Influenza Virus Mashup

(Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:35:00 +0000)

H3N2 influenza virions –CDC PHIL 

# 5989

Helen Branswell has an article this morning in Scientific American on the trH3N2  swine flu viruses that have recently been found in a handful of patients across Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Maine.

Since no one does this sort of thing better than Helen, I’m going to do the smart thing and just step aside and invite you to read:

New Flu Strain Makes Health Experts Nervous

Is a new strain of H3N2 swine flu a danger to public health or just to the reputations of public health experts?

By Helen Branswell  | December 2, 2011

For some of my earlier coverage of this story, you may wish to revisit:

CIDRAP: New Details In The trH3N2 Story

Pseudo Pandemics And Viral Interlopers

CDC Update On trH3N2 Swine Infections

(Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:20:00 +0000)

Photo Credit CDC PHIL

# 5988

Over the past couple of weeks bird flu researchers have been slammed repeatedly in the popular press for conducting experiments that have produced a better H5N1 virus.

One that is not only lethal, but transmits well among mammals. (see New Scientist: Five Easy Mutations)

 

Many media pundits have seized the populist high ground on this issue by calling these researchers `mad scientists’ and by evoking visions of bioterrorists making up vials of this (admittedly) nasty pathogen in their basement.

It’s not hard to demonize a person, a project, or an idea . .  . if you know how.

 

Use the right `buzz’ words, ridicule or defame a person or their goals – no matter how worthy - and in short order complex issues become one-sided affairs.

 

Soon nearly everyone is on the bandwagon, and  very quickly any opposing views are marginalized.

Of course, things are rarely as simple, or one-sided, as many people would have you believe (see The Bird Flu Research Debate Continues).

While there are legitimate issues over how much detail of these experiments should end up published, the actual research is important if we are to understand the evolution (and true threat) of the H5N1 virus.

Carl Zimmer is a well known author (12 books & counting) and science writer, who among other things, pens The Loom blog on Discover Magazine. 

Today he explains why this research matters, and how little these scientists actually had to do to facilitate the creation of this lethal strain. 

Very much worth reading.  Follow the link to read:

Making viruses the natural way

Mike Coston has an enviable talent for pulling together information from many different sources (including his own posts over past years) and presenting a concise summary of what's happening and why it matters. Case in point: Bird Flu Reports From Nepal. Get out of here and go read it.

(Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:07:00 +0000)

# 5983

Over the past 72 hours we’ve seen several reports of avian influenza spreading among poultry in Nepal.

On FluTrackers, a thread started by Gert van der Hoek on Monday contains confirmed reports of bird flu at a poultry farm in Nepal’s Bhaktapur district.

Suspicious poultry deaths were reported occurring as early as November 9th, but testing only recently confirmed the H5N1 virus.

Yesterday the Kathmandu Post carried an article that describes a `lax’ response by public health officials to residents in the area complaining of `flu like symptoms’.

Bird flu outbreak

• Govt response: Cursory probe, lax quarantine

Manish Gautam

KATHMANDU, NOV 30 -

A day after officials confirmed bird flu in Bhaktapur and quarantined the area, many locals in and around Madhyapur Thimi Municipality on Wednesday complained of symptoms similar to that of bird flu.

Sita Rai, a resident near the site of the outbreak, said she has sore throat, fever, cough and muscle ache.

 

However, two health officials at the site, who stayed for less than 20 minutes in the area, said she is fine and that there is nothing to worry about.

 

(Continue . . . )

It is not uncommon – particularly during the onset of winter weather – for people in this region to be experiencing ILI (influenza-like-illnesses). So while reports of any ILIs around bird flu outbreaks are always of concern, these illnesses are far more likely to be caused by something other than H5N1.

So far, H5N1 has primarily been a threat to poultry, and we’ve seen very few clusters of human infection.

 

The concern, of course, is that could change.

 

 

Today, an AFP report appearing in the Straits Times indicates that – for the first time – bird flu has been detected in poultry in Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu.

Poultry cull follows Kathmandu bird flu outbreak

Published on Dec 1, 2011

Nepal first reported the bird flu virus in January of 2009 (see Nepal: Concerns Rise Over More Poultry Deaths). After a couple of months the outbreaks were declared over, but the virus returned again over the winter of 2010 (see Nepal: H5N1 In Poultry & Nepal: Problems Containing Bird Flu).

The last OIE report I can find was filed in February of 2010; Final report 12669.

Located as it is between two nations with a history of outbreaks of H5N1 (India and China), and separated by but a few kilometers from Bangladesh – another bird flu hotspot – it isn’t surprising that Nepal finds itself faced with fresh outbreaks of the virus each winter.

Complicating matters, officials must send off samples to labs outside of the country in order to confirm the presence of H5N1, which has led to delays in implementing control methods.

In 2009 and 2010 outbreaks in Nepal were not reported until well into January, so today’s reports are coming unusually early in their winter season.

For now, this appears to be just affecting poultry, but as always, the newshounds on the flu forums will keep a close eye on the situation.

(Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:04:00 +0000)

# 5986

Like so many others, I’ve lost friends to the AIDS pandemic over the years, which has claimed more than 25 million lives over the past 3 decades. Today there are an estimated 33 million people around the world living with HIV.

The availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) today means that HIV infection isn’t the automatic death sentence it once was, but not everyone is able to get this vital treatment.

The global economic difficulties of the past several years have put a dent in public and private funding of many health initiatives, including HIV prevention and treatment (see BBC report  HIV funding cut as science brings ‘decisive moment’)

Progress has been made, however, although not evenly around the world. Today, a brief roundup of World AIDS Day related links.

First, from the World Health Organization.

Significant global progress in preventing and treating HIV

WHO

30 November 2011 — The new Report on the global HIV/AIDS response released today, shows inspiring progress with a 15% reduction of new infections and a 22% decline in deaths. This progress highlights the importance of long-term investment in HIV/AIDS. There is now a very real possibility of getting ahead of the epidemic. However, gains made to date are being threatened by a decline in resources for AIDS.

• Read the news release
• Read the new fact sheet on HIV/AIDS

The ECDC’s report on AIDS and HIV shows that progress isn’t universal, with new HIV infection rates continuing to rise across the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA).

World AIDS Day: HIV transmission shows no sign of declining in Europe

30 Nov 2011

ECDC

Marking World AIDS Day 2011, ECDC and the WHO Regional Office for Europe release today their joint publication HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe 2010. The new data raises concern about the continuing transmission of HIV in Europe, as newly diagnosed HIV infections are still on the increase.

 

In 2010, 27.116 newly diagnosed HIV infections were reported across the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA) indicating an increase of around 4%. In contrast, the steady decrease of AIDS cases continued in 2010 with 4.666 reported cases in the EU/EEA region. This constitutes a decrease of nearly 50% in reported AIDS cases from 2004 to 2010.

 

The HIV epidemics are remarkably distinct in individual countries but overall HIV continues to disproportionally affect certain key populations, in particular men who have sex with men, persons originating from countries with generalised HIV epidemics and people who inject drugs.

(Continue . . . )

The CDC’s  MMWR yesterday released a Vital Signs Report:

Vital Signs: HIV Prevention Through Care and Treatment — United States

Early Release

November 29, 2011 / 60(Early Release);1-6

Abstract

Background: An estimated 1.2 million persons in the United States were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in 2008. Improving survival of persons with HIV and reducing transmission involve a continuum of services that includes diagnosis (HIV testing), linkage to and retention in HIV medical care, and ongoing HIV prevention interventions, including appropriately timed antiretroviral therapy (ART).

 

Methods: CDC used three surveillance datasets to estimate recent HIV testing and HIV prevalence among U.S. adults by state, and the percentages of HIV-infected adults receiving HIV care for whom ART was prescribed, who achieved viral suppression, and who received prevention counseling from health-care providers. Published data were used to estimate the numbers of persons in the United States living with and diagnosed with HIV and, based on viral load and CD4 laboratory reports, linked to and retained in HIV care.

 

Results: In 2010, 9.6% of adults had been tested for HIV during the preceding 12 months (range by state: 4.9%–29.8%). Of the estimated 942,000 persons with HIV who were aware of their infection, approximately 77% were linked to care, and 51% remained in care. Among HIV-infected adults in care, 45% received prevention counseling, and 89% were prescribed ART, of whom 77% had viral suppression. Thus, an estimated 28% of all HIV-infected persons in the United States have a suppressed viral load.

 

Conclusions: Prevalence of HIV testing and linkage to care are high but warrant continued effort. Increasing the percentages of HIV-infected persons who remain in HIV care, achieve viral suppression, and receive prevention counseling requires additional effort.

 

Implications for Public Health Practice: Public health officials and HIV care providers should improve engagement at each step in the continuum of HIV care and monitor progress in every community using laboratory reports of viral load and CD4 test results.

 

(Continue . . . )

And last stop is the WORLD AIDS DAY website, where you can find out more about this ongoing pandemic, and how you can help.

Via The Times of India: Bird flu-like virus killing Jharkhand crows.

RANCHI: The Centre has sent an alert to the Jharkhand government to remain cautious about a possible poultry infection, after a mysterious bird flu-like virus is believed to have killed between 500 and 1,000 crows in Jamshedpur, Bokaro and parts of Hazaribagh. 

Though an official intimation from the Union animal husbandry department is still to reach the state, a study on the crow deaths conducted at the animal disease laboratory in Bhopal found a virus resembling that of bird flu. 

However, the study allays fears about cattle, poultry and humans being infected because the virus was detected only in the brain of the dead crows. 

Joint commissioner at the department of animal husbandry, A B Negi, said the virus was not found in the fecal matter or esophageal swabs of the dead crows. This means it cannot spread from one crow to another or any other bird unless the flesh of an infected crow is consumed by another scavenger. 

"It is likely that a crow consuming a dead crow or any other scavenger may pick up the virus and get infected," he said. 

A team of scientists from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute had visited Jamshedpur to collect samples of crow carcasses and made prima facie observations. IVRI joint director Rishendra Verma said there was no evidence to show that the poultry in Jamshedpur was infected. 

While a sizable population among tribals in Jharkhand consume crow meat and are in danger of being infected, the department of animal husbandry under the state government has issued public awareness advertisements to handle dead crows carefully and bury them. 

M K Sinha, the head of the zoology department, Ranchi University, has called for a detailed report on the deaths. "Mass deaths is something that needs to be handled with care so that the infection does not spread to other birds, cattle or humans," he said. 

The symptoms shown by the infected crows include quivering, high body temperatures and convulsions.

(Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:21:00 +0000)

 
2011 Tropical Storm Tracks – Source Wikipedia

#5985

Today – November 30th - marks the official end of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane season.

NOAA has released a 4 minute video that compresses the 6 month Altantic Hurricane season into 4 minutes and 41 seconds. It comes from the NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory, and requires Adobe Flash Player to view.

(Click image to view)

This description from the NOAA webpage. A hat tip to  @JustinNOAA for tweeting this link.

The 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season in 4.5 minutes

The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30 and produced a total of 19 tropical storms of which seven became hurricanes, including three major hurricanes. This level of activity matched NOAA’s predictions and continues the trend of active hurricane seasons that began in 1995.

 

From Arlene to Sean, Hurricane Season 2011 has been very active, leading to 120 fatalities and causing more than $11 billion in property and infrastructure damage. Surprisingly, none of the first eight tropical storms reached hurricane status, a record since reliable reports started in 1851.

 

(Continue .  .  . )

Once again, despite an unusually busy tropical season, the United States was largely spared due to favorable steering currents which kept most of these storms out to sea.

Only two named storms made landfall in the United States during the 2011 season; Tropical Storm Lee in Louisiana and Hurricane Irene in New England.

But every hurricane season is different, and what happened this year, or the year before, doesn’t tell us much about what lies in store for 2012.

Even with this relatively mild hurricane season, the United States has sustained a record number of Billion Dollar Plus weather-related disasters this year, proving the need for year-round preparedness, and in all areas of the nation.

(See Weathering Heights: Billion-Dollar-Plus Weather Disasters)

Like death and taxes, disasters are inevitable. A few of my general preparedness blogs include:

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

 

To become better prepared as an individual, family, business owner, or community to deal with hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or any other type of disaster: visit the following preparedness sites.

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/