U.S. government takes threat of bird flu pandemic seriously; spends $25 billion for medical countermeasures

By John Keller

Posted by John Keller

Evidently the U.S. government is taking the threat of a global bird flu pandemic very seriously, as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded five contracts collectively worth as much as $25.36 billion for medical countermeasures to the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

There is ample reason to take the threat of an H5N1 bird flu pandemic seriously, too. Over the last decade there have been 608 confirmed cases of H5N1 in humans, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. Of those, 359 died; that's nearly a 70 percent mortality rate.

Of those confirmed cases of H5N1 and their resulting deaths, most have been in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Egypt. No cases have been reported in the U.S. -- yet.

...U.S. health officials are determined to blunt the effects of any potential H5N1 avian influenza pandemic, which could overload hospitals, threaten children and the elderly the most, and could threaten the working of the military and government agencies if large numbers of employees were to be incapacitated by the virus.

To keep any potential H5N1 bird flu pandemic in check, HHS officials on 4 Sept. awarded contracts potentially worth $9 billion to Novartis Vaccines and Diagonostics Inc. in Boston; $8.2 billion to MedImmune LLC in Gaithersburg, Md.; $4.7 billion to Sanofi Pasteur Inc. in Swiftwater, Pa.; $2 billion to GlaxoSmithKline LLC in Philadelphia; and $1.5 billion to CSL Biotherapies Inc. in King of Prussia, Pa....

http://www.militaryaerospace.com/blogs/aerospace-defense-blog/2012/09/u-s-government-takes-threat-of-bird-flu-pandemic-seriously-spends-25-billion-for-medical-counterm.html

Study Links Flu Epidemic with Flu Vaccination

Mon, 09/10/2012
Findings in a recent study suspect that the 2009 flu endemic in Canada could have been due to flu shot. Study researchers, led by Vancouver's Dr. Danuta Skowronski, an influenza expert at the B. C. Centre for Disease Control, asserted that initially believed reason for the epidemic could possibly be true.

The researchers compared the sufferers of the outbreak with the data revealing the people, who were vaccinated against flu for 2008-09 winter. It was discovered that those of who received the flu shot accounted for the majority of the people infected.

So far five different studies have been done in several regions, which provided with similar results. However, the initial study, just afte..
[link to topnews.us]

Vancouver researcher finds flu shot is linked to H1N1 illness

Effect initially dismissed as a "Canadian problem"

By Helen Branswell, The Canadian Press
September 10, 2012 5:28 AM
A strange vaccine-related phenomenon spotted in Canada at the start of the 2009 flu pandemic may well have been real, a new study suggests.

Researchers, led by Vancouver's Dr. Danuta Skowronski, an influenza expert at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, noticed in the early weeks of the pandemic that people who got a flu shot for the 2008-09 winter seemed to be more likely to get infected with the pandemic virus than people who hadn't received a flu shot.

Five studies done in several provinces showed the same unsettling results. But initially research outside Canada did not, and the effect was dismissed as a "Canadian problem," a problem with the flu vaccine used in Canada.

But a new study suggests the findings were real.




Read more: [link to www.vancouversun.com] 

Flu shots, 2009 pandemic more closely tied than first thought

Vaccine-related phenomenon during pandemic once deemed a 'Canadian problem'
The Canadian Press Posted: Sep 10, 2012 8:11 AM ET

A strange vaccine-related phenomenon spotted at the start of the 2009 flu pandemic may well have been real, a new study suggests.

Canadian researchers noticed in the early weeks of the pandemic that people who got a flu shot for the 2008-2009 winter seemed to be more likely to get infected with the pandemic virus than people who hadn't received a flu shot.

Five studies done in several provinces showed the same puzzling and unsettling results. But initially, research outside Canada did not, and the effect was dismissed as "the Canadian problem."

News of the unexpected findings broke at a time when countries in North America and parts of Europe were getting ready to start vaccinating their populations against the pandemic virus.

Some jurisdictions were also trying to figure out whether to offer the seasonal flu vaccine they had purchased — similar to the 2008-2009 shot — along with the pandemic vaccine, in case the seasonal flu viruses continued to circulate. Quebec opted not to offer the seasonal vaccine because of the concerns raised by the studies.

New Canadian research
Many people in the flu research and public health communities found the whole event unhelpful, and many rejected the.. [link to www.cbc.ca] 

Warning widened after third Yosmite death

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

NEW YORK] US public health officials were expanding their warning to include more than 22,000 visitors to Yosemite National Park after the death of a third person exposed to the deadly mouse-borne hantavirus.

The latest victim, a West Virginia man, visited Yosemite in July. His death was confirmed on Thursday.

So far, eight people who visited the 1,100-square- mile park in California this summer have been infected. Three have died, while the five others are recovering, park officials said in a statement. Of the confirmed cases, six people are from California, one from Pennsylvania and one from West Virginia, according to the National Park Service.

Investigators initially focused their attention on cabins in the park's Curry Village sections, where seven of those infected had stayed before falling ill. They sent emails and letters to more than 10,000 guests who stayed or had reservations in the cabins from June 10 through September.

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/premium/world/warning-widened-after-third-yosmite-death-20120910?

Beware the deadly new influenza virus

As reported by the Ministry of Health, avian influenza occurred in many areas and the risk of spread is huge.virus was identified epidemiological experts strongly virulent, capable of causing death high. Avian influenza complicated statistics of the Ministry of Health shows flu cases, up to 23/8, in 2012 the country has recorded four cases of influenza A/H5N1, in which two people died.epidemiological experts said the disease is further complicated and the risk of spread in the May 9 and 10.According to information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development , the avian H5N1 virus appeared in July and 8/2012, spread rapidly from the north to the central region. Pathogenic viruses have strong, highly lethal. Especially in the current context, the virus has a number of changes, so the response of vaccines, especially strains of avian influenza virus in North immune response to with lower vaccine, less than before. Therefore, the risk of an epidemic is likely to spread more

.Currently, as reported by the National Steering Committee for Disease Control and Prevention, there were seven provinces: Ha Tinh and Hai Phong, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Kan, Quang Ngai, Thanh Hoa avian less than 21 days

.

Avian infect humans via inhalation 

Nguyen Van Binh, director of the Preventive Medicine Department (Ministry of Health), said the flu A/H5N1 have been in Vietnam since 2003. Fact that, over the years, Vietnam has many cases.Refers to how the transmission from poultry to humans, Binh said: "Actually it's the flu in poultry, but the flu virus it can spread to humans through the respiratory tract. " Mr. Binh analysis, many cases of this disease by inhaling the bacteria from the feces of birds flu illness. The poultry disease if not controlled in time it will penetrate the bacterial habitat, from the environmental bacteria continue to spread. So when people inhale the pathogenic bacteria that will spread the disease immediately. To prevent, director of the Preventive Medicine Department advised people to see bird flu, it must notify animal health agencies, the local authorities so that they take measures to handle. In particular, people should not be exposed, transport and slaughter was ill. In the case of forced exposure to sick poultry, the people must take measures to protect yourself as wearing masks, goggles, gloves, personal protective clothing to prevent infection. /.07.09.2012 |http://www.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Canh-giac-voi-virus-cum-gia-cam-moi-gay-chet-nguoi/20129/157669.vnplus

 

New avian influenza virus "high risk to humans"

A- A A +

National Steering Committee for bird flu announced a virulent H5N1 bird flu virus, appear and spread quickly in the north and central regions, which may cause death. This information caused public panic, especially when its spreading mechanism remains unclear.

Purchasing habits, such slaughter is easily made A/H5N1 flu spreads.

"There can spread because smuggled chicken"

Talking with PV , Hoang Van Nam, Director of Animal Health (MARD) said the new H5N1 virus appears but still attached branches 2.3.2.1 but there are differences with the virus 2.3.2.1 (both groups A, B) to cause disease in Vietnam in 2011. This group of viruses capable of causing bird flu continues to spread in the future is very high.

The Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center adds new virus group appear from May 7 to May 8, spread rapidly and widely throughout all the provinces from the North Central Region. However, this new virus is relatively close to the group A. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked scientists directly under the rapid implementation of the experiment, testing to see if vaccine avian influenza are being used effectively with team new virus or not to have a plan processing.

According to Nguyen Thanh Son (Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry), the more likely this virus comes from China, spreading from waste chicken smuggled sugar in Vietnam. Mr. Son commented: "Until now, smuggled chickens go to where the virus in poultry go there. This is incalculable dangers for people and animals."

Before this situation, the Market Management Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) was planned, organized reconnaissance routes for birds smuggled from the border, the recruiter, to the place of consumption. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan also asked DLP closely examine the same chicken smuggled from China, because of the possibility of spread of chickens is much larger compared to broilers. "New bird flu virus is spreading fast, highly lethal, this is what the Government was worried" Qin deputy said.

Very high risk of transmission to humans

Talking with PV who reported , Duc Trong Nguyen (Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry), said the risk of a new avian influenza virus spread to humans is very high, though no one now confirm 100% it will infect humans.

According to him, not simply to be able to identify the mechanisms spread of the H5N1 virus, especially in the type varieties. In many cases, patients infected with influenza A/H5N1 may be due to multiple infections, which means that the body has with a number of other diseases that decrease the immune system, and then infected with the H5N1 virus should quickly lead to death. In the case of multiple infections, due to our long-standing focus and attributed the cause of death due to bird flu virus should not only plausible "culprit".

"In our country, the people exposed to poultry as a matter of course. Therefore, to hear of new avian influenza viruses are highly toxic, the public is confused, worried. Farmers fear of exposure with poultry likely infected should affect the livestock industry, "Mr Key said. Also according to weight, more notably, the type H5N1 virus has appeared in our country is most similar to the type virus present in China. 

Meanwhile, the smuggled birds, especially chickens and chicken waste from China still occur every day, times the number of smuggled poultry on our country up to a few hundred thousand per week should risk epidemics is very high. Moreover, when this virus in Vietnam, it can be combined with other strains produce other varieties, and this process takes place constantly, making it difficult for disease prevention.

As recommended by the Department of Livestock, to prevent possible epidemics, people need to make the process of biosafety at the stages as: Just clean, food, sanitation, industry, veterinary and vaccination vaccine . http://www.xaluan.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=467224

Dong Nai province is still at high risk of influenza A/H5N1

Last updated at 22:12, Friday, 09/07/2012 (GMT +7)

(SE) - According to the provincial preventive medicine center, since in the countries of the influenza A (2004), Dong Nai has not recorded any cases of A/H5N1 flu. However, according to Dong Nai province is still at high risk because of the country's largest poultry, Dong Nai further also the gateway to Ho Chi Minh City and has many industrial areas. Difficulties of Dong Nai for flu is clinging irregular and difficult to inter-sectoral coordination. Prevention only get attention when the epidemic emerged.

http://www.baodongnai.com.vn/tintuc/201209/dong-Nai-van-la-tinh-co-nguy-co-cao-ve-cum-aH5N1-2184738/

AVIAN INFLUENZA (52): VIET NAM ex CHINA : Viet Nam, H5N1 virus evolution

Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012
From: Anton van Engelen


Avian influenza (51): Viet Nam, H5N1 virus evolution
-----------------------------------
Further to your moderator's query ["The term 'China's disqualified chickens' is in need of clarification"]:

"Disqualified chickens" are spent hens/culled layers, which come in large numbers across the border, because they fetch higher prices in Vietnam than in China: Vietnam is still largely a live bird market, whereas the Chinese have gone much further in the processing, where it is harder to get rid of spent hens. When I was in Vietnam in June there was an estimate of about 50 000 live birds coming into the country per day illegally. 

--
Communicated by:
Anton van Engelen, 
Freelance livestock consultant

Hantavirus fears force quarantine of Houston home

Published September 09, 2012

FoxNews.com

A Houston home has been quarantined after a woman developed the potentially deadly hantavirus while helping to clean the residence, MyFoxHouston.com reports.

After the woman tested positive for the disease, the home – which was reportedly filled with debris and rodent urine and feces -- was quarantined and a sheriff's deputy stationed at the address to make sure nobody goes in, according to the station.

The home has been quarantined for more than 24 hours.

"This part. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/09/09/hantavirus-fears-force-quarantine-houston-home/?

Ebola outbreak kills 15 in eastern Congo, better education needed to curb spread of virus

Sunday, September 9, 1:06 PM

GOMA, Congo — An outbreak of the Ebola virus has killed 15 people in northeastern Congo and the local communities are quickly learning how frighteningly deadly the disease is, and how to prevent its spread.

“Ebola entered my house and I did not know what it was,” said Gabriel Libina Alandato, who survived the hemorrhagic fever. “My three daughters and their mother died in August, but it is only when I was taken to the quarantine center that I learned about the disease.”

Health officials say the population lacks knowledge of Ebola and must learn that the tradition of washing of corpses before funerals spreads the epidemic.

Although it is the ninth Ebola epidemic in Congo, it is the first one in the Haut-Uélé territory, in northeastern Congo. Ebola has no cure and is deadly in 40 percent to 90 percent of cases. The disease causes severe internal bleeding.

Initially restricted to Isiro, a city north in Haut-Uélé, the Ebola outbreak has now spread to Viadana, a town located 75 kilometers (47 miles) away. According to local medical staff, the virus was transmitted to a woman from Viadana when she attended the funeral of an Ebola victim in Isiro. She then travelled back to Viadana where she contaminated several people and died herself.

“A lady participated in a funeral and was contaminated. A second quarantine center was open in Viadana to isolate people who might have been contaminated,” said Dr. Jacques Gumbaluka, the district’s chief doctor. Three people have already died in Viadana, he said.

The washing and displaying of bodies during funerals, a widespread tradition, is intended to show love and respect for the deceased. But the practice facilitates the propagation of the epidemic as dozens of people come in close contact with victims of the deadly virus.

“The cases that have been identified are linked to certain practices like self-medication or the washing of the corpses and their exposition during funerals. People want to touch and see the body, it’s the tradition everywhere in Africa,” said Faïda Kanyombe, who is responsible for health promotion at Doctors without Borders in the province.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/ebola-outbreak-in-eastern-congo-kills-15-better-education-is-needed-to-curb-spread-of-virus/2012/09/09/752149fa-fa9c-11e1-a65a-d6e62f9f2a5a_story.html

Ebola virus spreads in eastern Congo

GOMA, Congo -- Officials in eastern Congo say the Ebola epidemic has spread to a second center after a woman was contaminated during the funeral of a victim of the disease and travelled back to her home. The health officials say 15 people have died since the beginning of the epidemic.

Congolese authorities are warning the population of the risks linked to the washing and displaying of dead bodies, a tradition that is widespread in Africa. The practice facilitates the spread of the deadly hemorrhagic fever. Around 170 people are currently under surveillance after they came into contact with infected patients.  http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/08/4799918/ebola-virus-spreads-in-eastern.html

DRC: Government gives food to the families of victims of Ebola Isiro

DRC: Government gives food to the families of victims of Ebola Isiro

Last update September 7, 2012 at 8:20
The Minister of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Actions presented this Friday, September 7 families of victims of the Ebola outbreak in Isiro food and non-food items.  The donation consists mainly of rice, beans, vegetable oil, salt, soap, mattresses, cups, buckets, spades and machetes.
 The minister also handed out school kits to students whose parents have died of Ebola. It also gave the coordination team and the medical team an envelope of 5000 U.S. dollars.
. For their part, leaders of civil society calls on the government "not only limited to symbolic gestures but to act up to the problems on the ground".  The Ebola epidemic broke out in the DRC since last July.. It has already killed fourteen people.  http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://radiookapi.net/sante/2012/09/07/rdc-le-gouvernement-donne-des-vivres-aux-familles-de-victimes-debola-isiro/&usg=ALkJrhh-UbyQAEyb3QcQyumuQgS30Aepqw

Canberra doctor fighting deadly ebola

Date

September 9, 2012

Kamalini Lokuge, wearing the hat, with other Médecins Sans Frontières volunteers and a family in Uganda who lost 11 members to the deadly virus.

CANBERRA doctor Kamalini Lokuge has returned home from Uganda where she has been helping fight one of the world's most feared diseases, ebola virus.
The deadly virus killed three health care workers as well as seven locals in the Democratic Republic of Congo in August and according to Doctors Without Borders the Ugandan outbreak was confirmed after 16 people had already died.
It was the third time Dr Lokuge had dropped everything at the Australian National University, where she works as an epidemiologist, to help Doctors without Borders provide life-saving medical care in the desperately poor African country.
''One of the younger women is the head of three households - 11 people in that family had died - she is a very strong women who is carrying on despite such a big loss,'' Dr Lokuge said.


Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-doctor-fighting-deadly-ebola-20120908-25lcn.html#ixzz25sx7SnIg

At least 20 million birds culled epidemic in Mexico

Mexico, Sep 7 (Prensa Latina) About 20 million birds were culled on farms in the state of Jalisco, because of an outbreak of avian influenza A H7N3-, stands today the Mexican press.   Agriculture Secretary Francisco Mayorga, reported that for that reason the losses of producers rises about four thousand 600 million pesos (just over $ 350 million). explained that even though it's been 14 days without clinical cases, there is any possibility that they may present a resurgence of the disease. far been implemented over 120 million vaccines.Secretary added that in late November should be fully restored next flock of birds as well as levels of egg production. epidemic was reported the day 19 of last June in that state, the largest egg producer in the country. The outbreak caused an acute shortage of this staple of the national diet, whose prices reached multiply.  http://www.prensa-latina.cu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=542506&Itemid=1

Pakistan-Infected Australian sheep pose epidemic threat’

Infected Australian sheep pose epidemic threat’

 Shahid Husain

Saturday, September 08, 2012 

Karachi

The twenty two thousand Australian sheep suffering from a scabby mouth disease could transmit the contagious disease to humans, leading to an epidemic, if immediate measures to eradicate it were not adopted.

In a letter sent to the Chief Secretary Raja Mohammad Abbas, Adviser to the Chief Minister Sindh for Relief Haleem Adil Sheikh has written: “I would like to invite your kind attention towards the reports circulating in the electronic and print media about the arrival of 22, 000 Australian infected sheep at the Karachi Port. Reportedly, the ship which carried the sheep had Middle Eastern countries as their destination. But their authorities did not allow these sheep to be unloaded in their countries. Reportedly, Bahrain had shown concern about the discovery of the infection in the sheep.

However, these allegedly infected sheep have been unloaded at Port Qasim Karachi and handed over to an unknown buyer.”

“These sheep are infected by a scabby mouth disease which can be spread to humans as well as livestock. Hence, their sale in the market and subsequent slaughter would result in an outbreak of epidemic diseases. Under the section-4(i) of the Sindh National Calamities (prevention & relief) Act-1958, it is the responsibility of the Relief Department to take all measures for the prevention, checking and control of the spread/outbreak of epidemic/diseases in the province to save the people and livestock. We, therefore, have to take such immediate steps to ensure that these sheep are not slaughtered and their meat is not sold in the market until proper and complete investigation in connection to their health condition is made by the livestock and concerned authorities.”

“It would therefore be appreciated if you can kindly ban the sale of the diseased sheep before a proper investigation. Further steps should be taken to keep the cattle farm of these sheep sealed till their health condition is confirmed by an expert team of animal husbandry and other professionals. Before proper investigation, their sale in the market would be dangerous for our people and livestock and their export on the other hand will shame Pakistan in the eyes of the outside world.”  http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-130651-Infected-Australian-sheep-pose-epidemic-threat

What’s Going on With Yosemite and Hantavirus?

Yosemite is synonymous with stunning natural settings and a chance to get away from it all. But in the past few weeks, Yosemite has attracted unwanted attention after a Hantavirus outbreak in the park. 

Yosemite's Curry Village, where several people who were infected with hantavirus stayed.

So far, eight Yosemite visitors are confirmed to have contracted the virus, with three dead of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—a variation of Hantavirus that’s not communicable between humans, but which can be transmitted to humans through contact with excrement, saliva, or urine from infected mice. The National Park Service, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are aggressively trying to contact people who recently visited Yosemite and could be at risk. 

Authorities initially focussed on 91 tent cabins in a specific area of the park, which had approximately 10,000 visitors between June and August and is where most of the people who are known to have contracted the virus stayed. But after a man who visited a different area of the park at a higher elevation tested positive for the virus this week, the investigation was widened and another 12,000 people were added to the list of those at risk, upping the total to 22,000. 

Brian Amman is an ecologist with the CDC who studies virus outbreaks and has been working the phone hotlines talking to people who might have been exposed to the virus. Although only a tiny fraction of those people are likely to be infected, panic is inevitable. "You feel bad for a lot of them, because they’re scared, and rightfully so," Amman says. 

The Syndrome

The most common form of the hantavirus found in the U.S. is the Sin nombre virus, carried in deer mice, a small mouse with a range that stretches across much of the United States. Although the syndrome associated with the hantavirus is exceedingly rare in the U.S. (only about 600 cases have been documented here), it has a fatality rate of close to 40 percent. 

Once a person becomes infected through contact with the urine, saliva, or feces of an in... http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/med-tech/whats-going-on-with-yosemite-and-hantavirus-12479810?click=pm_latest

Yet another pig flu virus infects people

Y

By Maggie Fox, NBC News 

There’s yet another pig flu virus to watch out for.

Federal health officials say this one has made three people in Minnesota sick. Like the other unusual flu strains reported this year, this strain, called H1N2v, has only been found in people who had close contact with pigs at a state fair, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday.

It’s becoming clear that pigs and people can pass influenza viruses back and forth. Health experts are watching the new strains closely because they can mutate and mix with one another to create even newer strains. The worry is the new strains will spread and cause flu pandemics, similar to the global outbreak of H1N1 swine flu virus in 2009. 

So far, the three new variants identified this year --  H3n2v (the little v stands for “variant”), H1N1v and now H1N2v – don’t spread easily from person to person. Almost everyone infected has been close to pigs. One person has died from the new H3N2v virus, but everyone else has recovered. H1N2v was reported twice  before in humans, in one person in 2007 in Michigan and in one person in Minnesota in 2011.

“This virus is different from the H3N2v virus that, as of today, is reported to have caused 296 human infections across 10 U.S. states since July 2012. These additional human infections underscore the fact that swine influenza viruses can spread to people after close contact with infected pigs, and support the importance of ongoing surveillance for both human and swine influenza viruses,” the CDC says in a statement on its website...

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/07/13732924-yet-another-pig-flu-virus-infects-people?lite

Duck in Guangzhou suspected of H5N1

(Xinhua)

16:17, September 05, 2012   

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7937932.html

GUANGZHOU - A duck at a market in China's southern city of Guangzhou is suspectedof being infected with the Influenza A (H5N1), according to the Guangdong ProvincialAgriculture Department on Tuesday night.

The Guangzhou agriculture and animal husbandry department has carried out acomprehensive epidemic investigation of Jiangnandong Market in Haizhu District after atwo-year-old boy from Hong Kong who visited the market in mid-May was confirmed withH5N1.

One duck out of the 40 samples was suspected to be infected with the virus, accordingto the municipal animal epidemic disease control and prevention center.

There is no report of human infection of H5N1 as of Tuesday in Guangzhou.

The 2-year-old boy confirmed with H5N1 infection on Saturday is currently receivingintensive care at Princess Margaret Hospital and his condition remained serious.

The boy developed fever and a runny nose on May 23 in Guangdong. He returned toHong Kong on May 26 and sought medical attention from a private medical clinic inMong Kok.

High alert for deadly bird flu virus

(VOV) - Bird flu has hit many provinces and cities and is spreading far and wide, according to the Ministry of Health.

As of August 23, four cases of A/H5N1 infection had been recorded with two deaths in Vietnam.
Health workers said that the epidemic will become more complicated, especially in the northern and central regions, when it reaches its peak in the next two months.
According to the national steering committee for bid flu prevention and control, seven provinces and cities, including Ha Tinh, Haiphong, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Bac Kan, Quang Ngai and Thanh Hoa, have not yet passed the 21-day deadline for no bird flu infection.
Nguyen Van Binh, head of the Health Ministry’s Preventive Health Department, said that the disease has occurred in Vietnam since 2003, causing a huge loss of human life and property.
He asked local authorities, relevant agencies and people to take sterilization and vaccination measures and strictly control the transport, slaughtering and trading of poultry in order to curb the epidemic.
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced the appearance of a new H5N1 virus in Asia that is more dangerous than the original one.
Associate Professor Nguyen Tran Hien, Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), confirmed that no cases of the new virus has been detected in Vietnam.
However, he said, it is urgent to prevent the A/H5N1 virus from changing into new types with higher toxic contamination through people-to-people transmission.
The healthcare sector should work more closely with relevant agencies and local households to intensify sanitation and sterilization work and quickly stamp out new outbreaks of the fatal disease, he added.
*** Meanwhile, the Prime Minister on September 6 urged ministries, sectors and localities to strengthen the prevention and control of the avian influenza A/H5N1, hand-foot-mouth disease and dengue fever.
So far this year, there have been 80,180 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease with 41 deaths and 43,220 cases of dengue with 35 deaths.
To prevent these diseases from spreading, the PM asked the chairmen of provincial and city people's committees to establish interdisciplinary teams to inspect the prevention and control of epidemics in their localities, especially in residential areas, kindergartens and slaughterhouses.
He emphasized the need to spray for mosquitoes and increase the dissemination of information on the preventive methods by village-based health staff.
The Government leader also assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to assist local authorities in the inspection of poultry and waterfowl diseases to prevent transmission of the A/H5N1 virus to humans.  http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/High-alert-for-deadly-bird-flu-virus/20129/141851.vov

Yosemite doubles scope of hantavirus warning to 22,000; third death confirmed

Updated at 8:12 a.m. ET:

A third person has died from the rare, rodent-carried hantavirus after visiting Yosemite National Park, bringing the total number of infected persons to eight and prompting warnings that the virus is not contained to just one area of the park, health officials said.
Yosemite National Park doubled the scope of its warning on Thursday to some 22,000 visitors who may have been exposed to the deadly mouse-borne disease.

---

U.S. officials had recently sounded a worldwide alert, saying that up to 10,000 people were thought to be at risk of contracting Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) after staying at "Signature Tents" at the Curry Village lodging area between June and August

DNC Parks and Resorts via AP

Officials are expanding their efforts to notify visitors to a complex of tent cabins at Yosemite National Park who may have been exposed to a rare but potentially deadly rodent-carried virus.

Since June, eight park visitors, including six from California, have contracted the virus, according to Yosemite officials. Three of those infections have been fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), hantavirus is spread by contact with infected rodents, primarily deer mice.
On Thursday, it was revealed that the virus is not confined to Curry Village, according to a statement from the park.
One of the infected campers, who exhibited mild symptoms and is recovering, stayed in multiple High Sierra Camps in Yosemite in July.
The five High Sierra Camps are similar to the Curry Village tent cabins, but they're spaced about six to 10 miles apart and are accessible only via backpacking trails at higher elevation than Yosemite Valley.
US officials sound worldwide alert for Yosemite hantavirus
The other seven cases have all been connected to the historic Curry Village tent cabins, which were recently been closed to the public.
No cure
It can take up to six weeks for symptoms of the virus to show, though they usually appear two to four weeks after exposure. Early stage symptoms include fatigue, fever and body aches, and can rapidly progress to severe difficulty breathing....
http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/07/13719926-yosemite-doubles-scope-of-hantavirus-warning-to-22000-third-death-confirmed?lite

Hantavirus in Yosemite: World Health Organization issues alert

September 6, 2012
The World Health Organization is the latest agency to weigh in on the recent hantavirus outbreak in Yosemite National Park, issuing an advisory about the rare disease that has killed two and sickened four.

Issued Tuesday though the agency's "global alert and response network," the notification summarizes the Yosemite outbreak and advises travelers to "avoid exposure to rodents and their excreta."

The agency also sent several tweets about hantavirus Wednesday.

"If you stayed in the Signature Tent Cabins in Yosemite National Park, USA, since June 2012 & have #Hantavirus symptoms, see a doctor," read one message.

"Doctors, if you have patients with #Hantavirus symptoms, ask for their travel history," read another.

The tweets came the same day Dr. David Wong, an epidemiologist with the National Park Service's Office of Public Health, confirmed to The Times that U.S. health authorities had notified 39 other countries whose citizens may be at risk for hantavirus aft....

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/hantavirus-in-yosemite-world-health-organization-issues-alert.html

Yosemite says it has extended the hantavirus warning to additional 12,000 people who visited camping area.

Yosemite says it has extended the hantavirus warning to additional 12,000 people who visited camping area.

Ebola spreads in Congo: it may "soon be a global emergency"

 The UN has launched an appeal for two million dollars to fight the epidemic of Ebola hemorrhagic fever, a highly contagious, which has killed 14 people since mid-August in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) .

 September 6, 2012 3:55 p.m.

•  " The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) launched a "joint appeal for funds to support this struggle which totaled $ 2 million," he said Wednesday the press Dr. Léodegal Bazira, WHO Representative in the DRC. "We also call on all partners to join in the fight against this epidemic, which if not controlled quickly, is an event public health can quickly provide a global emergency, "he added. Les fonds doivent aider  Funds should help "the government to organize this struggle to provide means to fight this. It is a struggle that many countries, not only the DRC can not undertake alone," he stressed UN representative.

Une souche moins virulente qu'en Ouganda A less virulent strain in Uganda

 DRC is struck by the virus Bundibungyo theoretically less virulent, while in a neighboring region of western Uganda, this is a strain that has plagued Sudan.  Monday, the WHO announced that the epidemic in Uganda, where 17 people died, was nearing its end.

 Two outbreaks of epidemic

 In the DRC, the epidemic broke out in mid-August in the Eastern Province (northeast): nine dead were then recorded, almost all in the town of Isiro on 11 cases. Au 3 septembre, 28 cas ont été enregistrés, dont huit cas confirmés en laboratoire, six cas probables, 14 cas suspects. September 3, 28 cases have been recorded, including eight laboratory confirmed cases, six probable cases, 14 suspected cases.  In total, there were 14 deaths. "Epidemic seems to have its epicenter in the town of Isiro, with a secondary focus in the town of Viadana", located about 70km Isiro said Dr. Léodegal Bazira.

 Three times more cases in two weeks

. The doctor refuses to be alarmist, even if the number of cases has tripled in two weeks: "I personally would not call the situation catastrophic but I would call serious and can escalate if it is not quickly taken into account properly.  The Ministry of Health, WHO, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC-Atlanta) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are working closely to fight against the disease.

 No cure, no vaccine

. Ebola, which the DRC has experienced eight epidemics, killing between 25 and 90% of patients, according to WHO. In 1995, his strain "Zaire", the most virulent, had more than 350 victims in Bandundu (west). A ce jour, il n'existe ni traitement ni vaccin. To date, there is no treatment or vaccine.

. The disease is transmitted by direct contact with blood, bodily fluids (sweat, feces ...), by sex and by the mishandling of corpses contaminated. . It is characterized by fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and bleeding gums.  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.rtl.be%2Finfo%2Fmonde%2Finternational%2F905039%2Fl-ebola-se-repand-au-congo-ca-peut-rapidement-constituer-une-urgence-de-portee-mondiale-

W.Va. health officials report hantavirus death

Sep 6, 4:08 PM EDT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Health officials say a West Virginia resident has died from the outbreak of a rodent-borne illness linked to Yosemite National Park.

Kanawha-Charleston Health Department director Dr. Rahul Gupta withheld the victim's name at a news conference Thursday. Gupta says the victim had visited the park since June.. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_YOSEMITE_RODENT_DISEASE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

WEST NILE VIRUS - USA (12): (TEXAS, OKLAHOMA)

In this report:

[1] Texas 

[2] Oklahoma


******

[1] Texas

Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
Source: Statesman [edited] 
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/austin-man-dies-from-west-nile-virus-numbers-2450727.html


West Nile virus illnesses in Texas continue to rise dramatically, state health officials said Tuesday [4 Sep 2012], with the number of cases this summer rising to 1013 -- with 40 deaths -- as an Austin man became the 2nd in Travis County to die from the mosquito-borne disease [virus].

A little less than 2 weeks ago, there were 640 cases and 23 confirmed deaths statewide. That is a 58 percent increase in cases and 74 percent increase in deaths. State officials warned that the infections may continue until the 1st hard freeze of the year.

"The peak for West Nile season is August, and then there is a delay before it gets reported to us. We are expecting the numbers to keep increasing," said Christine Mann, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services. The agency's count does not include the new Travis County death, which had not yet been reported to the state. As of Tuesday [4 Sep 2012], there have been 48 confirmed cases of West Nile in Travis county, up from 23 cases and one death on 22 Aug [2012].

Health authorities have said that this year [2012] is the worst since West Nile 1st appeared in the U.S. in 1999 and in Texas in 2002. Health officials attribute the spread of the disease to a mild winter followed by late spring rains and a hot summer. A total of 1590 cases of West Nile, including 65 deaths, have been reported nationwide. The 1st death of a Travis County resident was reported on 1 Aug [2012]. Williamson County has had 11 cases and one death, Hays [county] 4 cases and no deaths, and Bastrop County 2 cases and no deaths.

Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Director Carlos Rivera on Tuesday [4 Sep 2012] confirmed the county's 2nd death from West Nile neuro-invasive disease, the more serious form of the virus. Officials did not release the victim's name, saying only that the person was among those at the highest risk of severe illness: older than 50.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts


******
[2] Oklahoma
Date: Tue 4 Sep 2012
Source: OK News [edited]
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-breaks-west-nile-virus-record-two-additional-deaths-reported/article/3706868


Oklahoma has reached 118 confirmed West Nile virus cases this year [2012], the highest number of cases recorded in the state in a single year, state Health Department officials said. Officials say this year's outbreak could rival those of 2002 and 2003.

The Health Department also reported Tuesday [4 Sep 2012] that 2 more residents have died from West Nile virus-related illness. So far, 7 residents have died because of the virus [infection]. One of the deaths, a man between the ages of 40-50 in Tulsa County, marks the youngest person reported dead from the virus. The other person who died was a woman in Tulsa County who was between the ages of 70-80.

West Nile virus is cyclical, peaking every 3-4 years. In 2007, Oklahoma saw 107 confirmed cases of West Nile virus and 9 deaths.

Oklahoma is not alone in high cases of West Nile virus. There have been 1590 cases reported nationwide. It is the highest number the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen through the last week in August since the virus entered the U.S. in 1999.

West Nile virus is generally contracted through the bite of a virus-infected mosquito. Public health officials recommend that residents use mosquito repellent with DEET and remove standing water from their homes.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts


[Human cases of West Nile virus infection continue to mount, particularly in the south-central USA. These cases will likely continue to increase until the transmission season ends when killing frosts occur in autumn. Until then, people in this epidemic area should follow the instructions of health departments to avoid mosquito bites. Aerial spraying has been done in the Dallas area to control mosquito vectors. There is no mention of spraying in the above reports from Texas and Oklahoma.

A US CDC fact sheet on West Nile virus with a map of 2012 equine and human cases in the USA can be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of the states mentioned above can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/1FTA. - Mod.TY]

The new H5N1 virus is not transmitted from person to person"

 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development warned that a new influenza virus appears and spreads rapidly in northern and central Vietnam.

Pathogenic viruses have strong, highly lethal. Liên quan đến thông tin này, PGS.TS Nguyễn Trần Hiển, viện trưởng viện Vệ sinh dịch tễ trung ương đã có trao đổi với Sài Gòn tiếp thị. Related to this information, Dr. Nguyen Tran Hien, Director of the Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology has exchange with Saigon marketing.

 UA V, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the new H5N1 avian viruses appear, but still belongs to the 2.3.2.1 branch, but there are differences with the virus 2.3.2.1 (group A, B ) cause disease in Vietnam in 2011.  This group of viruses capable of causing bird flu continues to spread in the future is very high. With the emergence of new viruses are dangerous to human health.  And if infect humans will cause what sir?

Các cơ quan dịch tễ cần tăng cường kiểm tra ổ dịch Epidemiological agencies should strengthen inspection outbreak

. From 8/2011 International Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) warned the rebound of A/H5N1 flu in birds and poultry due to the transformation, transmission and dissemination of influenza A virus circulation / H5N1 Subheading...  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%2Falobacsi.vn%2F20120906100359756p0c160%2Fvirus-h5n1-moi-xuat-hien-chua-lay-truyen-tu-nguoi-sang-nguoi.htm