Uganda Red Cross, government and partners in Marburg Fever operation

Written by Catherine Ntabadde

Monday, 05 November 2012 08:39

By Ronald Arinaitwe-Branch Manager URCS Kabale Since the outbreak of Marburg fever in Kabale, the district task force formed sub committees to control the disease. The Uganda Red Cross Society Kabale branch  is attached to the social mobilization committee charged with the responsibility of sensitizing the communities about Marburg.   42 URCS branch volunteers were mobilized and have been trained by the district to help in sensitizing the communities.Volunteers engaged.The branch engaged 42 volunteers in this exercise as below:• 14 Red Cross Action Team (RCAT) volunteers were on Thursday 25th trained by Medicines San Frontiers and deployed at the Isolation Centre set up at Rushoroza Health Centre III. • 28 branch volunteers were trained by Health Officers from the District Health Office and are now involved in house to house sensitization exercise in villages and in the 3 divisions of Kabale Municipality. They move with a team of social mobilizers from the district. Community entry The volunteers liaise with the local leaders to penetrate the communities. They move house to house sensitizing the household members about Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever. The involvement of local leaders has helped to build confidence in the communities and also accepting the volunteers to pass on the message to them. Activities done  .•At the isolation centre, the volunteers are engaged in spraying at the different entries of the isolation centre as trained and oriented by MSF Officers. •Volunteers are carrying out door to door household sensitization in villages, wards and divisions allocated to them on daily basis. •On prayer days like Friday, Saturday and Sundays, the volunteers give talks about Marburg in the Mosques and churches. •Distribution and pinning up Information, Education and Communication materials  • Every day 2 meetings are attended in the morning and evening at the District Lukiiko Hall. Safety of the volunteers. All Branch Volunteers participating in this exercise were oriented on the risk of Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever and were also trained by a team of Health Officials before they started working.   At the isolation centre at Rushoroza Health Centre III,  14 volunteers deployed received special training and orientation about the isolation centre by Officials from Medicine San Frontiers, They were all given protective gears such as heavy duty gloves, face masks, gumboots, washing water mixed with jik and soap and also overalls.   All the safety precautions are observed by the volunteers in the field and those working at the isolation centre.  Partners in the Marburg Fever operation  URCS through its Kabale Branch  Medicine San Frontiers  World Health Organization AFENET  World Vision Care Internationa l Ministry of Health  Office of the Prime Minister  Police  Kabale District Political Leader  Local radios

Last Updated on Thursday, 08 November 2012 07:52 http://www.redcrossug.org/component/content/article/1-latest-news/390-uganda-red-cross-government-and-partners-in-marburg-fever-operation.html

Traders in Kabale Force Health Minister to Lift Ban on Markets

State Minister for primary health care Sarah Aceng Opendi was on Friday held hostage by angry traders at Kabale district head quarters.
All it says

BEEN CLOSED DUE TO MARBURG..NOW FORCED TO OPEN.
http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=47279

One-year-old dies of Marburg in Ibanda

Saturday, November 10  2012 at  02:00

IBANDA

A one-and-half-year old boy has reportedly died of Marburg virus at Ruhoko Hospital in Ibanda District.

The District Health Officer, Dr Julius Bamwine, on Thursday confirmed to Saturday Monitor that the victim, only identified as Alexander, died on Wednesday night. “I can confirm to you that one of the victims from Kikyenkye, who had tested positive to Marburg virus died last night. He is a son to Mr Mande who lost his wife to the same disease recently,” Mr Bamwine said. The baby becomes the second person from Ibanda to die of the virus but the ninth to succumb to the killer virus in the region.

The Health ministry confirmed the Marburg outbreak a month ago in the western district of Kabale. It has since spread to three other districts in Western Uganda. Alexander’s mother, Rosette Katusiime, died of the virus at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital on October 23. Her husband had also tested positive.

The boy was admitted at Rukoho Hospital with other four suspected cases last week. 
The number of suspected cases has since gone up to 12. Dr Bamwine said they are in the process of discharging eight people who have tested negative while four still remain under surveillance as they wait for their results from Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe.

At Mbarara hospital, the three suspected cases admitted last week have tested negative and been discharged but two more cases were on Wednesday admitted with symptoms similar to those of the Marburg virus.

“We have two male suspected Marburg patients; one is from Kisenyi in Kakoba Division, Mbarara Town. He had severe nasal bleeding while the other is from Rwampara County in Mbarara. He was vomiting and passed stool with blood,” said Ms. Eugenia Namulindwa, the in-charge of the isolation unit.

The virus
Seven other people have died of Marburg Virus in Kabale District since October 19 and two are positive and remain admitted at Rushoroza Isolation Centre.

Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a rare, severe type of hemorrhagic fever which affects both humans and non-human primates. The virus is reported to be transmitted through bodily fluids like saliva and blood of an infected person, along with getting in touch with infected wild animals such as monkeys.  http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/One+year+old+dies+of+Marburg+in+Ibanda/-/688334/1616178/-/aetde2z/-/index.html

Second chicken tests positive for (EEE) virus

A second sentinel chicken has tested positive for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, prompting Hernando County health officials to issue a cautionary advisory.

The chicken is part of the same flock as the first chicken that tested positive for the virus last month.

The flock is located in the northwest corner of Hernando County, off Zebrafinch Ave., west of U.S. 19.

This means that mosquitoes carrying the EEE virus are present in the area.

The county maintains several flocks of chickens throughout the county that are tested periodically to determine if they are carrying a mosquito-borne virus.

The viruses are not harmful to the chickens, but they can be deadly to humans and horses.

Hong Kong traveller tests negative for Sars

A Hong Kong man who fell ill following a trip to Saudi Arabia is not infected by a new respiratory virus related to Sars, the Centre for Health Protection said on Wednesday afternoon.

A centre spokesman said a nasal specimen and throat swab taken from the patient both tested negative for the new coronavirus associated with Sars.

The 59-year-old man, who has underlying illnesses, came down with fever, coughing and shortness of breath on Tuesday.

He was admitted to the isolation ward at Princess Margaret Hospital on Tuesday and is reported in stable condition.

The patient, who lives in Hong Kong, travelled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on October 9 and then to Medina and Mecca. He returned to Hong Kong last Thursday.

He was not exposed to wild animals during his stay in the Gulf nation, and none of his travelling companions or home contacts show any symptoms, the centre said.

Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry this week confirmed a new case of the respiratory virus in the kingdom, raising the total number to three in recent weeks.  http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1076988/hong-kong-man-tested-sars-virus

Uganda plans wildlife cull as deadly Ebola and Marburg affect tourism

Posted on Tuesday, 06 November 2012 13:59

The deadly Ebola and Marburg diseases, which hit Uganda recently, are negatively impacting on the country's tourism.

A number of foreign tourists have reportedly cancelled their trips to Uganda due to fear of the disease.

The country's Ministry of Tourism has resolved to cull all wild animals in national parks, as they suspect these could be carrying the fatal viruses.

Mid this year, there was an Ebola outbreak, where 14 people died. A Marburg virus outbreak, a few weeks ago, has so far claimed 10 lives.

Tourism Minister, Maria Mutagamba said her ministry was working with the Health Ministry to carry out research and identify animals carrying the viruses so they could adopt preventive measures.

Ebola and Marburg diseases are believed to originate from wild animals, and as Ugandans are fond of game meat, they are prone to infection from the deadly diseases.

"We are looking at several ways of fighting the deadly diseases. Fencing the game parks so that local people do not access them would be the best option but it is very expensive.

"We shall eliminate animals suspected to be carrying viruses of Ebola and Marburg," Mutagamba said.

She said because of Ebola and Marburg diseases a number of foreign tourists cancelled their trips to Uganda, leading to loss of income.

A medical expert, Dr Asuman Lukwago said suspected cases of Marburg had been found in monkeys, chimpanzees and bats.

He said when some people poach wild animals in game parks, they end up killing and eating those infected with deadly virus and they also get infected.



But Uganda wildlife authority spokesperson, Lillian Nsubuga wonders how animals would be identified for the cull, as there are thousands of them.



"I wonder how they will identify animals with Ebola or Marburg virus. There are thousands of buffaloes and hippos. How will they check them for the virus?" she asked.

She blamed people living near the national parks for poaching uncertified and wild animals for game.

Read the original article on Theafricareport.com : Uganda plans wildlife cull as deadly Ebola and Marburg affect tourism | The Africa Report.com 
Follow us: @theafricareport on Twitter

Marburg survivor narrates ordeal

 Publish Date: Nov 04, 2012

 Obed Musinguzi Tutegyerize, 25, was last week discharged from hospital after fully recovering from Marburg fever. He was sick for nearly one month.

Until recently, Tutegyerize’s family was seen as the most progressive household in Rwabirundo village, Kitumba sub-county, Kabale district. When a strange illness killed four members of the family, including a university lecturer, many blamed it on witchcraft by envious neighbours.

Tutegyerize, a secondary school teacher and agricultural scientist, was looking forward to a family re-union and thanksgiving this Christmas because it had been a good year for the entire family. “We knew God had started doing amazing things in the family and we believed it would continue in the coming years.”

His sister first became sick in July 2012 and was admitted at Rugarama Health Centre. She was treated for typhoid and brucellosis and she recovered.

In mid-September, Tutegyerize’s brother, Bernard Rutaro, returned from Ibanda where he was teaching. After one day at home, he complained of headache and fever, he was rushed to Rugarama Health Centre. He died three days later. Doctors failed to detect the cause of death.

Eleven days later, on September 28, Tutegyerize developed fever, headache and vomiting. He was treated unsuccessfully at a clinic before being referred to Rugarama hospital, where he was treated for malaria unsuccessfully.

“When I was at Rugarama, Mummy also became sick and was brought to the same hospital. She passed away on October 4. I was in a critical condition and did not know when Mummy died. I got to know it after her burial.”

Tutegyerize was eventually transferred to Kampala for further treatment. Meanwhile, family members kept dying. Eventually, health workers established that it was Marburg. Tutegyerize tested positive and was moved to the isolation centre, where he says, life was hell.

 “On my first day, I was given one meal. I am told they were still organising since I was the first person there. On the second day, they delivered breakfast at midday, lunch at 5:00pm and dinner towards midnight. It is real isolation, you feel lonely, think a lot and can get weaker. You have no one to talk to.”

He remained in isolation until eight days ago when he was discharged. Doctors say he is Marburg-free and will therefore not infect others.

Today, he has been co-opted into the Marburg task force to help with educating the public about the disease. At least nine people, including a health worker, have died of Marburg in five districts (Kabale, Kampala, Ibanda, Mbarara, Kabarole) since the outbreak in September.  http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/637017-marburg-survivor-narrates-ordeal.html

Discovery of the first case of infection Corona citizen in a hospital in the city of Riyadh

December 19, 1433
Continuation of what you do and the Ministry of Health of the survey and epidemiological and surveillance and preventive for all infectious diseases, as part of its efforts to maintain the health and safety of citizens and residents, in line with the approach of transparency adopted by the ministry with all citizens and the media, and a desire to see everyone updated on the situation with regard to these diseases ;
Ministry wishes to announce the discovery of a case of getting infected with Corona citizen in a hospital in the city of Riyadh; were suspected in his case, and was immediately conduct tests and analyzes necessary for him in the laboratories of the ministry. As the sample was sent to a specialized laboratory outside the Kingdom, noting that the patient did not leave the Riyadh area.

The results were confirmed for a positive situation; Therefore, the ministry at the time to take all actions and precautionary measures to deal with this situation, and in accordance with the norms of scientific and medical WHO guidelines, as well as recommended by the National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases, whose membership includes specialized consultants representing all sectors of health government.

The Ministry wishes to point out that the patient had received appropriate treatment, and recovered, and that the health status of reassuring not to worry; where are these cases individually, and equal most people infected with the virus to heal - God willing - after providing supportive therapy appropriate for such this topic cases like viruses that cause for respiratory infections such as influenza and other seasonal. The Ministry wishes to reassure everyone that it continues to follow developments in the situation about this virus in coordination with international organizations and international medical bodies and regional organizations. May God protect our country from all evils, and the pleasures of all-time health and wellness.http://www.moh.gov.sa/Ministry/Media...11-04-002.aspx

Saudi confirms third case of newly discovered SARS-like virus

(Reuters) - A Saudi citizen in the capital Riyadh is the world's third confirmed case of a newly discovered SARS-related virus but he has now recovered from his illness, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The potentially deadly novel coronavirus is from the same family as SARS but had only been confirmed in two previous cases: a 60-year-old Saudi man who died earlier this year, and a man from Qatar who was treated in a London hospital.

Saudi authorities conducted tests on the new case in the Health Ministry and then sent abroad a sample which tested positive, the agency said, citing a statement from the ministry.

"The patient received the appropriate treatment and has recovered," the agency quoted the ministry as stating, adding that the man had not left Riyadh.

The World Health Organisation put out a global alert in September on the virus, but later added that it did not appear to spread easily from person to person.

  http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/11/04/us-coronavirus-saudi-idINBRE8A30EH20121104

Saudi man cured of SARS family virus: ministry

(AFP) – 49 minutes ago 
RIYADH — A Saudi man has been cured after he was diagnosed with a mystery illness from the same family as the deadly SARS virus and from which one person died, the kingdom's health ministry said on Sunday.
He was "diagnosed with a coronavirus infection at a hospital in Riyadh," the ministry announced in a statement reported by the official SPA news agency.
A batch of medical tests sent to "a specialised laboratory outside the kingdom" showed that the man, who did not leave Riyadh, was infected with a virus that had caused fears of an outbreak ahead of last month's hajj pilgrimage.
It did not say when the man was diagnosed with the illness.
He "received suitable treatment and has been cured," said the statement, adding that "the state of his health is reassuring."
"These are individual cases and most of those infected with this virus have been cured after being provided with suitable treatment," it said, without mentioning if any other patients had been diagnosed with the disease.
The World Health Organisation said in September that the illness in the coronavirus family had caused the death of a Saudi national.
It has also left a Qatari man seriously ill in a London hospital after he was transferred there from Doha earlier this month, the WHO said, adding he had previously been in Saudi Arabia.
The two cases occurred three months apart in June and September respectively, said the WHO, stressing the illness was not Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome which swept out of China in 2003, killing more than 800 people worldwide.
What sets the new virus apart from SARS, the agency added, is that it causes rapid kidney failure.
Fears rose last month over the potential spread of the virus during the Muslim hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. But the kingdom's health ministry repeatedly reassured pilgrims that no epidemic outbreaks had been registered.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...049c6ca4a1.191

Hakkijvara: 21 chicken house cleaning

Prajavani News

• November 04, 2012
• 
  

Development and training organization in the wake of widespread hesaraghattada hakkijvara chicken hen central processing speed from menegalannu cleaning. Prajavani ~ 'representative organization in the drsyavaligalivu if you visit on a Saturday ..

. The campus  crew rest for a while when (Figure 1), chicken nests cleaning process as part of the chemical simpadisuttiruva worker (2), chicken gudigala debris burning workers (3), officials monitoring (4), continuous work after the lunch break (5), the kvartrasge Cooking gas supply is sourced from the bike while wearing a mask (6), carrying the remains of nests disposal of poultry workers (7), before disposal, bhagnavesagalannu goniyalli tumbisitta context (8), the latter after the disposal of the remains scientifically (9) - prajavani Images / R. srikantha Sharma

Bangalore: hakkijvara of the background, development and training organization hesaraghattada chicken hen houses the central operating pragatiyalliddu cleaning, ಶುದ್ಧಗೊಳಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ Saturday 21 chicken houses. 

'Homes in the center of the 52 chickens, clean all houses need at least three days. The action plan for the disposal of waste by the central government's announcement that it would 'be pasupalana and Veterinary Department. 

'Surveillance team in the six villages in the wake of Saturday visit to the 27 blood samples sent to the laboratory for testing the samples collected and 27 kloyakal. 
So far, 181 families in 70 villages and 28 455 blood samples from chickens and chicken pharangalallina kloyakal 458 samples collected were sent to the laboratory for testing.  http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=kn&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fprajavani.net%2Fhome%2Findex-1.php

MARBURG UPDATE:

Marburg isolation unit set up in Fort Portal

A medical team from the UVRI in Entebbe bury a seven-year-old boy suspected to have died after showing Marburg-like symptoms. This was at Kikube Village in Luweero District on Thursday. Photo by Dan Wandera 

By Geoffrey Mutegeki & Bridget Karungi

Posted  Sunday, November 4  2012 at  02:00

A Marburg isolation centre has been set up at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital following the death of a suspected Marburg victim. 
The centre was set up on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Alisen Murorwa, a resident of Kiceri Village in Kasenda Sub-county, Kabarole District, died with symptoms similar to those of a Marburg virus.

He was vomiting blood and bleeding through the eyes and nose. Murorwa died in the general ward at the referral hospital causing panic among the health workers and patients.

Last week, Murorwa’s daughter, Mbabazi Amooti, 35, also died under unclear circumstances.
However, health workers are not sure if she had Marburg symptoms, since she did not die from the hospital.

Murorwa was buried on Thursday by health workers, despite resistance from his relatives and friends.

The District Health Officer, Dr Richard Mugahi, said the tests of the deceased were taken to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe and they expected the results on Friday evening.

He said: “Health workers are still investigating if the deceased travelled to Kabale and Ibanda, where there has been an outbreak of Marburg.” 
Health workers are also monitoring the friends and relatives of Murorwa and his wife who could have come into contact with him and that should the results turn out to be positive, they will be quarantined.

Meanwhile, authorities in Luweero District have set up a surveillance team at the District Medical Department to monitor the health situation at Kikube Village, Luweero Sub-county after a seven-year-old boy died on Wednesday shortly after complaining of fever and vomiting, which according to health officials, are some of the symptoms of the deadly Marburg virus.

The family of the deceased and residents of Kikube Village were ordered not to handle the body for burial and had to wait for more than 12 hours before a medical team from the UVRI arrived to take the specimen sample for testing and conduct the burial of the deceased. They also educated the residents on the safety measures the health department has proposed in case the specimen samples test positive. http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Marburg+isolation+unit+set+up+in+Fort+Portal/-/688334/1610752/-/qs4801/-/index.html

The avian flu scare and after

Chethan Kumar, Nov 4, 2012

The outbreak of the H5N1 influenza has sent authorities into a tizzy even as the cause remains a mystery

Eleven days after the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) - a subtype H5N1 - was reported at the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) farm at Hesaraghatta near here, the unit has no more birds.

The authorities, under the supervision of appropriate personnel, have culled all the birds in the farm following the Centre’s Action Plan-2012 for control and containment of AI.
Thousands of birds, including chicken, duck and emu, having been culled; and the process of disposing them of and sanitising the 50-odd units that are a part of the farm having begun, the focus now is on how to contain the spread of the virus.

A prohibitory order banning the sale and marketing of poultry and poultry products in a 10-km radius of the CPDO is in place till November 15, as a precaution.

While the officials concerned and doctors are on the prevention job, the cause and the spread of the virus is still undetermined. Almost 200 samples have been sent to the high-security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, and another laboratory, but the State departments are still awaiting the reports.

A well-placed source said that even the reports might not be able to identify the cause accurately. Thereby, the way it spread will go undetermined if one depends completely on the reports. Theories are afloat about migratory birds having caused it. There is, however, no confirmation.

In an attempt to find out the source of the virus, the authorities have, besides blood samples, begun checking bird-feed, litter, feather samples and water, sources said. The focus, however, is on bird litter which spreads the virus faster.

While no fresh cases of bird deaths due to the flu have been reported in and around Hesaraghatta, or in Bangalore, caution is prescribed by almost everybody involved in detecting and solving the problem.

Most AI viruses do not infect humans. Some, including H5N1, have, however, caused serious infections in the past. Experts believe that the case fatality rate for H5N1 virus infections is much higher compared with other seasonal influenza infections.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “The disease caused by the H5N1 virus follows an unusually aggressive clinical course with rapid deterioration, and has high fatality.”

The incubation period for H5N1 avian influenza may be longer than that for normal seasonal influenza, which is around two to three days. Data with the WHO shows that H5N1 infection indicates an incubation period ranging from two to eight days and possibly as long as 17 days.

Further, the authorities, who are confident of containing the virus from spreading to other birds in the vicinity and to humans, are busy with sanitation work. According to experts, the sanitisation process is expected to take at least eight to 10 days more as no prescribed procedure, given the nature of the virus, can be ignored. 

“We also need to take care of disposing of the birds that have been culled and those that will be culled to prevent the disease from spreading further,” a senior official from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences (AH&VS) said.

Dead birds, including those culled, have to be buried in a four-layered pit filled with different kinds of chemicals at every layer in order to ensure containment of the disease.
Besides, the equipment in the farm have to be sanitised and there are different procedures to sanitise plastic, iron and steel equipment.

While sanitisation of the 50-odd units at the farm is a headache, authorities also have to worry about the scientific disposal of the litter, the paddy husk used in the sheds, the seeds, et al; and officials point out that this is a more difficult task than disposing of dead birds. Given the complexities, the AH&VS department has to take sufficient care of the personnel involved in such tasks.

On whether or not the personnel involved in surveillance, sanitisation, culling and disposal are protected and quarantined, Aravind Jannu, Principal Secretary AH&VS, said, “Everything is being taken care of scientifically.”

“All the staff members involved in culling and disposing of the birds have been provided with special equipment and clothing as prescribed by the Centre and all measures are being taken,” the officer said.

He said the staff are being sanitised before and after they begin the activity and that they have all been administered a specific kind of prophylactic, a drug used to prevent spread of any disease.
About 25 rapid response teams are involved in culling and disposing of 19,235 chickens, 13,673 ducks, 369 emu birds, and sanitisation of 52 poultry sheds in the CPDO farm. No unusual death of birds has been noticed in the surveillance zone or in any part of the State.  http://www.deccanherald.com/content/290001/avian-flu-scare-after.html

India- Snapshots from the epicentre

Snapshots from the epicentre

Ramzauva Chhakchhuak, Nov 4, 2012

Days after the outbreak of avian flu, the Central Poultry Department Organisation (CPDO) at Hesara­ghatta has been busy culling, cleaning and sanitising its farms. On the way to the CPDO, it isn’t difficult to see how the news of the spread of the flu has affected life around the government farm. 

Chicken shops have no customers and cages and coops, usually crammed with birds, have only feathers as remnants.

A stall at Doddabilakere had only one live bird. The shop owner told Deccan Herald: “Blood samples had been taken from this particular bird and we were told not to sell it till 31st (of October).”

Sangeeta Hindu Military Hotel in the vicinity saw a high demand for mutton, pork and fish items. “There are no chickens or eggs on the menu, as of now,” said a worker at the hotel.

Visitors’ entry restricted

Almost all the gates of the CPDO were locked when Deccan Herald visited the farm. A board with the message: ‘Visitors’ entry strictly restricted. All visitors are requested to kindly co-operate’, hung from Gate 1 to 4. A huge sheet of blue tarpaulin covered Gate 5 and a guard at the main gate (2) and another at Gate 4 wore masks.

Activities going on at the CPDO were meant to be a secret. Two guards made frequent trips on their bikes around the facility to ensure nothing happening inside the farms is disturbed. The RH-3 building of the ‘Duck Unit’ inside Gate 2 had men dressed in white protection suits busy cleaning duck coops.

They were emptying the contents of the coops into gunny bags and tying them up. Next to the main gate was the ‘Turkey Unit’ and men in white suits seemed to be using a burner to sanitise the coops. ‘Officials in charge of the control and sanitation’ of the CPDO were at the site, but refused to talk or divulge details about what was going on inside the farm. 
The aftermath

A staffer at the CPDO, who did not want to be named, told Deccan Herald that 3,000 emus weighing 55 kg and costing Rs 75,000 each; two ostriches of 120 kg and Rs 1,20,000 each; 16,000 ducks and 18,000 chickens had been culled at the farm.

Burial grounds

Noisome stench pervaded the area behind the facility. Towards the northern wall of the ‘Duck Unit’, adjacent to Hesaraghatta lake, were mounds of dug-up soil. A pack of dogs surrounded the mud heaps and another spot near the end of the facility close to Gate 5. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/290000/snapshots-epicentre.html

Bangladesh-Avian influenza breaks out in Gazipur farms Over 4000 poultry birds culled

 Arafat Ara

Department of Livestock Services (DLS) culled more than 4000 poultry birds as the avian influenza has started to inject the local poultry farms in onset of winter, said officials. 

DLS control room said last week it destroyed the chickens at a poultry farm of Kapashia in Gazipur district to stall the spread of bid flu virus.

Bird flu or virus H5N1 usually breaks out in the beginning of winter and summer seasons, said poultry farm owners.

Poultry industry leaders feared if the deadly virus spreads like last year, many of the remaining farms will be out of business in coming days.

Meanwhile, the number of farms has now come down to 60,824 from 114,763 about two years ago following the havoc created by bird flu attack, according to Bangladesh Poultry Khamar Rakkha Jatiya Parishad.

Bangladesh Poultry Industries' Association (BPIA) joint secretary general Khandoker Mohsin said bird flu virus has started to spread in the local poultry farms and the authority already destroyed some chickens after detecting the disease. 

He said, "Not only one farm, I heard three big breeder farms also have been infected by the avian influenza virus but these are unreported to the DLS."

Mr Mohsin said the government has planned to start vaccination programme which is the right decision to rescue the poultry sector from being ruined.

"But the vaccine should have been introduced two or three months ago as bird flu virus had already started to infect the poultry farms," said Mr Mohsin.

"The DLS authority assured us they would launch vaccination in August last, but they have not done it," the BPIA Joint Secretary General said.

BPIA Secretary General and Virologist Monjur Murshed Khan said, minimum 21 days is necessary after vaccination for the poultry birds to develop immunity.

"So it would have been good if the authority could have started the vaccination programme two months back," Mr Khan also added.

Recently the Drug Administration authorities have given permission to import bird flu vaccine to start immunisation programme experimentally aiming to prevent the deadly virus from spreading to local poultry farms and the industry eventually.

Musaddique Hossain, Director of DLS said as they got permission to import the medicine it would be possible to begin the vaccination programme shortly.

The vaccination will begin experimentally in Gazipur district and partly in one poultry hatchery and five farms in Kishorganj in Dhaka division, said Mr Hossain also the head of a seven-member expert committee on bird flu vaccination programme.

"If we get a positive result, we will apply the medicine across the country," he added.

Bird flu or H5N1 virus first broke out in the country in 2007 when more than a million chickens were culled and thousands of small farms were closed as the flu ravaged the industry for more than six months. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/index.php?ref=MjBfMTFfMDRfMTJfMV84OF8xNDg4NjM=

avian influenza outbreak in the city of Nha Trang, Ninh Hoa and Van Ninh

On 2-11, Khanh Hoa Province has announced its decision to set up a temporary three animal quarantine stations in the town: Longevity (Van Ninh district), Cam Thinh Dong (TP Cam Ranh) and Ninh West (town Ninh Hoa) in order to control the movement of livestock and poultry in the province in the context of poultry and swine blue ear are spread on a large scale in many areas. Currently, PRRS in swine and avian influenza outbreak in the city of Nha Trang, Ninh Hoa and Van Ninh district town. Nearly 800 pigs and 2,200 poultry were destroyed. PPC had written to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development support early 10 thousand liters of disinfectant, 20 thousand doses of blue ear epidemic.

 Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee has directed the functional unit to coordinate the provincial veterinary officers to strengthen inspection and supervision, to prevent dangerous diseases in cattle and poultry. Provinces also allow additional forces to coordinate interdisciplinary veterinarian at the Animal Quarantine Station north of Quang Binh. Accordingly, in addition to the regular provincial veterinary officer core plug at the Animal Quarantine Station north of Quang Binh will be increased from four to seven.

Department of Animal Health of Hau Giang Province said, will strengthen the prevention and control of disease in livestock and poultry, in order to ensure food for the Lunar New Year. Department perform thorough vaccination for pets to prevent and combat foot and mouth disease, cholera in cattle, swine blue ear disease, avian influenza on. Duck the management be strengthened to ensure no pathogens from other places. The province direct agricultural implement environmental disinfection month in November while raising sprint to promote more effective.  http://www.nhandan.com.vn/cmlink/nhandandientu/thoisu/doi-song/i-s-ng-tin-chung/cac-t-nh-phia-b-c-tr-i-l-nh-co-m-a-rao-va-dong-1.375595

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Mutated viruses transmitted to humans more easily

Published: Friday, Nov 2, 2012 

While the officials of animal husbandry & fisheries department are stressing on checking the spread of the avian influenza to within Hesaraghatta, experts say it is important to know the extent of mutation of the virus that affected the chickens, turkeys, ducks and emus to put in place adequate measures.

Experts say mutated viruses have a higher capacity to infect birds and humans, and even as bird to human transmission is rare, the authorities are ignorant about the capacity of a mutated virus to infect human at a faster rate than before.

“The only implication of mutation is the lack of immunity among people. This means that a mutated virus has a higher capacity of affecting many more compared to the original virus. However, whether the mutated virus would be more dangerous is debatable (in the absence of precisely knowing what the mutation is),” said Dr Hemanth HR, consultant, critical care medicine, BGS Global Hospital.

However, the doctor assures that this doesn’t call for worry as human-to-human transmission of avian flu virus is, as of now, known to be extremely rare. “Avian flu gets transmitted from bird-to-bird easily. Even a bird-to-human transmission is not uncommon, specially among people who work in the poultry,” he said.

However, scientists at High Security Animal Disease Laboratory who spoke to DNA on condition of anonymity, said as they were not able to establish the extent of mutation, it would be difficult to determine the capacity of the virus to cause human infections and also precisely how it would do that.

But there is hope. Whether the virus is mutated or not, the treatment largely remains the same. “While more people are susceptible to a mutated virus, when it comes to treatment, both the original and mutated virus are treated similarly as per anti-viral medications are concerned. However, if there are vaccines available, it will be different for original and mutated virus,” said Dr Rajeev Moger, consultant, internal medicine, Apollo Hospitals.

HSADL scientists, too, say that existing vaccines were developed using strains of the original H5N1 avian influenza virus. But the virus had much mutated after that, rendering those vaccines useless.

Moreover, while the symptoms of avian flu is similar to any other category of flues, the treatment is more or less the same for all of them.

No bird left to be culled at CPDOTI
The department of animal husbandry and fisheries deployed 15 rapid response teams for cleaning the sheds at the Central Poultry Development Organisation & Training Institute (CPDOTI) on Thursday. All the birds at CPDOTI were culled along with those which were suspected to be affected by the avian influenza virus in a one-km radius around the institute.

Surveillance work in the 10-km radius of the surveillance zone, which includes 68 villages in Hesaraghatta, is in progress. On Thursday, 74 more serum samples and 74 more cloacal samples (samples of openings to intestinal urinary and reproductive tracts) were collected and submitted to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), Bhopal for investigation. http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_mutated-viruses-transmitted-to-humans-more-easily_1759321?

Fear grips Hessarghatta

By Sharadha Kalyanam - BANGALORE

02nd November 2012 11:24 AM

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  A sanitisation team inspecting the area around the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CDPO) in Hessarghatta on Thursday. Thousands of birds were culled at the poultry farm following an outbreak of avian influenza| Nagaraj Gadekal

Bhagyalakshmi (name changed) is a tailor who lives half a kilometre away from the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) farm in Hessarghatta. She and her family used to have chicken regularly, but now they have stopped eating it following outbreak of avian influenza.

“Some disease has killed many birds in the nearby farm. That’s why poultry shops have stopped selling chicken. If we eat chicken, we may also get the disease,” Bhagyalakshmi said looking at the seven hens running around in her porch.

A day after all the birds at the CPDO farm were culled and disposed of, fear gripped the residents of Hessarghatta on Thursday. They have avoided eating chicken and eggs as a precautionary measure and are waiting for the announcement from the authorities to declare that the zone is safe.

As announced earlier by M K Aiyappa, Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban, there will be a total ban on the sale and the movement of poultry in the 10-kilometre surveillance zone around the outbreak point till November 15.

When Express visited the farm on Thursday, the people expressed worry over the possibility of contracting the avian influenza. Despite official announcements that the pandemic potential of the influenza is low, is fear looming large among the locals.

Abhilash, who works in a tissue culture laboratory near Hessarghatta, has decided to give up chicken for sometime. “All birds have been killed. But we don’t know if the place is safe for us to stay,” he said.

However, an official from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, at Hessarghatta denied that the flu was likely to be a health concern.

“There is no reason for panic as the strain of avian influenza which has affected the birds at the CPDO is not capable of causing a pandemic among people,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

Though all chicken shops in Hessarghatta remained closed, business continued as usual at Chikkabanavara and T Dasarahalli situated 11-12 km away. But the dealers said that customer turnout is pretty low as they are worried about the flu.  http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article1323678.ece?

Bird flu nodal centre notified

BANGALORE BUREAU  

The HinduSCOURING THE AREA: Authorities are now on the lookout for chicken owned by families within the 1-km radius culling zone. File photo: Harini Shibaraya

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has identified the State-run Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) as a nodal centre for isolation and treatment of bird flu cases, if detected.

On Thursday, an NCDC team, which is in Bangalore to oversee the State Health Department’s surveillance measures in the vicinity of the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO), visited RGICD along with the State Joint Director (Communicable Diseases) A.B. Chowdhury and other officials.

Dr. Chowdhury told The Hindu RGICD had been identified as the nodal centre for isolation and treatment of bird flu cases. “We will soon issue a notification in this regard,” he said.

RGICD Director Shashidhar Buggi, pointing out that no human case of bird flu had been detected so far, said the hospital was prepared to handle any emergency.

CULLING OVER

Meanwhile, following the culling of all birds (more than 33,000, including turkeys, chickens, emus and an ostrich) at the CPDO, where the Union government has declared an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), the cleaning of the sheds and pens were in progress, a Department of Animal Husbandry communiqué said. Surveillance work in the 10-km radius of surveillance zone is on and 74 serum samples and 74 cloacal samples have been collected and submitted to the laboratory for investigations, the release said.

LOOKOUT FOR BIRDS

Arvind Jannu, Principal Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, said authorities were now on the lookout for chicken owned by families within the 1-km radius of CPDO, which has been declared as the culling zone. “The blood and cloacal samples collected from birds outside the CPDO premises have tested negative for H5N1. The movement of poultry and poultry products, banned to and from the 10-km surveillance zone till November 15, will be reviewed if the situation demands,” Mr. Jannu said and added that the academic calendar of the school on the CPDO campus, now closed, will be rescheduled.  http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/bird-flu-nodal-centre-notified/article4057526.ece

Ebola virus found in Kalimantan’s orangutan

Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya | National | Fri, November 02 2012, 4:14 PM

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Researchers from Airlangga University’s Avian Influenza-zoonosis Research Center in Surabaya, East Java, report that they have detected evidence of Ebola virus in several orangutans in Kalimantan.

Researcher Chairil Anwar Nidom told The Jakarta Post on Friday that 65 serum samples collected from 353 healthy orangutans between December 2005 and December 2006 tested positive for Ebola virus.

“The result should be an early warning for us,” he said.

“In 2006, we collected the samples and froze them because we didn’t have an appropriate laboratory to examine them. We examined them last year,” he added.

Chairil also said that six of 353 samples tested positive for Marburg virus, the similar virus to Ebola that causes Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever.

Further examination, Chairil said, showed that 60 of 65 Ebola-tested samples were similar to the virus found in Africa. “There were only five samples that had the similarity with Ebola virus found in Asia. The other 60 were similar to the Ebola virus found in Zaire, Sudan, Ivory Coast, and Bundibugyo district in Uganda,” he said.

According to Chairil, Ebola virus might still live in some of orangutans’ bodies.

“All I can say is that Ebola could be a threat to humans living in Indonesia,” he said.

The orangutan is only found in Kalimantan and Sumatra. The other great apes: gorilla, chimpanzee and bonobo live in Africa.

Chairil and his team said they would continue the research. “We are currently collecting samples from wild boars, which we suspect transmit the virus to orangutans,” he said.

Ebola virus was first detected in Congo in 1976. Sixteen people were killed in the last Ebola outbreak in Uganda this year. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/11/02/ebola-virus-found-kalimantan-s-orangutan.html?

WHO sends experts to help Uganda stop the spread of Marbug Haemorrhagic fever

WHO sends experts to help Uganda stop the spread of Marbug Haemorrhagic fever

Listen/Download

Concerted efforts are underway in Uganda to control the outbreak of the Marbug Haemorrhagic fever.

The first case of the deadly viral case was reported on October 19 in Kabale district of south western Uganda.

To date the at least 20 cases have been reported in at least five districts including the capital Kampala.

Dr Joachim Saweka WHO representative in Uganda gave UN radio's Patrick Maigua the latest regarding the outbreak.

Duration 4.27″  http://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/who-sends-experts-help-uganda-stop-spread-marbug-haemorrhagic-fever