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Monday, April 8, 2013

Nanjing 2 patients hospitalized spit pink frothy sputum


: 0409 10:29



Nanjing Gulou Hospital were treated three cases of H7N9 patients, the country admitted to the hospital of the H7N9 patients.

Check first patient March 27 Gulou Hospital, hospital intensive care unit due to illness symptoms generally severe pneumonia performance is highly sensitive to report immediately to the hospital leadership, launched the emergency procedures and results of the test showed that patients with H7N9 virus nucleic acid positive.

The hospital on March 30 and April 4, admitted two cases of H7N9 patients, 3 patients have lived in the intensive care unit of the Drum Tower Hospital in negative pressure rooms. Three patients arrived in the hospital are high fever, respiratory failure, incontinence, unconsciousness, pulmonary edema, multiple organ dysfunction, extremely rapid progress of the disease, including two cases of admission continuously ejected from his mouth a lot of pink foam sputum. These patients is still very ill, which is a relatively stable condition. http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/china/20130409/51337521

Bird flu, genetic analysis, Mr. Nerome alert the next two weeks



, April 09, 2013  Avian influenza virus infection have been reported in China [Nago], a larger concern by day 8, the world authority of Virus Research Director of the Institute of Biological Resources analysis information of all genes (type H7N9) is Nago provided by researchers in Japan (73) to serve as Mr. Kuniaki Nerome. Mr. Nerome talk analyzing the genetic information "that spread from birds to humans is unlikely," and I have the possibility of explosive spread of infection is low. Emphasized is also likely to be susceptible to infection by mutations in mammals only "next two weeks maximum precautions need to be taken and". 
 According to Mr. Nerome, it is that thing that is included in a particular protein gene of avian influenza virus in avian influenza-specific, hard to attach to human cells. You may have entered the human bronchus in a place where there are a large number of bird droppings that have been contaminated with the virus from cases in the past. At the stage of data that has been provided to the person looking at the possibility of infection is low people, from people from birds. 
 On the other hand, I also found that the onset of type H7N9 bird is less attenuated virulence.Mr. Nerome will be mingle pig. That there is a danger that become virulent in attenuated virulence, and transmitted to humans for the birds "in attenuated virulence Spanish flu pandemic occurred in the past, as well as type Hong Kong A, virus and human I said, "a problem. 
 The correspondence of the future, in order to take up to 48 hours before the onset of infection, Mr. Nerome the border to prevent the entry strategy is that there is a limit to an infection, such as miss. I pointed out that measures such as vaccines hurry, even if people were moved to "complications current is suppressed with antibiotics, do not be afraid there is also a preventive medicine. Than necessary" and. 
(Jun Kaneshiro)
http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-205073-storytopic-1.html

Pig carcasses found floating in Hunan river



Updated: 2013-04-09 07:28

Latest incident of dead animals in waterway raises concerns about disposal procedures
Scores of dead pigs have been retrieved from a Central China waterway, just weeks after thousands were discovered in Shanghai's Huangpu River.
Authorities have been pulling the carcasses from Liuyang River in Hunan province since Saturday. More than 70 pigs had been retrieved as of Sunday, but an official figure has yet to be released.
The carcasses were probably dumped by pig farmers upstream and were carried along the river due to recent rainstorms, the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported on Monday, quoting an unnamed agriculture, forestry and water resources official for Changsha's Kaifu district.
"We have to immediately remove them in a sanitary way to avoid water pollution and contamination," the official said.
Wu Guohua, another official, said it is rare to see such a large amount of dead pigs in the river.
The district environmental protection bureau said it will closely monitor the river's water quality to guarantee residents' safety.
"No bird flu virus was detected on the dead pigs," Tan Jingming, deputy director of the Changsha animal disease prevention and control center, said.
A series of similar discoveries have been reported across China since residents started complaining on March 5 about finding dead pigs in Huangpu River.
There has been an abnormally high number of dead hogs following an outbreak of porcine circovirus, a common disease, plus changeable weather this winter, the Ministry of Agriculture said on its website.
"Authorities should seriously investigate where the dead pigs come from and harshly punish the pig dumpers," said a resident surnamed Zhang, who said the situation posed a great threat to people's safety, especially after a new and deadly strain of bird flu was detected.
The discovery of tens of thousands of pig carcasses nationwide has raised concerns about how the country deals with numerous dead pigs every year.
The National Bureau of Statistics said China had about 700 million pigs in 2012, of which 18 million died of disease.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, pig farmers can get a subsidy of 80 yuan ($12) for each pig dead of disease. Regulations require animals that died in this way to be disposed of in a sanitary way, such as burial at least 1.5 meters deep or cremated.
But because the subsidy application process is complicated, many pig farmers choose to sell the dead pigs to illegal buyers, said Li Waiguang, a farmer in Yingtan, Jiangxi province.
"If authorities crack down on dead pig transactions, farmers will dump the dead into the nearest rivers," he added.
Li suggested authorities establish sanitary treatment stations for dead animals to help farmers.
Wen Xinzheng in Changsha contributed to this story. http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-04/09/content_16385319.htm

Incheon airport strengthens quarantine against H7N9

As the H7N9 strain has claimed the lives of six people in China, the Incheon International Airport begins to decontaminate the whole body of people working in the livestock industry among those who are entering Korea through the airport Monday. The airport headquarters of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency has strengthened its quarantine against those arrived from countries hit by the highly contagious animal disease. 
APRIL 09, 2013 06:19

Japan culling 410,000 chickens to fight bird flu



Bird flu scare hits sale of chicken in Qatar


The sale of chicken dishes and fresh and frozen chicken has dropped in Qatar in the wake of the bird flu outbreak in five large eastern cities of China, inquiries have found.
Gulf Times spoke to a number of stakeholders to discover the decline varies between ‘significant’ at upscale eateries frequented by locals and westerns to ‘slight’ at mid-market restaurants famous among Asian and African expatriates. Supermarkets selling frozen chicken and stores dealing in live poultry were also hit by the scare. 
“We are receiving customers who ask for beef, mutton and vegetables now instead of chicken…chicken is no more the most sought out food,” said the owner of a south Indian restaurant in Al-Najma locality in Doha.
Though he wasn’t sure about the reason behind people staying away from what has been a specialty of his eatery, the owner was shocked because of business losses.
Same was the case with Turkish restaurant Ali Baba in Al-Mansoura area nearby. “We are losing clientele which will come to us because of our chicken dishes…but it is not very dramatic,” said one of the chefs.
Officials at some hypermarkets said the sale of frozen chicken at their outlets across Doha is also down but they are not sure about the percentage.
“It is something we can feel now…not very high but not ignorable as well,” said an official at a supermarket, requesting his name not be mentioned.
The impact of bird flu scare was much more pinching at restaurants inside the city’s elitist hotels in the West Bay area that is home to several thousand Westerners working in Qatar.
“Chicken is almost no more served at our restaurants…we avoid it ourselves but provide if there is a demand,” said an official at the Doha Marriott Hotel, seeking anonymity.
The new strain of bird flu that surfaced in China has infected 18 people, most of them critical, and six have died until Saturday, causing concern overseas. Four deaths occurred in Shanghai and two in Zhejiang. 
Chinese authorities have killed more than 20,000 birds from a live-poultry trading zone in Shanghai in an effort to deal with the issue. The cull came as researchers in the US said they had started work on developing a vaccine for H7N9.
Incidentally, in Qatar the Supreme Council of Health announced last week the first death from Influenza A (H1N1). The deceased was a 43-year-old Qatari man. The Council said the citizen was admitted to hospital on March 29 complaining of difficulty in breathing and a rise in temperature, adding that he was also suffering from chronic diseases.
After medical examinations it became evident that the patient was suffering from severe pneumonia and was given anti-flu treatment. He was admitted to the intensive care unit under the supervision of a medical team but his condition did not improve and he died on Thursday.

Canada-Public Health Notice: H7N9 avian flu in China


Public Health Notice: H7N9 avian flu in China

Updated: 8 April 2013

Why you should take note

The World Health OrganizationExternal Link (WHO) confirmed a new type of avian influenza virus in humans identified as A(H7N9) in the People’s Republic of China. All cases developed severe pneumonia and breathing difficulties, some resulting in death. Additional cases are expectedOfficial numbers are available hereExternal Link.

Risk to Canadians

The strain of H7N9 avian influenza causing illness in people in China has not been identified in birds in Canada.
There have been no reports of human illness in Canada associated with the H7N9 flu virus currently causing illness in China.
The risk posed to humans by avian influenza in birds is generally very low. Avian influenza does not transmit easily from birds to infect humans.
While there is no risk of catching the flu virus by eating affected poultry, Canada, in fact, does not import raw poultry or raw poultry products from China.
Canadians should protect themselves and their fellow citizens from seasonal/annual influenza by:
  • Getting an annual flu shot;
  • Washing hands frequently;
  • Covering coughs and sneezes;
  • Keeping common surfaces clean; and
  • Staying home when sick.

Travel information

While the Agency is not advising any travel restrictions related to this event at this time, a Travel Health Notice has been postedExternal Link on the travel.gc.ca website to provide advice to Canadian travellers. We will continue to monitor this situation very closely and advise Canadians as appropriate.

What the Public Health Agency of Canada is doing

The Agency works closely with its national and international partners, including the WHO, to track all types of flu activity in Canada and around the world.
An Agency medical expert is based in Beijing and is liaising with the Chinese infectious disease prevention authorities on this outbreak.
The Agency's National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) has access to the H7N9 whole genome sequence through the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID). This information allows the NML to rapidly detect the H7N9 flu virus.
The NML is also working closely with provincial laboratories to ensure they are also able to test for the H7N9 flu virus. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/phn-asp/2013/h7n9-0403-eng.php

Port 9 suspected cases of H7N9 avian influenza Photos

Apollo News 2013-04-09 News]
\
Ko Wing-man, the Secretary of the Hong Kong Food and Health Bureau, April 8, to attend the special session of the Council of Health Affairs, said there are nine suspected cases of infection of H7N9, need experts further assessment. The authorities had announced two of these cases, and confirmed not confirmed cases.
The Government announced earlier, another seven people of Hong Kong to the East China travel tour after fever symptoms, HA confirmed that seven people infected. The authorities reiterated that there would not advise the public not to travel to the East China. The World Health Organization does not support the the individual government unilateral right place for travel alerts.
\
Ko Wing-man, said the people of Hong Kong are not new coronavirus virus or the H7N9 avian influenza infection , but the authorities are on high alert, never falter. From the 11th, the relevant authorities for the import of poultry at Man Kam To Control Point H7 rapid test results to be available within four hours, if no problem can be shipped to the poultry market to sell. And stressed with the continent multiple units to maintain close contact and there is no big problem.
Ko Wing-man on the morning of the 9th depart for Singapore to attend theWorld Health Summit Forum for Asia, to exchange views on medical and health matters of common concern between the two places.http://www.aboluowang.com/2013/0409/297572.html#.UWNTq5Nwe5I

National Health Planning Commission: not necessary to the production of the H7N9 avian flu vaccine


2013-04-09 01:05

...."Liang Wannian stressed currently active vaccine research is basic research, if the disease mutation, lead The spread between people, in particular, is a large area of ​​the crowd spread that the vaccine is necessary to produce, if only a sporadic, mainly derived from animals, then the number of the patient occurred only punctate, this time there is no need to vaccinate....http://news.dayoo.com/china/57400/201304/09/57400_109966629.htm

Infectious disease specialist training military medical personnel to prevent and control avian influenza



013-04-09 00:53

Technology Daily News April 8, the General Logistics Department of Health organized by the Ministry of the People's Liberation Army No. 302 Hospital of Infectious Disease Clinic and Research Center Director Zhao experts, hospital remote medical information system, to carry out the whole army medical personnel "of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza medical treatment "the remote training activities.   Training, Zhao, director title "people interpret and typical cases of H7N9 avian flu infection analysis of human infection of H7N9 avian influenza etiology characteristics, epidemic monitoring and reporting, clinic, laboratory monitoring, health education, etc. training, carried out a detailed analysis and interpretation of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza.
It is understood that the People's Liberation Army No. 302 Hospital is the country's largest, the military only three A-level infectious disease hospital, has a whole army of new outbreaks of infectious diseases prevention and control key laboratories and a large number of infectious diseases leading experts in the field, they have attended, including the fight against various types of critically ill outbreak of SARS prevention and control of a stream, including disposal tasks more than 20 times, has a wealth of prevention and control of communicable diseases and treatment experience.   http://www.kaixian.tv/R1/n1723689c7.shtml

Wuxi start the influenza epidemic level emergency response


2013-04-09 00:50

April 8 (Reporter Guo Guozhong) reporters today learned from the Wuxi Municipal Health Bureau, the city start since April 3, emergency response, monitoring, prevention and control work leading group established to address influenza epidemic city ​​departments, health care institutions hav..\ http://www.kaixian.tv/R1/n1723596c7.shtml

time for some donations

I'm tellin ya, I need them. If you dont have papypal, contact thru email.

"Chinese Academy of Sciences found that the novel H7N9 virus as China and South Korea "hybrid"


HATTIP CATBIRD

Apr. 08, 2013

The new type of the H7N9 avian influenza virus genes from wild birds Korea and China in Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu flocks gene reassortment

Network】 【Finance (Reporter Wang Chen) new avian influenza virus H7N9 in China, the number of infections rising, as of April 8, to 24, the number of infections and deaths increased to seven cases. Such a low-morbidity in poultry, the viruses that cause high mortality in humans, caused by the high degree of concern in the scientific community. H7N9 avian influenza virus, one of the most important direction - gene traceable Recently, some preliminary conclusions.

Institute of pathogenic microorganisms and Immunology Key Laboratory researchers said the new financial reporter April 8, the reassortant virus fragments of the Laboratory results showed that the eight gene segments of the H7N9 avian flu virus, H7 fragment derived from Zhejiang avian influenza virus isolated in ducks, and Zhejiang ducks virus up retrospective homologous with the avian influenza virus isolated Korean wild birds; homology of the avian influenza virus isolated N9 fragment of wild birds in Korea. The remaining six gene segments (PB2, PB1, PA, NP, M, NS) derived from the H9N2 avian influenza virus. According to the viral genome comparison and phylogenetic analysis, H9N2 avian influenza virus from flocks of China in Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other places.

Gene reassortment likely occurred in China's Yangtze River Delta region. Process possibly via Korea of ​​wild birds in the natural migration process, and the Yangtze River Delta region of China, ducks, chickens with its own bird flu virus gene reassortment produce. The results also show that the H7N9 avian influenza virus evolution traces, yet found in pigs and that pigs do not play the role of intermediate host in this viral gene reassortment.

Korean wild birds

Avian influenza virus is composed of eight gene fragment, including the HA, NA, PB2, PB1, PA, NP, M, NS, virus named determined by these two genes HA, NA name, each of the middle of the 6 "family members" not identical. Is also known as the H7N9 virus, is not necessarily the same. This different from the gaggle in the Czech Republic in 2009, found that the H7N9 avian influenza virus H7N9 found in mainland China, is also different from the H7N9 avian influenza virus isolated from wild ducks in Korea in 2008, three common virus only is that the same N9, the remaining seven genes are not the same - they are collectively referred to as the H7N9 subtype.

Very important as the name of the virus HA, NA gene fragment Two glycoproteins protrusions on the surface of the influenza virus, hemagglutinin (HA) like virus used to open and the invasion of the keys to the cells of humans or livestock, nerve ammonia acid enzymes (NA), can destroy the cell receptors, help virus spread freedom in the host body. Can be divided into 16 kinds of HA, NA can be divided into nine kinds. Different combinations between them, the theoretical maximum can be combined into 144 different virus subtypes, in reality, it has been found more than 130 species.

Continuous generation of reassortant viruses in nature, different virus through contact with their respective host another exchange of gene fragments. The H7N9 avian flu virus found in the Chinese mainland, in the nature of the spread process is likely to follow the following path: migratory the Korean wild bird carrying H subtypes (including H7N3 and H7N9 subtype avian influenza virus) to the Yangtze River Delta region of China, the contact Zhejiang ducks, the virus reassortant ducks carrying the H7 subtype viruses, ducks are likely as an intermediate host, and Zhejiang, Shanghai and other places carrying H9N2 avian influenza virus in chickens contact eventually gene reassortment become the new avian flu virus H7N9.

Break the person poultry barrier

According to the traditional experience of the avian flu virus, regardless of the poultry is low pathogenic virus or high pathogenic virus, are more difficult to infect human cells, generally after the human respiratory tract Jibei stand in the way.

Reality and research revealed that the original virus circulating in poultry, or through an intermediate host pig gene reassortment infected person;, or directly from poultry to people. The H7N9 avian influenza virus, that is, directly from birds to people. The danger is that this presents a low pathogenic virus in birds who was devastating in the human body, the virus replicated in human lungs crazy, very rapid progression of the disease, the mortality rate is also high.

In accordance with the mechanism of virus structure, the process of the virus invades the human body like a teamwork combat is divided into three steps: HA like a key breakthrough who host limit; NA helps the virus destroys the cell receptor so that the new copy synthesis spread of the virus the remaining six gene fragments collaboration, and the completion of the virus to copy a large number of cells in the body, three steps with the lack of a non-Which one imbalance can be caused by viruses strength weakening, difficult to play killing effect on the human body.

Unfortunately, these three steps efficient havoc with the human body in a new type of H7N9 avian influenza virus. According to experts, research, resulting in new H7N9 avian influenza virus to infect humans and cause high mortality from the virus mutates.

"N9 mutation has been observed the N9 gene fragment is shorter than the N9 gene fragments, but still I do not know this variation lead to what specific consequences". The above researchers said.

This change in the course of the study, the the H7 gene fragments and customary H7 has not changed much, but in people - avian receptor binding specificity, critical amino acid changes in determining people affect pending further scientific assessment. H7 subtypes of avian influenza virus infection case had occurred.

From 1959 to 2007, 112 cases of infections in the United States, Australia and the Netherlands, but showed a slight, only conjunctivitis and mild flu-like symptoms, H7 subtypes of avian influenza virus has been unaffected the attention of the scientific community."

Seven more tested in HK for bird flu

09-04-2013
Seven local patients are undergoing tests for H7N9 bird flu in Hong Kong. Two earlier suspected cases tested negative for the virus.As part of efforts to guard against a possible outbreak, the government will start checking imported poultry for the H7 strain of bird flu from Thursday. A territory-wide poultry cull will be considered, if there are any confirmed cases of H7N9 among birds or humans.http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/20130409/news_20130409_56_913813.htm

INDO- Jabar Disnak Tighten Oversight Poultry


Jabar Disnak Tighten Oversight Poultry

Monday, April 8, 2013, 22:28 pmREPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG - In this April, the month that are prone to poultry. Because, in the transition season, bird flu easily infect poultry.
According to the Head of Department of Animal Husbandry (Disnak) Jabar, Koesmayadi, has been two months since it anticipate the spread of bird flu virus to farms in West Java. Moreover, now the H7N9 virus outbreak in China. "Hopefully, the virus does not go to Indonesia. But indeed, the current month transition period prone to disease," said Koesmayadi told Reuters on Monday (8/4). According Koesmayadi, Jabar Disnak perform a variety of anticipated working with a team of URC (Quick Response Unit). So there are cases of bird flu, it will be addressed immediately in order not to spread to other birds. "Traffic poultry, we watch as well," he said.http://www.republika.co.id/berita/nasional/jawa-barat-nasional/13/04/08/mky0bn-disnak-jabar-perketat-pengawasan-unggas

despite several members of a family falling ill in Shanghai.


There is no proof that the H7N9 bird flu virus is being transmitted between people in China, the World Health Organisation said, despite several members of a family falling ill in Shanghai.
China announced just over a week ago that the virus had been found in humans for the first time, and the number of confirmed cases has since risen to 21, with six deaths.
"Although we do not know the source of infection, at this time there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission," Michael O'Leary, the WHO's representative in China, told a news conference in Beijing.
Concerns over human transmission arose after the two sons of an elderly man in Shanghai, one of the earliest deaths from H7N9, developed respiratory illness, one of them dying, but the virus was later ruled out by Chinese authorities.
The WHO confirmed that government finding on Monday. 
Two women ride past the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, on April 4, 2013. There is no proof that the H7N9 bird flu virus is being transmitted between people in China, the World Health Organization said. (Photo by AFP)
"The family cluster raises the possibility of human-to-human transmission, but two of the cases in that cluster have not been laboratory confirmed," O'Leary said...

No proof bird flu spreading among humans


 / 

No proof bird flu spreading among humans

Airline, tourism shares slump despite assurances from WHO over outbreak that's killed six in China

The World Health Organization said Monday there is no evidence China’s bird flu is spreading among humans, but jitters over the outbreak that has killed six people so far has also seen airline and tourism shares slump.
China announced just over a week ago that H7N9 avian influenza had been found in humans for the first time, and now 21 cases jave been confirmed.
Like the more common H5N1 variant, which typically spreads from birds to humans, experts fear such viruses can mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, with the potential to trigger a pandemic.
“Although we do not know the source of infection, at this time there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission,” Michael O’Leary, the WHO’s representative in China, told a news conference in Beijing.
“The human cases we know of are very serious. A large proportion have died,” he added.
Fears over the deaths sparked a slump in Shanghai shares, with hotel and tourism shares leading the decline.
China United Travel, a tourism agency based in the eastern city of Nanjing, slumped 4.1 percent and hotel operator Shanghai Jinjiang International Hotels Development fell 3.8 percent, while flag carrier Air China was off 2.6 percent. But medical stocks rose.
Concerns over the outbreak were also blamed for a tumble in Hong Kong stocks Friday; however, shares rallied on Monday.
“The major cause of bird flu remains unknown and this will cause panic among people and affect consumption, which may affect market expectations for the trend of the domestic economy,” BOC International analyst Shen Jun said.
The outbreak has so far been confined to China’s developed eastern region, with four deaths in the commercial hub of Shanghai and two in the neighboring province of Zhejiang. Other infections have occurred in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces.
A Chinese expert said more H7N9 cases could be found in a wider area.
“We are tracking the source and cannot rule out the possibility of finding the virus in other regions,” said Feng Zijian, director of the emergency office for China’s Disease Control Center.
Another official, Shu Yuelong, said that poultry infected with the H7N9 strain die more slowly than those with H5N1, giving the virus more time to infect people.
More than 365 people have died of H5N1 worldwide since a major outbreak in 2003, and it kills about 60 percent of people who develop it, according to WHO statistics.
The first deaths from H7N9 were not reported by Chinese authorities until three weeks after they occurred, prompting criticism the initial announcement was too slow.
But Chinese officials have said the delay in announcing the first results was because it took time to determine the cause of the illness, and O’Leary praised China’s transparency, saying the WHO was “very satisfied and pleased with the level of information shared.”
China faced condemnation a decade ago on accusations it covered up the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, which eventually killed about 800 people globally.
Users of China’s popular weibo microblogs have expressed skepticism about official assurances. “Although there is no human transmission, why does the number (of cases) increase daily? This makes people scared,” said user Li Xiao Lei.
The WHO said in a statement that it is possible the virus can spread to humans from animals, such as pigeons.
The China Daily newspaper Monday called for “high alert” nationwide and urged stronger regulation of the poultry trade.
“The rules for transporting and trading of live poultry in cities should be strengthened, because the bird flu can spread very fast in densely populated cities,” it said in an editorial. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/04/09/asia-pacific/no-proof-bird-flu-spreading-among-humans/#.UWLoJZNwe5I

Asia braces for spill-over of new bird flu strain


BANGKOk, 8 April 2013 (IRIN) - Officials throughout Asia are implementing measures to protect themselves from a new strain of bird flu - H7N9 - that has so far infected 21 people in China, killing six

These are the first human infections and deaths to have been recorded from this virus strain worldwide. China’s neighbours have reacted by boosting hospital capabilities and disease surveillance, strengthening border control, issuing reminders to ban illegal poultry imports, and more vigorously testing what is imported. 

Following a mass animal culling on 5 April in Shanghai - one of the Chinese cities affected - pandemic expert and virologist Yi Guan from the University of Hong Kong told IRIN he expects human cases to “drop or stop”. But he added that experts still have much to learn about the disease. 

The virus has proved to be a “low-pathogenic” virus in infected land-based birds, so it is not clear why the virus has been so severe in humans, he noted. The true spread of the disease is also still unknown. 

"We have a knowledge gap and do not know the full picture. There may be people with minor infections or who are asymptomatic among [the] population as a result of H7N9," said Yi. 
Experts have not been able to learn how or why the 21 persons became infected. While some people had contact with animals or their habitats, and infections are suspected to originate in poultry, the virus's host and source have not been lab-confirmed. 

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has noted that knowing what species is responsible for the fatal outbreak is “essential to target response actions accordingly, including trade restrictions”. 

Indonesia 
Since the H5N1 bird flu virus first appeared in 2003, there have been 622 laboratory-confirmed human cases globally, 371 of them fatal, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Indonesia has seen the largest number of deaths from H5N1: 160. 

"We face a similar situation to China because the high risks of the animal-human interface, and inadequate bio-security among many poultry farmers. That's why [holding a] public awareness campaign is important, and we continue to closely monitor genetic mutations of the bird flu virus,” said Emil Agustiono, the head of Indonesia’s National Zoonosis Committee. 

He said no “special measures” have been enacted as the country does not import live poultry from China. 

The WHO has not advised any travel or restrictions or any special screenings linked to the flu outbreak. 

Tjandra Yoga Aditama, director general for disease control and environmental health at Indonesia’s Health Ministry, told IRIN the call for “intensive surveillance” has been made to local health departments. They have also been called upon to immediately respond to “any cases of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection, which may be found in communities, hospitals and other health care providers, seaports and airports." 

Vietnam 

Vietnam, which does import live poultry from China, issued a government directive on 4 April reminding officials working near the border with China to be vigilant about keeping out illegal poultry imports and about inspecting all legal imports before distribution. 

Vietnam’s health ministry has designated laboratories to analyse blood samples of suspected cases. 

The Institute for Tropical Diseases in the capital, Hanoi, has ready 8,000 doses of Tamiflu (reported by Chinese authorities to be effective in treating the infection at early stages), 23 respirators and two dialysis machines. On 5 April, the Health Ministry promulgated an action plan in the case of an H7N9 outbreak 

China 

Local media reported that Hong Kong government officials have cautioned against panic-buying and confirmed the availability of 1,400 hospital beds to quarantine any patients infected with H7N9. 

Following his visit to a local poultry market on 8 April, Hong Kong’s secretary for food and health, Ko Wing-man, told reporters that officials in Hong Kong and mainland China are collaborating to boost surveillance of all poultry imports. All poultry are to receive rapid tests for H5N1 virus as well as H7N9 before being released to the markets for sales in Hong Kong.  http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97806/Asia-braces-for-spill-over-of-new-bird-flu-strain

Virtnam-Planning approval H7N9 flu prevention



Updated at: 22:06 04/08/2013
(Inspector) - Today (8/4), the Ministry of Health has approved the H7N9 flu prevention plan. Accordingly, there are four scenarios in place:
No case of human disease;
A/H7N9 flu cases in humans but not found to spread from person to person;
 detecting cases of influenza A / H7N9 spreads from person to person but in narrow or single cases; outbreaks community.

In the case when there is no case of the disease in humans, the health sector will strengthen supervision cases acute respiratory infections of unknown cause; special implementation of monitoring people, animals and goods in border and border areas; conduct screening to detect suspected cases at the border through the use of remote temperature measurement. Another important solution is to strengthen the laboratory diagnosis of influenza virus A/H7N9 in the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology / Pasteur, build processes tests, training for laboratory staff.

The first phase, the Ministry of Health requires 3 Institute: Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang Pasteur Institute is ready to receive samples for diagnosis of influenza A/H7N9. The medical examination and treatment prepared the drug, isolated areas; ready to organize the final solution, isolation and treatment of patients, limited mortality. Establish a network of collection units used in the treatment of patients with influenza A/H7N9.


The Ministry of Health also requires local testing organization, direct and supervise the implementation of local flu. The reserve unit, treatment and communication in the area to strengthen surveillance, early detection; ready solution of treated patients; strengthen propaganda about the disease and preventive measures for people.
 
The Ministry of Health has established five Missions inspect, supervise and direct the prevention of A/H7N9 flu in the province / city: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Lao Cai, Lang Son, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Tay Ninh, Ha Tinh.

 On 9/4, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long and representatives of a number of departments under the Ministry of Health, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City will inspect the international medical quarantine at the international airport gate Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City. The same day, the delegation inspected the ready a final solution, the treatment of patients with influenza A/H5N1 and A/H7N9 at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City. http://www.thanhtra.com.vn/tabid/77/newsid/66238/temidclicked/34/seo/Phe-duyet-Ke-hoach-phong-chong-dich-cum-H7N9/Default.aspx

Da Nang prepares H7N9 flu



(TNO) PM 8.4, the Department of Health Da Nang chaired the emergency meeting with concerned units preparing to establish the Steering Committee and the measures against H7N9 flu .

According to Nguyen Ut, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Health, local implementation of H7N9 flu in the context of April, five more as the International Fireworks Festival (each drive welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors) , holidays 30.4 and 1.5 last 5 days, so many potential risk visitors carry pathogens to Danang and disease outbreaks.
Ms. Ngo Thi Kim Yen, deputy director of Da Nang City Department of Health, said while not identify the source of infection of H7N9 flu, it is necessary to strictly control the food source from China imported about local now people are using a lot.
In addition, Da Nang is the pick of the country from China with about 20 flights, or 2,000 to 2,500 visitors per week, with 1 - 2 trains travel the ocean, not to mention road ahead, the Department of Health focus at the gate control air and seaports....

Five patients infected with type 1 flu virus in Siu Lam Hospital


(04-08 19:53)

Five patients, aged 33 to 56, in a male ward for the severe mentally handicapped had presented with respiratory symptoms since April 5, Siu Lam Hospital said today.
Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Parainfluenza Virus Type 1. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition.
Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward concerned are under close surveillance. 
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=34498&icid=a&d_str=20130308