Indonesian crew member dies from meningitis

Another in critical condition in Livorno hospital

16 October, 21:05 
Livorno, October 16 - One of the four crew members of an Italian cruise liner who was hospitalized last week following an outbreak of bacterial meningitis died Tuesday evening, doctors said.

Indonesian crew member Ermandiasa I Gede, 32, died from septic shock, despite numerous attempts by doctors to resuscitate him.

The four were admitted to a hospital in the Tuscan port of Livorno on October 7 at the end of a cruise by MSC's Orchestra liner.

A 26-year-old Brazilian crew member was released Tuesday and will return with his wife to his home country in the upcoming days.

Doctors said that the prognosis for a 32-year-old Filipino crew member is positive and that he should be released in the next several days.

A 47-year-old Italian from Sorrento remains in serious condition in the intensive care department of the Livorno hospital.  http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/english/2012/10/16/Indonesian-crew-member-infected-meningitis-dies_7642643.html?

Australia-Mother paralysed as flu rates soar

Shara Helmstedt sustained nerve damage to her legs after contracting influenza B. Photo: Anthea Gleeson/The Chronicle

October 17, 2012 - 4:00AM

Queensland's influenza rates have soared to become the highest in Australia, with one Toowoomba mother left paralysed by an infection.

Shara Helmstedt, 31, is just one of 2023 Queenslanders who were diagnosed with influenza last month.

Victoria recorded the second largest number of  cases last month (883).

Last year, Queensland had the third highest rate of influenza cases at 227.3 per 100,000 people but this year the state has the highest rate in the country with 354.9 cases per 100,000 people.

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Ms Helmstedt, a Zumba and fitness instructor with two young sons, contracted the flu two and a half weeks ago.

Two days after first catching it, she thought to herself "geez this has really knocked me around".

Two days after that, she was in hospital unable to move or feel her legs.

The nerves in Ms Helmstedt's legs had been damaged by a strain of influenza B and she has spent the past two weeks regaining feeling in her legs, which are now at 75 per cent movement.

"I was really scared because I have two young boys so I was just thinking 'oh no, this cannot be happening'," she said.

"It was really scary because they like to play footy and wrestle and everything and that's what I like to do with them.

"I knew I can't dwell on it, I've got to keep moving forward and I'll beat it and I will."

Ms Helmstedt had driven herself to the doctor at 20 km/h when she could only drag her legs behind her. Her eight-year-old son PJ helped her struggle in to the clinic.

She was hospitalised immediately.

"He's [PJ] a trooper, he's done it before," she said.

"I didn't realise I was pregnant a few years ago and I fainted and hit my head and was unconscious and he called triple-0 so he's my little guardian angel."

Ms Helmstedt is hoping to get out of hospital next week but is waiting for a Brisbane neurologist to visit Saint Vincent's Hospital in Toowoomba to carry out tests on how damaged her nerves are.

Until then doctors do not know if she will ever recover full use of her legs.

"I'm very fit and active and always out there and it knocked me for six," she said.

"[My family] were scared at first but they know I'm pretty strong and I'll get through it."

Ms Helmstedt said she had no idea "at all" a flu could cause so much damage and thought flu shots were for "old people".

"I'll be getting them from now on," she said.

"When the kids have a sniffle I take them to the doctor, now I'll be going to the doctor as soon as I have a sniffle too."  http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/mother-paralysed-as-flu-rates-soar-20121016-27ot2.html

Meningitis Outbreak Is 'Nowhere Near The End,' Expert Says

 10/16/2012 9:38 am EDT

NEW YORK, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. meningitis outbreak that has so far killed 15 people and sickened more than 200 others is "nowhere near the end," a top medical expert said Tuesday, a day after federal authorities warned more tainted drugs may be linked to the health crisis.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, said on "CBS This Morning" that he expects a "steady increase" in the number of fungal meningitis infections over the coming weeks.

The move on Monday by the Food and Drug Administration to widen its investigation into the cause of the fungal meningitis outbreak to other drugs made by a Massachusetts pharmacy, the New England Compounding Center (NECC), is "ominous," Schaffner said.

"We were concerned that there might be other medications that might be contaminated coming from that pharmacy," said Schaffner, who is past-president of National Foundation for Infectious Disease. "The FDA has given us a heads up that that looks to be the case. We'll have to notify many more patients across the country that they may have been exposed to a fungal infection."

"I think we're still in the middle," Schaffner said, when asked about the outbreak's scope. "We're nowhere near the end of this problem. And we will see more patients reporting in ill and we'll have to treat many more going forward."

The FDA said Monday it was looking into two other drugs made by NECC, based outside of Boston in Framingham, Massachusetts.

The agency said it had received reports of a patient with possible meningitis who received an injection of a different steroid than the one found to have caused 15 deaths. It also said two transplant patients were infected with the rare fungus linked to the meningitis outbreak after receiving a heart drug also made by NECC.
Also on Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said nine more people were diagnosed with fungal meningitis linked to possibly tainted vials of the injected steroid methylprednisolone, bringing the number of cases to 212.

The patient identified by the FDA as potentially having meningitis received an injection of the steroid triamcinolone, also supplied by NECC.

The FDA said its investigation of that patient and the two who received the heart drug during surgery was ongoing, and it cautioned that any injectable drugs made by NECC, including those intended for use in eyes, are of "significant concern."

The FD..  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/16/meningitis-outbreak-nowhere-near-end-wiliam-schaffner_n_1969927.html

CDC says another 19 people diagnosed with meningitis in U.S. outbreak

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:55 GMT

Source: Reuters // Reuters

Oct 16 (Reuters) - Another 19 people have been diagnosed with fungal meningitis linked to possibly tainted vials of a steroid medication, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 231.

The CDC said there were two additional cases of infection in joints after a steroid injection but these were not confirmed as meningitis, bringing the total of infections nationwide to 233.

The death toll from the unprecedented outbreak was unchanged at 15, the CDC said.

The new cases were in Tennessee (6), Florida (2), Indiana (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (2), Ohio (2), and Virginia (1).

The federal Food and Drug Administration on Monday said it had widened its investigation to other drugs produced by New England Compounding Center, the specialist pharmacy at the center of the outbreak. The Massachusetts company faces multiple investigations and lawsuits over the tainted medication linked to the meningitis scare.  http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/cdc-says-another-19-people-diagnosed-with-meningitis-in-us-outbreak?

Vietnam-Stops all transport of live poultry from North to South

Pause transport of live poultry from North to South

16/10/2012 20:47

(TNO) 16:10 this afternoon, Pham Van Dong, director of the Veterinary Department (MARD) said today all over the country there are five provinces with avian influenza within 21 days, including: Quang Ngai, Ha Tinh, Tuyen Quang Hoa Binh and the Pacific.

In particular, in Quang Ngai are complicated with five new outbreaks arise in two weeks. Currently the province has had to 125,000 children infected poultry.

According to the East, though this dangerous disease is gradually put under control, the risk of further recurrence and spread on a large scale is very high.

"The provinces are translated to the destruction of infected animals and monitored areas with outbreaks, organized vaccination drive enclosure, prohibited activities and movement of poultry slaughter spread of disease," he East note.

According to the head of the Department of Animal Health, will continue to suspend the transportation of live poultry quarantine from the north to the south through the province of Quang Ngai and Kon Tum to prevent the H5N1 virus from 2.3.2.1 to branch the southern provinces until the country to control the current bird flu outbreak.  http://www.thanhnien.com.vn/pages/20121016/tam-dung-van-chuyen-gia-cam-song-tu-bac-vao-nam.aspx

Meningitis outbreak: CDC reports 233 infections

Investigators find a third type of mold in vials

1:57 PM, Oct 16, 2012

A third type of mold has been found in unopened vials produced by a compounding lab linked to a national outbreak of fungal infections that now stands at 233 cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today.

That number compares to 214 on Monday. All but two of the infections are fungal meningitis. The nationwide death count did not rise. In Tennessee, illnesses increased to 59, but the death count stayed at six.

The third mold is Cladosporium, which CDC officials described as a black mold similar to the dominant one, Exserohilum. Exserohilum has been confirmed in 26 cases. A third mold, Aspergillus, was detected in one patient. The vials came from New England Compounding Center’s Framingham, Mass., facility.

The number of confirmations for mold types is fewer than the number of people sickened because of the time it takes for grow a mold sample.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20121016/NEWS/310160074/1969?

Suspected Hantavirus case in Adirondacks

Oct 15, 2012 6:27 PM EDT

By Matt Henson - bio | email

ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y. -

It's a vacation to the Adirondacks that changed Michael Vaughan's life forever. 

"I might not have made it," said Michael Vaughan.

While hiking near Mount Marcy, the 72-year-old from Long Island decided to rest for the night in a lean-to, despite hearing mice crawling around everywhere. "There was a little bit of blood under my finger nail and I was like, 'oh, a mouse must have bitten me,'" he said.

The researcher at Stony Brook University thought nothing of it until a month later. "I had nausea -- headaches from climbing the stairs," he said.

His doctors diagnosed him with Hantavirus, an infection that attacks the lungs. It is contracted by  breathing in fumes from rodent droppings -- mainly mice. Vaughan spent four days in the intensive care unit. 

"It does have a mortality rate of 35-percent of those who are infected," said Dr. Erich Mackow with Stoney Brook Medicine.

Vaughan has fully recovered. Meanwhile, the New York Health Department and the Center for Disease Control are now working to confirm the doctor's initial lab tests.  

"This is nothing we have seen in the Adirondacks before," said Linda Beers, Essex County's Health Director.

Local health officials say there is no reason for local residents to be on high alert at this point, but they have added information about Hantavirus -- and how to prevent it -- on the county's web site. 

"We are taking a look see, wait see attitude," Beers said. "We're not overly concerned at this point."

The state health department hopes to have the lab results back by the end of the week. http://www.wcax.com/story/19826439/suspected-hantavirus-case-in-adirondacks

Ebola antibody treatment, produced in plants, protects monkeys from lethal disease

posted on: october 15, 2012 - 7:30pm

A new Ebola virus study resulting from a widespread scientific collaboration has shown promising preliminary results, preventing disease in infected nonhuman primates using monoclonal antibodies.

In this week's online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the research team describes a proof-of-concept for using a "cocktail" of monoclonal antibodies, or mAbs, to prevent lethal disease in rhesus macaques. When administered one hour after infection, all animals survived. Two-thirds of the animals were protected even when the treatment, known as MB-003, was administered 48 hours after infection.

Ebola virus, which causes hemorrhagic fever with human case fatality rates as high as 90 percent, has been responsible for numerous deaths in central Africa over the past several months. In addition to being a global health concern, the virus also is considered a potential biological threat agent. Currently there are no available vaccines or treatments approved for use in humans.

The work is the culmination of more than a decade of effort between government and industry partners. According to lead investigator Gene Olinger, Ph.D., a virologist at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), this consortium of investigators has taken very distinct technologies and combined them to develop a cutting-edge medical countermeasure against a lethal viral disease.

"It is rare that an antiviral compound prevents Ebola virus infection with limited to no morbidity in treated animals at any point of treatment following infection by this lethal virus," said Olinger. "Until recently, attempts to utilize antibodies to provide protection against Ebola virus have been met with failure. The level of protection against disease that we saw with MB-003 was impressive."

In addition, the production method used in this study offers the potential to make an economical and effective medical countermeasure, according to the authors. Initially developed as a monoclonal antibody cocktail in the mouse model, MB-003 was successfully humanized and then produced in the tobacco plant-based production system.

"We were pleased to see how well the humanized mAbs of MB-003 performed," said Larry Zeitlin, Ph.D., president of Mapp Biopharmaceutical and senior author on the study. "We also were pleasantly surprised by the superiority of the plant-derived mAbs compared to the same mAbs produced in traditional mammalian cell culture."

Further improvement in antibody efficacy was developed at Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP). Using a fully automated production system that operates in accordance with good manufacturing practices (GMP), antibody is produced in a tobacco plant system. This new development process significantly decreases the amount of time required for production, increases the quantity of antibody produced, and slashes the cost of manufacturing, according to Barry Bratcher, chief operating officer of KBP and co-author on the PNAS study.

"Our GMP facility can generate a new antibody lot in two weeks to rapidly address new threats and new outbreaks," said Bratcher.

Olinger said efforts are underway to advance MB-003 to clinical safety testing as his team at USAMRIID continues to determine the true therapeutic capability of the cocktail.

Source: US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

http://www.sciencecodex.com/ebola_antibody_treatment_produced_in_plants_protects_monkeys_from_lethal_disease-100164

FDA: Massachusetts compounding problem may be broader than steroid injection

“At this point in FDA’s investigation, the sterility of any injectable drugs … produced by [The New England Compounding Center] are of significant concern,” the agency wrote in a statement posted on its website, “and out of an abundance of caution, patients who received these products should be alerted to the potential risk of infection.”


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

Jumping DNA rides aboard a virus

Jumping DNA rides aboard a virus, which infects a giant virus, which infects an amoeba, which infected a woman’s eye

Earlier this year, a 17-year-old French woman arrived at her ophthalmologist with pain and redness in her left eye. She woman had been using tap water to dilute the cleaning solution for her contact lenses, and even though they were meant to be replaced every month, she would wear them for three. As a result, the fluid in her contact lens case had become contaminated with three species of bacteria, an amoeba called Acanthamoeba polyphaga that can caused inflamed eyes.

The mystery of the woman’s inflamed eyes was solved, but Bernard La Scola and Christelle Desnueslooked inside the amoeba, they found more surprises.

It was carrying two species of bacteria, and a giant virus that no one had seen before—they called it Lentille virus. Inside that, they found a virophage—an virus that infects other viruses—which they called Sputnik 2. And in both Lentille virus and Sputnik 2, they found even smaller genetic parasites – tiny chunks of DNA that can hop around the genomes of the virus, and stow away inside the virophage. They called these transpovirons.

So, the poor red eyes of the French patient were carrying an entire world of parasites, nested within one another like Russian Matryoshka nesting dolls. The transpovirons were hidden in the virophage, which infected the giant virus, which infected the amoeba, which infected the woman’s eyes.

Rise of the virophages

The same team found the first virophage – Sputnik – back in 2008, under similar circumstances. In dirty water from a Parisian cooling tower, they had i..

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/10/15/virophage-virus-transpoviron-amoeba-eye/

Deadly Meningitis Outbreak"POISONING" Tied to More Drugs, FDA Says

A second steroid manufactured by New England Compounding Center has been linked to another potential meningitis infection, U.S. regulators said.
A different steroid, methylprednisolone acetate, used as an injection for back pain from the Framingham, Massachusetts-based pharmacy has been tied to a fungal meningitis outbreak that has led to 214 infections in 15 U.S. states, killing 15 people.

The second steroid, triamcinolone acetonide, is used to treat skin conditions that result in itching, redness, dryness, and inflammation, according to the National Institutes of Health.The patients received the medication through an epidural injection. Transplant patients have also experienced fungal infections after being given a drug from t..
[link to www.bloomberg.com] 

Efforts to curb the epidemic of Ebola continue

Efforts to curb the epidemic of Ebola continue

October 15, 2012

Postponement

-

MSF

Doctors Without Borders and other organizations are trying to contain an outbreak of Ebola in Eastern Province, in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In three months, the disease has already been 34 victims, according to data from the Ministry of Health.

Twelve new cases have been confirmed since September 11, and four patients are being treated in hospital Isiro, the epicenter of the epidemic. Since the start of operations in August, MSF medical teams are doing everything possible to improve the well-being of patients by providing them and their families the care and psychosocial support...

http://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/les-efforts-pour-endiguer-l%E2%80%99%C3%A9pid%C3%A9mie-d%E2%80%99ebola-continuent

Meningitis outbreak toll: 214 cases, 15 deaths

2:01 PM, Oct 15, 2012 

An outbreak of fungal meningitis has been linked to steroid shots for back pain. The medication, made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts, has been recalled.

Latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Illnesses: 214; 212 cases of fungal meningitis, two ankle infections.
Deaths: 15
States: 15; Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. http://www.ksdk.com/news/health/article/343097/9/Steroid-linked-meningitis-outbreak-toll-214-cases-15-deaths-?

Pic from Nepal outbreak

Rapid Response Team holds a culled rooster as he walks in a poultry farm infected by bird flu in Bode

A member of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) holds a rooster that was culled as he walks in a poultry farm infected by H5N1 bird flu virus at Bode in Bhaktapur October 15, 2012. The District Administration Office has declared emergency in the area after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed at the poultry farm. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar   http://www.trust.org/alertnet/multimedia/pictures/detail.dot?mediaInode=9abb5dcd-cf93-4ca9-a40c-3248e14833a2

Controlled almost Ebola in Congo??

Text Peter Francisco | Photo DR | 10.15.2012 | 10:32

Health services have achieved judge halt the spread of the virus in the region of Isiro in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Killed 34 people including a woman who gave birth to a baby, who also died

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After a mighty scare, the region's population of Isiro in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can finally start breathing relief. The Ebola virus is now virtually controlled and only one person is hospitalized because of illness. Last week, the death of a young, 15 kilometers from Isiro, forced emergency teams to resume the procedures for screening and prevention. But if the next two weeks are not detected new cases will be officially declared the end of the epidemic.

According to the Consolata missionary Richard Larose, estimated to have killed at least 34 people in recent months with Ebola. Two of the victims were a woman who gave birth and the baby. Another five were health professionals. On the other hand, if a nurse who was hospitalized with infection, left good indication as to the importance of prevention. The training is free of danger and his mother, who dealt closely with her, was not infected. Since he sensed the first cases of the disease in Isiro, were sent teams of World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders, and the ministry of Health of the Congo to the ground to distribute protective equipment and provide information. And a great effort was made ​​to encourage people to take precautions. Still, many can be avoided hospitals for fear of being contaminated or placed in isolation, which can hinder the control of the virus, says Larose.

 http://www.fatimamissionaria.pt/artigo.php?cod=24696&sec=8

More drugs implicated in fungal meningitis poisonings

I am tired of hearing this shit described as an outbreak. It is really accidental drug poisoning. It is not an outbreak of anything, it is a huge poisoning of drugs do to ineptness and rampant unregulation of pharmaceutical companies. I am really having serious doubts about flu vaccines..

More drugs implicated in fungal meningitis outbreak
By Maggie Fox, NBC News
Two more drugs have been implicated in the ongoing outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to contaminated pain injections, federal health officials said Monday.
Both come from the same pharmacy, New England Compounding Center, that distributed the steroids suspected of sickening at least 205 people and killing 15 of them, the Food and Drug Administration said in a statement. 
One is a steroid called triamcinolone acetonide and another is a product used during heart surgery. While the FDA hasn’t confirmed that the two products are to blame, it’s issued a warning...

..“In addition, two transplant patients with Aspergillus fumigatus infection who were administered NECC cardioplegic solution during surgery have been reported,” the FDA added...

[link to vitals.nbcnews.com] 

Qishan - after payment lo avian influenza A/H5N1 appeared

Updated: Monday, 15/10/2012 | 4:50:34 PM

Ky Son district veterinary force at checkpoints controlled Hop Thinh. (HBDT) - At present, the province has emerged avian influenza A/H5N1 outbreak in Hoa Son, The Hoa (Liangshan) and Trung Minh City (Ho Hoa Binh). About 1,700 dead and sick poultry were destroyed.

Ky Son district is located between the two localities (Dan Hoa commune, Ky Son town is bordered by the epidemic) and the National Highway 6 passes through the area. Meanwhile, the poultry has not been given this vaccine, so a very high risk of disease. District Veterinary Station is actively directing the township taken seriously, strict quarantine measures..... http://www.baohoabinh.com.vn/219/74261/Ky_Son__nom_nop_lo_dich_cum_gia_cam_AH5N1_xuat_hien.htm

Avian flu traced in Bhaktapur farm

Monday, 15 October 2012 16:37

Samples of dead chicken from a farm in Bhaktapur sent for lab tests have tested positive for Avian influenza (H5N1), officials confirmed on Monday.

The flu had claimed around 1,400 of the 2,000 chickens in Om Bahadur Khadka's farm, said Dr Narayan Prasad Ghimire, senior Veterinarian at Animal Health Directorate.

Dr Ghimire, who is leading a government team overseeing the flu-hit area, told Nepalnews that authorities have culled all the chicken being raised at the farm. The team, which has already returned back from the site, said it has informed the locals about the situation and told them to take precautions  http://www.nepalnews.com/home/index.php/news/2/22173--avian-flu-traced-in-bhaktapur-farm.html?

Nepal Destroys Chickens and Eggs Amid H5N1 Outbreak

Authorities in Nepal on Monday destroyed hundreds of chickens and eggs after an outbreak of bird flu hit the country's capital Kathmandu, according to a government official.
Government officials said that the birds were culled after the H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected at a poultry farm on the outskirts of Kathmandu. The virus was detected in Kathmandu for the first time in December 2011, and it was also detected in southeastern Nepal in February.
Read more at http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/12700/20121015/nepal-destroys-chickens-eggs-amid-h5n1-outbreak.htm#kkAzkAlZv3BkABu5.99 

Bird flu confirmed in Bode farm

 2012-10-15 1:22 PM

: At least 1,200 chickens have died of bird flu at a poultry farm in Bode-3 of Madhyapur Thimi in Bhaktapur till Monday noon.

The Animal Health Directorate collected samples of dead chickens from the farm after its owner, Om Bahadur Khadka, reported death of chickens.

Khadka’s poultry farm used to inhabit 2,000 fowls.

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Bird+flu+confirmed+in+Bode+farm+&NewsID=351041

2,500 chickens died of unknown causes

Last updated: 15: 16 ': 44'' (GMT +7) - 14/10/2012

According to the report of the District Veterinary Station Giong Trom, dated 26-9-2012, in the he Tran Van Thinh hamlet of 3 households, Chau Rating (Giong Trom) 2,500 chickens died but not the cause. Inspection team of the provincial Animal Health Department to the scene to check and record the first step as follows. Mr. Binh, the total poultry population is 2803, of which 2700 children (200 chickens 22 days of age, 2,500 children age 63 days); 100 Siamese ducks 4 months and 3 geese. Disease arises chickens 2,500. According to the investigation, his chickens Thinh have been vaccinated bird flu vaccine on days 12, 13-9 and fully vaccinated infectious diseases like Gomboro, chicken pox, cholera. After vaccination, the chickens are healthy and developing normally. 22-9, he Thinh found chickens with signs like some ruffled feathers, limp, so he used vitamin C mixed into drinking water for the whole flock.  On 23-9, chickens deteriorating, begins to die a lot, just one day die and 800 and on 24-9, died about 800, died 400 25. As of 26-9, the total number of chickens died 2200. Own chickens 200 22-day-old, Siamese ducks, geese remain healthy and normal development. After receiving the information, dated 24-9-2012, Department of Animal Health has sent staff to coordinate Veterinary Station Giong Trom, CPC Chau Binh actual verification. Initial results show that chickens died quickly, but clinical results and medical surgery corpse found no symptoms, lesions typical of avian influenza. However, with the death rate so much higher, faster in just 2 days with 64% (1.600/2.500).  Chickens died of unknown causes and the process response to avian influenza outbreaks of the Department of Animal Health, this is the death rate suspicion of bird flu. So the Department has direct sampling switch back to the Regional Veterinary six tests. 25-9, Department leadership, the department, the District Veterinary Station, CPC Hangzhou Rating implement emergency measures to handle. Unified destroy all the remaining chickens in the barn range sick at the request of the owners. Own chickens 22 days old, Siamese ducks, geese and healthy is not destroyed, and make a commitment to household continued custody while awaiting test results under the supervision of local authorities.  Continue sampling Regional Animal Health Agency sent 6 test, if the results are positive for the H5N1 flu virus, the owners are entitled to all support policies prescribed by the State. Cases tested negative for the H5N1 virus, the owners will not be entitled to support the destruction of poultry and burial expenses. Hygiene disinfection organizations every day one at the time of Mr. Thinh and neighboring households. Vaccination bird flu vaccine for poultry new re flocks, coming all the time in the commune immune. Close monitoring of poultry in disease and households surrounding area. 27-9, according to test results of the Regional Veterinary clinical 6 harvests examination forms and the results of the examination opening minutes did not find lesions of avian flu. 28-9, 6 Regional Animal Health Agency to answer test three samples were negative for avian influenza virus and Newcastle disease virus. At the same time, also sent a delegation epidemiological coordinate with the Department of Animal Health Ben Tre to areas with the disease to epidemiological investigation to find out the cause of death at his home Thinh bulk chicken. Department continues to coordinate the Regional Veterinary Research 6, examine on to find fast can cause death in chickens. According MA Phan Trung Nghia, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health, Ben Tre, the proposed unit Steering Giong Trom direct prevention Chau Binh continue to test, monitor the disease situation on local poultry, especially the region neighboring communes. Upon detection of the disease suggest a quick message SDAH for coordinated handling. Additional vaccination bird flu vaccine for the entire poultry population in the commune, sufficient number of doses prescribed.Propagating the disease warning and guide preventive measures for raising poultry. http://www.baodongkhoi.com.vn/?act=detail&id=28661

Dwindling Crows Worry Priests, Devotees During 'Pind Daan

Gaya, Oct 15 (IANS): The dwindling number of crows here is giving sleepless nights to Hindu priests and devotees during the ongoing pind daan, religious rites seeking salvation for the dead from the cycle of rebirth. Crows are considered central to the age-old pind daan rituals, following which the devotees offer them food as they are believed to be the ancestors of Hindus. The priests are neither bird lovers nor environmentalists, but worried nonetheless over fthe ast declining numbers of crows in this ancient town. "The situation is alarming. There is a scarcity of crows here, which has hit the pind daan rituals" (during the fortnight-long pitrapaksh period)," priest Mahesh Lal Gupt told IANS. Gupt blamed the increase of cellphone towers for the death of crows. Others said that mindless cutting of trees in the town and surrounding areas led to the disappearance of crows. Hundreds of crows have died in Bihar this year, particularly in Gaya, Banka, Nawada, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Munger and Aurangabad districts because of bird flu. Last year, neighbouring Jharkhand had reported similar mass deaths of crows. The fortnight-long pitrapaksh period during which Hindus consider it auspicious to offer pind daan began last month. "The soul of a deceased keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead," Rajan Sijaur, another priest told IANS. Pind daan is traditionally offered by Hindus, but historical records available with priests show that some Muslims also performed the ritual in the past. Legend has it that Lord Rama performed this religious rite for his father, king Dasarath.  http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=152626

Mixed flu strain in Mizo man

Researchers from the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) in Kolkata have spotted a classical case of 'sporadic reassortment' — mixing of genetic material from swine and human origin viruses — in an influenza A viral strain with H1N2 subtype.¹ The study supports the possibility of 'reassortment events' during influenza season when infectivity is high and two different subtypes of the virus circulate together in the same geographical location.

This item is available free as a special feature to registered visitors. To read this story in full you will need to log in or register with nature.com  http://www.nature.com/nindia/2012/121015/full/nindia.2012.154.html

Transition, Hundreds Dead Chicken

Saturday, October 13, 2012, 10:21:00

Transition, Hundreds Dead Chicken

Pakpak Bharat- Hundreds of chickens livestock owned by the people in the village Ulumerah, District STTU Julu, Bharat Pakpak District sudden death. The discovery of many chickens that died during this past week. As stated a farmer in the village of Ulumerah, Saordana Berutu accompanied by several people, Thursday (11/10) said that, since this week poultry belonging to the resident died suddenly. It happened every day.

 Due to the death of the chickens is not known for sure, but it happened as the presence of uncertain weather. Began to rain, strong winds to lightning. "We have reported the death of the chickens to the government, we are also asked to immediately addressed," he said. Menyahuti citizen petition, Head of Agricultural Extension, Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources (BP4K) Pakpak Bharat, Makner Banurea SP has received confirmed reports from villagers Ulumerah. Now this team Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response (PDSR) led Full br Ketaren, SP, accompanied by F Signs Matio Tampubolon and Hulmala Sitorus of the Department of Agriculture.

 "Our team was immediately sent down to examine the dead birds, the results can be directly asked to the teams that have PDSR survey into the field, "he said. interim examination results, full br Ketaren revealed, the team found the cause of the disease PDSR poultry, it occurs due to changes in extreme drought with the rainy season when the season changes, frequent disease in poultry. admitted in the transition season stamina and the health of livestock decreased, especially in the rainy season disease in poultry increases.

  "Community governance required to make a good livestock raising, such as increased feed nutrients, improving biosecurity through sanitation and disinfection of animal cages and equipment enclosures, "he said. Based on observations BP4K officer, PDSR team, and Distanbun. Certainly there is no bird flu virus (Avian Influenza, Red), but more due as Newcastle and Snot. "To minimize this effort poultry disease that can be done is after the next month will be implemented prevention through waksinasi ND to healthy chickens that are not affected back and look forward to future such incidents will not happen again, "said Ketaren br. (mag-14)  http://www.jpnn.com/read/2012/10/13/143152/Pancaroba,-Ratusan-Ayam-Mati-

No new coronavirus cases since Sept 22

Geneva, 3 hours, 52 minutes ago

No new cases of infection with the novel coronavirus have been reported since September 22 even as governments of Saudi, Qatar and the United Kingdom are working to gain a better understanding of the disease and likely source of infection.
 
So far, after careful follow-up of close contacts of the two confirmed cases, and a heightened state of global surveillance , there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus, said a World Health Organisation (WHO) report.

WHO is supporting the national authorities in their ongoing investigation, and has deployed experts to Saudi and Qatar as part of an international team.

These and future epidemiological and scientific studies will lead to a better understanding of the novel coronavirus, it stated.

WHO said it continues to work with the ministries of health and other international partners to coordinate actions for timely detection, rapid diagnosis and case management of infection caused by the novel coronavirus, should the need arise.
 
Based on this overall situation, WHO is encouraging member states to continue with their routine surveillance to ensure early detection and rapid response to all potential public health threats.   http://www.tradearabia.com/news/HEAL_223728.html?