Avian flu updates page 9

[Kim99]

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/08120502/H5N1_Reporter_Novosibirsk.html

Journalist Hospitalized With Bird Flu Symptoms in Novosibirsk

Recombinomics Commentary
August 12, 2005

Journalist OF GTRK "Novosibirsk" Mary Pashkova, which several days ago visited those infected by ptichim influenza the regions of Novosibirskaya Oblast, it was hospitalized with simtomami of this illness to the state scientific center of virology and biotechnology the "vector", which is found near Novosibirsk in naukograde Kol'tsovo. As the correspondent reports IA REGNUM recently this communication was sounded in the news issue of television network.

As itself reported Mary on the telephone, this is usual procedure for those, who were in these territories and who had a contact with the infected bird and after pochustvoval light indisposition. In the center of virology Mary is completely isolated oi external peace. Scientists already analyzed, but their results are not thus far known.

The above online translation indicates a reporter covering the H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Novosibirsk has been placed in isolate after developing bird flu symptoms. Test results have not yet been made public.

Novosibirsk has a large number of villages with H5N1. The villages surround Chany Lake and at least nine independent isolates have been obtained by Vektor Labs. The initial sequence data indicates the H5N1 at Chany Lake is very similar to H5N1 from Qinghai Lake.

Third party reports by boxun described human cases near Qinghai Lake, but China has denied any human cases. Up to this point Russia has also denied human cases, as has Kazakhstan. However, In Kazakhstan a poultry worker in Pavlodar as well as a family of four that ate goose meat developed symptoms. Similarly, in adjacent East Kazakhstan, 15 patrons of a dining hall developed symptoms after eating chicken cutlets.

The Qinghai isolates have been virulent in experimental chickens and mice. The die-off of migratory birds at Qinghai Lake was also without precedent.

In Tomsk, adjacent to Novosibirsk, 20 patients have been hospitalize with meningitis. The H5N1 bird isolates from Chany Lake appear to have PB2 polymorphism, E627K, which is associated with increased virulence in mice and neurotropism in mice, tigers, and ferrets.

More information on the lab results on the reporter would be useful.

 

[Kim99]

Okay, which one do we believe?

Bird flu epidemic petering out in Russia
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=2312544&PageNum=0

12.08.2005, 13.18

MOSCOW, August 12 (Itar-Tass) - Russian veterinary authorities said the bird flu epidemic is petering out in the country, but regions continue to implement preventive measures.

In the Altai republic, selective shooting of fowl began to provide tissues for bird flu infection tests. The ban on imports of live poultry, hatching eggs, and poultry meat and products thereof from he neighboring Altai territory and the Novosibirsk region remains in force.

Altai Territory farmers culled more than 3,000 poultry, and another 2,000 poultry were killed by the bird flu virus. Veterinary service quarantined the villages of Glubokoye and Gonokhovo in the Zavyalovsky district, the village of Proslaukha, Bayevsky district, and the villages of Rassvet and Guselyotovo in the Romanovsky district.

Regional veterinary specialists said the infection had hit 35 households and one poultry farm in the Mamontovsky district.

Meanwhile, bird flu virus was identified in waterfowl on two lakes in the Kazansky district on the border with Kazakhstan.

Until Friday, the virus was only registered in the northern districts of Berdyuzhsky and Armizonsky, where 17,300 poultry were culled, a two-fold increase from the figure earlier named by epidemiologists as sufficient for containing the diseases.

Special warning signs were put up at the lakes. Poultry owners were urged to keep their birds confined within the household.




Bird flu hits Russia hard

Siberian farmers have been reduced to hiding chickens from veterinaries in forests

13:36 | 12/ 08/ 2005

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20050812/41143564.html

MOSCOW, August 12 (RIA Novosti) - Bird flu is spreading in Russia at a tremendous rate and Siberian farmers have been reduced to hiding chickens from veterinaries in forests, a leading business daily reported Friday.

Vedomosti wrote that the largest poultry holdings were not afraid for their businesses yet, but added that experts were certain that the virus had settled in Russia for a long time.

Since it appeared in July in the Novosibirsk region (Western Siberia), bird flu has spread to four other regions: the Altai Territory, and the Omsk, Tyumen and the Kurgan regions. The number of animals killed by bird flu doubled in the country on Wednesday and Thursday.

Investors were prepared for the spread of bird flu in Russia, Dmitry Pankratov, the executive director of the Prodo group, said. His concern owns the biggest poultry factories in the Omsk and Tyumen regions. He said hygienic measures would be able to stop the epidemic.

Albert Davleyev, a representative of the United States Poultry and Egg Export Council (Uspeec), said major producers could still protect themselves from bird flu. He added that the possibility that poultry factories might become infected had increased, as the virus could reach enterprises via vehicles making deliveries.

Dmitry Rylko, the director of the Current Agrarian Market Situation Institute, said it was time to introduce bans on the interregional poultry trade. He said he was convinced that "ordinary formal and bureaucratic measures" could not stop the virus.

A poultry factory representative said Siberian farmers did not want to part with their poultry. "They are hiding birds from vets in the forests, and are organizing improvised poultry-yards where the flu virus may remain for a long time," he said.
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[Kim99]

The Volga Delta runs to the Caspian Sea. Not good.


http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=64428

Lithuania steps ups measures against deadly bird flu

Published: 8/8/2005

VILNIUS - Lithuania's state veterinary service stepped up security measures against deadly bird flu, following outbreaks of the disease in neighbouring Russia, and Kazakhstan.

"We have sent special notes to all our bureaus in the regions and asked our specialists to notify private farmers about the potential threat," Vaidotas Kiudulas, head of the animal health department at the State Veterinary Service, told AFP.

"We now have reports that bird flu was found in the Volga delta, where huge migrations of birds take place," he added.

Russia officials confirmed on July 29 that the bird flu, found in the Siberian province of Novosibirsk, was the type which can be transmitted to humans and has killed at least 60 people in parts of Southeast Asia since 2003.

The European Union on Monday decided to ban imports of live birds and feathers from Russia and Kazakhstan following its ban on imports of birds, bird meat or products from nine Asian countries.

Kazakhstan carried out a cull after bird flu was found at a farm close to the Siberian border.

According to Kiudulas, private farmers were warned to ensure that their poultry and fowl do not have contact with wild birds.

Leonas Jazerskas, head of Ventes Ragas ornithology center, the largest such facility in Lithuania, said that it is not very likely that birds from Russia or Asia would fly into Lithuania.

"However, it is possible that infected birds from those regions meet birds from Lithuania in the places where they winter," Jazerskas said.

"So, if we speak about the threats, our main worry should be next spring," Jazerskas added.


08/08/2005 14:11

 

[Kim99]

From the State Dept.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Embassy Tashkent issued the following Warden Message on August 11, 2005:

AVIAN FLU FACT SHEET, AUGUST 2005

This Fact Sheet alerts Americans to the most recent occurrences of Influenza A H5N1 (avian influenza strain) in Asia. A number of countries are reporting cases of avian influenza, commonly referred to as "bird flu." The H5N1 strain of influenza causes severe disease in fowl. In addition, several SE Asian countries have reported a number of bird-to-human transmissions of the avian flu. Please visit the WHO website, http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avia...nza/country/en/ for the most up to date information on the countries affected.

The vast majority of the known human cases have resulted from direct contact with poultry, and there is only limited evidence to suggest possible human-to-human transmission. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Department are concerned about the potential for human-to- human transmission of this highly dangerous flu strain, and are working closely with other partners in an effort to monitor the outbreak.

At this time, CDC and the WHO have not issued any travel alerts or advisories for avian flu-infected areas. However, CDC advises travelers to countries in Asia with documented H5N1 outbreaks to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals. CDC advises travelers to clean their hands often with soap and water or waterless alcohol-based hand-rubs to help prevent disease transmission. In addition, as a precaution, all foods from poultry, including eggs, should be thoroughly cooked. CDC further advises any travelers with a febrile respiratory illness returning from countries affected by H5N1 virus (bird flu) to seek prompt medical attention.

The WHO does not at present conclude that any processed poultry products (whole refrigerated or frozen carcasses and products derived from these) or eggs pose a risk to public health.

A specific vaccine for humans that is effective against avian influenza has not yet been developed. Based upon limited data, the CDC has suggested that the anti-viral medication Oseltamavir (brand name-Tamiflu) may be effective in preventing or treating avian influenza. Using this input, the Department of State has decided to pre- position the drug Tamiflu at its Embassies and Consulates in the Southeast Asian Region for eligible US Government employees and their families serving abroad.

Tamiflu may not be readily available overseas and the State Department encourages American citizens traveling or living abroad that are interested in obtaining this medication to consult with their physician.

Americans who are planning travel to a country that has reported the virus or who are concerned about the Avian flu are advised to monitor the CDC and the WHO web sites, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm and http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/ for the latest information.

Additional country information can be obtained from the Department of State's Consular Information Sheets at http://travel.state.gov and from the Department of State's toll-free number, 1-888-407-4747, or if calling from overseas, 202-501-4444.

CDC Contact Information: Public Inquiries: English (888) 246-2675 Spanish (888) 246-2857 TTY (866) 874-2646 Mon-Fri 8am-11pm EST Sat-Sun 10am-8pm EST Address: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333 USA (404) 639-3311 WHO Liaison Office in Washington, DC STATE 00143372 002.2 OF 002 Contact Information: Telephone: (202) 331-9081 Facsimile: (202) 331-9097 Address: WHO Liaison Office 1775 K Street, N.W., Suite 430 Washington, D.C. 20006 USA.

 

[Anjou]

Journalist OF GTRK "Novosibirsk" Mary Pashkova, which several days ago visited those infected by ptichim influenza the regions of Novosibirskaya Oblast, it was hospitalized with simtomami of this illness to the state scientific center of virology and biotechnology the "vector", which is found near Novosibirsk in naukograde Kol'tsovo. As the correspondent reports IA REGNUM recently this communication was sounded in the news issue of television network..

This could be worrying, if the results don't come out negative. Because presumably she wouldn't have been around birds that long.