| 2013-04-10 06:55:43 Hangzhou Network |
Domestic many deaths caused by the H7N9 avian flu virus, the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of Zhejiang Province, has established a laboratory of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza virus detection method, immigration officers to carry out testing. From the Ching Ming Festival after daily testing situation summary report. "Zhejiang Inspection and Quarantine Bureau staff said that, since April, has not been detected persons exit carrying the H7N9 avian flu virus.
Because the main symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, Xiaoshan Airport in Hangzhou, the ports of entry, each passengers in and out of the shut through infrared body temperature monitor...
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Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Hangzhou immigration port screening for the H7N9 avian influenza virus
CDC activates emergency center over H7N9
Robert Roos 
News Editor
News Editor
Apr 9, 2013 (CIDRAP News) – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Atlanta yesterday to support the response to the H7N9 influenza outbreak in China, CDC officials said in an e-mailed statement today.
The EOC was activated at level 2, the second of three levels. Level 1, the highest, signals an agency-wide response. "This is a limited activation that allows for the use of additional resources and staff to meet the technical needs of a public health response," the agency said.
Activation was prompted because the novel H7N9 avian influenza virus has never been seen before in animals or humans and because reports from China have linked it to severe human disease, the agency said.
"Since this is an international outbreak, activation of the EOC provides resources, logistical support, and avenues of communication with international partners that make management of the situation easier," the CDC said, adding that it is collaborating closely with authorities in China and other countries.
"Additionally, in this stage of investigation and intense planning, activation of the EOC is intended to ensure that internal connections are developed and maintained and that CDC staff are kept informed and up to date with regard to the changing situation," the statement said.
Information on the number of personnel involved in the CDC response was not available at this writing.
Information on the CDC Web site says the last EOC response was for Japan's severe earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
more than half of the H7N9 virus infected over the age of 60
Mainland more than half of the H7N9 virus infected over the age of 60 experts interpret the reason
2013-04-10 07:22
Original title: more than half of the 28 infected over 60 years of age
Why the H7N9 virus in particular "preference" elderly?
Province respiratory department experts believe that this does not mean that other age groups are not susceptible
□ newspaper reporter Huang Miao Jun
Morning News yesterday, the province has added two cases of H7N9 avian influenza virus infected, their age more than 50 years of age. Comprehensive national 28 confirmed infections, the reporter found 19 infected persons aged 50 years or above the age of 15 in more than 60 years old, 60 years old or older accounted for more than half.
The elderly are not the H7N9 avian flu virus susceptible populations? The reporter interviewed the director of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Respiratory Yan Jianping chief physician, SARS period in 2003, Yan Zhuren members of the Group of Zhejiang Province, is also involved in the province to the prevention and control of avian influenza.
"Said the H7N9 virus preference elderly, this is not accurate to say that, because so far, the country found only 28 cases of infection, 28 patients to summarize the law is not science." Yan Zhuren said, medicine is very strict things, there must be a large number of cases in order to summarize some of the laws of this avian flu is a new disease, under any judgment is still too early.
However, Yan Zhuren, the previously popular flu, the elderly and children is indeed susceptible populations, because these two populations low immunity, susceptible to the virus. Every time the flu strikes, these two groups still have to pay attention to the protection, to improve their immunity.
Analysis of a few cases of deaths, can be found mostly in later respiratory distress, lung function decline. Many readers wondering, is not now need to enhance the lung function of exercise?
"Some of this statement putting the cart before the horse. Lung function is compromised because of virus attack before, rather than say lung function was caused by a viral infection bad as long as you develop good habits, can enhance their immunity, no need to also impossible to use increase lung function approach to prevention. "Yanzhu Ren said.
Although little understanding of the H7N9 avian flu virus, but the the infection manifested situation and flu symptoms are basically similar, so Yan Zhuren recommended for flu protection principles, when the bird flu struck. are also applicable, such as Peregrine good ventilation, wash their hands, pay attention to rest and balanced nutrition, fewer trips to the many people confined environment.
Each flu has mortality, there are only 28 cases, we should not look at multiple deaths, I felt this terrible disease, panic mood. My advice is to seek immediate medical attention when symptoms occur, can help early detection of disease. "Yan Zhuren introduced from domestic H7N9 infection appears to strengthen the power of the Provincial People's Hospital of fever clinics Once suspected cases will be promptly sent to the clinic. http://health.xinmin.cn/jkzx/2013/04/10/19647333.html
China Bird Flu Outbreak Tied to Viruses That May Hit Humans Hard
China Bird Flu Outbreak Tied to Viruses That May Hit Humans Hard
By Michelle Fay Cortez and Andrea Gerlin on April 09, 201
China’s deadly avian flu outbreak is being driven by at least two closely-related viruses, a situation that may make it more difficult to contain in humans and birds, researchers said.
The H7N9 flu has shown signs of genetic diversity since the first three patients were diagnosed, said Richard Webby, director of a World Health Organization collaborating center for the virus at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. It already appears more infectious than the H5N1 strain of bird flu that has been circulating since 2003, infecting 600 people and killing 60 percent of them, he said.
Scientists from around the world are working together to understand the virus because of the potential devastation caused by novel infections. The pandemics of the past century include the 1918 Spanish flu that killed as many as 50 million people and the 2003 SARS outbreak that killed 774.
“This virus might be getting more infectious to humans,” Webby said in a telephone interview. “If this is let spread from where it is now, it will evolve further. That’s what viruses do. If it isn’t contained now, that will almost certainly happen.”
Scientists tracking the virus need more information about the ecosystems of birds in China, including those in live markets, feeder farms and wild populations, to better understand and tackle the virus, said Maria Zambon, director of the U.K.’s national influenza center. That will provide a clearer view of how easily H7N9 spreads and how best to control it.
“The distribution of the cases, which is over several hundred kilometers, without obvious epidemiological links, suggests that there are diverse sources,” she said in a telephone interview.
Tissue Samples
Local governments must collect tissue samples from birds at poultry markets nationwide in the hunt for the cause of the outbreak that’s killed nine people, Chinese officials said yesterday. The process is more complicated because the virus doesn’t seem to harm the birds, eliminating the ability to track it by following a path of dead fowl, Webby said.
While the number of cases has risen to 28, there is no evidence yet that the virus is spreading from human to human, World Health Organization officials said. Zambon joined other flu scientists calling for evaluation of those with human exposure to H7N9 by analyzing their blood samples for evidence of antibodies produced in response to the virus.
China Response
China has increased its capacity to respond to emerging infectious pathogens since the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak that caused almost $40 billion in economic losses a decade ago. SARS was easily transmitted by droplets produced when an infected person coughed or sneezed.
Chinese officials are looking at two families to see if human-to-human transmission of the H7N9 avian flu occurred, a spokesman for the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.
There’s no confirmation yet that the virus is spreading between humans, the spokesman, Gregory Hartl, said at a news conference in Geneva. Members of the same family who have the flu may have caught it from the same environmental source, he said.
Proving that may not be possible immediately if an infected family member has recovered and lacks isolates of the virus in his or her blood, said John McCauley, director of the WHO Influenza Centre at the National Institute for Medical Research in London. Evidence of past infection may not be apparent until antibodies appear in the blood, which take a few weeks.
“In one of the early cases there was the possibility of a family cluster but it was not confirmed,” McCauley said in a telephone interview. “I suspect that the clustering that is going on, whether or not it is the same zoonotic source, would be difficult to prove.”
H7N9 Samples
The H7N9 virus isolated in samples from people in China may also be potentially atypical because different samples may have different lineages, or clades, said McCauley, who has also looked at its genetic profile, which has been published on www.gisaid.org.
“One of the early viruses had a genetically distinguishable nucleoprotein gene, so that was an unusual virus,” McCauley said. “It’s got the sort of characteristics that are somewhat unusual for a poultry virus. But the background knowledge on this is pretty sparse. It’s early days still.”
Trinidad environmentalists investigate mystery death of hundreds of black vultures
Environmental experts viewing dead birds at Chaguaramas in West Trinidad.
Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/trinidad_tobago_news/678294.html#ixzz2PziA4MnYPORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Tuesday April 9, 2013 - The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) says it is unable to identify any environmental reasons why more than 100 black vultures (Coragyps atratus) died in West Trinidad on Monday.
The EMA said it is also working on the theory that the birds may have been feeding on the carcass of an animal which had been poisoned.
“We can’t identify an environmental cause as such that they were exposed to. There were 150 birds, we estimated. There was nothing else in the vicinity. We have been liaising with the Poultry Surveillance Unit, which is part of the National Disease Centre, to see if it was a case of the avian flu,” EMA chief executive officer Dr. Joth Singh told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper.
But he said preliminary tests had shown avian flu had not killed the birds.
“That was not the cause and there is speculation that they may have been poisoned, that they were poisoned by an animal or carcass that they ate. We are trying to eliminate the causes and we have not found any chemical spills or seen any anywhere,” he said.
A member of the environmental activist group, Papa Bois Conservation, said the birds showed signs of poisoning with foam leaking out of their beaks and their talons curling up.
Stephen Broadbridge said the deaths follow the apparent release of poison into the Marianne River in Blanchiseusse, south east of here last week, killing a significant number of fishes.
Late last month, a number of dogs on the outskirts of the capital were found poisoned.
“This is criminal. If someone is found to be responsible, that person should face legal consequences, because the fact is that if the birds have been poisoned, then that poison can be introduced into our eco-system and end up getting back to humans.
“We are part of the food chain. And when you poison birds, they can fall anywhere, including the ocean, and be eaten by fish that we consume,” Broadbridge told reporters, adding that the apparent killing of the birds was also “terribly cruel” as most of the animals would have suffered for long periods before dying.
The dead birds were found in Chaguaramas and according to a statement issued by the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) investigations are being carried out to determine the cause.
“Following the sightings, the Veterinary Public Health Unit of the Ministry of Health, the Poultry Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Food Production, Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and Forestry Division were all alerted and samples of the carcasses have been taken for testing. We will advise later of the test results,” it said.
Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/trinidad_tobago_news/678294.html#ixzz2Pzi5lVQt
Hubei patient suspected died of H7N9 official refused to do the detection
11:30 last night, where he died the death of Wuhan University People's Hospital, suffering from severe pneumonia Peter SH Wong Qi. Family members said Peter Wong Shiu-chi's disease symptoms, suspected infection of the H7N9 virus, but the hospital consultation, only experience concludes that has nothing to do with this, and refused to do a special test. Yesterday, Hubei Province Health Department official said the health department is investigating to verify the news will be announced immediately. Currently, Hubei Province, no H7N9 confirmed or suspected cases....The patients death of family members of suspected H7N9
The evening of April 8, Wuhan University People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hubei Province) severe Branch, a 85-year-old Peter Wong Shiu Qi is pronounced dead. Although the hospital that Peter Wong Shiu-chi's disease has nothing to do with the H7N9 sub Huang Chunwei but do not rule out this possibility.
Peter Wong Shiu Qi hospitalized for a total of eight days. Huangchun Wei introduced, the father long live Wuhan. In early March, his parents received Shanghai sojourn. March 25, his father sudden high fever, the Shanghai hospital diagnosed as pneumonia...
went live poultry market
For families of speculation, the People's Hospital of Wuhan University, saying, Peter Wong Shiu-chi's condition has nothing to do with H7N9. Huang Chunwei many misgivings: "My father is sick suddenly, he usually in good health, but also not too the cardiopulmonary aspects and any other disease."
Huang Chunwei suspect the father may be infected with avian flu, is not totally unfounded. "While living in Shanghai, the parents every day will go to the bazaars to buy food, live poultry trading in the market." Every three or five days, Peter SH Wong Qi couples will buy back in the market is to kill the chicken. If the H7N9 virus in the market, "he is entirely possible to come into contact with."..http://news.qq.com/a/20130410/000027.htm
The strain of the virus is sent to multiple research institutions
Beijing Times News China CDC news yesterday, people infected with H7N9 avian influenza virus strains sharing mechanism in accordance with the relevant requirements of the WHO Influenza Reference and Research Cooperation Center, China CDC started the first time, was first isolated of human infection with the H7N9 strain of the virus in the first time and the WHO laboratory shared. Currently, these strains have been China CDC viral disease of the National Influenza Center Laboratory shipped to the other four of the World Health Organization influenza Participation ratio and research collaboration center, and transported to an animal influenza reference and research cooperation center, as well as in Hong Kong University and the British National Biological Products Inspection Institute. At the same time, in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Family Planning Commission, China CDC to China's Ministry of Agriculture, avian influenza reference laboratory, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Zoology, and pathogen provided by a strain of http://www.kaixian.tv/R1/n1748086c7.shtml
FRANCE- (H7N9) in China: recommendations for travelers
Avian influenza A (H7N9) in China: recommendations for travelers
Published on 04/09/2013 - Management of legal and administrative information (Prime Minister)
While the Chinese health authorities confirmed on 3 April 2013, nine human cases of avian influenza A (H7N9), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes a number of recommendations to the French presence in China.
Avian influenza is a viral disease animal (poultry, pigs) exceptionally transmissible from animals to humans. Standard hygiene measures are recommended to reduce the risk of transmission:
- avoided any direct contact with poultry, wild birds and pigs, including markets,
- avoid the consumption of raw or undercooked food, especially meat and eggs
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or with an alcohol-solute and systematically if there is contact with animals or eggs.
The World Health Organization said Monday, 8 April 2013, there is no evidence of human to human transmission of H7N9 strain of avian influenza in China. For its part, the Institute of Health Surveillance (INVS) considers that the risk of the virus spreading in Europe is low. Entry into the French territory of some patients from China can not be ruled out. Monitoring must be strengthened to seek influenza A (H7N9) in persons with clinical signs of severe acute respiratory infection. http://www.service-public.fr/actualites/002705.html?xtor=RSS-66&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
H7N9 death toll rises as 'family clusters' probed
2013-4-10
TWO more deaths from the H7N9 bird flu virus took China's toll from the new strain to nine yesterday.One was an 83-year-old man in Jiangsu Province who was admitted to hospital with a fever on March 20 and confirmed as having H7N9 on April 2, Xinhua news agency reported.
The other victim was a patient in Anhui Province. No further details have been released so far.
The strain has now infected 28 people, all of them in eastern China. They include another four infections confirmed yesterday, two in Shanghai and two in Zhejiang Province, one of whom was said to be dangerously ill.
The World Health Organization said yesterday that it was looking into two suspected "family clusters" of people in China who may be infected, potentially the first evidence of human-to-human spread.
The new virus is severe in most humans, leading to fears that if it becomes easily transmissible, it could cause a deadly influenza pandemic.
"At this point there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told a news briefing in Geneva. "There are some suspected but not yet confirmed cases of perhaps very limited transmission between close family members. Those are still being investigated.
"In general, no matter what their exposure, this virus so far has produced overwhelmingly severe cases," he said.
Hartl said that the two suspected "clusters" were in Shanghai and Jiangsu.
In each suspected cluster, a family member has been confirmed as being infected, he said.
"They are small family clusters. One is two people, and the other is three people. We just are trying to get good samples in one of the cases of the family cluster in order to be able to test those samples, and we are waiting on test results from the other cluster," he said.
The exact source of infection remains unknown, although samples have tested positive in some birds in poultry markets that remain the focus of investigations by China and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization.
"If it is confirmed, it means that it has passed between two people under the same roof," Hartl said. "And if it passes between two people under the same roof, it's either human-to-human transmission between two people who have constant and close contact or it could be virus from the same environmental source, so we don't know yet."
The WHO has praised China for mobilizing resources nationwide to combat the strain by culling thousands of birds and monitoring hundreds of people close to those infected.
Chinese authorities have said there is no evidence of the H7N9 strain being transmitted between humans.
The bird flu outbreak has caused global concern. Airline shares have fallen in Europe and in Hong Kong over fears that the virus could be lead to an epidemic like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which emerged in China in 2002 and killed about 10 percent of the 8,000 people infected worldwide.
Health authorities initially tried to cover up the SARS outbreak.
"The Chinese ministry of health and family planning is working extremely openly and closely with us on this issue (H7N9)," Hartle told reporters yesterday.
"We are getting all the information that we need or ask for," he added.
Referring to work being done in WHO laboratories worldwide to identify the best vaccine for the virus, he said that "in terms of vaccine development, we are still in the phase where a suitable vaccine virus is being developed."
However, Hartl said that would take "a matter of weeks not months." http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=528024&type=National
New avian flu detected in W Cape H7N1
New avian flu detected in W Cape
Cape Town - A new bird flu was detected on an ostrich farm near Oudtshoorn on Tuesday, Western Cape agriculture MEC Gerrit van Rensburg said.
“The tests indicated that the causative organism is a H7N1 virus. The pathogenicity of this virus is unknown as yet, but samples have been submitted to determine the type,” he said.
The source of the infection was also not yet known, but the department had started an “intensive epidemiological investigation”.
As a precautionary measure, he had prohibited all movement of ostriches and their products within a three kilometre radius of the outbreak farm.
All ostrich holdings in this zone were being quarantined, sampled and tested for the presence of the flu. The department's planned ostrich auction for Wednesday had also been postponed. The measures would remain in place until further notice.
Van Rensburg said the impact of this latest outbreak on the industry's export hopes would be clearer once the results of the follow-up test were known.
Ostrich producers were strongly recommended to limit the movement of their animals within the vicinity, and to report any sick or dead birds to the state veterinarian.
The Cape Argus reported on Tuesday that the industry had been hard hit by an export ban imposed on South African ostrich meat in April 2011, after an outbreak of avian flu.
To date, 50 percent of ostrich farmers had left the industry because of the export ban and subsequent job losses. There was also a new threat from thieves, who were plucking feathers from live birds at night.
The Western Cape government's research farm in Oudtshoorn was reportedly one of the main targets.
Researcher Stefan Engelbrecht told the newspaper it was first hit by feather thieves about a month ago, and then again recently.
About 70 birds were plucked and four were bludgeoned to death. - Sapa http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/new-avian-flu-detected-in-w-cape-1.1497816?#.UWRSQpNwe5I
Hong Kong scholars new easier than SARS coronavirus infection of the respiratory tract
Hong Kong Newswire April 9
University of Hong Kong released research scholars novel coronavirus may cause more severe lung damage than the SARS virus. They found that for the first time how the novel coronavirus cause lung disease, and why it spread to other organs; also found that interferon can inhibit virus replication in the lungs future treatment strategy of the new revelation.
HKU research team using human respiratory tract tissue cultivated in vitro, a relatively new type of coronavirus, SARS coronavirus and the causes of the common cold symptoms human coronavirus infection. Relevant outcomes recently published in the International Journal of Virology Virology Journal "(Journal of Virology).
The study shows that the new type of coronavirus replication in human speed faster than the SARS coronavirus. Novel coronavirus that can infect human lungs, patients with breathing difficulties, and hinder the recovery process in the lungs of patients after repair and infection.
Novel coronavirus infection in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells, the virus a chance to spread through the blood to the organs outside the respiratory tract, causing more severe lung damage than the SARS coronavirus in patients.
The study also found that, the novel coronavirus avoid damage lung interferon activation response of lung cells. Interferon system of human first line of defense against virus infection.Therefore, the study with interferon therapy, and pulmonary viral replication can be effectively suppressed. This treatment will help treatment programs for future clinical studies of human infection with the novel coronavirus important revelation.
Influenza Research Center of the University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine School of Public Health, Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases scholars led the study.
The novel coronavirus commonly known as "SARS", found that cases of human infection from the global total of 17 confirmed human cases, with 11 deaths, a number of patients from the Middle East since April 2012. Has new coronavirus spread of the virus and the disease mechanisms are not yet completely understood. (End) http://www.hkcna.hk//content/2013/0409/186548.shtml
Bird flu found on S.Africa ostrich farm, no Chinese link seen
Tue, 9 Apr 2013 16:38 GMT
CAPE TOWN, April 9 (Reuters) - An outbreak of bird flu has hit an ostrich farm in South Africa, but authorities said it was unlikely to pose a threat to humans, though additional tests were being carried out after another strain killed eight people in China.
The outbreak has prompted restrictions on the movement of the big birds and their products in the Western Cape province, the Western Cape ministry of agriculture said in a statement on Tuesday.
Tests samples from an ostrich farm near Oudtshoorn, the centre of South Africa's ostrich export industry, found the presence of the H7N1 virus, the ministry said.
Another strain, H7N9, has killed eight people in eastern China since it was confirmed in humans for the first time last month.
Marna Sinclair, a state vet in the Oudtshoorn area, said there had been previous incidents of H7N1 viruses in the region, but that none were found to be related to the current Chinese strain and no people have fallen ill.
"There is no real concern. We doubt it is a related virus but are conducting tests to make sure," she said.
Two years ago, South Africa culled 10,000 ostriches after an outbreak of another, less virulent form of bird flu halted ostrich-meat exports to the European Union. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by Ed Stoddard and Jane Baird) http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/bird-flu-found-on-safrica-ostrich-farm-no-chinese-link-seen?
Human infection with influenza A(H7N9) virus in China - update
9 APRIL 2013 - As of 9 April 2013 (14:00 CET), the National Health and Family Planning Commission notified WHO of an additional three laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with influenza A(H7N9) virus.
The latest laboratory-confirmed cases include two patients from Jiangsu – an 85 -year-old man who became ill on 28 March 2013 and a 25-year-old pregnant woman who became ill on 30 March 2013. Both are in severe condition. The third patient is a 64-year-old man from Shanghai who became ill on 1 April 2013, and died on 7 April 2013.
To date, a total of 24 cases have been laboratory confirmed with influenza A(H7N9) virus in China, including seven deaths, 14 severe cases and three mild cases.
More than 600 close contacts of the confirmed cases are being closely monitored. In Jiangsu, investigation is ongoing into a contact of an earlier confirmed case who developed symptoms of illness.
The Chinese government is actively investigating this event and has heightened disease surveillance. Retrospective testing of recently reported cases with severe respiratory infection may uncover additional cases that were previously unrecognized. An inter-government task force has been formally established, with the National Health and Family Planning Commission leading the coordination along with the Ministry of Agriculture and other key ministries. The animal health sector has intensified investigations into the possible sources and reservoirs of the virus.
WHO is in contact with national authorities and is following the event closely. The WHO-coordinated international response is also focusing on work with WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza and other partners to ensure that information is available and that materials are developed for diagnosis and treatment and vaccine development. No vaccine is currently available for this subtype of the influenza virus. Preliminary test results provided by the WHO Collaborating Centre in China suggest that the virus is susceptible to the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir).
At this time there is no evidence of ongoing human-to-human transmission.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_04_09/en/index.html
Taiwan, China won't cooperate on H7N9 vaccine: official
CNA
April 10, 2013, 12:03 am TWNTAIPEI -- Taiwan will not work with China on the development of a vaccine against the H7N9 avian flu virus, but rather will try to do so on its own, Taiwan's Deputy Health Minister Lin Tzou-yien said yesterday.Taiwan's government has assembled a task force to work on an H7N9 vaccine and will convene a meeting with domestic manufacturers April 12 to discuss mass production of the vaccine, Lin said after a meeting of the Central Epidemic Command Center earlier in the day.
April 10, 2013, 12:03 am TWNTAIPEI -- Taiwan will not work with China on the development of a vaccine against the H7N9 avian flu virus, but rather will try to do so on its own, Taiwan's Deputy Health Minister Lin Tzou-yien said yesterday.Taiwan's government has assembled a task force to work on an H7N9 vaccine and will convene a meeting with domestic manufacturers April 12 to discuss mass production of the vaccine, Lin said after a meeting of the Central Epidemic Command Center earlier in the day.
There will be no cooperation with China in the effort to develop and manufacture the vaccine, he said.
Taiwan has two options regarding the production of the vaccine, according to Lin. One option is to culture the virus strain for the vaccine on its own, and the other is to skip that step and get the H7N9 vaccine strain from the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, he said.
With the first option, it could take eight to 11 weeks to develop an H7N9 vaccine strain, Lin said.
But if Taiwan can obtain the vaccine strain directly from the United States or the WHO, the process will be quicker, Lin said.
After the vaccine strain turned over to manufacturers, it may take at least two months to produce it and another two months to complete testing, he said.
“From obtaining the vaccine strain to the production of the vaccine, it will take at the very least four months,” Lin said.
Chang Fang-yee, head the Centers of Disease Control and the command center, said the Department of Health has sent two epidemiologists to Shanghai to learn more about China's strategy in combating the H7N9 flu, but they might not be able to bring back virus cultures for vaccine purposes because of time constraints.
Urgent search for flu source
..“We are going to be sitting with bated breath over the next month to find out what happens,” says Michael Osterholm, who heads the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy in Minneapolis. As Nature went to press, 24 human cases, including 8 deaths, had been reported in 11 cities, some a few hundred kilometres apart, in eastern China (see map). So many cases in such a short time over such a wide area — up from three cases in two cities a week ago — is “a very concerning situation”, says Osterholm...
http://www.nature.com/news/urgent-search-for-flu-source-1.12762
http://www.nature.com/news/urgent-search-for-flu-source-1.12762
Australia Travel Notice
This Advice was last issued on Tuesday, 09 April 2013. It contains new information under Health (Chinese authorities have confirmed cases in humans of strain (H7N9) avian influenza in eastern China). The overall level of the advice has not changed. We continue to advise Australians to exercise normal safety precautions in China.
H7N9 Avian influenza cases in 2013: On 31 March 2013, Chinese authorities confirmed cases in humans of (H7N9) avian influenza in eastern China. For more information see the World Health Organisation page.
H1N1 Avian influenza: The World Health Organization has previously confirmed human deaths from (H1N1) avian influenza in China. The Department of Health and Ageing advises Australians who reside in China for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. You should seek medical advice before taking antiviral medicines. Australians intending to travel to China for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.
If the avian influenza virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australian travellers and long-term residents in China should be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, including deciding when to leave an affected area and ensuring they have appropriate contingency plans in place. Australians in China should monitor the travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice, and ensure that their travel documents, including passports and visas for any non-Australian family members, are up to date in case they need to depart at short notice. http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/China
Message for U.S. Citizens
Message for U.S. Citizens
04/09/2013
As the Chinese authorities continue to report new cases of a new strain of avian influenza (H7N9) in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, U.S. citizens in China are advised to stay informed with the latest medical guidance and practical information. To date, no human-to-human transmission has been reported and no link has been found between the laboratory-confirmed cases. Individuals in close contact with the infected were tested and the results have all been negative.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is following this situation closely and coordinating with domestic and international partners in a number of areas, including gathering more information to make a knowledgeable public health risk assessment and developing a candidate vaccine virus. All of these actions are routine preparedness measures taken whenever a novel influenza virus is detected in humans. Please visit CDC’s website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ for the most up-to-date information.
At this time, there is no recommendation to evacuate from or limit travel to/from China. There is also no recommendation for the general population to medicate preventively.
How can I protect myself and my fa.. http://shanghai.usembassy-china.org.cn/040613.html
H7N9 avian influenza in China rose to 28 cases the parties continued to force the siege
April 9, Changfeng County, Anhui Province of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza emergency drills, drill to take a combination of methods of scenario simulation and field exercises, simulation of the whole process of human infection of H7N9 avian flu disposal. China news agency issued Han Su original photo
China news agency, Beijing, April 9 (Reporters Ou Yang and Kai Yu) - Mainland China of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza number of cases is on the rise. As of the reporters press time on the evening of 9, the Chinese mainland has reported 28 cases of H7N9 avian flu cases and nine deaths. New cases from Shanghai and Zhejiang.
Shanghai is the day of the new confirmed two cases of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza. Patients are retirees over the age of 60, all male, both currently in stable condition being treated, and their close contacts have been implemented under medical observation, currently not abnormal....
Zhejiang new cases reported a more than 50-year-old female, is severe, the condition is still stable, as well as a more than 70-year-old man in critical condition.
National Health and Family Planning Commission: 28 cases of human infection with the H7N9 avian influenza have been confirmed nine deaths
Xinhua Beijing, April 9 (reporter Lvnuo Hu Hao) National Health and Family Planning Commission, announced on the evening of 9 April 17 to April 18, the national report new people infected with the H7N9 bird flu confirmed Case 4.Which, Zhejiang and Shanghai two cases. According to Jiangsu, Anhui report, the afternoon of April 9, confirmed cases of confirmed cases in Anhui Province in Nanjing, where Mr. Han and Jiangsu Province Shen, died by the rescue efforts.
Up to now, the country reported a total of 28 confirmed cases, of which nine people died. Cases located in Shanghai (13 cases, 5 died), Jiangsu (8 cases, 1 death), Anhui (2 cases, 1 death), Zhejiang (5 cases, 2 deaths) 4 provinces and 19 cities class area. Found no epidemiological link between the confirmed cases reported. All close contacts of the cases have been taken under medical observation measures and found no abnormalities. Cases in distributing state, not yet found that human-to-human transmission...
Singapore issues advisory for travellers back from China's bird flu-affected provinces
Singapore's health ministry on Saturday issued an advisory for travellers returning from China's bird flu-hit provinces to look out for certain symptoms, though it fell short of advising against travelling to these provinces.
The ministry said that travellers who have gone to Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang should look out for symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever and cough.
They are advised to seek early medical attention if ill with such symptoms and inform doctors of their travel history. The ministry also advised travellers to the affected areas in China to remain vigilant, observe good personal hygiene, and try to avoid direct contact with poultry, birds or their droppings.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/asianet/130409/singapore-issues-advisory-travellers-back-chinas-bird-flu-affected-prov
Taiwan accumulated informed of 40 cases of H7N9 and 36 suspected cases to rule out infection
China Taiwan, April 9, according to Taiwan's "Central News Agency" reports, Taiwan Epidemic Command Center said today that ended at 17:00 today, the Taiwan accumulated informed of 40 cases of H7N9 suspected cases, in addition to the four cases to be tested, all the remaining cases excluded infection.
The statistics show that the suspected cases reported by hospitals accounted for 34 cases, 30 cases have ruled, patients are seasonal influenza or other viruses, bacterial infections caused by respiratory symptoms, by the airport informed that only six cases checked, is now fully rule out infection .
Epidemic Command Center with immediate effect and will be changed to update the daily 14:00, 5:00 H7N9 suspected cases test. http://news.cn.yahoo.com/ypen/20130409/1697171.html
Experts: H7N9 virus from birds to "jump" to the more contagious than H5N1
Virus, deputy director of Chinese Center for Disease Control, National Influenza Center director Shu Yuelong, said yesterday that the H7N9 virus will continue to variation, whether it will continue to develop in the human body, should be closely monitored in the future. H7N9 avian virus is still, "My understanding is that this virus from birds to" jump "to the process, overall, this virus should be easier than the H5N1 infected people." Shu Yuelong said.
Shu Yuelong, H5N1 is a highly pathogenic virus, and H7N9 low pathogenic virus to humans, but instead to bring greater prevention and control pressure. H5N1 in poultry in a higher incidence of the more easily found, and H7N9 concealment, the difficulty of monitoring and prevention and control.
Shu Yuelong said, according to the current situation, the various parts of the people infected with the virus of the H7N9 avian flu patients who, little change between strains, has not yet found the variation. So far, the virus is still avian-borne. iask.ca
Shu Yuelong, said yesterday that the shell of the H7N9 avian flu virus H7N9, but the interior is H9N2, belonging to an avian influenza virus, the variation of combinations of two or three of the avian influenza virus.
WHO proposed experts to China
He also stressed that the birds have a similar virus or highly homologous virus is very common, and is constantly changing. As to which direction to change, no one can guess. Pay close attention to the variability of the virus, is the focus of the prevention and control of the next step. Premed
WHO said, is premature at this stage to judge H7N9 fatality rate. In addition, the WHO is to send international experts to discuss and the mainland to China to assist in the investigation of a new avian influenza virus strain.
Financial new network quoted researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the H7N9 virus may produce the Yangtze River Delta the livestock and Korean wild bird virus gene reassortment.
Expert: virus from China and South Korea birds
Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, researchers of the Chinese Academy of Sciences pathogenic financial new reporter yesterday, said the virus fragment reassortant results show the eight gene segments of the H7N9 virus, H7 fragment from the avian influenza virus isolated in Zhejiang ducks, virus in Zhejiang ducks up retrospective, homologous to 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 fragments derived from the H9N2 avian virus.
According to the viral genome comparison and phylogenetic analysis, H9N2 avian influenza virus from a flock of Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other places. Gene reassortment likely occurred in the Yangtze River Delta region. Process possibly via Korea of wild birds in the natural migration process, the ducks and the Yangtze River Delta region, flocks itself with the avian flu virus gene reassortment produce. 56.ca, Canada homes
Direct contact with birds or cases before infection
Taiwan Medical Association of the Infectious Diseases director, National Taiwan University, Department of Infectious Diseases Physician unusual feature, poultry immunization is not really a variety of avian influenza virus in poultry body for a long time, genetic recombination, and rare, violation of human ability has nothing to do with the virus, "the real virus the key that unlocks the human cell membrane H (hemagglutinin), either H7 or H9 does not have this ability, the only direct contact with birds or close contact with confirmed cases, and due to a large number of virus exposure and infection.
Siu Lam Hospital, another male patient suspected has parainfluenza
[On.cc Oriental interaction an informed Siu Lam Hospital patients recently infected with parainfluenza virus type a male severely mentally handicapped ward, a 62-year-old suffered from respiratory symptoms. Hospital for patients to carry out the necessary tests, the test results to be determined, the patient is being treated in isolation and in stable condition. The ward has been suspended new admissions and implementation limited visits arrangements.http://news.on.cc/cnt/news/20130409/bkn-20130409183212513-0409_00822_001.html
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