- First of all, the Canadian information is a bit misleading.
It descriibes the bird flu as the same circulating in Asia and Europe
but then goes on to say it has not identified H5N1.
-
- We are told that tests will be completed next week.
-
- There is a non H5N1 circulating in Central and South
America and it is possible that the ducks have H5N2, the low pathogenic
strain.
-
- Bush's plan calls for strengthening the vaccine industry.
The plan should be calling for monitoring of migratory birds and testing
of respiratory outbreak patients.
-
- "Concern about bird flu's spread to humans has increased
since 5 Oct 2005, when U.S. scientists reported finding similarities between
the H5N1 strain in Asia and the Spanish flu "
-
- This is of concern.
-
- Patricia Doyle
-
-
- Canada Finds Avian Flu in Wild Birds - Risk Low
10-31-5
-
- (Bloomberg) -- Canada found 33 cases of avian influenza,
a lethal strain of which has spread through Asia and Europe, in a survey
of wild ducks conducted this summer [2005], a government health agency
said.
-
- The infected ducks were healthy, suggesting they don't
carry the virulent H5N1 strain, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
said in a statement today [31 Oct 2005]. Tests to identify the strain will
be completed next week. Canada has had no cases of H5N1, Agriculture Minister
Andy Mitchell told reporters in Ottawa today.
-
- Concern about bird flu's spread to humans has increased
since 5 Oct 2005, when U.S. scientists reported finding similarities between
the H5N1 strain in Asia and the Spanish flu that killed as many as 50 million
people in 1918 and 1919. There have been 121 confirmed cases of bird flu
in humans, and 62 people have died, according to the World Health Organization.
-
- Strains of H5 influenza that don't kill ducks can still
be dangerous to other species such as chickens, said Terrence Tumpey, a
senior microbiologist in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
influenza branch. Testing will be needed to rule out the H5N1 strain in
the infected ducks, he said.
-
- "You can get H5N1 out of healthy ducks,'' he said
in a telephone interview today [31 Oct 2005]. "You can get all kinds
of subtypes out of migratory ducks.''
-
- 28 infected ducks were found in Quebec and 5 in Manitoba,
according to the CFIA. The agency said the risk to humans is low and that
it made the results public to be transparent.
-
- The study is the 1st national survey of influenza in
migratory birds in Canada and will serve as a benchmark in future years,
the agency said.
-
- Canadian pharmacists today [31 Oct 2005] halted cross-border
sales of the Tamiflu flu drug to relieve public concern that there may
be a shortage in the country if there's an outbreak, the Canadian International
Pharmacy Association said in a statement today. There's no evidence of
a shortage of the drug, made by Roche Holding AG, the group said.
-
- Tamiflu, approved for the treatment and prevention of
flu, has been shown to fight the H5N1 avian and human virus strains in
test-tube and animal tests. The World Health Organization recommends that
governments stockpile antiviral drugs should an outbreak occur.
-
- http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=
- 10000082&sid=aI9YJlMihpXs&refer=canada
-
-
- Bush To Unveil Nation's Bird Flu Plan
Program Expected To Call For Strengthening Vaccine Industry
10-31-5
-
- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A
U.S. plan for helping handle a pandemic of deadly bird flu, to be outlined
by President Bush later on Tuesday, is expected to center on strengthening
the vaccine industry.
-
- The H5N1 avian flu sweeping flocks of poultry in Asia
and parts of Europe has infected 122 people and killed 62, but experts
say it could make a leap into humans and cause a deadly pandemic.
-
- No one can predict if or when, but the World Health Organization
has warned that no country is prepared to battle a pandemic of H5N1 influenza
or any other disease that may cause widespread disruption.
-
- The United States is especially poorly prepared, U.S.
officials agree, although experts have been warning for years of the potential
for a pandemic.
-
- Hospitals are often filled to overflowing already and
have no extra "surge capacity to handle the hundreds of thousands
of people who might fall ill in a pandemic. Pharmacies have just enough
stock to handle immediate demand for drugs, and, perhaps worst of all,
hardly anyone makes vaccines any more.
-
- In 2003 the Institute of Medicine, an independent body
that advises the federal government, said the U.S. health care system does
not place enough value on immunization.
-
- In the 1970s more than 25 companies produced vaccine
for the U.S. market, compared to five now, only two of which are based
in the United States.
-
- Recent vaccine shortages have disrupted annual influenza
immunization efforts and childhood vaccines. The technology for making
flu vaccines is 40 years old, dependent on eggs, and takes months to produce
a single dose.
-
- Hostile Climate
-
- Vaccine makers say the American market is perilous, with
razor-thin profits, complicated regulations and an increasingly hostile
public prone to lawsuits over adverse events from vaccination.
-
- The Bush administration has made some efforts to remedy
the problem, but an attempt in 2002 to slip provisions protecting vaccine
makers into the Homeland Security Act were immediately decried by both
Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
-
- Last month Bush met with the chief executive officers
of some of the corporate vaccine makers. They included Merck & Co.
Inc., Wyeth, GlaxoSmithKline, MedImmune, Chiron Corp. and sanofi pasteur,
the vaccine unit of Sanofi-Aventis.
-
- Bush administration officials said they wanted to encourage
vaccine makers to build plants in the United States and modernize influenza
vaccine production.
-
- Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt,
who will fill in details of the pandemic flu plan on Wednesday, has said
it will include four major points. These are: better disease surveillance,
stockpiling drugs and vaccines, creating a network of federal, state and
local preparedness and public education.
-
- Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
-
- Patricia A. Doyle, PhD
- Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message
board.
-
- Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
- Go with God and in Good Health
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