Mugabi, 9, Businge Mugabi,5, and Geoffrey Kaija,7.

The District Health Officer, Dr Dan Kyamanywa, said his office has registered some cases where former patients are stigmatised and discriminated against. “The reception of these people varies. In some areas they get no problems while in a few other places, communities are in fear and anxious. They shun them,” Dr Kyamanywa said...

more  http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Ebola+patients+bounce+back+to+good+health+but+suffer+stigma/-/688334/1481712/-/jo7guxz/-/index.html

Will the Candidates Tell Us about Their Policies on Pandemics and Biosecurity?

A new strain of H3N2 influenza virus transmitted from pigs to humans has caused U.S. patient cases to spike in the past two weeks. During the same time period, an Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda killed at least 14 people. Both these outbreaks are demanding cooperation among scientists and political leaders.

 Back in 2009, the world faced a pandemic H1N1 flu virus outbreak that prompted an additional U.S. vaccination campaign that year and eventually spurred the President to declare swine flu as a national emergency. Now, with U.S. elections around the corner, voters should know how key candidates plan to address future pandemics and biosecurity threats, and whether elected politicians will fund research on these topics and take scientific findings and recommendations into account when making decisions.
To learn where politicians stand on this issue and 13 others, Scientific American has partnered with ScienceDebate.org and asked the presidential candidates—President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney—to address science and technology policy during the campaign. We are also asking key Congressional leaders eight of the 14 questions. For the past few weeks, I have been contacting media contacts at Congress to coax responses. (I can now hum stanzas of all hold music played on these politicians’ phone lines.) I gave the Congressional leaders an August 24 deadline, and as yet only Rep. Henry Waxman’s staff has responded with a promise to answer.
SA health and medicine editor Christine Gorman posted the full set of 14 questions here and examined the first three in detail on a weekly basis. Thus far, we’ve had some great discussion and I now want to know your thoughts on the fourth question:

Question #4 Pandemics and Biosecurity: Recent experiments show how avian flu may become transmissible among mammals. In an era of constant and rapid international travel, what steps should the U.S. take to protect our population from emerging diseases, global pandemics and/or deliberate biological attacks?

Recent research on avian flu strain H5N1 showed the virus has pandemic potential because it can fairly easily mutate and could become transmissible from person to person—though natural strains have yet to morph into such a threat. The U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity initially said in December 2011 that research papers on the virus’s specific mutations should not be published. Only after intense debate did scientists release the work to the public.
Pandemic responses requires level-headedness, but contagion can be unpredictable, so it is important that voters know how politicians plan to prepare for and respond to such potential crises. For instance, the very definition of a pandemic became political during the 2009 H1N1 outbreak. A pandemic is essentially global outbreak—when a pathogen spreads from person to person and there is little or no immunity in the population.
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, part of our federal government and thus supported by taxpayer dollars, estimated the disease stuck between 43 million and 89 million people in the U.S., which was 14 to 29 percent of the population at the time.
While the CDC’s plan to deal with emerging disease mostly refers to unintentionally spread pathogens, many of the government’s policies focus on bioterrorism. On July 31, the White House released a.... 
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/08/17/will-the-candidates-tell-us-about-their-policies-on-pandemics-and-biosecurity/

Ebola kills one and three other contaminates in the Congo

 The cases occurred in Isiro, bustling market town near the border with Uganda, and involve a different strain of which killed 16 people there last month
The cases occurred in Isiro, bustling market town near the border with Uganda, and involve a different strain of which killed 16 people there last month, according to MSF.

 Ebola is transmitted from birds to monkeys and humans, and causes internal bleeding that kills up to 90 percent of the victims.

 Anja from Weggheleire, MSF medical coordinator in the region, said a victim's blood samples confirmed Ebola in Isiro, and that there are three other suspected cases being treated at a local hospital maintained by the entity.

 "We can not speak of a direct link between the two epidemics, I think unfortunately it's just pure coincidence," said De Weggheleire.

 MSF warned that because of the precariousness of the Congolese health system, it will be difficult to prevent the disease from spreading outside the city.
http://exame.abril.com.br/mundo/noticias/ebola-mata-1-e-contamina-outros-tres-no-congo

Mbale Ebola Suspects Test Negative

The samples from two suspected Ebola victims from Mblae have both tested negative, easing the tension that had gripped health workers at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital where they have been admitted.
Read more: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=44565#ixzz23qSUNJYo

DRC: Ebola kills 7 people in Eastern Province- 12 Cases

DRC: Ebola kills 7 people in Eastern Province
  August 17, 2012
The epidemic of Ebola virus was declared the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Minister of Public Health, Felix Kabange Numbi said that this Friday, August 17 twelve cases including seven deaths were recorded in Eastern Province. It invites the public to observe measures of individual and collective hygiene, indicating that to date there is no drug or vaccine to fight against this epidemic that has resurfaced in Uganda at the beginning of July.

Felix Kabange request all Congolese to avoid touching any animal found dead in the forest or eating meat.

"We must also avoid touching unprotected blood, vomit or urine of a patient who died or who suffers from a viral hemorrhagic fever," he adds.

The Minister assured that "soon these preventive measures will be applied, the faster the spread of disease will be stopped."..
http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2012/08/17/rdc-le-virus-ebola-tue-7-personnes-en-province-orientale/

WHO-Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in DRC

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in DRC

17 August 2012 -On 17 August 2012, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of Congo notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an outbreak of Ebola Haemorrhagic fever in the Isiro and Dungu Health Zones of Province Orientale in Eastern DRC. A total of 10 suspected cases (9 in Isiro and 1 in Dungu) and 6 deaths (5 deaths in Isiro and 1 in Dungu) have been reported.
Laboratory investigations conducted at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), Entebbe, Uganda, confirmed Ebola virus (Bundibugyo species). Three samples taken from two patients turned out positive for Ebola. A National Task Force convened by the Congolese Ministry of Health, is working with several partners including WHO, MSF and CDC. A joint MoH, WHO and MSF emergency response team are in the field to conduct a detailed epidemiological investigation and case management.
WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health in the areas of coordination, surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory, case management, logistics for outbreak, public information and social mobilization. An additional team of experts from Congo, DRC and IST/Gabon comprised of an epidemiologist, a logistician, an anthropologist and social mobilisation officers are being mobilized for possible deployment in the field. Control activities that are being carried include active case finding and contact tracing, enhanced surveillance, case management, public information and social mobilization and reinforcing infection control practices.
WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Democratic Republic of Congo   http://www.who.int/csr/don/2012_08_18/en/index.html

Ebola in Uganda – update 17 August

Ebola in Uganda – update

17 August 2012 -The Ministry of Health of Uganda (MoH) continues to work with partners to control the outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Kibaale district. The national and district task forces also meet daily to coordinate the response to the outbreak.
To date, 24 probable and confirmed cases including 16 deaths have been reported. Eleven cases have been laboratory confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe. The last confirmed case was admitted to the Kagadi isolation facility on 4 August 2012.
Suspected cases which tested negative during the laboratory investigations have been discarded as Ebola patients, treated symptomatically for their ailments and discharged following recovery. A total of forty nine (49) people have been discharged from the isolation facility, including one confirmed case. All contacts of probable and confirmed cases are followed up daily for 21 days and are monitored for any possible signs or symptoms of illness. More than 70% of the 408 listed contacts have completed 21 days of follow up without developing any symptoms. All alerts of suspected cases in the other districts have been investigated and are so far negative for Ebola.
With the support of WHO and other partners, the Ministry of Health has established and equipped an isolation facility at Mulago National referral hospital in Kampala, Uganda in anticipation of receiving suspected cases from other districts, should they occur. Health workers who will manage the facility have already been trained.
Social mobilization teams comprised of Red Cross volunteers and village health teams have reached most of the villages and households in the most affected sub-counties in Kibaale district. These activities are reinforced by the distribution of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, and by the broadcast of health awareness messages on radio and by film vans.
A team led by CDC has begun conducting ecological studies in Kibaale district to try and understand the likely source and route of transmission of this outbreak.

Neighbouring countries

Countries sharing borders with Uganda are taking steps to enhance surveillance for Ebola. At the time of this update, none of them have reported any confirmed cases related to the Uganda outbreak.
WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions are applied to Uganda.

PA Department of Health Reports Cases of New Flu Strain

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Health today reported four confirmed and six probable human cases of influenza due to a new strain of the flu known as H3N2v.
While this strain is typically associated with swine, both the departments of Health and Agriculture emphasize that handling or eating pork products presents no risk of exposure to influenza.
The Pennsylvania cases occurred among youth participants in the Huntingdon County Fair, Aug. 5-11. There are no reported hospitalizations. Although the investigation is ongoing, there is no evidence to date of the new flu strain spreading from person-to-person.
This is the same virus that has recently caused illness in Indiana and Ohio, mostly among..
PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1l52o)

#H5N1 avian influenza in poultry in Nghia Hanh

  Updated at 19:57, Friday, 08/17/2012

Nhan Dan Online-afternoon 17-8, Nghia Hanh district veterinary stations (Quang Ngai) that has destroyed 1,500 poultry were positive for H5N1 virus.

  Nghia Hanh district veterinary stations found infected poultry farms in two of his Lake like Tuan, Nam Pho Hiep village, Hanh and Nguyen Quy Trung, Phu Nam village, Hanh Minh, County Executive.  Veterinary stations directly Nghia Hanh has taken 18 samples at six farms with dead birds sent Veterinary Center region IV (Da Nang) tests.The results showed that 6 out of 18 samples positive for H5N1 flu virus.

  Currently directing the County Administrative authorities urgently localized outbreaks, spray disinfection, sterilization to limit disease spread widely.
 According to the Center for Preventive Medicine in Quang Ngai, from the beginning of the year, the province has not happened avian influenza.  This is the first case appeared in Nghia Hanh H5N1 avian influenza in poultry must be destroyed, the same zoning standards, decontamination limits the spread ...   http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=vi&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nhandan.com.vn%2Fcmlink%2Fnhandandientu%2Fthoisu%2Fdoi-song%2Fi-s-ng-tin-chung%2Fd-ch-cum-h5n1-tren-an-gia-c-m-ngh-a-hanh-1.363145

08/16/2012

“There is Ebola is Uganda. No sign-of-peace in the Church”

Uganda, Ebola strikes again

These are the words of Sister Annette Kyaligonza who coordinates the health operations in the diocese struck by the virus

Davide Demichelisrome

Ebola strikes again in Uganda. The latest haemorrhagic fever outbreak has caused the death of 16 people in the last few months in the Kibaale district, just over two hundred kilometres from the capital city, Kampala. “As soon as the authorities released the news of this new epidemic outbreak, people panicked. In church we had to forbid shaking hands in sign of peace to avoid the risk of contagion” said Sister Annette Kyaligonza who coordinates the health operations in the diocese of Hoima, which includes areas stuck by the virus.

The Ebola virus was first identified in 1976, between South Sudan and the northern part of Zaire, now Democratic Republic of the Congo. The haemorrhagic fever causes death in 70% of reported cases. It seems that the virus is transmittable through direct contact with the blood, liquids or even just the undergarments worn by infected people. It seems that the first carriers of the disease were wild animals: monkeys, antelopes or bats. The origin and spread of Ebola are not yet clear, what is known for sure is that there are no cures or vaccines that can defeat the virus.
There have been 60 people hit by Ebola in the Kibaale district so far. Many are still in isolation in the Kagadi hospital. The first victim was a young girl of 16.?? She died on the 12th of June??, a week after being hospitalized. She had gone deep in the forest to carry out some research??. The Ugandan Health Ministry, the World Health Organization and some non-governmental organizations acted in aid of the population.
“ First of all we tried to raise awareness among the medical staff working in clinics and small health centres in the outskirts, they are the first to come in contact with the sick”. Sister Annette emphasizes that awareness is more important than medicines “Even those who make it through are then ostracized for fear that they can spread the disease. We are raising awareness among people so that these individuals can return to their communities of origin”.
A phone service has been set up as well as a radio programme and various teams of expert personnel who visit the families.

Unfortunately one can never be too careful, admits Sister Annette: “ A nurse in the health centre of Muhorro was infected by a patient. She is now in hospital in Kagadi, it seems that her situation is improving”. Ebola has already struck Uganda twice, in 2000 and 2007, causing approximately 200 deaths. In both instances the emergency lasted between two and three months.   http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/uganda-17497

Suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) in ZS Isiro and Dungu

 􀂃 The health authorities have reported four suspected cases and seven deaths in the health zones of Isiro (6 cases
 and 3 deaths) and Dungu (1 case and 1 death), between 1 and August 13, 2012.
 Actions taken:
 - A team of the Provincial Division of health and that of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) arrived since
 the end of the week in Isiro, have made ​​available protection kits and sampling.
 - MSF briefed all members of the nursing staff of Isiro on precautions.
 - A site of isolation is primed to HGR Isiro, six nurses and two doctors will be charged in cases
 isolation.
 - A sample was taken on August 13 in Isiro and sent to MSF in Dungu to be transferred to Kampala on 14
 August.
 - The daily organization of the meeting of the Crisis Committee in Isiro.  http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Weekly%20PO%2008%20du%207%20au%2013%20vf.pdf

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (02): (ORIENTALE) SUSPECTED

[Ebola virus disease] has killed 4 people among 7 cases in the Haut Uele District of Orientale Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a statement on 14 Aug 2012 by Jean-Marc Madindi, provincial medical inspector of Orientale Province. According to Dr Madindi, 3 deaths among 6 cases occurred in the district of Haut Uele, and a angle death in Dungu district. Samples from these cases have been sent to a diagnostic Laboratory in Uganda for confirmation by laboratory techniques, and the results are awaited. The provincial health authorities are being supported by the Belgian branch of Medecins Sans Frontieres.
http://www.promedmail.org/

Kasese on Ebola alert as residents share, feast on chimpanzee meat

A family of chimpanzees in Kibaale National Park. Chimpanzee populations all over the world are threatened with extinction .

 PHOTO BY GODFREY MUTEGEKI

By THEMBO KAHUNGU MISAIRI

Posted Friday, August 17 2012 at 01:00

In Summary

Health risk. The chimpanzee strayed out of the park on Saturday evening and on reaching the community, it was hunted down, killed and the meat shared for food.

An Ebola scare has hit Kasese District following an incident on Sunday when residents of Buhunga Village in Kilembe Sub-county killed a chimpanzee that had strayed from the park and shared the meat.

Despite calls by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to residents not to eat the chimpanzee because it may be the cause of the Ebola virus, the residents were busy roasting and feasting on the bush meat.

According to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park Law enforcement Officer Mr Rujumba Bwambale, the chimpanzee strayed out of the park on Saturday evening and on reaching the community, it was hunted down and killed.

Mr Rujumba warned people not to eat the wild animal for fear of being the source of the deadly Ebola virus that is said to be from the monkey family where chimpanzees belong.

“I tried my best on behalf of UWA to warn people against eating the meat but they went on and ate it. I sounded out warnings immediately I heard of the information but no one has surrendered the meat. UWA is not responsible for whatever happens there after,” Mr Rujumba said.

He said although it is not confirmed that the chimpanzees carry the Ebola virus, it was important for people not to feed on their meat for their safety and wildlife conservation

Mr Rujumba says by the time he reached the scene with security personnel, the hunters had carried away most of the meat.
About one kilogramme was recovered and later transferred to the Virus centre in Entebbe for proper tests to check for any traces of Ebola.

“The specimen has been sent to Entebbe today (Monday) and we expect the test results soon so that something is done to the community. We are in touch with the district health office on this matter,” Mr Rujumba said.

The Kasese District health department is yet to sensitise the communities on the deadly Ebola disease since it broke out in Kibaale District. 

Dr. Yusuf Baseka, an officer in the health department told Daily Monitor that he will soon start the radio campaign messages against Ebola so that people are aware of the preventive measures and on how to report any suspected case.

However, a source in the health department said that the Ebola campaign would have kicked off two weeks ago but district leaders advised that the program be put on halt until after the by-election to avoid creating anxiety among voters.  http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Kasese+on+Ebola+alert+as+residents+share/-/688334/1481024/-/vp5s7hz/-/index.html

Conflict erupts in Kibaale district over Ebola funds

A conflict has erupted among the Kibaale district politicians over the funds sent from government and those raised from civil society and individual contributors towards the fight against Ebola virus.
Ultimate Media has leant that a group of councilors calling themselves National Transition Council organized what they called ‘Kagadi district council meeting’ which they used to attack those believed to be eating the Ebola funds alone. Kagadi is one of the 25 proposed districts.

One of the complaining councilors, Robert Birungi Kanyaihamba told a press conference at Kagadi that those involved in the Ebola fight activities are often seen in Kagadi town purchasing goods and services at astronomical prices indicating that there is ‘money’ in the Ebola crusade.
Kanyaihamba appealed to those politicians who are involved in the direct fight against Ebola to
involve him and others left out in the activities such that they can also partake on the Ebola funds.
There have been rumors from Kibaale district that there is no longer Ebola patients in the district but those involved in the campaign want to continue enjoying allowances and have exaggerated the situation.
Kibaale district was hit by an Ebola outbreak since June this year and has killed more than 16 people. Close to 1.5 billion shilling has so far been disbursed to the district to assist in the campaign to stamp out the disease. http://www.ugpulse.com/uganda-news/health/conflict-erupts-in-kibaale-district-over-ebola-funds/26793.aspx

Ebola Scare Throws Kabale Hospital into Panic

Business at Kabale referral Hospital is returning to normal after a stampede on Wednesday afternoon when a suspected Ebola patient was brought into the health facility.

Read more: [link to ugandaradionetwork.com]

Two suspected Ebola cases reported in Rukungiri district

20120816 2:38:55 AM EST
Two male patients have been admitted, isolated, and are being screened for the Ebola virus at Kisiizi Hospital in Rukungiri district, south western Uganda. The first patient was admitted on Sunday, August 5 while the second patient was admitted yesterday.
 
 One of the patients is said to have been in Kibaale district three week ago and later on decided to go back to his home in Rukungiri whereupon he fell sick and developed Ebola like symptoms.
 Sources from the hospital say that the patients have been isolated from the rest of the patients at the hospital and their samples sent to Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe for tests.
 Sister Moreen Tumwebaze, the nurse in-charge of the isolation section, told our reporter on phone from Rukungiri that they are closely monitoring the two patients.
 She said that the relatives of the patients had been prohibited from accessing them as part of the containment measures.
 
 Tumwebaze said that the patients are receiving specialized care from the hospital although she admitted that the hospital does not have enough protective gear in case they have to treat more patients.
 
 She however urged the people of Rukungiri to remain calm saying that the disease will be handled with extra care and asked them to follow the necessary precautions.
 Dr. Elisha Rutahirwa, the Rukungiri district director of health services, confirmed the admission of these two patients.

He could only divulge that the first patient is aged 16 and had spent a considerable time in Kibaale district before returning to his home district. He stressed that the two patients are under observation and not confirmed Ebola virus patients.
 
 He cautioned the residents to be careful in their travel to affected areas to avoid contracting the disease.
http://www.ugpulse.com/uganda-news/health/two-suspected-ebola-cases-reported-in-rukungiri-district/26783.aspx

Study finds flu in healthy-looking pigs at state fairs

Lisa Schnirring and Robert Roos  Staff Writers

Aug 15, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – Testing of a sampling of pigs shown at the Minnesota State Fair during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic revealed that 19% of them were infected with flu viruses, even though they looked healthy, according to a new study.
The findings highlight the challenges of preventing pigs and humans from passing flu viruses back and forth at fairs and swine shows, especially this summer when several states are tracking human illnesses from a novel H3N2 virus that has been detected in both pigs and people.
The study, which appears today in Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID), was conducted by researchers from the University of Florida, University of Minnesota, South Dakota State University, and University of Iowa, along with scientists from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
With the goal of watching for influenza A viruses in show pigs, the group recruited people ages 7 and older who were showing pigs at the Minnesota State Fair in 2008 and 2009 and the South Dakota State Fair in 2009. Participants filled out a questionnaire and allowed the researchers to collect nasal swab samples from their pigs. Just over 70% of participants were male, and the median age was 34.9 years. About a quarter of the pig handlers were younger than 18.
They used the CDC's real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) tests to screen the samples for influenza A viruses. Blinded samples were sent to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in St. Paul, where rRT-PCR testing for matrix, hemagglutinin, and neuraminidase genes was done, and specimens were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for molecular and genetic sequencing studies.
Specimens were collected from 149 pigs, including 47 and 57, respectively, from the Minnesota State Fair in 2008 and 2009 and 45 from the 2009 South Dakota State Fair. All of them were assessed as healthy by a veterinarian before they were cleared to enter their shows.
In 2008, investigators found no evidence of influenza A, but 12 (12%) of the 102 sampled collected in 2009 tested positive. These included 11 (19%) of the 57 samples from the 2009 Minnesota State...
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/aug1512showpig.html

EBOLA IN MBALE?

Published on Aug 15, 2012 by KilaMuj

As Uganda continues to ensure that it is Ebola free, more suspect cases or what the Ministry of Health refers to as alert cases are getting reported from all over the country.
The latest have been in Mbale district where over period of one week three men have been admitted at the referral hospital after exhibiting signs similar to Ebola of bleeding and vomiting.
Some parts of the hospital have been cordoned off while specimen have been taken by the Ministry of Health for clarification.

The Ebola virus kills 4 out of 7 cases recorded in Eastern Province

http://www.mediacongo.net/show.asp?doc=22285
Kisangani, 15/08/2012 (Xinhua / MCN, via mediacongo.net)