Your free ebola

news has been shut off..
 Good thing it is not being told to you by by the Gov't .. or is ittoo bad they require people to tellTHEM where it is this week.Want to chage it?
WELL IT IS TIME TO START DONATING. Do you think the shit just magically appears for you to carry home?

Germany has bird flu

..and will have for a while. Like to know more>?/
WELL IT IS TIME TO START DONATING. Do you think the shit just magically appears for you to carry home?

Taiwan has h5n2..or does it?

WELL IT IS TIME TO START DONATING. Do you think the shit just magically appears for you to carry home?

Where is your BRAZILLIAN OUTBREAK STORIES?

WELL IT IS TIME TO START DONATING. Do you think the shit just magically appears for you to carry home?

Where is your coronavirus news?..

Where is your coronavirus news?..  WELL IT IS TIME TO START DONATING. Do you think the shit just magically appears for you to carry home?

CHP closely monitors a probable case of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

6 December 2012

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 6) received a report from the health authority of Macao concerning a probable case of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) affecting a 51-year-old female Macao resident who had undergone a brain operation in a private hospital in Hong Kong.      According to the health authority of Macao, the woman who developed progressive dementia with limbs spasm, unstable gait, muscle twitching and visual disturbance suggestive of CJD, has been admitted to a hospital in Macao on October 30. Her clinical diagnosis was sporadic CJD and the patient is now in severe condition.      Investigation by the Macao health authority revealed that the woman had received a brain surgery in a private hospital in Hong Kong on September 19.      Upon receipt of the report, the CHP acted in accordance with the international practice and advised the hospital to contact the patients who had undergone procedures using the same set of instruments as the patient since September 19.          According to the current understanding, the transmission risk is extremely low.  The contact tracing is a precautionary measure.        A CHP spokesman said, "CJD is a rare disease that affects the brain and is thought to be caused by the build-up of an abnormal, transmissible protein called 'prion' in the brain."      The spokesman said surgical instruments used on the patient should have been sterilised but may not be enough to eradicate the prions which are the causing agents of the disease. Contact tracing conducted by the hospital is under way.           The clinical feature of CJD is characterised by dementia and difficulties in walking. Early symptoms include memory loss, unsteady gait and loss of co-ordination of limbs. These dementia-like symptoms will worsen and twitching of limbs and trunk will occur. Besides, visual disturbance, abnormal behaviour and seizures can occur. Most patients die within one to two years after onset of symptoms.      Since CJD is not transmitted through casual contact, isolation of patients is not necessary. To prevent the disease from spreading, tissue or organ transplant from any CJD patients or re-use of potentially contaminated surgical instruments should be avoided. Ends/Thursday, December 6, 2012 http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/27170.html

Suspected Virus attack, Thousands Dead Ducks in Bradford

Friday, December 7, 2012 03:03 PM

Brebes:Thousands of ducks in the duck farm, village Limbangan, Bradford District, Brebes, Central Java, was found dead in recent days. This duck deaths allegedly caused by the bird flu virus attacks. before death, the ducks are caged experiencing seizures and within minutes the dead duck. Ducks that died fairly young age which is 40 days. Farmers were frantic duck deaths will continue to take place.Karennya, farmers choose to sell duck surviving to reduce losses to more. According to the Head of Animal Health Animal Husbandry Department Bradford, Jhoni Murahman, ducks death was allegedly due to the possibility of a new kind of virus like the bird flu which usually affect poultry. (Wrt3)

'video'

http://www.metrotvnews.com/read/newsvideo/2012/12/07/165925/Diduga-Serangan-Virus-Ribuan-Itik-di-Brebes-Mati/6

Regional Nursing Council visit hospital Curuçá, PA

Updated 6/12/2012 9:36 a.m.
Regional Nursing Council visit hospital Curuçá, PA
Entity accompanying research on health problems in hospital.
town Hospital will undergo a disinfection.

The Regional Nursing Council was on the afternoon of Wednesday (5) until Curuçá in northeastern Pará, to monitor the investigation into the health problems that affected employees of the city hospital. A committee of nurses attended a meeting with the Health Department of the municipality and health surveillance.

All patients who were admitted to the hospital Curuçá already been transferred to the building undergo a disinfection, but the state health department has not disclosed when it will happen.
The seven patients at the Hospital Barros Barreto, in Bethlehem, showed improvement in clinical status, according to the latest medical bulletin, but will remain in hospital. Other patients are in private hospitals in the capital.
video 
http://g1.globo.com/pa/para/noticia/...curuca-pa.html

Genome sequence of new UK coronavirus published

The completed whole genome sequence from the UK case of confirmed novel coronavirus that was diagnosed in September 2012 has been published this week.

Scientists at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have been able to painstakingly piece together the entire virus from small amounts of material, with a view to helping determine its origin and the creation of therapies for the disease.

It is hoped researchers can establish how closely the UK case is linked to the first case of confirmed novel coronavirus, which was diagnosed in a patient from Saudi Arabia in June who subsequently died.

Currently, it is believed that there were independent sources of infection, while the closest relative to this coronavirus is thought to be a bat virus identified in 2008 in the Netherlands.

Professor Maria Zambon, director of the HPA's reference microbiology services, said: "Rapid disclosure of data enables diverse groups of scientists to study the virus in real time to help with the global health response and HPA are pleased to contribute to that."

The speed of this response reflects the lessons learned following the high-profile SARS outbreak in 2002-03.

To view the sequence see HPA.

http://www.pharmamicro.com/2012/12/genome-sequence-of-new-uk-coronavirus.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Pharmig+%28Pharmig%29

Contamination is not by any influenza virus

Tests done by the Instituto Evandro Chagas to see if the contamination occurred for some sort of flu viruses, including H1N1, came back negative - in 19 people infected in Curuçá Municipal Hospital in northeast Pará. But still no diagnosis to confirm the cause of the contamination.

Yesterday, the Municipal Health Curuçá asked the State to transfer the six patients who remain hospitalized in the unit where the contamination happened, to be made ​​a new disinfection in hospital. A State Department of Health (Sespa) reported that three patients who were hospitalized were discharged. These are two women who were at St. Joseph Hospital in Castlebay, and another who was referred to a private clinic in Bethlehem and that there was no need to be hospitalized. A feeling of being at risk has left the population Curuçá startled.

The evil that affected 19 people may have contributed to the death of a 17 year old first name of Jennifer. Admitted to the Hospital Barros Barreto, along with three other nursing techniques and more secretary of the Municipal Hospital, isolated technique in nursing Cordovil Edna Cristina said that compared to the period when he reached the hospital, the picture has improved, but the oscillating symptoms still remain. 
"I feel better, but there are times when we feel bad, we are well another time. I still feel dizzy, pain in the chest and neck, "he said. Surveillance in Health Sespa still awaiting the autopsy report of a girl who died pregnant.  http://www.diariodopara.com.br/N-163794-CONTAMINACAO+NAO+E+POR+NENHUM+VIRUS+DE+GRIPE+.html

Sespa disclose within 15 days the results of tests done on patients Curuçá

 Updated 04/12/2012 at 18:53
Sespa disclose within 15 days the results of tests done on patients Curuçá


Bernardo Cardoso (c) told reporters that tests ruled out contamination by influenza viruses, including influenza A (H1N1)


The State Department of Public Health (Sespa) continues to investigate the cause of the disease that affects 19 people, residents of the city of Curuçá in northeastern Pará, and stipulated a deadline of 15 days to disseminate the results of all tests that are being performed by Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC) and the Central Laboratory of the State (Lacen). In an interview on the afternoon of Tuesday (4), the director of the Department of Endemic Disease Control, Bernardo Cardoso, said that the tests were negative for common viruses like Influenza, including Influenza A (H1N1). However, several tests are still being conducted by the IEC and Lacen.

The main symptoms of the patients are fever, shortness of breath, oliguria (reduced urine volume), hypotension, hypoglycemia, bradycardia (slow heart rate) and hemorrhagic manifestations in the digestive system. Therefore, samples were taken from nasal and pharyngeal secretions of patients as well as blood for a series of laboratory tests such as blood culture and research of several viruses.

Bernardo Cardoso said the Sespa currently works with the following assumptions: poisoning and contamination by bacteria, viruses and fungus. For investigation of possible poisoning, the Department will work with the Toxicology Laboratory of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), which examine the spilled accidentally in Curuçá Municipal Hospital, originally named as causing the problem.

The director emphasized that the state government, through Sespa, intensified work to discover the cause of the disease, "it remains unclear to doctors, specialists and researchers."

The director of Lacen, Licinius Lira, explained that laboratory investigations require time, because you have to wait for the possible cause of the disease to proliferate in the laboratory and can be identified. The Lacen also is analyzing samples of water that supplies the Hospital Curuçá.

The director of the Health Surveillance Sespa, Nobre Guimarães Rosa, said at the time, 14 patients remain hospitalized, including five in the University Hospital João de Barros Barreto, a Hospital in Port-day, two in the Women's Health Hospital, and six in Curuçá . She also said that the 3rd Regional Health Center is providing Sespa beds in Castlebay (municipality northeast region) to receive patients from Curuçá to the local hospital can be completely disinfected.

As Nobre Guimarães Rosa, technical areas of Epidemiology and Health Surveillance continue working in the municipality, to reassure the population.
http://www.agenciapara.com.br/noticia.asp?id_ver=113178

Patients in Curuçá be transferred to Castlebay

Updated 04/12/2012 20h19

Municipal Hospital Curuçá will undergo disinfection after death. 
Causes of the disease is remaining unknown.

Six employees of the Municipal Hospital Curuçá who are hospitalized in the city will be transferred on Wednesday (5) to Castlebay, northeast of the state. They are hospitalized since last Nov. 23, after they began to exhibit symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, oliguria (reduced urine volume), hypotension, hypoglycemia, bradycardia (slow heart rate) and hemorrhagic manifestations in the digestive system.

According to the State Department of Health (Sespa), the transfer will occur so that the hospital Curuçá be disinfected. Still no confirmation on the exact disease that affects 19 employees. A 17 year old died in the ICU of Santa House on the evening of Saturday (01). The results of tests performed on patients must leave in 15 days.

Only test results for common viruses like Influenza, including Influenza A (H1N1), was released.The analysis was negative. Samples were collected nasal and pharyngeal patients, as well as blood to a series of laboratory tests such as blood culture and research of various viruses.

According to director of the Department of Endemic Disease Control, Bernardo Cardoso, is likely to be patients with poisoning and contamination by bacteria, viruses and fungus. For investigation of possible intoxication, Toxicology Laboratory, Federal University of Pará (UFPA) examine spilled accidentally in Curuçá Municipal Hospital, originally named as causing the problem.

The cases are being followed up by the Epidemiological Monitoring of Sespa in conjunction with the 3rd Regional Center for Health in Castlebay, the Municipal Health Curuçá, Central Laboratory of the State (Lacen), Centre for Skills Scientific Renato Chaves (CPC) and Instituto Evandro Chagas.

Last Sunday (2), five other patients who have symptoms more delicate were transferred to Bethlehem Patients are admitted to the unit of Meningitis Diagnosis (UDM), the University Hospital João de Barros Barreto, under monitoring of infectious disease.

Understand the case
Between 23 and 24 November, 19 people were diagnosed with respiratory syndrome in Curuçá Municipal Hospital. According to Sespa at first was suspected contamination by radioactive material.

As the evolution of the process of investigation, however, the main suspicion is that employees are with an infection caused by viruses, bacteria or fungus.

The investigations and assistance to patients and families is being coordinated by Sespa (Central and Regional Level) with the participation of the Municipal Health Department, Instituto Evandro Chagas and Scientific Skills Center Renato Chaves.  http://g1.globo.com/pa/para/noticia/2012/12/pacientes-internados-em-curuca-serao-transferidos-para-castanhal.html

Brazil outbreak news

Bernardo Cardoso (c) told reporters that the scans ruled out contamination by virus Influenza, including influenza A (H1N1)

Flu season expected to be worst in almost a decade

Dec 04, 2012 11:53 AM EST

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Don't let the warm weather fool you.

This year's flu season is starting earlier and hitting harder than it has in almost a decade.

The Metro Health department says it has already seen its first reports of the flu this season.
And nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control says the strain circulating this year is more severe.

The good news is that this year's flu vaccine is a 90 percent match for circulating strains.
The prime flu season runs from October through April.

http://www.wdrb.com/story/20257184/flu-season-expected-to-be-worst-in-decade

UNDIAGNOSED RESPIRATORY DISEASE - BRAZIL: (PARA) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Published Date: 2012-12-04 11:18:09
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed respiratory disease - Brazil: (PA) RFI 
Archive Number: 20121204.1436678

UNDIAGNOSED RESPIRATORY DISEASE - BRAZIL: (PARA) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

Date: Sun 2 Dec 2012

Source: Para Government press release [in Portuguese, trans. Mod.MPP, edited]

http://www.pa.gov.br/noticia_interna.asp?id_ver=113000





Patients with respiratory syndrome are transferred from Curuca to Belem


----------------------------------------------------------------------


The State Department of Public Health (Sespa) decided to transfer 5 patients in serious clinical condition from Curuca Municipal Hospital to Belem, with symptoms of an acute respiratory syndrome with as yet undiagnosed etiology. The purpose of the transfer is to assure better care of the patients, cases which are still under investigation by the Sespa Epidemiologic Surveillance unit in conjunction with the 3rd Regional Center for Health in Castanhal, the Curuca Municipal Health Secretariat, the State Central Laboratory (Lacen), the Renato Chaves Center of Scientific Expertise (CPC), and the Evandro Chagas Institute.



The patients that were transferred to the capital [Belem is the capital of Para State] will be admitted to the Meningitis Diagnostic Unit (UDM), of the Joao de Barros Barreto University Hospital, under the care [monitoring] of the Infectious Disease physicians. In addition to these 5 people, another 14 [individuals] showed symptoms of the disease since the beginning of the outbreak in the Municipal Hospital of Curuca, where a 17 year old female died in the ICU of Santa Casa, on the evening of Sat 1 Dec 2012.


The case of the young woman [the 17 year old] is being investigated because she was a resident of Curuca and a cousin of a nursing technician in the Municipal Hospital, who also presented with symptoms of this disease. The young woman was pregnant and lost the baby after being infected. Although the body was released for burial and taken to Curuca, the Sespa team contacted the family and asked permission for an autopsy, which will be performed at the Center for Scientific Expertise in Belem.



The initial suspicion was that the patients had been victims of radioactive contamination and then by a chemical product used in developing the radiographs. [This hypothesis] was discarded as a function of the presenting symptoms -- low fever, shortness of breath, oliguria (reduced urine volume), hypotension, hypoglycemia, bradycardia (slow heart rate), and hemorrhagic manifestations in the digestive system, among others. The working hypothesis of Sespa is now a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection.



To discover the causative agent of the disease nasopharyngeal secretions of the patients were collected, as well as blood for a series of laboratory tests that are underway in Lacen [State Laboratory] and the Evandro Chagas Institute, including, blood cultures and studies for various viruses, including H1N1 and hantavirus. The patients were [empirically] treated with ciprofloxacin and Tamiflu even in the absence of test results, but they did not show any improvement.



The State Laboratory also collected samples of the water supply of Curuca City Hospital because of a suspicion that the causative agent might me found there. According to the director of the Sespa Health Surveillance Unit, Rosiana Nobre, in addition to the investigation and medical attention of the patients, it was necessary to provide assistance to the families and professionals supposedly exposed [to the source of the infection], as well as to disinfect the Municipal Hospital in order to eliminate the possible sources of infection and provide the Municipal Hospital of Curuca with medicines, supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE).



Nobre also said they were developing an orientation guide for the Curuca population, hospital workers, and family members on preventive measures to avoid the emergence of new cases pending laboratory results and the identification of more specific measures for disease prevention.



[Byline: Roberta Vilanova, Sespa]



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail



[An initial reaction one has upon reading the introductory paragraphs describing the outbreak of an acute severe respiratory illness associated with reduced urinary output was to wonder if this might be another new location for a nosocomial outbreak of the novel coronavirus described in the Eastern Mediterranean countries of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Qatar. As one reads more of the official announcement, this seems to be less and less a possible explanation for this outbreak.



A curious symptom described in the clinical presentations above is the relative bradycardia. Usually when there is respiratory distress (due to hypoxia -- low blood oxygen concentrations) or when there is a fever, it is often accompanied by a tachycardia (fast heart beat). Diseases that are known to present with a relative bradycardia (slow heart beat in the face of other symptoms) include typhoid fever, legionnaires' disease, psittacosis, typhus, leptospirosis, malaria, babesiosis, dengue fever, and viral hemorrhagic fevers (see refs 1,2,3 below). With respect to the presentation of hypoglycemia, Mod. ML mentioned that hyperglycemia is the most common blood glucose abnormality seen early in the course of bacterial sepsis. Profound hypoglycemia may occur late in the course of sepsis. Hypoglycemia with cardiovascular collapse is seen in patients with adrenal insufficiency.



In another newswire, there is mention there had been 19 cases with respiratory symptoms reported from the Hospital in Curuca during the period 23-24 Nov 2012. Further investigation revealed a predominance of hypoglycemia, bradycardia, and gastrointestinal hemorrhagic symptoms (see http://g1.globo.com/pa/para/noticia/2012/12/tecnicos-de-hospital-de-curuca-sao-transferidos-para-belem.html in Portuguese).



When one reads the paragraphs towards the end of the press release discussing the concerns that there was exposure to the etiologic agent through a water source of the hospital, this moderator wondered about legionellosis as one of the diseases under suspicion.



There is clearly much room for speculation, with many questions -- what is the apparent transmission? Is a common source exposure suspected? (while the newswire mentions that 19 cases were reported during a 24-48 hour period, it doesn't mention if that reflected the dates of onset of the illnesses, but does seem to suggest there may have been a common source exposure, as did the initial working hypothesis of a possible radiation exposure). What is the suspected incubation period? Is there evidence for person-to-person transmission? What does the epidemic curve look like? (number of cases by date of onset of illness). What is the distribution of the symptom complex (what is the frequency of the symptoms in the affected group of individuals)?



More information on the results of the investigations to date as well as laboratory results when available would be greatly appreciated.



For a map of the state of Para in Brazil, see http://www.v-brazil.com/graphics/para.gif. Belem is to the northeast of the state, with Castanhal to the northeast of Belem.

For a map of Brazil showing the location of Curuca, seehttp://www.maplandia.com/brazil/para/curuca/. It is further northeast of both Castanhal and Belem.

For the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Brazil see http://healthmap.org/r/4oYc.

Bird Deaths in Russia Are Being Blamed on ‘Low Pathogenic Flu’

By Marina Sysoyeva on December 04, 2012

\

The H5N1 avian flu didn’t cause deaths of wild birds in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region last week, the government’s food safety agency said.

Lab tests proved a “low-pathogenic flu,” not H5N1, killed hundreds of wild ducks in coastal lakes in the Anapa and Temryuk districts in the Krasnodar region last week, said Alexei Alekseenko, spokesman for Rosselkhoznadzor.

No poultry for human consumption was infected, Krasnodar’s administration said on its website Nov. 30. Governor Alexander Tkachev ordered a quarantine of areas and banned hunting there to keep the virus from spreading, the press service said.

Most bird viruses don’t infect humans, according to the World Health Organization. The disease can be spread by wild water fowl, the WHO says.

Rosselkhoznadzor will eliminate dead birds from the area and will not cull other ducks, Alekseenko said. There were about 12,000 wild ducks in the Krasnodar areas last week, according to Rosselkhoznadzor data.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-12-04/bird-deaths-in-russia-are-being-blamed-on-low-pathogenic-flu

China-unexplained pneumonia to be reported within 12 hours of consultation

I think this says , any unexplained pneumonias are to be reported to the county within 12 hrs and to the state within 24 hrs and on to the chinese CDC if it can't be determined what it is.


Found unexplained pneumonia within 12 hours of consultation, reporting


... To strengthen the monitoring and troubleshooting of unexplained pneumonia cases, standardize the diagnosis of unexplained pneumonia cases, report, reporter learned yesterday, the Provincial Health Department has issued a notice requiring all levels of the medical staff of the various medical institutions found to comply with the unexplained pneumonia definition cases, the organizational unit within 12 hours of expert consultation to troubleshoot and direct reporting network. It is reported that the province found no reports of unexplained pneumonia cases.

　　To the discovery of cases within 12 hours of consultation troubleshoot

　　Provincial Health Department recently issued a "further strengthen the diagnosis of unexplained pneumonia cases, reporting and disposal work notice" at all levels, the medical staff of the various medical institutions found to meet the definition of unexplained pneumonia cases should be immediately reported to the relevant departments of medical institutions within 12 hours by medical institutions and organize the group of experts for consultation and to troubleshoot. The county-level disease control institutions received a telephone report should immediately direct reporting network.

　　Unexplained pneumonia cases found, township, community and primary health care institutions do not have the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of conditions should immediately go to the county level and above hospitals for diagnosis and treatment by hospitals receiving cases of unexplained pneumonia cases direct reporting network.

　　Disease control institutions at all levels in the ordinary course of the epidemic monitoring, proactive monitoring and data analysis of online reporting unexplained pneumonia cases daily to analyze the same time, space, or occupation-specific clusters of unexplained pneumonia cases....

Received unexplained pneumonia cases in the report, the county health bureau should be organized within 24 hours at the county level expert group consultation. County level expert group consultation of unexplained pneumonia cases still can not be ruled out SARS and avian flu, county-level disease control agencies and medical institutions of the cases admitted to closely cooperate with related clinical samples collected cases, as soon as possible sent to conditional laboratory, SARS and avian flu pathogen detection.

　　In addition, clusters of unexplained pneumonia cases, can not confirm the diagnosis by the provincial team of experts examined the provincial disease control agencies to specimens sent to China CDC for testing. If necessary, the provincial disease control institutions in accordance with the requirements of the Chinese Center for Disease Control, the provincial level and below expert consultation has been made clear diagnosis of unexplained pneumonia cases specimens were sent to CDC conducted a review of detection...http://news.hexun.com/2012-12-04/148656758.html

Hong Kong-Update on Global Situation of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus

Update on Global Situation of Severe Respiratory Disease associated
with Novel Coronavirus
3 December 2012 
Dear Doctor, 

Further to our letter to you dated 26 November, 2012, we would like to
update you with the latest development on severe respiratory disease associated
with novel coronavirus. As of 30 November, the World Health Organization
(WHO) has reported nine  confirmed cases of human infection with novel
coronavirus from Qatar (two cases), Saudi Arabia (five cases) and Jordan (two
cases). All patients were severely ill and five of them died.

According to WHO, the two Qatari  patients are not linked. Both had
severe pneumonia and acute renal failure. Both are now recovering. A total of
five confirmed cases have been reported from Saudi Arabia. The first two are not
linked to each other; one  of them died. Three other confirmed cases are
epidemiologically linked and occurred in one family living  within the same
household; two of them died. One additional family member in this household
also developed symptoms similar to those of the confirmed cases. This person
has recovered and was tested negative for the virus.

In addition, two confirmed cases have been reported in Jordan. Both of
them died. These cases were discovered through testing of stored samples from a
cluster of pneumonia cases that occurred in April 2012.
The two clusters from Saudi Arabia and Jordan raise the possibility of 
limited human-to-human transmission or, alternatively, exposure to a common 
source. Ongoing investigation is underway to distinguish between these 
possibilities.

According to WHO, the current understanding of this novel virus is that
it can cause a severe, acute respiratory infection presenting as pneumonia.  - 2 -
Acute renal failure has also occurred in five cases.
In view of the latest development, please consider testing for novel 
coronavirus for unexplained pneumonia after exclusion of common causative 
agents, regardless of the travel history. Laboratory testing of novel coronavirus is
available in Public Health Laboratory Centre (PHLC) of the Centre for Health
Protection (CHP) and please contact the Virology Division of PHLC for
necessary arrangement.

We understand that WHO is currently reviewing the case definition and
other guidance related to the novel coronavirus. While the existing reporting
criteria remains unchanged, please kindly be informed that we have included
Jordan as one of the affected areas
(http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/novel_coronavirus_affected_areas.pdf).
 To
detect suspected cases early, medical  practitioners are reminded to notify the
Department of Health any suspected  cases of severe respiratory disease
associated with novel coronavirus fulfilling the reporting criteria
(https://chpceno.chp.gov.hk/casedef/casedef.pdf) to  the Central Notification
Office (CENO) of CHP via fax (2477  2770), phone (2477 2772) or CENO
On-line (http://ceno.chp.gov.hk/). Please also call our Medical Control Officer at
7116 3300 a/c 9179 outside office hour for prompt investigation.

CHP is closely communicating with WHO and relevant overseas health
authorities to obtain more  information about the recently confirmed cases and
will update you with the latest information.
Thank you for your ongoing support in combating communicable
diseases.
Yours faithfully,
(Dr. S K Chuang)
for Controller, Centre for Health Protection
Department of Health

Flu Season Arrives Early, and Could Be Bad

Reported by Dr. Lauren Browne:

Flu season arrived early this year. And according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s shaping up to be a bad one.

CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden announced today that Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas have reported enough seasonal flu cases to officially mark the beginning of the flu season.

“We’re seeing the beginning of the uptick start at least a month before we’d generally see it,” Frieden said, explaining that flu rates typically start to rise in early January.

Click here to see 12 flu myths debunked.

Missouri and Georgia are also well on their way to meeting the critical threshold number of cases. And as the season progresses, the infection is expected to spread across the nation.

“It looks like it’s shaping up to be a bad flu season,” Frieden said, explaining that the predominant flu subtype being passed around — H3N2 — is known to cause more severe il..

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/12/03/flu-season-arrives-early-and-could-be-bad/

Monkey fever confirmed

Gundlupet, (Chamarajanagar dist), Dec 3, 2012, DHNS :

A medical report from the National Institute of Virology in Pune has confirmed that the recent death of monkeys in the Bandipur National Park limits was due to ‘kyasanur forest disease’ (KFD). 

The blood samples were sent to the centre soon after 12 monkeys died of the suspected fever at Alegowdanakatte camp in Maddur division, said Pushkar, the tiger reserve project director.

The daily wage workers of the Forest department too were affected by the epidemic.

Following the report confirming the prevelance of the KFD virus, a meeting of the veterinarians and the officials of the Forest department has been convened to discuss preventive measures. 

Soon, the residents in the surrounding villages will be administered a vaccine to check the spread of the infectious disease, he added.   http://www.deccanherald.com/content/296184/monkey-fever-confirmed.html

Have not found the culprit cause of death in patients with H5N1 influenza-like expression

Refer to hospital with H5N1 influenza-like illness close, despite being dedicated doctors cure, but the patient did not pass of danger. It is worth mentioning, the test results at the Pasteur Institute showed that the patient is not infected with the dangerous flu.

Earlier, on 26/11 NVS patients (42 years, staying at Thuan An, Binh Duong) exhibit high fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath ... should be taken to the General Hospital in Binh Duong province examination and treatment. Here, the X-ray doctors recorded patients with large cardiac shadow, pleural effusion. Exploitation of known medical history from the patient sick duck brought from home to eat meat.

Combining physical examination with the diagnosis and cause of the condition, the doctor suspected A/H5N1 flu patients should have moved Mr. S. to the Tropical Disease Hospital treatment. Patient samples were also sent to the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City to tests, the results showed that patients negative for the H5N1 virus.

In the course of treatment at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the patient's progress on a bad, even if your doctor has dedicated his rescue but S. can not pass a critical attack over the weekend. Epidemiological factors and the first manifestation of the disease like influenza A/H5N1 patients not infected with this virus. The cause of death of this patient is unknown.http://www.xaluan.com/modules.php?na...cle&sid=508589

Suspected cases influenza A/H5N1 died of pneumonia

Tuesday, 04/12/2012, 06:23 (GMT +7)

(SGGP). - Dinner at 3-12, Dr.-BS Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, director of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases Ho Chi Minh City, said suspected cases of avian influenza A/H5N1 died after being treated here. That NVS patients (42 years old, live in Kien Giang) is transferred from the hospital in Binh Duong to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases Ho Chi Minh City over the weekend in a state of high fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath ... X-ray results reported patients with large cardiac shadow, pleural effusion associated with clinical symptoms doctors suspected of being infected with influenza virus A / H5N1. HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City have taken swabs from molecular biological tests but showed negative results for influenza A/H5N1 virus. After 5 days of active treatment, patients with S. died of severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress ... Mr. S. are working women in the town of Thuan An, Binh Duong. Before admission, he visited the home in Kien Giang and eat ducks die from farming families. http://www.sggp.org.vn/ytesuckhoe/2012/12/305799/

Like bird flu deaths

Monday, 12.03.2012, 10:31 GMT +7
Like bird flu deaths
42-year-old male patient with acute respiratory suspected H5N1 flu death last weekend in HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

Contact with infected poultry susceptible to the flu. Artwork: Heaven Chapter.
Doctors Hospital for Tropical Diseases Ho Chi Minh City, said the patient was transferred up from Binh Duong Hospital in critical condition.

"Patients with severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress. Emergency We have positive but he has not recovered," a doctor said.

According to medical reports, patients with symptoms consistent with the H5N1 avian influenza infection, such as sore throat, prolonged fever, shortness of breath and fluid. Before getting sick, I have been in contact with influenza duck and duck meat.

"The epidemiological factors and disease manifestations are made ​​doctors think of the H5N1 bird flu. Yet tests at the hospital and the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City were negative," said Dr. Le Manh Hung, deputy director of the disease hospital for Tropical Diseases Ho Chi Minh City said.

According to the patient, before you get sick, you can go home in Kien Giang play. Here you contact with infected ducks and duck meat. When back to the Pacific, he began to feel tired, sore throat and fever that lasts.  http://vnexpress.net/gl/suc-khoe/2012/12/ca-tu-vong-giong-nhiem-cum-gia-cam/

Unknown disease outbreak kills 2 people in Baghlan

According to reports at least 2 people have died following an unknown disease outspread in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan.

At least 5 more people have been affected in Deh-Sala area at Deh-Salah district in this province.

Local residents are saying that the unknown disease spread in Uruzngan village a week ago and a shor shiver has been noted in affected indivuals which kills in less than 10 minutes.

They are saying at least 2 people have died and five others have been affected who have been taken to hospitals for the treatment purposes.

A local villager who lost one his relative said, “One of my relative died after receiving a short shiver and another neighbor died within 10 minutes from the same disease. Two people have died and 5 others have been affected in our village during the past one week.”

Residents in Uruzngan village at Deh-Salah district are seriously concerned of the disease and have urged the Afghan government to take immeidate actions in this regard.

Provincial public health chief Dr. Mohammad Salim Rassouli confirming the report said they have sent a team in the area to investigate the outspread of the disease.

He said they are able to take preventive actions in order to stop the disease if any positive signs of virus was detected during the inspection.

  http://www.khaama.com/unknown-disease-outbreak-kills-2-people-in-baghlan-1052

HATTIP DUTCHY

New polio strain from Pakistan hits Afghanistan

By Sehrish Wasif

Published: December 2, 2012

Officials say newly-discovered Sabin Like (2) poliomyelitis originated in Balochistan.

ISLAMABAD: 

With the Independent Monitoring Board recommending travel restrictions on polio endemic countries, reports of the transmission of a newly-discovered poliovirus strain from Pakistan to Afghanistan is likely to complicate an already tough situation for Islamabad.

Two Afghan children, living close to the border with Pakistan, have been paralysed by the Sabin Like (2) poliomyelitis, officials in the Polio Programme told The Express Tribune. The cases were reported from Afghanistan’s Kandahar province two days ago – one in Panjwai district and the other in Spin Boldak, they added. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the two new cases.

According to the officials, genetic sequencing has confirmed the new polio strain originated in Balochistan’s Killa Abdullah district. They said Sabin Like (2) poliomyelitis develops in children with an extremely poor record of routine immunisation – a situation rampant in Balochistan.

Since 2006, polio vaccination teams have repeatedly missed an estimated 50,000 children in Killa Abdullah, derailing efforts to eradicate the virus in the country.

This is not the first case of poliovirus transmission from Pakistan to a neighbouring country either. Last year, 16 children in China’s Xinjiang province were paralysed after being infected by a polio strain originating in Pakistan.

“The paramedic association and health department of Balochistan continues to hold the polio-eradication campaign hostage in Killa Abdullah through unfair demands … It has now resulted in embarrassment for Pakistan before the world community,” an official of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.

WHO senior coordinator for polio eradication Dr Elias Durry said the organisation was monitoring the situation in Balochistan closely.

“We are seriously concerned about the new poliovirus strain and are recommending urgent steps to the provincial government to contain the outbreak,” said Dr Durry. The only way to contain the spread of the virus is by conducting three to four high-quality polio vaccination rounds in the infected districts and their nearby areas, he said.

Meanwhile, a special WHO delegation, led by internationally acclaimed polio eradication expert Dr Mohammed Mohammedi, has reached Balochistan and is holding indepth discussions with the provincial government over ways to combat the outbreak.

“We have asked the provincial government to hold three emergency polio campaigns each in Quetta, Killa Abdullah and Pishin districts during a span of 30 days to control the spread of the virus to other parts of the country,” said Dr Mohammedi, adding that the first campaign in the three districts was scheduled for December 10.

Pakistan has reported a total of 56 polio cases this year so far. A massive 181 cases were reported in 2011.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2012. 

Patients with suspected H5N1 flu death

PN - TS-BS Le Manh Hung, deputy director of the hospital (BV) for Tropical Diseases Ho Chi Minh City, said patients (patients) with suspected influenza H5N1 by BV Locked Binh Duong moved to 28/11, has mortality.

According to medical records, patients admitted to the hospital in a state of continuous high fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, chest X-ray shadow big heart, pleural effusion. Due to the usual treatment for patients not yield results, the doctors suspected H5N1 infected patients and transferred to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

 However, the test results of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases Ho Chi Minh City and Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute showed that patients negative for the H5N1 flu, although the illness is very similar to the H5N1 flu. Doctors are continuing to study the cause of death for patients. Known, BN Nguyen Van S. (42 years old, resident of Kien Giang province), as an additive in the town of Thuan An, Binh Duong Province. Before admission, the patient had contact with infected ducks in Kien Giang and family eating duck meat.  http://phunuonline.com.vn/xa-hoi/y-te/benh-nhan-nghi-nhiem-cum-h5n1-da-tu-vong/a80688.html