Bird Flu - 2007
The great fear, that bird flu can cause human to human transmission is already likely, according to the WHO.
An extended family of seven people recently died of bird flu in the North Sumatra province of Indonesia. The transmission was apparently not sustainable and occurred only during close, prolonged contact. “We believe that the threat is every bit as real now as it was two or three years ago.” (Dick Thompson, WHO spokesman, USINFO, 17/1/07).
Asia is on alert again following a recent spate of animal and human bird flu cases in a number of countries. Sixty one of the 161 confirmed deaths from bird flu worldwide since 2003 have occurred in Indonesia. Almost all of these individuals contracted the virus directly from exposure to poultry or poultry droppings. “The Husbandry and Fishery Agency of Jakarta now gives owners of chickens, ducks, swans, pigeons and quails, two weeks to consume, sell or simply destroy these fowl from residential areas” (http://www.thejakartapost.com/, 18/1/07). Four people in Indonesia have already died from the virus this year (2007).
On Monday Thailand reported a new outbreak while Prime Minister Dung in Vietnam confirmed bird flu had reached a seventh province in the Mekong Delta (Vietnam News Agency, 17/1/07). Following the death of 4,000 chickens at a farm in Kyushu Japan last week, and confirmatory tests of H5N1 bird flu, a further 8,000 birds were culled (Associated Press, 17/1/07). The second case within a month of a dead bird due to the H5N1 virus has been confirmed in Hong Kong city (Central Chronicle, Beijing, 17/1/07).
Meanwhile, Japanese scientist warn that either of two simple mutations in the H5N1 virus, both of which have already occurred in human cases, could trigger a deadly pandemic (Nature, Nov 16). In Indonesia, 20 percent of around 500 cats tested were found to carry the H5N1 Bird Flu virus. China has just announced it will spend more than 1 billion dollars over two years to (hopefully) eradicate animal-borne epidemics.
The suspicion is that migratory flocks carry the virus in their cross-continental seasonal movements. However, the virus remains viable in mud on shoes/ tyres and on crates and cages, implicating all agricultural not just poultry trade.
A 27 year old Egyptian woman from south of Cairo has been hospitalised with a serious pulmonary infection, now confirmed as H5N1 influenza. This is the 19th case of bird flu in Egypt, ten of which have been fatal. Apparently, this lady had raised hens in her house. Most people infected in Egypt had been in contact with poultry kept at home (Reuters 17/1/07). Further south, 20,000 chickens were culled in Nigeria, where bird flu had been detected.
Nigeria had their first case of proven bird flu in 2006. At the time, they did not have a lab to confirm the suspicion. However, donations and support from various countries means all African countries come to Nigeria now for testing (Africast, 18/1/07).
The U.S. has pledged $434 million as international support to fighting bird flu. The Department of Health in Washington awarded 5-year contracts ($132.5 million) to three companies – GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Incorporated, and Iomai Corporation (www.seattlepi.nwsource.com/ ).
What toll is attributed to bird flu since 2003?
161 people have died in 10 countries
220 million birds have died or been destroyed in 55 countries which have confirmed the virus in domestic animals, wild birds or other wildlife
$10 billion loss for Southeast Asian poultry sector, $60 million loss for African poultry producers (World Bank estimate)
An extended family of seven people recently died of bird flu in the North Sumatra province of Indonesia. The transmission was apparently not sustainable and occurred only during close, prolonged contact. “We believe that the threat is every bit as real now as it was two or three years ago.” (Dick Thompson, WHO spokesman, USINFO, 17/1/07).
Asia is on alert again following a recent spate of animal and human bird flu cases in a number of countries. Sixty one of the 161 confirmed deaths from bird flu worldwide since 2003 have occurred in Indonesia. Almost all of these individuals contracted the virus directly from exposure to poultry or poultry droppings. “The Husbandry and Fishery Agency of Jakarta now gives owners of chickens, ducks, swans, pigeons and quails, two weeks to consume, sell or simply destroy these fowl from residential areas” (http://www.thejakartapost.com/, 18/1/07). Four people in Indonesia have already died from the virus this year (2007).
On Monday Thailand reported a new outbreak while Prime Minister Dung in Vietnam confirmed bird flu had reached a seventh province in the Mekong Delta (Vietnam News Agency, 17/1/07). Following the death of 4,000 chickens at a farm in Kyushu Japan last week, and confirmatory tests of H5N1 bird flu, a further 8,000 birds were culled (Associated Press, 17/1/07). The second case within a month of a dead bird due to the H5N1 virus has been confirmed in Hong Kong city (Central Chronicle, Beijing, 17/1/07).
Meanwhile, Japanese scientist warn that either of two simple mutations in the H5N1 virus, both of which have already occurred in human cases, could trigger a deadly pandemic (Nature, Nov 16). In Indonesia, 20 percent of around 500 cats tested were found to carry the H5N1 Bird Flu virus. China has just announced it will spend more than 1 billion dollars over two years to (hopefully) eradicate animal-borne epidemics.
The suspicion is that migratory flocks carry the virus in their cross-continental seasonal movements. However, the virus remains viable in mud on shoes/ tyres and on crates and cages, implicating all agricultural not just poultry trade.
A 27 year old Egyptian woman from south of Cairo has been hospitalised with a serious pulmonary infection, now confirmed as H5N1 influenza. This is the 19th case of bird flu in Egypt, ten of which have been fatal. Apparently, this lady had raised hens in her house. Most people infected in Egypt had been in contact with poultry kept at home (Reuters 17/1/07). Further south, 20,000 chickens were culled in Nigeria, where bird flu had been detected.
Nigeria had their first case of proven bird flu in 2006. At the time, they did not have a lab to confirm the suspicion. However, donations and support from various countries means all African countries come to Nigeria now for testing (Africast, 18/1/07).
The U.S. has pledged $434 million as international support to fighting bird flu. The Department of Health in Washington awarded 5-year contracts ($132.5 million) to three companies – GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Incorporated, and Iomai Corporation (www.seattlepi.nwsource.com/ ).
What toll is attributed to bird flu since 2003?
161 people have died in 10 countries
220 million birds have died or been destroyed in 55 countries which have confirmed the virus in domestic animals, wild birds or other wildlife
$10 billion loss for Southeast Asian poultry sector, $60 million loss for African poultry producers (World Bank estimate)
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