Influenza Virus Mashup

A news release issued by the Hong Kong government at 1:29 a.m, January 1, 2012: HK to suspend import of poultry products from certain places in Shenzhen. Excerpt:

In view of a confirmed human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (H5N1) in Shenzhen, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department yesterday (December 31) announced that the area of 13 km radius from usual residence of the patient within 14 days of disease onset is designated as the "import control zone". The decision was made after communicating with the Mainland authorities concerned in accordance with established guidelines.      

The import of live poultry and poultry products (including chilled and frozen poultry, and poultry eggs) from this area will be suspended for 21 days, taking effect from today (January 1).      

A spokesman for the CFS said the government had developed a zonal approach policy in 2008 as a general guideline for import control measures, to control the import of live poultry and poultry products (including chilled and frozen poultry, and poultry eggs) in dealing with different scenarios of outbreak of HPAI in Guangdong Province, including Shenzhen.      

"Under the zonal approach policy, in the event of a confirmed human case of HPAI infection within Guangdong Province including Shenzhen, we will suspend the import of live poultry and poultry products from the 'import control zone' (i.e. the area of 13 km radius from the possible place of infection) for 21 days.      

"If there is evidence that the patient has a history of contact with poultry within 14 days of disease onset, the 'import control zone' covers the implicated/related poultry farms, markets and places where patient contact has occurred," the spokesman said.      

If a positive contact history is not apparent, the "import control zone" is worked out by reference to the usual residence of the patient within 14 days of disease onset.      

"While adopting the zonal approach policy as a guideline, in handling each individual case of outbreak, we would at the same time take into account all factors concerned including for example the severity in the spread of the virus when determining the suspension measure," the spokesman stressed.      

"We will continue to closely monitor the latest situation about the avian flu case and take appropriate follow-up action," he added.

Via The Daily Star: 658 farms in Khulna on bird flu alert. Excerpt:

Six hundred and fifty-eight poultry farms in nine upazilas of Khulna district and in the city have been asked to remain on high alert against outbreak of bird flu. 

Khulna District Livestock Officer Dr Md Nizamuddin said he has asked all poultry farm owners on Wednesday to take precautionary measures against spread of bird flu. 

At least 2,000 poultry birds infected with the disease had to be culled in last 12 days in Rupsha upazila of the district and Baniakhamar area of the city.

As usual, FluTrackers is following the story very well and updating often from sources in the region: China - Human case of H5N1 Dies in Shenzhen, Guangdong province (December 30 2011).

BBC News has the story: China bird flu victim dies in Shenzhen city. And it also has a sidebar story from Annemarie Evans:

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang was quick to reassure the Hong Kong public, following the bird flu death just north of here in Shenzhen. He emphasised how good the health notification system was between mainland China and Hong Kong. 

The city is particularly fearful of pandemics, not only due to its dense population housed largely in high-rise buildings, but because of the city's health history. 

In November 2010, a 59 year old woman was diagnosed with the H5N1 avian flu virus, the first case in the city for seven years. She had been travelling in mainland China and survived. 

But in 1996, Hong Kong was the site of the world's first cases of mutated bird flu affecting humans. Six people died. In 2003, nearly 300 people died from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Mike Coston at Avian Flu Diary has a very good post: Shenzhen Bird Flu Suspect Dies. He pulls together some news sources but also reflects on the implications of the death's occurrence at this time of year. Lunar new year is coming soon, and that means millions of people will be moving around China to rejoin their families. 

I remember when Shenzhen was little more than a construction site back in 1983: A handful of high-rise buildings in bamboo scaffolding, not the enormous and congested city it's become. It's minutes from Hong Kong and maybe an hour and a half from Guangzhou, just up the Pearl River. Feeding the scores of millions of people in the Hong Kong-Guangzhou corridor requires enormous local agriculture—including, of course, poultry.

Shenzhen also figured in earlier outbreaks. I highly recommend Karl Taro Greenfeld's book China Syndrome—about the SARS epidemic in 2003. The same basic situations are still in place, and even the same people, including the medical researchers who identified the source of SARS and stopped the outbreak in its tracks.

We're fortunate that Hong Kong has such researchers, and a strong public-health system that knows how to communicate with its population. We're less fortunate in the sheer size of the agricultural system that both feeds the region and generates new strains of influenza and other animal-to-human diseases. And we're also less fortunate in mainland China's culture of silence in dealing with SARS and H5N1.

Via Google News, an AFP report: Man dies from bird flu in southern China. Excerpt:

A bus driver in southern China who contracted the bird flu virus died Saturday, health authorities said, in the nation's first reported human case of the deadly disease in 18 months. 

The man, surnamed Chen, died in Shenzhen — a boomtown that borders Hong Kong where thousands of chickens have already been culled after three birds tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus in mid-December. 

He developed a fever on December 21 and was taken to hospital four days later, and diagnosed with severe pneumonia, said the health department in Shenzhen, a city of more than 10 million people. 

The 39-year-old then tested positive for the H5N1 virus, the department said, adding he had apparently had no direct contact with poultry in the month before he was taken ill, nor had he left the city. 

The H5N1 virus is fatal in humans in about 60 percent of cases. 

However, it does not pass easily among humans, and the World Health Organization says it has never identified a "sustained human-to-human spread" of the virus since it re-emerged in 2003. 

The health department in Guangdong province, where Shenzhen is located, announced Saturday that the bus driver died after his lung, heart and liver functions deteriorated. 

"So far, 120 people who have had close contact with him have not presented abnormal symptoms," it said in a statement. 

An official at the Shenzhen agriculture and fisheries bureau, surnamed Jiang, told AFP the bus driver had had no contact with birds. 

"So far, we have not received any reports of any birds being infected," he said. 

"It is unclear where the patient got the flu from. We will not make any plans to kill domestic birds unless we know that was the source, or if there is any sign of birds being infected."

BBC News also has the story.

Flu News Network will be moving to a website. The move should be completed mid to late January.

The new website will continue to have the news. It will have material, resources, a forum, FNN store and hopefully more articles from me as time allows.

The American Fever Novel by Peter Christian Hall will be released 1/16/2012 in eBook and print form. For more information:

http://www.americanfeverbook.com/

I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year celebration. See you next year.

cottontop

31 December 2011 Last updated at 07:08 ET

A man who had been diagnosed with China’s first case of bird flu in more than a year has died in the southern city of Shenzhen, health officials say.

The 39-year-old bus driver was admitted to hospital with pneumonia but tested positive for the bird flu virus.

The H5N1 bird flu strain has a high level of mortality, killing up to 60% of humans infected with it.

Positive tests on a dead market chicken last week prompted nearby Hong Kong’s government to issue an alert.

snip

But it was not clear whether the chicken came from a local farm or was imported.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16372348

MDC senator for Mabutweni dies of bird flu
By Pindai Dube
Friday, 30 December 2011 10:20
BULAWAYO – Gladys Gombami-Dube the mainstream MDC senator for Mabutweni died of bird flu, a family spokesperson told journalists at her house in Mpopoma high density suburb on Wednesday.

Family spokesperson Samuel Gombami who is brother to Gladys’ husband Fanuel said that postmortem results released on Tuesday in Harare shows that she died of bird flu.

“We were finally given postmortem results and they show that she was taken away by bird flu. We still can’t believe this as a family, we are in still shock,” said Fanuel Gombami.

Bird flu also known as avian influenza is a contagious disease of birds, caused by influenza (A) viruses.

The outbreak of avian influenza of most concern began in poultry in South Korea in mid-December 2003.

The Mabutweni senator was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and dozens of MPs and senators attended the funeral.

Gombami-Dube, 48, died after complaining of disorientation and dizziness while travelling home to Bulawayo from a funeral in Gokwe on Boxing Day.

She was rushed to a hospital in Kadoma where she died. The senator was the deputy chairperson for the parliamentary select committee (Copac).

MDC deputy chairperson for Bulawayo province Dorcas Sibanda said the party was shocked with the sudden death of Gombami-Dube and will give all the assistance needed to the family.

“We are shocked and worried about the death of our respected senator for Mabutweni because this doesn’t usually happen. We are still running around to give our mother a descent burial,” said Sibanda who is also the legislator for Bulawayo Central.

Gombami Dube’s Mabutweni constituency covers Mpopoma, Pelandaba, Njube and Lobengula. Above that she has for the past two-and-a-half years been an active member of Copac.

Gombami who is also one of the founding members of the MDC in 1999 was born on November 21, 1963 in Bulawayo.
She did her primary education at Lukhanyiso Primary School in Mpopoma before going to Mzilikazi High School for her secondary education.

She got married to Fanuel Gombami in 1983. She is survived by three children, two girls and a boy.

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/index.php/news/34-news/6235-mdc-senator-died-of-bird-flu.html

Australia
• CIDRAP: Tamiflu-resistant pH1N1 reportedly on rise in Australia

Canada
• Potent strain of flu gaining a foothold in British Columbia
• British Columbia: Health Authorities Urging people To Get themselves Vaccinated Against Flu

India
• Uttar Pradesh district bans poultry imports from Nepal

Mexico
• In Guerrero, 118 deaths from respiratory diseases (translated)
• Detected seven new cases of H1N1 virus infection in Mexico

Myanmar
• ProMED: Undiagnosed respiratory disease – Myanmar: (CH) RFI

Netherlands
• CIDRAP: Study finds contact tracing of H1N1 plane passengers not effective

Taiwan
• Taiwan govt warns public to be on guard against flu

United States
• WA: Flu season is expected to pick up
• MD: First Flu Case Of The Season Reported
• NH: Flu Hits New Hampshire

Commentary
• Recombinomics: Critical H5N1 Case In Shenzen China
• Helen Branswell: Flu Factories
• WebMD Editorial: Mutant Bird Flu – “Playing with Fire”

General
• Interview: Should Research Into the Dangerous Lab-Made Flu Virus Been Classified?
• What Really Happened in Malta This September When Contagious Bird Flu Was First Announced?
• WHO “Deeply Concerned” by Mutated Bird Flu Research

(Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:32:00 +0000)

# 6045

Numerous media outlets are reporting that the H5N1 suspect from Guangdong Province – adjacent to Hong Kong – has died from his illness.

Most of these media reports appear to be based on a trio of statements issued by the Health department in Guangdong province (links to Google translations below)

Note: while readable, these machine translations are nonetheless a bit convoluted.

Shenzhen confirmed case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza 2011-12-31 16:51:06

Shenzhen diagnoses an example person to infect the high pathogenic bird flu 2011-12-31 16:51: 06

Shenzhen found a case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza suspected cases 2011-12-30 22:35:08

The highlights are that the patient named Chen, a 39 year-old male bus driver in Shenzhen, developed a fever on December 21st, and was taken to a hospital on December 25th and diagnosed with severe pneumonia.

The patient subsequently tested positive for the H5N1 virus, and it was announced he died of massive organ failure on December 31st.

Based on the title and text of the latest press release local authorities are apparently considering this to be a confirmed case of H5N1.

Authorities state that the man had no contact with poultry, or history of travel outside the city, over the past 30 days. The Health Department is actively monitoring 120 recent contacts of the victim, but none reportedly have shown signs of illness.

With this latest case of H5N1 in China, along with reports of avian flu in poultry in the region, public health officials and epidemiologists across Asia will no doubt be watching carefully for any signs of disease outbreaks.

For January will see the biggest travel holiday on earth; The Lunar New Year.

In Vietnam, it is called  Tết Nguyên Đán or Feast of the First Morning.  Tết for short.

 

In Korea it is called Seollal.

 

In China, it is often called Chunyun, Chinese New Year, or simply, The Spring Festival.

 

By whatever name, the lunar new year is no doubt the most  important holiday in all of Asia.  And more than 2.5 billion passenger journeys – mostly by crowded train –will be made in China alone over this six week period.

In many Asian cultures it is a long held tradition that people return home to attend a reunion dinner with their families on the eve of the lunar New Year. They stay a few days, then return to the cities from whence they came.

Duck and chicken are, as you might imagine, popular dishes during these gatherings.  And the live markets do tremendous business this time of year.

All of which provides opportunities for avian, swine, or human flu viruses to hitch rides to remote areas of the world where they may not have arrived yet, and for viruses to be carried from rural areas back to the cities.

 

This year, the lunar New Year will fall on January 23rd.

Due to the potential for disease transmission (including mosquito borne illnesses, food poisoning, flu, etc.) during this very busy holiday period, the CDC posts some travel advice each year to those planning a trip to Asia.

Good Luck. Good Health. Good Cheer. Happy Lunar New Year!

The year of the Dragon begins January 23, 2012, and many travelers will visit Asia to celebrate the Lunar New Year. If you are traveling to Asia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would like to share information and tips that will help you stay healthy and safe during your trip.

 

Every destination, even in different areas of the same country, has unique health issues that travelers need to be aware of. To find specific information about the areas you plan to visit, see the East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia regional pages on the CDC Travelers’ Health website, or click on the country or countries you will be visiting on the destinations page.

(Continue . . .)

A statement from WHO: WHO concerned that new H5N1 influenza research could undermine the 2011 Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework. Click through to the page for a link to the PIP Framework.

The World Health Organization (WHO) takes note that studies undertaken by several institutions on whether changes in the H5N1 influenza virus can make it more transmissible between humans have raised concern about the possible risks and misuses associated with this research. 

WHO is also deeply concerned about the potential negative consequences. However, WHO also notes that studies conducted under appropriate conditions must continue to take place so that critical scientific knowledge needed to reduce the risks posed by the H5N1 virus continues to increase. 

H5N1 influenza viruses are a significant health risk to people for several reasons. Although this type of influenza does not infect humans often, when it does, approximately 60% of those infected die. 

In addition, because these viruses can cause such severe illness in people, scientists are especially concerned that this type of influenza could one day mutate so it spreads easily between people and causes a very serious influenza pandemic.  

Research which can improve the understanding of these viruses and can reduce the public health risk is a scientific and public health imperative. In order to enable those public health gains, countries where these viruses occur should share their influenza viruses for public health purposes while countries and organizations receiving these viruses should share benefits resulting from the virus sharing. Both types of sharing are on equal footing and equally important parts of the collective global actions needed to protect public health. 

While it is clear that conducting research to gain such knowledge must continue, it is also clear that certain research, and especially that which can generate more dangerous forms of the virus than those which already exist, has risks. Therefore such research should be done only after all important public health risks and benefits have been identified and reviewed, and it is certain that the necessary protections to minimize the potential for negative consequences are in place. 

In May 2011, the new Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework came into effect. This Framework was adopted by all WHO Member States as a guide to the sharing of influenza viruses with pandemic potential and the resulting benefits. 

One specific requirement of this Framework, which pertains to influenza viruses of pandemic potential, and is in keeping with best scientific practice, is for laboratories receiving them through WHO's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) to collaborate with, and appropriately acknowledge, scientists in countries where the virus originated when initiating research. 

WHO recognizes that the scientists who led the work of the new studies received their virus samples from the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN), which preceded GISRS, and before negotiations on the new PIP Framework began. 

However, now that the Framework has been adopted by all WHO Member States, WHO considers it critically important that scientists who undertake research with influenza viruses with pandemic potential samples fully abide by the new requirements. 

Since the PIP Framework represents a major step forward and was agreed upon only after several years of difficult negotiations, WHO stresses that this H5N1 research must not undermine this major public health achievement. WHO will work with Member States and other key parties to ensure scientists understand the new requirements that have been agreed to with the Framework.