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Avian Flu Updates
From Egypt To Malaysia

From Patricia Doyle, PhD
6-15-7

Hello Jeff - You may notice one thing that seems to permeate each country's report - the human involvement in keeping bird flu outbreaks going. Humans do so when they either sell off or hide poultry from officials or participate in the cock fighting business.
 
As long as bird flu exists in poultry and migratory bird populations, humans are at risk of contracting it. As the bird flu virus continues to spread, so, too, the risk of H5N1 evolving into an easily-transmissible human form of the virus.
 
Patty
 
From ProMed Mail 
 
 
EGYPT
 
Another Case Of Human H5N1
By Joseph S. Mayton
All Ahead News
 
Egypt has reported another human case of avian flu on Tue 12 Jun 2007. A girl from Qena, south of Cairo, has been reported transferred to a hospital after she was diagnosed with the deadly bird flu, Abdel Rahman Shahin, spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Health, said in a press release.
 
The girl, 4, is the 36th person infected with the H5N1 virus in Egypt. 16 of those infected have died from the disease.
 
At the same hospital, another man is being treated for symptoms that may be due to the virus. The hospital in Qena is currently running tests to determine whether another infection has been discovered.
 
Egypt is the worst hit nation outside East Asia, where the deadly disease was 1st discovered in humans. That the country is on a major migratory route for birds is the main reason that Egypt has been hit with the disease.
 
Many of the victims have come into contact with infected dead birds, which occurs mostly in the near vicinity of their homes.
 
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007632436
 
 
-- Communicated by: ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall
 
The WHO reports 36 cases of human H5N1 avian influenza virus infections, with 15 deaths (one less than the 16 reported above). It is true that Egypt is located on a major bird migration route, but one must not automatically assume that migratory birds, and not movement of domestic poultry, are responsible for the introduction of the virus into the country. Establishing indemnity payment for culled poultry is not a simple matter: if the payments are less than current market value, outbreaks are likely to go unreported and especially valuable birds hidden or moved to avoid their sacrifice. Education is critical to insure proper disposal of culled or other dead infected birds to avoid exposure of other poultry populations or of humans to the virus.
 
 
INDONESIA
 
Source: AP via Jakarta Post
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailgeneral.asp?fileid=20070613151921&irec=3
 
Many Muslim countries are ill-equipped to tackle a bird flu outbreak because of insufficient financial resources and the public's lack of awareness about the disease, a UN health official said Wednesday [13 Jun 2007].
 
The Organization of the Islamic Conference, whose 57-member nations comprise nearly one third of the world's population, should take a more pro-active role in helping countries that are not adequately prepared, said Hassan el Bushra of the World Health Organization [WHO].
 
The health official suggested the OIC facilitate programs such as the production of bird flu vaccines and anti-viral drugs.
 
"There is a big disparity between countries (within the OIC)," said El Bushra, the WHO's adviser for communicable disease surveillance and response in the eastern Mediterranean region.
 
"Some countries can do a lot but some countries are really in need" of preparedness programs, he told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of OIC health ministers and officials.
 
He said Muslim countries that are of the most immediate concern are the ones where there have been human cases of bird flu, such as Indonesia, Egypt and Turkey.
 
Bird flu has killed at least 190 people since it began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in 2003, with 79 deaths in hardest-hit Indonesia, according to the World Health Organization.
 
El Bushra said Indonesia was the biggest challenge, especially as many people do not understand the need to cull all the poultry in the village after some birds are found to be infected with H5N1.
 
"They need a lot of education. It is a matter first of all of changing the mentality of the people to really understand the disease," he said.
 
In Indonesia, and other relatively poor, developing countries, poultry is a crucial part of their cultural lifestyles and economic livelihoods, El Bushra said.
 
"We need to find acceptable measures to support those who suffer economic losses, especially when compensation is a problem," he said.
 
 
By Karima Anjani and Jason Gale
 
Bloomberg 6-12-7
 
Bird flu-infected poultry in Indonesia that show no signs of the disease may heighten risks to humans, though more research is needed to establish the cause of their infection, scientists said.
 
Indonesia has recorded fewer poultry deaths from the H5N1 strain of avian influenza this year [2007] than last year, and some fowl in infected backyard coops haven't died from the lethal virus, Musny Suatmodjo, Indonesia's director of animal health, told reporters in Jakarta yesterday [11 Jun 2007].
 
Scientists are conducting surveys of poultry to gauge the frequency of asymptomatic H5N1 infections, their cause and risks to people. Four of every 5 human H5N1 cases have been fatal in Indonesia. Of 15 cases confirmed there last month [May 2007], doctors weren't able to identify the cause of infection in 8 of them.
 
"If there's virus circulation and the animals appear clinically healthy, then it can be a human health risk because people keep on handling those animals" without being aware of the risks, said Christianne Bruschke, a veterinarian leading an avian influenza project for the World Organisation for Animal Health [OIE].
 
Bruschke spoke in an interview yesterday [11 Jun 2007] in Jakarta, where she addressed the International Avian Influenza Virus Vaccination Seminar.
 
Indonesia is under international pressure to control H5N1, which threatens to mutate into a form capable of spreading easily between people, setting off a deadly pandemic.
 
During the past 2 years, 99 Indonesians are known to have been infected with the virus, 79 of them fatally. Globally, 190 people have died from H5N1 and a further 121 have survived infection, according to World Health Organization statistics last updated yesterday [11 Jun 2007].
 
It's possible that the H5N1 virus is capable of infecting humans more easily than it used to, Bayu Krisnamurthi, chief executive officer of Indonesia's committee on avian and pandemic flu, said last week.
 
Indonesians should be "cautious" when handling poultry because they may be shedding the virus without showing symptoms of disease, Krisnamurthi told reporters yesterday [11 Jun 2007]. "It can't be a general conclusion yet," and further scientific studies are needed to support the hypothesis, he said.
 
About 7000 chickens, quail and other poultry are recorded to have died of H5N1 in Indonesia so far this year [2007], compared with 1.5 million in the whole of 2006, the agriculture ministry's Suatmodjo said.
 
Fewer recorded poultry deaths from H5N1 could be attributed to many factors, including immunity to the virus and changes in the virus itself, said John Weaver, a senior adviser with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Jakarta.
 
"At this stage, we haven't got clear evidence that there has been any change" that has altered the virus's pathogenicity, he said. "Maybe the public is less inclined to report the disease now because there's no benefit" in doing so.
 
Indonesia's vaccination program aimed at controlling poultry outbreaks may also be obscuring infections, said Bruschke of the OIE.
 
"If you implement a vaccination program, it's extremely important that you also implement a monitoring program and keep checking whether there's still virus circulation," she said.
 
The Indonesian government allocated 60 million doses of vaccine for poultry this year [2007], enough to protect about 1/5th of the 285 million chickens raised in backyards across the country, an archipelago of about 18 000 islands.
 
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=afhASkp8W55k
 
 
-- Communicated by: ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org>
 
[The accuracy of the above information on the ostensible appearance of asymptomatic H5N1 infections in chickens in Indonesia deserves to be assessed with caution; it might have been based upon misquotations of the officials interviewed.
 
Dr Peter Roeder, FAO, a veterinary virologist with long experience with the Indonesian animal health situation and currently visiting there, has kindly provided us with the following observations, which are gratefully acknowledged:
 
"There have been some anecdotal accounts of increased survival rates but nothing documented with supporting evidence. I have seen no new information on this subject, and if there is any, it has not been shared with me. Of course, one would expect the virus to change its characteristics towards lower virulence over time, but, quite remarkably, this does not seen to have happened in chickens. It is well known that the situation in ducks is very different, with widespread subclinical infection; could it be that which is being reported?"
 
Indonesia's last official follow-up report (No. 14) was submitted to the OIE on 25 Sep 2006.
 
In spite of the lacking reporting on H5N1 in poultry, WHO's avian influenza map, titled "World: Areas reporting confirmed occurrence of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry and wild birds since 1 Jan 2007, status as of 8 Jun 2007 (latest available update)," shows the major Indonesian territories of Sumatra and Java as infected. This might be a reflection of the unfortunate situation when humans play the role of H5N1 sentinels; see http://gamapserver.who.int/mapLibrary/Files/Maps/Global_SubNat_H5N1inAnimalConfirmed_2007_20070608.png
 
. On top of the said territories, ProMED-mail has posted, during 2007, media-derived information on the disease observed in poultry in Bali and Papua; see references. - Mod.AS]
 
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (97): VIET NAM, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
 
**************************************************************
 
 
[1] Date: 12 Jun 2007 Source: Reuter's Alert Net [edited]
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HAN63192.htm>
 
 
Bird flu infects 2 Vietnamese women have bird flu - report
---------------------
Two Vietnamese women have tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, but one has recovered while the other is in intensive care, a state-run newspaper reported on Tuesday [12 Jun 2007].
 
The online newspaper Vietnamnet (<<http://www.vnn.vn>www.vnn.vn>) quoted the director of the Vietnam Administration of Preventive Medicine Nguyen Huy Nga as confirming the 2 women, aged 28 and 29, from the northern provinces of Thanh Hoa and Ha Nam, had bird flu. Nga said both had been admitted to a hospital in Hanoi.
 
The 29-year-old woman from Thanh Hoa, who was infected after eating dead duck, had recovered, while other woman was using a respirator to breathe, Nga said. Both Thanh Hoa and Ha Nam are among a list of 15 provinces and a city that have reported bird flu outbreaks in poultry since early May [2007].
 
The 2 new human cases came only a day after doctors said a man who was Vietnam's 1st human bird flu case in a year and a half has won the battle against the virus, leaving hospital on Monday [11 Jun 2007].
 
Doctors were still treating a 2nd patient, a slaughterhouse worker from outside Hanoi who became sick late last month [May 2007, see references below]. The patient was recovering well, they said.
 
Bird flu has killed 42 people out of 95 cases of infection in Vietnam since it emerged in late 2003. Meanwhile, the Animal Health Department said 3 bird flu cases in poultry were found on [7 Jun 2007] and [8 Jun 2007] in the northern province of Thai Binh, which had reported outbreaks in other districts in the province.
 
-- Communicated by: PRO/MBDS
promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
 
****** [2] Date: 12 Jun 2007 Source: Xinhua Net [edited]
ttp://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-06/12/content_6233059.htm>
 
 
Vietnam has 2 more bird flu patients
-------------------
Vietnam's Health Ministry has reported 2 additional human cases of bird flu infections, raising the total number in the country since November 2005 to 4. The 2 latest cases include a 29-year-old man from northern Thanh Hoa province, and a 20-year-old woman from northern Ha Nam province, according to the country's Preventive Medicine Department on Tuesday [12 Jun 2007].
 
Specimens from the man, who was discharged from hospital on [3 Jun 2007] after showing such bird flu symptoms as fever, coughing and pneumonia, have recently been tested positive to bird flu virus strain H5N1. He ate a sick white-winged duck before falling ill, the department said.
 
The woman, suffering from severe pneumonia, is under treatment at the Tropical Disease Hospital in Hanoi capital. Local doctors are probing into why she has contracted H5N1.
 
Vietnam's 1st bird flu patient since November 2005, a 30-year-old man from northern Vinh Phuc province, was discharged from hospital on [11 Jun 2007] after 26 days of treatment. He exhibited bird flu symptoms on [10 May 2007] after having slaughtered chickens for a wedding party.
 
Now, 2 local people are under treatment at the Tropical Disease Hospital: the woman from Ha Nam and a local man from northern Thai Nguyen province. The man, Vietnam's 2nd bird flu patient since November 2005, worked at a poultry slaughterhouse in Hanoi on [14 May 2007] and developed bird flu symptoms 5 days later.
 
To date, Vietnam has reported a total of 97 human cases of bird flu infections, including 42 fatalities. However, the World Health Organization has yet to confirm the 4 latest cases of infections in the country's northern region.
 
Vietnam's Health Ministry has asked preventive medicine centers, Pasteur institutes and hygiene and epidemiology institutes nationwide to establish hotlines to receive bird flu information from the community. The ministry is also coordinating with the World Health Organization to probe into the possibility of H5N1 mutation.
 
Since early May [2007], bird flu has hit poultry in 16 Vietnamese cities and provinces nationwide, namely Nghe An, Nam Dinh, Son La,Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Dong Thap, Can Tho, Ninh Binh, Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Ha Nam, Quang Nam, Hung Yen, Thai Binh and Phu Tho, according to the country's Department of Animal Health.
 
-- Communicated by: PRO/MBDS
promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
 
[The above newswires seem to have inconsistencies in epidemiologic data that require clarification. In the 1st newswire there is mention of 2 new cases -- a 29-year-old woman from Thanh Hoa Province and a 28-year-old woman from Ha Nam Province. In the 2nd newswire, there is mention of a total of 4 cases -- the 2 prior cases, a 29-year-old man from northern Thanh Hoa Province and a 20-year-old woman from Ha Nam Province. In either event, both cases come from provinces where avian influenza outbreaks among poultry have been reported, and one of the cases has already been documented to have had contact with a sick avian. Clarification of these discrepancies would be appreciated.
 
Maps of Viet Nam with provinces can be found at:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/vietnam_admin01.jpg and
http://www.angelfire.com/co/hongnam/vnmap.html> - Mod.MPP]
 
AVIAN INFLUENZA (98): MALAYSIA (SELANGOR), OIE
 
**********************************************
 
 
[1] Immediate notification [2] Follow-up report No. 1
 
****** [1] Immediate notification Date: Fri 8 Jun 2007 Source: OIE Disease Information, WAHID (World Animal Health Information Database), weekly disease information, 2007; 20(24) [edited]
http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=weekly_report_index&admin=0
 
 
Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Malaysia
-------------------------------------------
Information received on (and dated) 8 Jun 2007, from Dr Dato Dr Abd Aziz Bin Jamaluddin Jamaluddin, Director General, Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Putrajaya, Malaysia
 
Report type: immediate notification Start date: 2 Jun 2007 Date of confirmation of event: 5 Jun 2007 Report date: 8 Jun 2007 Date submitted to OIE: 11 Jun 2007 Reason for notification: reoccurrence of a listed disease Date of previous occurrence: 22 Mar 2006 Manifestation of disease: clinical disease Causal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, serotype H5 Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory (advanced), necropsy Report pertains to: entire country
 
New outbreaks Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1 (JPH/AI/01/07) Outbreak location: Paya Jaras Hilir, Sungai Buloh, Petaling (Selangor) Date of start of outbreak: 2 Jun 2007 Outbreak status: continuing (or date resolved not submitted) Epidemiological unit: village Affected animals Species: birds Susceptible: 67 Cases: 67 Deaths: 67 Destroyed: 0 Slaughtered: 0 Affected population: semifree-ranging village chickens
 
Outbreak statistics Species: birds Apparent morbidity rate: 100 percent Apparent mortality rate: 100 percent Apparent case fatality rate: 100 percent Proportion susceptible removed*: 100 percent * Removed from the susceptible population either through death, destruction, or slaughter
 
Epidemiology Source of infection: unknown or inconclusive
 
Diagnostic test results: Laboratory name and type: Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh (National laboratory) Species: birds Test: real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) Test date: 5 Jun 2007 Result: positive
 
-- Communicated by: ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org>
 
****** [2] Follow-up report No. 1 Date: Tue 12 Jun 2007 Source: OIE Disease Information, WAHID (World Animal Health Information Database), weekly disease information, 2007; 20(24) [edited]
http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=weekly_report_index&admin=0
 
 
Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Malaysia
-------------------------------------------
Information received on (and dated) 12 Jun 2007, from Dr Dato Dr Abd Aziz Bin Jamaluddin, Director General, Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Putrajaya, Malaysia
 
Report type: follow-up report No. 1 Start date: 2 Jun 2007 Date of confirmation of event: 5 Jun 2007 Report date: 12 Jun 2007 Date submitted to OIE: 12 Jun 2007 Reason for notification: reoccurrence of a listed disease Date of previous occurrence: 22 Mar 2006 Manifestation of disease: clinical disease Causal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, serotype H5N1 Nature of diagnosis Clinical, Laboratory (advanced), necropsy Report pertains to: entire country Outbreaks: there are no new outbreaks in this report.
 
Epidemiology Source of infection: unknown or inconclusive Epidemiological comments: causal agent was highly pathogenic avian influenza virus serotype H5N1, as confirmed by Veterinary Research Institute.
 
Stamping out (1-km-radius zone around the index case) and disinfection started on 6 Jun 2007, and were completed on 10 Jun 2007. The total number of birds culled was 4127, consisting of village chickens (63.17 percent), fighting cocks (16.89 percent), ducks (2.43 percent), quails (1.89 percent), and other birds (15.62 percent).
 
Clinical and laboratory surveillance is ongoing in the surveillance zone (10-km-radius zone around the index case). Similarly, surveillance in the whole country is also ongoing.
 
Diagnostic test results Laboratory name and type: Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh (National laboratory) Species: birds Test: real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) Test date: 5 Jun 2007 Result: positive
 
-- Communicated by: ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org>
 
The location of the outbreak is in the middle of the peninsular section of Malaysia can be seen at the WAHIS (World Animal Health Information System) OIE report site referenced above. Of interest in the follow-up report is that fighting cocks were almost 17 percent of the culls in this clean up or "stamping out" campaign. I wonder what density of fighting cocks in a population constitutes an excess risk for ongoing transmission. - Mod.PC
 
 
Patricia A. Doyle DVM, PhD
Bus Admin, Tropical Agricultural Economics
Univ of West Indies
 
 
Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message board at:
http://www.emergingdisease.org/phpbb/index.php
Also my new website:
http://drpdoyle.tripod.com/
Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
Go with God and in Good Health



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