Date: Fri 25 Jan 2013 Source: MMWR Weekly, Volume 62 (03);55-55 [edited] http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6203a4.htm?s_cid=mm6203a4_x Emergence of New Norovirus Strain GII.4 Sydney -- United States, 2012 (Note from the Field) ----------------------------------------- Noroviruses are the leading cause of epidemic gastroenteritis, including foodborne outbreaks, in the United States (1). Hospitalization and mortality associated with norovirus infection occur most frequently among elderly persons, young children, and immunocompromised patients. Noroviruses belong to the family _Caliciviridae_ and can be grouped into 5 genogroups (GI through GV), which are further divided into at least 34 genotypes. Human disease primarily is caused by GI and GII [genogroup] noroviruses, with most outbreaks caused by GII.4 strains (1). During the past decade, new GII.4 strains have emerged every 2-3 years, replacing previously predominant GII.4 strains. Emergence of these new norovirus strains has often, but not always, led to increased outbreak activity. For example, the previously dominant GII.4 New Orleans strain was not associated with increased norovirus outbreak activity in the United States (2). CDC collects information on norovirus strains associated with outbreaks in the United States through an electronic laboratory surveillance network called CaliciNet (3). This report documents the recent emergence of a new GII.4 strain, GII.4 Sydney, which caused most (53 percent) of the norovirus outbreaks reported through CaliciNet during September-December 2012. Continued surveillance will enable further assessment of the public health implications and significance of this new strain. In March 2012, a new GII.4 norovirus strain was identified in Australia. Named GII.4 Sydney, this emergent strain has since caused acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in multiple countries (4). In the United Kingdom, an early onset of the 2012 winter norovirus season was reported in association with emergence of GII.4 Sydney as the dominant strain implicated in outbreaks.* In the United States, GII.4 Sydney has spread rapidly nationwide, causing an increasing number of outbreaks. During September to December 2012, a total of 141 (53 percent) of the 266 norovirus outbreaks reported to CaliciNet were caused by GII.4 Sydney. The other outbreaks were caused by 10 different GI and GII genotypes, including GII.4 New Orleans. A statistically significant increase in the proportion of outbreaks caused by GII.4 Sydney was noted: 4 (19 percent) of 21 outbreaks in September 2012; 22 (46 percent) of 48 in October 2012; 70 (58 percent) of 120 in November 2012; and 45 (58 percent) of 77 in December 2012‚** (chi-square test for trend; p less than 0.01). Most (72 [51 percent]) of these GII.4 Sydney outbreaks resulted from direct person-to-person transmission; 29 (20 percent) were foodborne, one (one percent) was waterborne, and the transmission mode was unknown in 39 (28 percent) of the outbreaks. Long-term-care facilities and restaurants were the most frequently reported settings, accounting for 91 (65 percent) and 18 (13 percent) of the GII.4 Sydney outbreaks, respectively. During the 3 previous winters, the peak in reported norovirus outbreaks occurred in January; therefore, at present, it is too early to make an assessment of the relative magnitude of the current season. GII.4 noroviruses remain the predominant cause of norovirus outbreaks, and the GII.4 Sydney strain appears to have replaced the previously predominant strain, GII.4 New Orleans. Compared with other norovirus genotypes, GII.4 noroviruses have been associated with increased rates of hospitalizations and deaths during outbreaks (5). Health-care providers and public health practitioners should remain vigilant to the potential for increased norovirus activity in the ongoing season related to the emergent GII.4 Sydney strain. Continued surveillance for norovirus outbreaks through CaliciNet and additional data on clinical and epidemiologic features of outbreaks collected through the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) will enable further assessment of the public health implications of the new GII.4 Sydney strain, including any association with increased severity or level of activity in the ongoing 2012-13 winter norovirus season. Proper hand hygiene, environmental disinfection, and isolation of ill persons remain the mainstays of norovirus prevention and control (1). References --------- - CDC. Updated norovirus outbreak management and disease prevention guidelines. MMWR 2011;60(No. RR-3). - Yen C, Wikswo ME, Lopman BA, Vinje J, Parashar UD, Hall AJ. Impact of an emergent norovirus variant in 2009 on norovirus outbreak activity in the United States. Clin Infect Dis 2011;53:568-71. - Vega E, Barclay L, Gregoricus N, Williams K, Lee D, Vinje J. Novel surveillance network for norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks, United States. Emerg Infect Dis 2011;17:1389-95. - van Beek J, Ambert-Balay K, Botteldoorn N, et al. Indications for worldwide increased norovirus activity associated with emergence of a new variant of genotype II.4, late 2012. Euro Surveill 2013;18(1). - Desai R, Hembree CD, Handel A, et al. Severe outcomes are associated with genogroup 2 genotype 4 norovirus outbreaks: a systematic literature review. Clin Infect Dis 2012;55:189-93. * Additional information available at http://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/NationalPressReleases/2013PressReleases/130109Norovirusnewstrain.
statcounter
Friday, January 25, 2013
Emergence of New Norovirus Strain GII.4 Sydney -- United States, 2012 (Note from the Field)
Dream On
Suspicious There Disnakan Poultry Bird Flu
By: Asep Mulyana
Pantura - Friday, January 25, 2013 | 15:21 pm
HERE, Purwakarta - Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (Disnakan) Purwakarta district continues to be aware of the spread of bird flu in the works.
agencies following the suspicious deaths of poultry, especially duck kind of mass in Kampung Cipadali, Babakan Sari village, District Plered on January 8, 2013 ago. Suspicions The residents appear based on information on the symptoms on a dead ducks. Unfortunately, these agencies do not receive physical evidence such as animal carcasses, because residents have first throw. The samples were sent to the Laboratory of the Animal Husbandry Department of West Java some time ago, was the chicken carcasses, bird flu and the results were negative. Death on the cock that was due stricken Newcastle. Nevertheless, Disnakan through field officers continue to monitor any developments in the township poultry, especially ducks. Head Ranch Disnakan Purwakarta district, Sri Wuryasturati said, although there are suspicions of bird flu infections, but it dare not infer the existence of mass poultry deaths from the virus. Because, did not manage to get a sample of duck carcasses. "There is suspicion, we continue to monitor the situation in Kampung Cipadali. Alhamdulillah to date have not shown symptoms that are not expected. But we still have to watch out for, "said Sri, Friday (25/1).
Pascamendapat reports of poultry deaths, he continued, instansinya directly open a call center in the plane 0264-200221.Thus, every citizen can call this number if you find a case of sudden death of poultry or bulk. So that treatment can be more quickly by using this communication medium. since the opening of the telephone service, Sri admit often gets reports of poultry deaths. One of them happened in the village of Tajur Sindang, District Sukatani. But once checked, death does not take place simultaneously chickens. So the day just two tails. Upon inspection it turns out the bird flu negative.
planned vaccination movement will simultaneously held in February, with the target animals, such as poultry, goats, buffaloes and cows.Type of vaccine that will be distributed in addition to the anthrax vaccine bird flu. As is known, in the past week, the death of poultry, especially duck kind of mass whack Plered two villages in the district. Both the village, among others Ciwareng Kulon, Village Cibogo Girang, and Cipadali, Babakan Sari Village
. A case like this, making people worry poultry infected with bird flu. poultry One owner, Didier (45), a resident of Kampung Ciwareng Kulon RT 10/04 admitted, every day livestock dying as much as 3-5 chickens and 10 ducks . This went on in a row in the past week. Judging from the symptoms, did not find signs that the chicken or the duck will die. http://www.inilahkoran.com/read/detail/1951110/disnakan-curiga-ada-unggas-terjangkit-flu-burung
. A case like this, making people worry poultry infected with bird flu. poultry One owner, Didier (45), a resident of Kampung Ciwareng Kulon RT 10/04 admitted, every day livestock dying as much as 3-5 chickens and 10 ducks . This went on in a row in the past week. Judging from the symptoms, did not find signs that the chicken or the duck will die. http://www.inilahkoran.com/read/detail/1951110/disnakan-curiga-ada-unggas-terjangkit-flu-burung
More Bali juice
Duuhh,, Bird Flu Spreads to Ringdikit
Today: 26 Jan 2013 | 01:00:00 PST
(beritadewata.com) - The case of bird flu in Buleleng expanded. Having previously found
in the village Banyuatis, Banjar District, today reported a similar incident occurred in the village
of Ringdikit, District Seririt.
Dozens of ducks in Kelodan Hamlet, Village Ringdikit over the age of two months, died suddenly. Breeders became restless, not just losing money because Itiknya ready to harvest, but it is dead. ducks reportedly died suddenly since Monday (01/07/2013) last week. When done checking into Denpasar
Veterinary Center, turns 20 ducks tested positive for H5N1. Chief of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (Kadistannak) Buleleng, Nyoman Swatantra were confirmed Friday (01/25/2013) afternoon, confirmed the case.
Distannak has lowered Extension Officers (PPL) to suppress the spread of the virus by means of a sprayer. "This case is very similar to the transmission in Banyuatis. Having checked in the lab, results were also positively infected," said Swatantra. According Swatantra, today it measih conduct observation and outreach to farmers to prevent the spread of bird flu to duck maish life. In addition, efforts to corral spraying with disinfectant continue. however Distannak Buleleng not done genocide
because it is still in the period of observation. If later re-discovered dead birds, Distannak will
perform extermination. http://beritadewata.com/Peristiwa/Peristiwa/Duh,_Flu_Burung_Meluas_ke_Ringdikit.html#.UQK7Qiydtno.twitter
Statement of Drs. Collins and Fauci concerning intention to lift moratorium
January 25, 2013
One year ago, scientists in the H5N1 influenza research community announced that they would voluntarily suspend certain “gain-of-function” experiments involving highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses pending a broad international dialogue about the future direction of this research.
That dialogue — which has included experts in the life sciences, public health, biosecurity, biosafety, law, and science policy communities — has been highly productive, with numerous meetings and publications helping to clarify the most critical issues associated with this type of research.
Countries where this research is (or might be) conducted have had the opportunity to review their policies and parameters for funding, conducting, and communicating about this research. In this context, the H5N1 influenza research community has announced their intention and support for resuming their research in those countries with final guidelines in place.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has worked in a transparent and collaborative fashion to develop a framework for reviewing funding decisions regarding research that might increase mammalian transmission of HPAI H5N1 viruses by respiratory droplets. We anticipate that the final framework for HHS funding decisions regarding HPAI H5N1 gain-of-function experiments will be complete in the next several weeks. In the meantime, U.S.-funded researchers (both those working in the United States, including those in government laboratories, as well as those working overseas) have agreed not to resume these types of HPAI H5N1 gain-of-function experiments pending finalization of the HHS Framework.
Understanding how influenza viruses become human pandemic threats is vitally important to global health preparedness. We applaud the international H5N1 influenza research community for the spirit in which they instituted this extended “pause” on their work, which has provided time for thoughtful consideration of its implications.
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institutes of Health
Director, National Institutes of Health
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institutes of Health http://www.nih.gov/about/director/01252012_h5n1_statement.htm
Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institutes of Health http://www.nih.gov/about/director/01252012_h5n1_statement.htm
Bali - Lying Eyes
Suspect Bird Flu Landa Gianyar, Dozens Tailed Ducks in Sanding Destroyed
Gianyar, DenPost
Suspect bird flu virus (H5N1) that attacks the ducks started to hit the Gianyar, precisely in the village of Sanding, Tampaksiring. Some pet ducks residents last few days died suddenly. From these findings, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Marine Gianyar directly carrying out massacres against the local pet ducks that suspect bird flu virus.
Suspect bird flu virus (H5N1) that attacks the ducks started to hit the Gianyar, precisely in the village of Sanding, Tampaksiring. Some pet ducks residents last few days died suddenly. From these findings, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Marine Gianyar directly carrying out massacres against the local pet ducks that suspect bird flu virus.
Information gathered on Thursday (24/1) yesterday, since last few days, a number of residents poultry, especially duck died suddenly. In fact, before animal residents seemed perfectly healthy. Alarmed by the threat of the bird flu virus, the incident was then reported to the Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Marine Gianyar.Officers then took samples of the dead ducks to be sent to the laboratory. To avoid the spread from spreading, officials from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Marine Gianyar immediately conduct genocide against the residents pet ducks by injection and buried.
Ducks were destroyed belonged to I Gede Darmayasa, people from Bitera Banjar, village Sanding and belonging I Wayan Warmita origin Serongga Banjar, village of Sanding. Total poultry were culled to 90 tails. In addition, a number of domestic poultry residents around the village and even then are now ongoing monitoring to prevent the outbreak of the bird flu virus.
Perbekel Sanding, Wayan Services, said there is a culling of ducks in his village. "According to the officer, it was suspected of contracting avian bird flu," he said.
In fact, today the agencies had already issued an appeal asking local residents to be vigilant. Already mentioned about the presence of the sick and suspected of contracting bird flu, Services said so far there are no reports if any of its citizens who are sick. "Hopefully we have some residents who contracted the disease. Until now, the only known virus that attacks the duck belongs to the people, "he explained.
But strangely, the Head of Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Marine Gianyar, Dewa Gde Amartha, when contacted yesterday said he did not even know that there is destruction of ducks in the village of Sanding, Tampaksiring, Gianyar. "I do not know it, and will check to my staff," he said. http://denpostnews.com/Gianyar/suspect-flu-burung-landa-gianyar-puluhan-ekor-itik-di-sanding-dimusnahkan.html
Devil's Got A New Disguise
Beware, Virus AI Ducks Can More Malignant
Friday, January 25, 2013 19:12 PM
SUKOHARJO - The bird flu virus that attacks the ducks or the H5N1 variant of 2.3.2 assessed can be more ferocious than the bird flu virus that attacks chickens. It happened because the virus can change the type.
Head of Department of Agriculture (Dispertan) Sukoharjo Giyarti says 2.3.2 H5N1 variant virus is a variant of the previous change. Biotic changes occurred because the virus is adapting to the habitat before.
"virus was especially adapted to the vaccine given. Because not susceptible vaccinated, the virus changed the type and likely to be more virulent than its predecessor virus, "said Giyarti, Friday (25/01/2013).
"virus was especially adapted to the vaccine given. Because not susceptible vaccinated, the virus changed the type and likely to be more virulent than its predecessor virus, "said Giyarti, Friday (25/01/2013).
Therefore, he continued, a virus that attacks the ducks is considered more virulent than the virus that attacks chickens. Moreover, the current vaccine used to immobilize the virus was still using penanggulanan vaccine for bird flu in chickens.
Fierce bird flu virus in ducks, he said, is still in its early stages is not harmful to humans. Until now there is no pain because the people infected with the bird flu virus from ducks. Transmission occurs only antaritik. Therefore, he continued, Dispertan will not do genocide or depupulasi the ducks.
In the event of a bird flu case again and harm humans, it will be carried out genocide. But this time it will not hold a genocide because it was found that virus transmission to humans. If there is mass destruction, it would be done locally in local environmental destruction. http://www.solopos.com/2013/01/25/awas-virus-ai-itik-bisa-lebih-ganas-372338
Cambo Snippets
Ministry of Health rapid-response teams were identifying the latest victims’ close contacts, looking for any epidemiological link between the cases and initiating preventive treatment, Bunheng said.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013012560997/National/two-cambodians-die-of-avian-flu.html
The communique said the three patients from different areas, including Phnom Penh City, an 8-month-old boy has recovered after treatment, the baby boy in the illness did make contact with poultry; Takeo Province, a 15-year-old girl and Kampong Speu Province, a 35-year-old man convicted of ineffective treatment within 21 days of death, the girl had had contact with chickens and dead chickens in the village and eating chicken. http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-01/25/c_114505397.htm
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia on Friday reported three new human cases of bird flu, two of them fatal, in the first three weeks of this year. That's as many cases as the Southeast Asian country reported in all of 2012. http://news.yahoo.com/cambodia-reports-3-bird-flu-cases-2-fatal-131138889.html
Cambodian workers carry chicken at a market in Phnom Penh on Jan 25, 2013. Two Cambodians have died from bird flu contracted while preparing infected chicken, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday, Jan 25, 2013.
Two Cambodians die from bird flu: WHO
5 January 2013
PHNOM PENH: Two Cambodians have died from bird flu contracted while preparing infected chicken, the World Health Organization said Friday.
Tests on the victims, a 15-year-old girl and a 35-year-old man who died earlier this week, confirmed they had contracted the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, the WHO said in a joint statement with the Cambodian health ministry.
An eight-month-old boy admitted to hospital in Phnom Penh on January 9 was also infected with H5N1 but later recovered, the statement said.
There was evidence of infections among poultry in the villages of the two who died and the pair "prepared sick chicken for food prior to becoming sick", the statement said.
Cambodia has recorded 24 cases of H5N1 since 2003 with all but three of the victims dying.
The virus has killed 362 people worldwide since a major outbreak in 2003, according to WHO statistics.
It typically spreads from birds to humans through direct contact, but experts fear it could mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, with the potential to trigger a pandemic.
Channel News Asia
Gert van der Hoek
PHNOM PENH: Two Cambodians have died from bird flu contracted while preparing infected chicken, the World Health Organization said Friday.
Tests on the victims, a 15-year-old girl and a 35-year-old man who died earlier this week, confirmed they had contracted the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, the WHO said in a joint statement with the Cambodian health ministry.
An eight-month-old boy admitted to hospital in Phnom Penh on January 9 was also infected with H5N1 but later recovered, the statement said.
There was evidence of infections among poultry in the villages of the two who died and the pair "prepared sick chicken for food prior to becoming sick", the statement said.
Cambodia has recorded 24 cases of H5N1 since 2003 with all but three of the victims dying.
The virus has killed 362 people worldwide since a major outbreak in 2003, according to WHO statistics.
It typically spreads from birds to humans through direct contact, but experts fear it could mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, with the potential to trigger a pandemic.
Channel News Asia
Gert van der Hoek
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Satisfaction
Bird Flu Vaccine Found Only Government Cuek
SURABAYA_DAKTACOM: handling team Avian Influenza Research Center or the Asian Research Center (AIRC) Universitas Airlangga (Airlangga University), Surabaya, managed to find a vaccine to address the spread of bird flu in humans.
Posted On January 25, 2013
SURABAYA_DAKTACOM: handling team Avian Influenza Research Center or the Asian Research Center (AIRC) Universitas Airlangga (Airlangga University), Surabaya, managed to find a vaccine to address the spread of bird flu in humans.
But the government seemed slow to respond to discovery, so the findings are not yet developed for handling citizen bird flu, said Dr.. CA Nidhom, AIRC chairman Airlangga University Surabaya.
The findings have been submitted to the Ministry of Health to ditindaklanjut. But until now there has been no progress, he said to Shifa Faradillah of Radio Dakta, in the event Dakta morning, Thursday (25.01.13).
The most widely epedemi bird flu in humans are in the area Banten, West Java and Jakarta, he added explaining.
Explained, strategically, that found vaccines are intentionally designed for people with economic reasons. Because if you make a vaccine for poultry, the costs will be even greater because the number of birds in Indonesia many times more than the total population. Besides poultry are also evenly spread across the land in Indonesia. http://www.dakta.com/berita/nasional/37954/vikasin-flu-burung-ditemukan-pemerintah-cuek-saja.html/
Long Time Coming
Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health (Disnakeswan) Pandeglang, Banten asking local residents to use protection when going to hold or take the dead birds. "We ask residents will be careful when holding birds that die continue to use personal protective equipment, "said Secretary Disnakeswan Pandeglang Winarno in Pandeglang, Banten, on Thursday (24/1). Prudence, he said, is necessary for fear of the dead birds infected with bird flu or any other disease dangerous to health humans. Below are tips to protect yourself from bird flu disari from conversations with Disnakeswan Pandeglang: First , use of protective equipment such as gloves and masks. Do not forget to wash your hands with soap after touching the carcasses of dead birds."Use of personal protective equipment, also we recommend when people would hold the birds are sick, so do not hold the original play by," he said. Secondly , Winarno asserted, so far as may not make direct contact with sick or dead or products. Thirdly , cook meat or poultry products until completely cooked.Fourth , if the need to maintain the separate bird cage with house and cleaned periodically while wearing protective equipment. "The people we asked immediately report any sick or died suddenly on animal health officer or directly to the Office Disnakeswan," said Winarno.
http://www.beritasatu.com/news/93444-4-tips-agar-tidak-terjangkit-flu-burung.html
Hurting Kind
KBRN, Jakarta: Ministry of Health to make sure up to now has not been found infected people who died from bird flu virus or the H5N1 virus. But Health Minister confirms Nafsiah Mboi MoH together with the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to monitor closely.
"At the moment we have not got people so that together with the Ministry of Agriculture should be fast moving. If there is a case then we Itiknya elimination, "said Menkes Nafsiah Mboi, Thursday (24/01/2013)...
Doom And Gloom- Dead chickens, Dead cat, Sick people
Chicken in Cibadak Sudden Death
By:
Priangan - Friday, January 27, 2012 | 20:13 pm
, Bogor - At least 25 chickens owned by residents in Kampung Kayu Manis, RT 03/RW 01 Village Cibadak, District Land Sareal city of Bogor, West Java, died suddenly, allegedly due to bird flu (H5N1).
By Isah (53) local residents, the chickens have died since this week without cause.
"It's been a week is a lot of chickens died suddenly, including my two male chickens died this morning," he said when met yesterday.
Besides chickens died suddenly, a cat belonging to the resident is found dead for no reason.
"Maybe it's because eating sick chickens," said Isah.
Meanwhile, according to Parinem (44), a member of the local integrated health cadres, besides chickens that died, there are also a number of residents who are sick. "There are two people who are sick of fever, chest tightness and high heat," he said.
Parinem said residents had reported the incident to RT, Ward and District.
"Last of the Department of Agriculture also gone down and do the inspection, he said chicken here positive bird flu," said Parinem.
According Parinem, the Distan has instructed residents to burn all the hens, including cage also burned to avoid the transmission of H5N1. http://www.inilahkoran.com/read/detail/1823691/ayam-di-cibadak-mati-mendadak
Big Log
Polio Virus Spreads From Pakistan to Egypt
on 24 January 2013, 12:30 PM
Health officials in Egypt and the world are scrambling to prevent an outbreak of polio after poliovirus from Pakistan was discovered in sewage samples collected at two sites in Cairo in December.
Genetic analysis just completed has linked the Egyptian viruses to one that was last seen in Pakistan in September 2012. How it got to Cairo remains unclear, but the genetic evidence suggests that the virus made the long journey sometime in the past 3 months. Egypt has been polio-free since 2004.
So far, no polio cases have been found in Cairo, and there is no evidence that the virus has established itself and begun to circulate widely. But it's a real risk, says Bruce Aylward, who runs the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
"The last thing anyone wants is for Eqypt to be reinfected," Aylward says. That's why the country and the international agencies that advise it are treating the positive samples as a fullblown outbreak, "We are being very, very aggressive," Aylward says.
The importation of the virus into Egypt is another setback for the global program, which has finally been making significant progress in the past 2 years, with polio cornered in just three endemic countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria. (India has now gone 2 years without a single case of polio.) Of the three, Pakistan was doing especially well in knocking out the virus, but the program there has recently been disrupted by the targeted assassination of nine polio workers in December and early January. Those killings, widely condemned, have stoked fears the virus will regain strength in Pakistan and then reinfect polio-free countries. "This is proof positive of long-distance importation from Pakistan, and there may be more," Aylward says.
This is only the second time poliovirus from Pakistan has infected any country other than neighboring Afghanistan; the first was China, where a virus from Pakistan sparked an outbreak in 2011. This new importation puts even more pressure on Pakistan to wipe out the virus within its borders.
The wild poliovirus was detected in untreated sewage water collected on 2 and 6 December as part of routine sampling in the Al Salam and Al Haggana areas in Cairo. Once they were found to be positive, the samples were shipped to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta for genetic sequencing. The analysis, completed on 18 January, showed that the viruses from the two sites are closely related to each other, and both could be traced to a virus last seen in September in environmental samples in Sukkur in northern Sindh Province in Pakistan.
The presence of the virus in untreated sewage means that a person or several people—maybe a family—carried it from Pakistan and are now excreting it in their stool. No polio cases have been found so far; in general, polio causes paralysis in about one out of every 100 people it infects. Both samples came from the same sewage tributary, says Sona Bari, a WHO spokesperson.
Alerted on Friday night (18 January), WHO, CDC, and other partners in the global initiative immediately sent in teams to help the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population investigate and plan a response. The have stepped up environmental surveillance and are actively looking for any cases of paralysis that may have been missed. Planning is under way for an emergency campaign to vaccinate children in these two areas of Cairo as soon as possible, to be followed by one in greater Cairo in mid-February and then national campaigns.
Egypt has had two other known poliovirus importations since 2004, but neither caused any illness. A key variable in determining how widely the virus will spread is the population's immunity level. The poliovirus cannot gain a foothold if immunity is high and few kids are susceptible, as is generally the case in Egypt. But experts are worried, Bari says, because Egypt has scaled back its national polio vaccinations campaigns from twice to once a year during the turmoil of the revolution. And even in the best of times, Aylward says, there are always some children who do not receive polio vaccinations, usually in poor populations living in slum areas with inadequate sanitation.
The events come in the week WHO's Executive Board is meeting in Geneva to discuss, among other things, progress and threats to the long-running polio eradication effort, originally scheduled for completion in 2000. "First and foremost on everyone's mind is Pakistan," Alyward says. One issue he expects to be on the table is travel restrictions. The Independent Monitoring Board that oversees GPEI recommended in a November 2012 report that, under the International Health Regulations, the three endemic countries introduce measures to ensure that no one can leave the country without proof of polio vaccination.
Already, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, the Pakistani Prime Minister's focal person for polio eradication, has advised all provincial governments and federal administrations to set up permanent booths in international airports to vaccinate all children under age 5 against polio before they leave the country. http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2013/01/polio-virus-spreads-from-pakista.html?ref=hp
Under the sun
Iraq:Babylon criticizes "blackout" on pandemic influenza and demanding health awareness and confirms fears provoke
he long-Presse / Babel accused the province of Babylon, (its city of Hilla, 100 km south of Baghdad), on Wednesday, maintaining health obfuscate the incidence of pandemic influenza type H1N1, and demanded intensify awareness about the disease, while showed the Department of Health as "prohibited" from the permit or "disclose" any information on the subject,
The Ministry of Health they proceeded to "central" statements not to provoke "panic" citizens, especially after that provided the necessary treatment plan developed to reduce its spread.said the Chairperson of the Committee on Health and the Environment in the province of Babylon, hope Saluma, in an interview to the (long-Presse),
"The Babel health department deliberately obscure the incidence of the flu epidemic in the province," noting that "the department hid information thereon even for the provincial council, which does not serve one, "according to her opinion.demanded Saluma Ministry of Health and the Department of Health Babylon to "awareness campaigns and extensive to educate citizens about the ways of preventing the disease and how to confront it."But general manager of health Babylon July Mzhi, attributed the "secrecy "pursued by the Chamber to" instructions ministry strict in this regard. "said Mzhi, in an...
Read more:http://www.sotaliraq.com/iraq-news.php?id=85958#ixzz2IukYOUrY
Sweet Leaf
: 2013-01-23 17:35:48.0
The virus that killed nearly 80 percent of its total infections in Bangladesh has struck back killing an 8-year-old boy in Dhaka and leaving his father critically ill, the government’s disease monitoring agency, IEDCR confirms.
According to its Director, the family drank raw date sap brought from Bhaluka on Jan 11 and fell ill six days later. “The boy succumbed on Tuesday at a Dhaka clinic and his father is in an intensive care unit,” Prof Mahmudur Rahman told bdnews24.com.
He said they were confirmed about the presence of the nipah virus in their laboratory at around 5.45pm on Wednesday.
The bat-borne nipah virus that infects a person only after drinking raw date sap and later can pass on to other persons through contact is a cause of public health concern in Bangladesh as it breaks out every year during Jan-Apr.
Since 2001, when it first broke out as an unknown disease, the virus has killed 136 of its 176 victims in 21 districts across Bangladesh.
“It is hundred percent preventable if we can prevent people from drinking raw date sap,” the Director said, “But once infected, we don’t have a cure.”
“It usually takes seven to eight days on an average between exposure and signs of symptoms — fever, altered mental status and seizure,” Prof Rahman said. He said they would watch the family where eight members took the drink, up to 21 days.
They were also following the families who received the date sap from the same source. “We have discovered that one person from Bhaluka supplied 100 bottles of sap to families in Dhaka,” he said.
He could not rule out further outbreaks. “We are watchful.”
Nipah virus was first detected in Malaysia in 1998 but at present Bangladesh, a hotspot for infectious diseases, is the only country in the world that reports the disease.
Though public health analysts believe that border districts of India have the virus, reports are not available from the Indian government to confirm it.
Anthropological study says drinking raw date or palm sap in the morning is an old practice in Bangladesh, especially in rural areas, where there is a general lack of maintaining hygiene.
An ICDDR,B study using infrared cameras found that fruit bats perch on the jars, put up on trees to collect the sap, and try to drink the juice. They also urinate into the pot.
The Pteropus bats’ saliva and urine carry the virus. But it gets destroyed if the sap is boiled.
“The virus is killed in 70 degrees Celsius temperature,” Prof Rahman said.
Bangladesh first confirmed the virus in 2004 after testing samples from the US following deaths of number of people as an ‘unknown’ ailment since 2001.
Meherpur, Naogaon, Rajbarhi, Tangail, Faridpur, Manikganj, Rangpur, Kushtia, and Thakurgaon districts of central and northwestern region are highly vulnerable to nipah, according to IEDCR. When it breaks out in a place, panic runs so high that people even desert their homes en masse.
The presence of the virus at Bhaluka in Mymensingh is new.
It is not clear why the virus is widespread in some districts, and why it strikes new places, but date tree is very common in those areas.
“We did not find it in Jessore despite many date trees being there. It was because bats in that region do not carry the virus,” Prof Rahman said.
Tracking the history of nipah in Bangladesh, bdnews24.com found that it is highly communicable and can be passed on with minimal human contact.
He said they were confirmed about the presence of the nipah virus in their laboratory at around 5.45pm on Wednesday.
The bat-borne nipah virus that infects a person only after drinking raw date sap and later can pass on to other persons through contact is a cause of public health concern in Bangladesh as it breaks out every year during Jan-Apr.
Since 2001, when it first broke out as an unknown disease, the virus has killed 136 of its 176 victims in 21 districts across Bangladesh.
“It is hundred percent preventable if we can prevent people from drinking raw date sap,” the Director said, “But once infected, we don’t have a cure.”
“It usually takes seven to eight days on an average between exposure and signs of symptoms — fever, altered mental status and seizure,” Prof Rahman said. He said they would watch the family where eight members took the drink, up to 21 days.
They were also following the families who received the date sap from the same source. “We have discovered that one person from Bhaluka supplied 100 bottles of sap to families in Dhaka,” he said.
He could not rule out further outbreaks. “We are watchful.”
Nipah virus was first detected in Malaysia in 1998 but at present Bangladesh, a hotspot for infectious diseases, is the only country in the world that reports the disease.
Though public health analysts believe that border districts of India have the virus, reports are not available from the Indian government to confirm it.
Anthropological study says drinking raw date or palm sap in the morning is an old practice in Bangladesh, especially in rural areas, where there is a general lack of maintaining hygiene.
An ICDDR,B study using infrared cameras found that fruit bats perch on the jars, put up on trees to collect the sap, and try to drink the juice. They also urinate into the pot.
The Pteropus bats’ saliva and urine carry the virus. But it gets destroyed if the sap is boiled.
“The virus is killed in 70 degrees Celsius temperature,” Prof Rahman said.
Bangladesh first confirmed the virus in 2004 after testing samples from the US following deaths of number of people as an ‘unknown’ ailment since 2001.
Meherpur, Naogaon, Rajbarhi, Tangail, Faridpur, Manikganj, Rangpur, Kushtia, and Thakurgaon districts of central and northwestern region are highly vulnerable to nipah, according to IEDCR. When it breaks out in a place, panic runs so high that people even desert their homes en masse.
The presence of the virus at Bhaluka in Mymensingh is new.
It is not clear why the virus is widespread in some districts, and why it strikes new places, but date tree is very common in those areas.
“We did not find it in Jessore despite many date trees being there. It was because bats in that region do not carry the virus,” Prof Rahman said.
Tracking the history of nipah in Bangladesh, bdnews24.com found that it is highly communicable and can be passed on with minimal human contact.
Many victims were infected and they died after not taking precautions in taking care of patients.
“But you can prevent the infection by washing hands with soaps, and not sharing the same food,” he said suggesting caregivers should wear masks.
“But above all, the campaign should be not to drink raw date sap.” http://bdnews24.com/health/2013/01/23/nipah-virus-strikes-back
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)