(If you want any of the links to open in a new window, hold down the shift key and then click on the link)
Summary from Indonesia Outbreak as at 6 November 2006
| Cases Discussed | Jun-06 | Jul-06 | Aug-06 | Sep-06 | Oct-06 | Nov-06 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Died, no tests | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 18 |
| Died, tested positive | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| Other tested positive | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Symptoms, tests pending | 4 | 2 | 46 | 38 | 33 | 3 | 126 |
| Tested negative | 0 | 6 | 26 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 59 |
| Totals | 10 | 14 | 81 | 64 | 51 | 3 | 223 |
Please visit these threads for latest information from these regions or to add news
| No | Region Name | No | Region Name | No | Region Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 8 | East Africa | 15 | Arab Peninsula |
| 2 | Canada, Greenland and the Arctic Circle | 9 | Southern Africa and Madagascar | 16 | Central Asia |
| 3 | Central America and Caribbean | 10 | Northwest Europe and British Isles | 17 | Southern Asia |
| 4 | South America and Surrounding Islands | 11 | West and Southwest Europe | 18 | Mainland East Asia and Japan |
| 5 | Northern Africa | 12 | Central and Southeast Europe | 19 | Southeast Asia |
| 6 | West Africa | 13 | Eastern Europe and Baltic Region | 20 | Australasia Melanesia and Micronesia |
| 7 | Central Africa | 14 | Middle East and Caucasus Region | 21 | Pacific Islands and Antarctic |
(Please see the thread Volunteers Needed as Lookouts Worldwide if you want to help)
Separate threads for India, Indonesia and Nepal – see links below
(From WHO as at 31 Oct - latest update) Total human cases worldwide 256, deaths 152 (2006 – 109 with 74 deaths)
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Nepal
Thailand
Uganda
United Kingdom
United States of America
General
Link to news thread for 6 November (link News Reports for November 6 )
(Usual disclaimer about may not have captured everything. Feel free to add your own where omissions have occurred.)
Please note that I copy the links directly from the thread so if they don’t work you may need to re-visit the Thread.
Bond to fund vaccine projects to launch Tuesday 06 Nov 2006 17:01:31 GMT Source: Reuters
LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - A bond to raise $1 billion for life-saving vaccines in the world’s poorest countries is due to be sold on Tuesday, heralding a potential step-change in the way rich countries use development budgets.
The offering is the first of its kind to tap the international capital markets for funding to fight preventable diseases like measles, polio and tetanus, which kill more than two million children a year in impoverished countries.
Folks Roche has a flu site called flufacts.com. I’m putting it into the tiny url because on the front page you can type in your zipcode and get your cases of reported flu plus a national flu bar as guideline. Disclaimer-I don’t work for them or own their stock (wish I did, actually). http://tinyurl.com/sdx8v
This is an article on Fever from New Scientist on November 5. I don’t remember seeing it, sorry if its a duplicate. The more info we have the better we make decisions at home. See article here: http://tinyurl.com/ye9mr7
Regarding the Horizon programme tonight - if you click on the poll to get the results it shows that 49% of people who voted think that AI is all media hype. The UK is going to be hit so hard if a pandemic comes and half the population think it’s up there with believing in fairies. I wonder if the programme will manage to change that percentage by much.
Just a tiny piece of news - Geneva - WHO
This morning, while sipping a coffee before getting in to work, I read in my local Geneva newspaper, “La Tribune de Genčve”, that Dr Margaret Chan was a favourite, having had 30 votes out of 34 in the first ballot. Not that it tells us anything for the final vote though.
We’re not ready for flu pandemic Survey of Hamilton County businesses, residents finds few have emergency plans BY PEGGY O’FARRELL | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER Most Hamilton County businesses, religious organizations and families are unprepared for pandemic influenza.
The majority also is unconvinced there’s much they can do to protect themselves if pandemic flu hits the region, according to a new survey by the Hamilton County General Health District.
Health officials and volunteers will use the survey results to craft an educational message on how to prepare for pandemic flu or another disaster, said health educator Susan Schaefer.
Although the survey focused on pandemic influenza, many steps discussed could be applied toward any emergency that could knock out power and other services for days at a time, she said.
“Individuals may not be able to rely on government agencies to provide some of the things they need. We’re really stressing that individuals need to take steps now to prepare their families in the event of an emergency,” Schaefer said.
Pandemic flu would occur if a new strain of flu strikes on a global basis. Health authorities worry because the public would not be immune to the flu strain and no vaccine would be immediately available.
The survey found that about a quarter of employers had a disaster plan in place or were in the process of drawing up a plan.
About two-thirds of the 300 Hamilton County residents surveyed expressed concern about pandemic influenza. Women, minorities and lower-income residents were most likely to be concerned about a pandemic.
Keith Koerner, facilities director for Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries, said too few employers in the region are prepared for pandemic flu and other disasters. He is working with the health district and other employers to help businesses become prepared.
Health officials estimate 40 percent of the work force would be unavailable during a pandemic, either because of illness or caregiving duties.
“We’ve sent out questionnaires to our managers and key employees, and we’re asking three main questions: If you’re out, who does your job? If the person who fills in for you is out, who does their job? And if you’re able to work but can’t come into the office, how can you accomplish your job?”
Goodwill Industries faces a special challenge because many of its 600-plus employees are disabled. The agency also tracks another 1,200 disabled adults employed around the region.
Among other preparations, Goodwill is buying hand sanitizer for employees to carry on their belts. It is also training van and bus drivers to recognize workers who might be sick with influenza, Koerner said.
Learn more about planning for emergencies at www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org.
Tuesday, November 7, 2006 Posted: 7-Nov-2006 20:42 hrs
“An Indonesian teenager who came in contact with sick poultry has died of suspected bird flu at a hospital in Central Java province.The 17-year-old, identified as Juwarto, “died yesterday (Monday), one day after he was admitted to the main hospital,” said Ningrum, an official at the national bird flu information center here Monday.
Samples were sent to a Jakarta laboratory to confirm whether the teen had bird flu, she said. Hartanto, director of Margono hospital where the suspected bird flu victim died, was quoted by the state Antara news agency as saying the victim was admitted to hospital with “high fever, difficulty of breathing, and other bird flu symptoms.”
“Juwarto’s family said that he had been in contact with sick birds one month before he fell sick on October 27,” said Ningrum.Positive results from two Indonesian laboratories mean that the World Health Organization includes the case in its records.”
Businesses Need Flu Plans, England’s Top Doctor Says
Nov. 7 (Bloomberg) — Businesses should prepare for a possible outbreak of pandemic flu by developing contingency plans to deal with the disruption that would result if the deadly H5N1 virus spreads, England’s top doctor said today.
Governments in some countries, including those with state- funded health systems such as the U.K., are coordinating national purchases of antiviral drugs and stockpiling vaccines, Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer for England, said in a telephone interview. The private sector needs plans in place to minimize the pandemic’s impact on business and commerce, he said.
A flu outbreak killing 70 million people worldwide may cause global economic damage of as much as $2 trillion, the World Bank estimated in June. Nine out of 10 managers said that losing 15 percent of their staff to illness or absence during the peak of a pandemic would moderately or severely disrupt their operations, according to a March survey conducted for the U.K. government.
`The economic consequences make the case for businesses becoming involved in preparedness, said Donaldson, who is also chair of the World Health Organization’s World Alliance for Patient Safety. `They need their own continuity plans.
<snip>
FrenchieGirl – at 05:45 Just a tiny piece of news - Geneva - WHO
This morning, while sipping a coffee before getting in to work, I read in my local Geneva newspaper, “La Tribune de Genčve”, that Dr Margaret Chan was a favourite, having had 30 votes out of 34 in the first ballot. Not that it tells us anything for the final vote though.
Local media in Hong Kong is reporting Shigeru Omi as one vote behind her in the first round.
Recombinomics Commentary November 7, 2006
“HA sequences from 8 human H5N1 isolates from Egypt were released today by the US Naval Medical Research Unit 3 in Cairo (see list here). These sequences were from the H5N1 outbreak in the spring. Previously, one human sequence from a mild case in the spring, as well as a fatal case who died this month have been released. The recent case has a change, M230I, near the receptor binding domain.
Changes in the receptor binding domain are of concern because of potential changes in binding to receptors on the surface of cells, which could affect transmission. One such change, S227N, was reported for human isolates from Hong Kong in 2003. This change increased the affinity for receptors found in the upper respiratory tract of humans, and decreased affinity for receptors found in birds.
Analysis of donor sequences in the Middle East identified donor sequences on H9N2, which is endemic to the Middle East. Dual infections involving Qinghai H5N1 and H9N2 endemic in the Middle East, could generate S227N via recombination. Therefore a warning was issued on October 22, 2005. At that time, no human H5N1 infections involving the Qinghai strain had been reported.
In January, human H5N1 cases were reported in Turkey and H5N1 isolated from the index case was the Qinghai strain with the S227N acquisition. Although S227N was not found in an isolate from the sister of the index case, it was found in a second human case from Turkey. Thus, of the four human sequences released from Turkey, two had the S227N change. WHO issued an update Febraury 20, 2006 indicating S227N had not been fixed in the Qinghai strain, but the number of human sequences released was limited to one case from Egypt, Iraq, and Djibouti. Subsequently the sequence from one human case from Azerbaijan was also released.
However, the culture conditions can influence the isolation of H5N1 with receptor binding domain changes that favor binding to mammalian cells, which may have led to the failure to detect S227N in the isolate from the sister of the index case. Similarly, the sequences of the receptor binding domain for most human cases in the Middle East have been withheld.
The release of eight sequences from Egyptians infected last spring has identified another Qinghai isolate, A/Egypt/2947/NAMRU3/2006 from the Middle East that has S227N. Thus, the number of H5N1 Qinghai isolates with S227N has risen to three, but the total number remains unknown because most sequences outside of Egypt have not been released. In Turkey 21 cases were H5N1 positive, but only 12 were confirmed by Weybridge and only four sequences from these 12 confirmed cases were released. Similarly, only one Azerbaijan sequence has been released and the role of culture conditions in the detection of S227N in the released sequences remains unclear.
Changes in the receptor binding domain can have significant effects of the ease of transmission from human to human. Sequences released from birds in southern China identify additional changes. An isolate from a duck from Shantou, A/goose/Shantou/2086/2006, has also changed position 227 from S-→R. Moreover, the same isolate has a novel cleavage site, QRERRKKR, and two additional changes in or near the receptor binding domain, K222R and V223I.
The above changes significantly increase the likelihood of H5N1 increasing the efficiency of human to human transmission without decreasing the high case fatality rate, which remain causes for concern.”
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
‘’‘US citizens in Hong Kong have been advised to build a three-month stockpile of food, medicine and water in their homes in case of a bird flu pandemic, a news report said Tuesday.An advisory has been sent out to all 60,000 registered US citizens in the former British colony urging them to prepare the stockpiles ahead of the coming winter flu season. It suggests stockpiling 4.5 litres of water per person per day and to prepare water purification equipment in case of ‘complete infrastructure breakdown’, the South China Morning Post reported.’‘’
The advisory also suggests they stock up on non-perishable foods, soap, alcohol-based hand wash, medicines, vitamins, flashlights and a portable radio, the newspaper said.
American Citizens Services Newsletter
Pandemic Influenza — Preparing for Possible Shelter-In-Place U.S. Consulate General for Hong Kong and Macau
November 3, 2006
The U.S. Department of State recently sent a cable to all diplomatic and consular posts entitled “Pandemic Influenza: Preparing for Possible Shelter-In-Place”. The cable’s main intent was to provide guidance to all staff regarding “shelter-in-place”. That is, in the event of severe pandemic influenza with high morbidity, the public may be advised to self-quarantine. Therefore, current guidance notes that families should be prepared to “shelter-in-place” for up to twelve weeks, and maintain sufficient food and water supplies to accommodate that entire period.
Just as in the United States, U.S. government employees and their families overseas have primary responsibility for maintaining adequate supplies of food to shelter-in-place. This also applies to private U.S. citizens. For the long term, families are advised to store foods that are non-perishable, do not require refrigeration, or preparation (including the use of water), or cooking. The cable also advises that families should store one gallon of water per person per day. <snip>
FACT SHEET: AVIAN INFLUENZA A (H5N1) and PANDEMIC INFLUENZA
This fact sheet alerts Americans to the Department of State’s preparedness efforts with respect to a possible influenza pandemic. The Department of State emphasizes that, in the event of a pandemic, its ability to assist Americans traveling and residing abroad may be severely limited by restrictions on local and international movement imposed for public health reasons, either by foreign governments and/or the United States. Furthermore, American citizens should take note that the Department of State cannot provide Americans traveling or living abroad with medications or supplies even in the event of a pandemic.
<snip> In addition, the Department of State has asked its embassies and consulates to consider preparedness measures that take into consideration the fact that travel into or out of a country may not be possible, safe, or medically advisable during a pandemic. Guidance on how private citizens can prepare to shelter in place, including stocking food, water, and medical supplies, is available at the www.pandemicflu.gov website. Embassy stocks cannot be made available to private American citizens abroad and we encourage people living in an area with outbreaks of H5N1 to prepare appropriately.
It is also likely that governments will respond to a pandemic by imposing public health measures that restrict domestic and international movement, further limiting the U.S. government’s ability to assist Americans in these countries. These measures can be implemented very quickly. Areas of known H5N1 outbreaks in poultry have been quarantined by governments within 24 hours, restricting (if not preventing) movement into and out of the affected area.
Americans who are planning travel to a country that has reported the virus or who are concerned about avian influenza are advised to monitor the DHHS/CDC and the WHO websites for the latest information. <snip>
News f
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The ivy-covered Fairmont Empress Hotel is seen in this May file photo in Victoria, Canada. Associated Press
Final candidates for world health’s top job are grilled
By ELIANE ENGELER Associated Press 2006–11–07 07:22 PM
The U.N.’s health agency grilled the final candidates for its top job on Tuesday, with two Asian candidates at the top of the list competing against each other. Spanish Health Minister Elena Salgado Mendez, the first to be interviewed by the 34-member Executive Board of the World Health Organization, said she was “satisfied” by the members’ interest in her candidacy, but did not want to disclose how the interview went.
“I’m always cautious,” she told reporters.
Delegates who had been inside the closed-door meeting said that they had expected Salgado to be quizzed about medicine because she is the only candidate without a medical degree, but that no such questions were asked. Salgado had reportedly been prepared for such questions.
The board will complete its interviews with the five candidates on the shortlist Tuesday. On Wednesday the panel will nominate a new director-general for approval by Thursday at a special session of the agency’s governing World Health Assembly, made up of all 193 member countries.
Mexico’s Health Minister Julio Frenk _ who ranked third in Monday’s voting with 30 ballots _ said he was confident.
“We’re not planning on losing,” he said. “I am confident, but as I say, every candidate is good.”
The race is tight, with WHO bird flu expert Margaret Chan from China holding a slight lead in Monday’s shortlist with 32 votes, followed by Shigeru Omi, a Japanese who heads WHO’s operations in the Western Pacific, with 31.
The fifth candidate is Kazem Behbehani, a senior WHO official from Kuwait who, like Salgado, collected 28 votes on Monday.
The contest for the United Nations’ top health job entered its final round on Monday, the start of a three-day meeting to nominate a new chief. The executive board began by narrowing the roster of 11 nominees down to five.
Anders Nordstrom, who took over as director-general temporarily after Lee Jong-wook died in May, said there is no formal regional rotation for the leadership position.
The United States, a member of the WHO executive board, has not expressed a preference for any of the candidates.
Observers say Hong Kong native Chan, who was the WHO’s top official for pandemic influenza as well as the assistant director-general for communicable diseases, has the backing of China and other Asian countries, but her chances could be limited because Ban Ki-Moon of South Korea will be the new U.N. secretary-general. A long-standing U.N. tradition holds that the top posts at different agencies are geographically divided.
Omi, a WHO insider with 16 years’ experience at the organization’s Asia office, faces the same handicap but could get votes from countries keen to keep China’s influence in the United Nations in check.
Mexico’s Frenk is the only candidate from the Americas after Ecuadorean president Alfredo Palacio Gonzalez dropped out of the running last week. The minister is credited with revamping the country’s health system by introducing an insurance system for the poor.
Lee took over as director-general of WHO in 2003 as the agency was winding up its battle against the worldwide SARS outbreak. The South Korean died of a brain hemorrhage, aged 61.
From taiwan on the d.g. elections.http://tinyurl.com/w33y9
NEWS
Killer pandemic “going to happen”
World must prepare for the worst, expert warns
[snip]
On the web here
NEWS
Interfax- (Russia) - “The domestic birds that died in the village of Salyn-Tugtun, Kalmykia, in October were infected with fowl cholera, a district administration source told Interfax on Tuesday.
The results of examinations carried out by the Pyatigorsk branch of Stavropol’s veterinary laboratory revealed that “the dead birds were not infected with avian flu. Their deaths were caused by fowl cholera,” he said.
Fifty-one domestic birds were found dead at four private farms in Salyn-Tugtun. The poultry had been vaccinated against bird flu, a spokesman for the Emergency Situations Ministry’s southern department said…”
link
NEWS
Insurance Journal (USA)- “ The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) is filing a new “virus or bacteria” exclusion designed to exclude losses that arise from organisms that can cause disease…..including, but not limited to, SARS, rotavirus, listeria, legionella, and anthrax.
Specifically, the endorsement states that coverage is excluded for loss, cost, or expense caused by, resulting from, or relating to any virus, bacterium, or other microorganism that causes or is capable of causing disease, illness, or physical distress.
In addition, the exclusion explicitly applies to any loss, cost or expense arising from denial of access to property because of any virus, bacterium, or other microorganism.
The virus or bacteria exclusion also states that, with respect to disease-causing agents, it supersedes the terms of any other exclusions, such as those addressing pollutants and contamination, and coverage limitations, including those addressing fungus and related perils.
“Property policies were never intended to a source of recovery for losses arising from organisms that cause disease,” says Alma Gordon-Smith, AAIS director of inland marine and one of the developers of the virus and bacteria exclusion.
“With the possibility of a pandemic, there is concern over potential efforts to create an avenue for loss payment where none was originally intended….”
link
PARIS (Reuters) - “France said on Tuesday it had classified the risk of its domestic poultry flock catching bird flu from migratory wildfowl as negligible.
With the northern hemisphere’s autumn migration of birds toward warmer wintering grounds almost over, top officials said there was no need to change its bird flu alert rating…”
…”The country is currently on the second lowest level, negligible 2, which assumes there may be possible cases in areas from where migrating birds start their journeys south but that the disease has not been detected in migrating birds themselves.
Under the system, poultry would be confined, and only then in those areas designated at risk, if the alert level moved up to four, with H5N1 detected in migrating birds crossing France…”
link
ANKARA (AFP) - “The United States extended two grants totaling 1.325 million dollars (1.04 million euros) to Turkey to help it prepare for a possible bird flu epidemic, the US embassy here said…”
…”The first grant of one million dollars will focus on raising public awareness and developing safer poultry farming practices in the rural east, where backyard breeding is common, the statement said.
The remaining funds will go to the Turkish health ministry to enhance its laboratory capacity, it said.”
link
The Hindu(India)- “ GAITHERSBURG: One day, vaccinations could be as simple as sticking on a bandage. Early tests of skin-patch vaccines are beginning in hundreds of volunteers, one version designed to protect against the flu and another to prevent travellers’ diarrhoea.
The idea is not just pain-free vaccination. The National Institutes of Health is helping fund patch research in hopes of strengthening imperfect flu shots, and gaining extra help if bird flu or some other super-flu ever triggers a pandemic.
Indeed, patch developer Iomai proposes that the mailman, not a doctor, deliver flu vaccine during a pandemic. Once a vaccine is brewed, simply ship patches to people’s homes with instructions to slap one on.
Doctors might not like the go-it-alone method. But the technology’s main promise may be in developing countries. Unlike syringe-based vaccines, patches would not need refrigeration — nor pose the infection risk of reused needles, a continuing problem.
Only time will tell if the patches work. Iomai is in initial stages of human testing, and years of work is required for proof. But previous research does suggest the skin could provide an improved route to energise the immune system, perhaps allowing doctors to use lower doses…”
more
BOSTON, Nov. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ — “The American Public Health Association (APHA) today voted to adopt new policy that supports comprehensive national planning for an influenza pandemic and recommends key changes to the current response strategy, including ensuring care for vulnerable populations.
The resolution asserts that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), not the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), should be the lead federal agency on issues related to domestic preparedness for and response to pandemic influenza, and HHS should have wide authority to plan for a national response to annual flu epidemics….”
…” APHA’s policy also recommends:
— Increasing funding for states, localities, hospitals and public health labs to expand their capacity to respond to pandemic flu;
— Increasing investment in the public health work force, so there are enough employees necessary to serve on the frontlines in preparing for and responding to a pandemic and annual seasonal epidemics;
— Creating emergency Medicaid coverage to ensure that uninsured Americans will receive appropriate countermeasures and care in the event of pandemic flu;
— Creating guidelines for the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions, including handwashing, “snow days,” isolation and quarantine;
— Creating new methods to purchase, distribute and track vaccines and antivirals; and
— Incorporating occupational and mental health issues in pandemic planning and response efforts….”
more
MaMa at 14:27
COMMENT
I was wondering how long it was going to take for the insurance companies to exclude death in a pandemic. Now I know.
Snowhound1- you said it!
MaMa – at 14:27 NEWS
Insurance Journal (USA)- “ The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) is filing a new “virus or bacteria” exclusion designed to exclude losses that arise from organisms that can cause disease….. ________________________________
COMMENT
That just goes to show, we will have nothing in the way of help. Not from our government, not from our insurance policies, and not from our health care industry. There will be no vaccine, no medicine, no food, and no services. But you will still have to go to work and pay your bills! Prep, that is the only thing that will save you!!!
National Health Service (England)
The NHS has issued updated guidelines concerning the approach and impact of an Avian Flu Pandemic. World Health Organisation and NHS officials have reviewed the current guidance and produced a simplified guide to the issues and the potential effects.
- excerpt
How can I reduce my risk and protect myself and my family?
Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
(PDF file) http://tinyurl.com/yhy3tt
Snowhound1 – at 14:56 I was wondering how long it was going to take for the insurance companies to exclude death in a pandemic.
Note, however, that an important phrase was deleted from the quote:
“The exclusion, now being filed countrywide under AAIS commercial lines and farm insurance programs”
The policies involved are not health insurance policies, life insurance policies, or AD&D policies; they are commercial (property) policies and farm insurance policies.
anonymous – at 15:26 COMMENT . . . There will be no vaccine, no medicine, no food, and no services. But you will still have to go to work and pay your bills!
Actually many of us will be out of work because the schools where we teach or the shops where we work are closed by order or lack of business. So no vaccine, no medicine, no food, no services, and no income, but you’re right, we’ll still have to pay our bills somehow.
Thanks for pointing out that important point…I’ll just stick with my original quesiton then..
I was wondering how long it was going to take for the insurance companies to exclude death in a pandemic?
I wonder how long it will take for similar exclusions being made by life insurance companies? They will have to do it at some point, because if there is a moderate pandemic it will put them all out of business, IMO
I guess though if your business is insured against losses, you will be totally out of luck if you have to shut your doors during a pandemic…Is that they way you read it?
I doubt very much the insurance companies would/will be able to pay all the claims on health and life policies resulting from a pandemic. They will seek protection or simply go under. Their pockets, while deep, are not inexhaustible.
Snowhound1 – at 14:56
If you read the whole article, they are talking about “property” insurance for farmers and businesses. Says nothing about excluding coverage for death benefits. It looks like they would exclude coverage for such things as losses associated with culling and quaranteens of farms and businesses.
Your life insurance is a contract. According to this CIDRAP report, “Since the industry includes some companies that are financially very strong with conservative balance sheets and others that are weaker with less conservative balance sheets, it is easy to imagine that there could be some weaker companies that would struggle even if the industry as a whole had adequate resources. The financially weakest Companies probably would not survive a severe pandemic, but these are generally small companies, with relatively few people insured. They would be taken over by their home state’s insurance department, which would assess other insurers operating in that state to make up any money needed to pay claims.”
According to the report, from the 1980 pandemic, “No beneficiary of a single policyholder had been compelled by any legal reservelife insurance company to wait a single day for payment beyond the ecessary time for filing proof of death.”
Here’s the link: http://tinyurl.com/y32woz
oops, typo, should have read 1918 pandemic, sorry.
UN agency unveils web portal to help tourism industry respond to disasters
7 November 2006 – Expanding its effort to help international tourism respond to natural or man-made disasters, a United Nations agency has unveiled a new Internet portal in collaboration with Microsoft that will eventually provide round-the-clock tracking of emergencies such as bird flu or conflict from the travel perspective.
“Our goal is to serve the industry and eventually tourists themselves with this new tool which has been made possible through the close working relationship with Microsoft,” UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Assistant Secretary General Geoffrey Lipman said of the BETA site at a ceremony at the World Travel Market in London yesterday.
“In the coming months we will seek expanded industry input as we move from a BETA to a live system” which will provide continuous tracking of major emergencies from a tourism perspective, he added.
Initial action is related to bird flu where the information and response system has been focused for the past year. It will house the Tourism Emergency Response Network, a loose grouping of global, regional and national industry organizations collaborating to exchange information and develop public messages in relation to a potential flu pandemic.
UNWTO first announced its collaboration with Microsoft, the world’s largest software company, in June at the Global Leaders Forum for Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, with two immediate projects. The first, called “Windows on Africa,” showcases the continent in a globally competitive way and ultimately aims to provide real-time advice via mobile devices with destination specific data.
The second, supporting UNWTO’s Emergency Response System, collates information on catastrophes affecting tourism, providing a framework for improved industry response by bringing together public and sector-specific data and incorporating tools for information sharing and improved messaging. It is this initiative that the BETA site enhances.
It will help tourism destinations and stakeholders to respond more rapidly and effectively in emergencies and help recovery programmes. [ more at http://tinyurl.com/y6qkrw ]
Gov’t to continue implementing precautionary measures
By Hana Namroqa (link http://tinyurl.com/yecdkk )
AMMAN — Although Jordan was declared free of bird flu in April, Minister of Health Saeed Darwazeh said the government would continue to implement precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the population.
Addressing the opening of a workshop earlier this week to acquaint medics from different hospitals with ways to deal with a possible outbreak of avian influenza, <snip> … since neither the timing nor the severity of a pandemic can be predicted, but the probability that it will occur exists.
<snip>
The national plan includes providing hospitals and medics with guidelines defining H5N1 and also lists hospitals identified by the Ministry of Health as capable of dealing with bird flu virus as well as providing phone numbers of officials at the disease control directorate to be contacted if a case is identified.
Ali Saad, director of the Ajloun health department, reviewed with the participants measures taken after the detection of Jordan’s first case of bird flu in March this year in Kufranjeh, Ajloun. “After confirming the discovery, teams from the ministries of health, agriculture, municipal affairs and the Public Security Department began culling birds within a six-kilometre radius of Kufranjeh and vaccinating birds within a 10-kilometre radius of the village,” Saad told the workshop. The discovery of the virus in four turkeys prompted a huge cull affecting over 50,000 homebred birds.
In April this year, Jordan reported the first human case of bird flu — an Egyptian labourer who contracted the virus in his home in the Fayoum Province, southwest of Cairo, before entering the country. He was treated for the virus in Karak Public Hospital and later discharged after making a full recovery.
WHO representative in Jordan Hashem Al Zein said the world had entered the third phase of bird flu infection, “where the virus is transmitted from animals to human beings.”
(USA) Health Districts Urge People To Prepare For Flu
Reported by: Jenell Walton Web produced by: Candice Terrell Photographed by: 9News First posted: 11/7/2006 4:49:41 PM
Imagine grocery stores and other businesses shutting down because they don’t have enough employees.
That can give you can an idea of how a pandemic can effect your lifestyle. There is no pandemic influenza right now, but the Hamilton County General Health District is still encouraging residents to prepare for the worse.
“The thing we want to get across to people is that it’s not a question of why prepare, it’s why not.”
A survey headed by the district’s health educator, Sharon Shaefer, reveals most people don’t even know what supplies they’ll need to prepare for a disaster. Patrick Hennessy said, “I would say there’s really no way to prepare for it cause you never know when it’s going to strike. I would hope to be prepared.” Varonica Freeman said, “I keep bottled water anyway, so I would look into it because I’m in the medical field so I’d definitely look into it.”
Items on the list include bottled water, non-perishable items, sanitizing wipes along with a first aid kit. Things you may not be able to buy if the grocery stores close because employees are too sick to come to work.
So it’s best to stock up, and you can do it over time.
<snip> .. companies need to prepare for any kind of disaster. “What would happen if I were not able to come to work? Who would do my job if the person who’s supposed to cover me were not there? How do people get paid?” The health district offers a class for area businesses.
(Link http://tinyurl.com/yfzcw2 )
NEWS
mytelus- (CBC Canada)) - “Quebec public health officials launched an expanded flu vaccine campaign Monday that they say is a dry run for coping with a possible pandemic in the future.
Health clinics across the province are offering free flu shots to people aged 60 and older, children under two, and others who live with them…”
…”Last year’s vaccination blitz was a good lesson for the clinic, she said. “During the first weekend with the mass campaign, we reached 160 people per hour, in two centres,” which amounted to about 1,200 vaccinations a day, Tremblay said.
That vaccination rate is important for health officials as they perfect their emergency plan in case of a pandemic outbreak…”
…”Officials are using the campaign to remind the public about the importance of proper hygiene during the flu season.
Frequent handwashing reduces the transmission of germs and can help contain the spread of the flu virus.”
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Comment
regarding the insurance article posted earlier today. They’ve decided property won’t be covered for losses due to a virus or bacteria. I wonder how far that goes…for example if your pipes burst due to loss of power, does that count? How about looting and vandalism? How about a house fire? Does that mean that no damage to your property will be covered for the duration of a pandemic?
MaMa – at 19:29 This is a specific insurer that writes primarily for farmers. If your homeowner’s insurance would decide to exclude losses for certain things, they’d seen you notice that would become part of your policy. Then if you wanted to insure against the risk, you could probably purchase a rider - kinda like earthquake and flood insurance. However, I don’t know how many policies cover for riots, etc. You should discuss your specific concerns with your insurance agent and make sure you are adequately covered. It’s a good idea to do an insurance checkup annually anyway, both for your home, car, life, etc.
By the way, if your power goes off, you need to drain your pipes. With regard to house fire, make sure you’re covered if you are using a woodburner, alternative kerosene or propane heat, etc. I encourage people to actually read your policy and make sure you understand it. Different companies have different exclusions.
Mama: while most current policies don’t specifically cover those issues due to panflu, you can bet the’d try to classify them under “natural disaster” or other similar category. Insurance company’s performance with Katrina victims demonstrates their innate ability to slime all the way to the bank.
Note re: insurance. Almost all insurance companies are “reinsured” against catastrophes. There are specialty insurance companies that do nothing but issue reinsurance policies. Often with $1,000,000 or $10,000,000 deductibles, they are designed to protect the primary insurance companies from bankruptcy under the kind of conditions we are discussing here. For crop insurance, the reinsurer is the United States Government (Federal Crop Insurance Corporation — FCIC). To offer crop insurance, the primary companies’ policies must follow very strict federal guidelines. Those policies won’t be including or excluding anything not approved by the FCIC.
tjclaw1 and lauraB, thank you both. It’s just curiosity for now as I live in Canada and I haven’t heard about insurance changes here(yet). With the burst pipes, yes you should drain them of course, I was thinking more of businesses, or other than primary residences, or if you are stranded somewhere when a quarantine is enacted and disruption of service and draining the pipes are something you just can’t do anything about. The best bet, as you said is to check the fine print on your policy and take what precautions you can.
It makes sense if they’re talking primarily farms- with chickens(pigs?, ?) susceptible to H5N1.
I wouldn’t count on any insurance if things get really bad anyway.
Dennis in Colorado – at 21:51 Good points. Also, the insurance industry is heavily regulated by the States. They are required to set up reserves to cover anticipated claims and I would think in light of a potential pandemic, they may be increasing their reserves. Their profits may be hurt for a few years, and their shareholders may not get dividends, but I think most insurance companies will survive. Plus, insurance rates are adjusted for risk. Bear in mind that insurance is a contract and you’ve paid for the coverage. Not like investing in the stock market or bonds where your investment is always at risk.IMO, life insurance is one of the better investments you can make at this point to protect your family in the event of a pandemic. Obviously, it depends on your personal circumstances.
Dennis in Colorado, thank you for the info. I didn’t see your post the first time- that’s what you get for starting your post, walking away for a bit and then finishing without refreshing:-)
NEWS
ChinaView- “ HANOI, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) — Vietnam is expected to import 500 million doses of bird flu vaccines to be used among poultry in the2007–2008 period, according to local newspaper Vietnam Economic Times on Wednesday.
Vietnam, which has completed this year’s first batch of bird flu vaccination among fowls nationwide, plans to finish the second batch by late this month. In the second batch, Vietnam has vaccinated 119 million fowls in 59 cities and provinces nationwide…”
…”Vietnam, to prevent reoccurrence of bird flu outbreaks, is intensifying fights against fowl smuggling, and monitoring poultry transport and trade…”
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NEWS
The Jakarta Post (Indonesia)- “Indonesia will focus on pursuing education opportunities in the United States for its citizens and curbing the spread of bird flu when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meets President George W. Bush later this month.
The two leaders will discuss the issues with five Indonesian figures that are experts in the two fields, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Tuesday…”
…”the five experts to be invited to the meeting were still being selected.
While it was not clear if Indonesia would seek financial aid from the U.S. to combat bird flu, Dino said the disease would be a key topic for both leaders…”
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I am about to start the News Summary so you might like to hold your post for about 30 minutes or so when a new thread for today will be available
Cheers and thanks
will close due to Forum speed. Restart a new thread if needed.