link to News Summary for November 24 and News Reports for November 25 here
link to previous day’s News Reports
From Wikipedia
“Peramivir is a pharmaceutical drug used to viral infections. Like zanamivir and oseltamivir, peramivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor, acting as a transition-state analogue inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase and thereby preventing new viruses from emerging from infected cells.
Experimental data indicate that peramivir may have useful activity against many viruses of interest, including H5N1 (avian bird flu) , hepatitis B, polio, measles and smallpox.
“Dr. Frederick Heyden of the University of Virginia recently presented unpublished data suggesting that peramivir may have the potential for use as single dose parenteral treatment or prophylaxis for influenza (Infectious Diseases Society of America Annual Meeting, San Francisco, October 6–9, 2005). In a talk on the use of antiviral drugs in the setting of an influenza pandemic, Dr. Heydan presented unpublished animal data that suggests that, due to its very long half life, peramivir, an investigational neuraminaidase inhibitor drug, maintains its anti-influenza activity for as long as 10 days following a single intravenous dose.”
“BioCryst’s CEO, Charles Bugg, was quoted in the New York Times as saying that peramivir is much easier and cheaper to produce than Tamiflu and that 8 million doses could be produced quickly. In 6–9 months production could be scaled up to 10 million doses per month.”
This study is no longer recruiting patients.
Sponsored by:National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Information provided by: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00297050
Purpose
This study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of peramivir, a new drug to treat influenza. The study will administer gradually increasing doses of the drug in successive small groups of subjects to determine the optimal dose that is safe and well tolerated. It will be studied first at a single dose and then in multiple doses. The study will also determine how long peramivir stays in the body and how high the drug levels are in the blood.
Men and women 18 - 40 years of age who weigh at least 110 lbs. and have a body mass index (BMI) between 19 and 32 may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram (EKG), and blood and urine tests.
The primary purpose of this protocol is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of intravenous peramivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor. Beginning with a low single-dose, the safety and tolerability is established by evaluating symptoms, clinical laboratory tests, ECG, and pharmacokinetics.
Expected Total Enrollment: 100 Study start: February 2006 Last follow-up: November 2006; Data entry closure: November 2006
The Associated Press Published: November 25, 2006
SEOUL, South Korea: “An outbreak of bird flu at a South Korean chicken farm was caused by the virulent H5N1 virus, a health official said Saturday. “It was confirmed as the H5N1 strain but we need more tests to identify whether it is low pathogenic or highly pathogenic,” said Kim Jae-hong, a senior researcher at the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service.
The results of lab tests to determine the strain’s pathology were expected to be announced later Saturday, officials said.
The outbreak occurred at a chicken farm in Iksan, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Seoul, earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of 6,700 chickens. Quarantine officials were slaughtering an additional 6,300 chickens to prevent the virus from spreading.”
excerpt
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Fox News
SEOUL, South Korea — “South Korean quarantine officials will slaughter 236,000 poultry after an outbreak of the virulent H5N1 form of bird flu at a chicken farm, the agriculture ministry said Saturday.”
Nov 25/06 (software translation)
“Government workers at the farm located about 230 kilometers south of Seoul …. two dogs have been destroyed to prevent the possible spread of the avian virus. It is the first time that dogs have been culled as a result of a bird flu outbreak. ”
excerpt
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11250601/H5N1_Korea_Dogs.html Dogs Culled In Likely H5N1 Infections On South Korean Farm Recombinomics Commentary November 25 2006
Government workers at the farm located about 230 kilometers south of Seoul said 6,000 chickens and two dogs have been destroyed to prevent the possible spread of the avian virus. It is the first time that dogs have been culled as a result of a bird flu outbreak.
The above description of the culling of dogs in Korea, virtually confirms the H5N1 serotype in the large outbreak described above. It is not clear if the dogs tested positive for H5N1, or were culled as a precaution.
H5N1 was isolated from a dog in Thailand in 2004, but there have been isolates of Qinghai H5N1 from several mammals in Europe, and it is likely that the bird flu in South Korea is the H5N1 Qinghai strain.
Media sources
South Korea
Bird flu was found at a second farm, about 160km from the first farm with BF. An article in Chosun Ilbo 11/24 said chickens were being culled on 204 farms in a 10km radius from the first farm. That area includes 2 major producers which account for 30–40% of the market.
I’m away from home and don’t know this computer, so haven’t been able to check my usual list of English-language newspapers, or to copy the links.
Ivory Coast
Bird flu has been found in 2 turkeys in the Ivory Coast. People nearby are being watched for symptoms. Source: RSOE hazards map. Date 11/24
UK
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/newsfeed/?name=Bird%20Flu Junk medicine: pandemic flu Mark Henderson
Take risks to save lives
The H5N1 bird flu virus is changing. It emerged last week that it has acquired two mutations that suit it better to infecting human cells. It has not triggered a pandemic yet, and may never do, but these are the sort of developments we would see if the worst- case scenario were unfolding.
November 25, 2006 1:59 p.m. EST
‘’‘Seoul, South Korea (AHN) - “An outbreak of bird flu a mere 100 miles south of Seoul was the virulent H5N1 bird flu virus that can kill humans. The affected area is along a path for migratory birds.”
Thinlina – at 12:49 wrote:
Thinlina carefull. Remember rule #11 (Unit #731).
Jane – at 13:42 wrote”
Ivory Coast Bird flu has been found in 2 turkeys in the Ivory Coast.
Jane do you have a URL for the African turkey? Merci.
Klatu – at 15:28
What is rule #11 (Unit #731)?
I’m sorry, anyways! :)
Probably something to do with copyrights?
What’s rule 11? Just out of curosity.
cottontop – at 15:38
What’s rule #11? Just out of curosity.
Curiosity killed the cat.
“”“Bird flu fears to fly in with cranes’‘’
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. In any given spring, motorists pull over along Interstate 80 to gawk at the 500-thousand or so sandhill cranes that stop along the Platte River in Nebraska on their way to Canada, Alaska and Siberia.
But some fear than when the birds return again next year, they could bring an unwelcome guest — bird flu. Mark Vrtiska, waterfowl program manager with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, says all states are concerned about this disease, but Nebraska is trying to keep a “cool head about the situation.”
Vrtiska is the author of Nebraska’s plan to observe migratory birds that could carry bird flu into the state
Rule 11, o.k. read that.
What did she do that needs a warning?
FYI No one has ever been banned about something that remotely resembles what Thinlina has posted.
We would prefer that you don’t post full reports from any site for copyright reasons, but that’s not a reason for banning.
Anon_22-
Thanks for clearing that up. So, just a few sentences, and a link, right?
Anon_22-
Thanks for clearing that up. So, just a few sentences, and a link, right?
Clear as mud.
Klatu – at 17:38
If you are not clear about anything, please ask. If you are clear about something and want to enlighten others, please specify.
Answers to your questions were erased by Pogge recently. Should I post what was erased?
Where is Tom DVM? When you lost Tom, you tossed out the baby with the bath water.
Comments anyone?
“Down the telegraph wire would come the most incredible stories. “ 1918 Pandemic
anon_22
I’m waiting. Got the gonads to respond truthfully?
Gwinnett Daily Post
Currently only affecting foul
KimT – at 14:49 wrote”
UK
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/newsfeed/?name=Bird%20Flu Junk medicine: pandemic flu Mark Henderson
Take risks to save lives
Take risks to save lives. That is why I’m here.
Jane forget my question, thanks for the posting - I have the answer and post, at my own peril.
November 25 2006
“Ivory Coast declared a new outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu on Thursday, the first in the West African country since it was first detected there in April.”
Two turkeys from a flock of 20 were found dead on Nov. 9 in Abatta, a lagoon-side village on the outskirts of the economic capital Abidjan. Around eight more died over the next few days, a government veterinary official said.”
November 24 2006 13:53 WIB
(Software Translation from Indonesia)
Padang — MIOL:” The Strong Condition, casualties suspect bird flu that was treated in the regional Public Hospital (RSUD) M. Djamil, Padang, West Sumatra (West Sumatra), began to improve.
The temperature of the body 10 months from Nagari (the village) the Dareh River, the Island Subdistrict of the Pergola, the Dharmasraya Regency, that has been normal. However he continued to use the infusion and still made use of the hose to eat.
According to the Head of the Medical Service Field RSUD M. Djamil Padang Irayanti, setalah was done twice the blood test in RS Sulianti Saroso, Jakarta, results of bird flu of the negative.
“We were still dripping blood one time more to ascertain his status.”
On Friday (24/11) samples of his blood have been sent to Jakarta, said he, on Friday.
As for from results x-rayed, Strong was stated suffered the Bronco illness pnomoni or the infection of the lungs. At this time he was still being treated in the IRNA C room the III floor, special isolation space suspect bird flu.
Whereas two patients suspect other bird flu that was treated in this hospital that is Superior Eka the son, 11, the citizen of the Island of the Pergola, Dharmasraya, and Muhammad Ripandi, 3, the citizen Kamang Just, the Sawahlunto Sijunjung Regency, has been returned because both of them the bird flu negative.
In the meantime, to combat the virus avian influenza that spread in Dharmasraya, the local government from Saturday (25/11) sprayed disinfectant in livestock breeding belonging to the citizen in a mass fashion for a week.
Apart from spraying disinfectant, the government also supervised the area of the border to monitor the poultry and the model product that entered and went out this territory.”
“Do you ever wonder if the information handed down by the healthcare agencies in the United States is giving us the real truth? I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, because I think it is very easy to get carried away with that kind of thinking, but as the old saying goes, “Even paranoid people have enemies.” Trust in the institutions that give us the official news has diminished. American citizens wonder if they are receiving the truth or some distorted and white-washed version of it.
Because of that, FluWiki has evolved. Interestingly enough, many of the writers on FluWiki are the same officials that we question. They receive funding through federal grants to continue their research into this flu crisis. But that means, if they take a stand that differs from the federal government’s stand, they may lose their funding.” - excerpt
http://www.flupatrol.com/2006/03/02/fluwiki-source-of-information/
hmmm…..
re: Klatu – at 18:50
Here’s the rest of that article:
Tough spot to be in - to suspect you know the truth and be unable to express it! But these experts are talking freely and there is a way to hear what they have to say.
FluWiki evolved out of this problem. It is run by Melanie Mattson, a writer in her early 50’s that specializes in communications. Singlehandedly, she has created a site that gives the public the information they need and maintains the confidentiality the authors request. Although some of the material, and it is a fraction of the total amount of content, can be viewed with a raised eyebrow, the bulk of the site has valid and accurate information for readers.
CNN recently covered the story of FluWiki and Melanie Mattson. It is an interesting story. She is performing a public service that is invaluable to the average person who wants to understand what is going on and what their response to it, should be. Bookmark this site - it is a valuable source for those concerned about avian and/or pandemic flu.
Unfortunately the link to the CNN story about Melanie appears to be broken
Klatu – at 18:50
Don’t get it. You call that news?
The link you provided got me to a site with advertising on the right side bar to places like justmakemoneyoneline.com
It might even be a phishing site.
Belgrade got the same 2 to 12 week shelter-in-place warning as Hong Kong and Tunesia
scariest e-mail ever So, I am on the Belgrade US Embassy’s e-mail list. When I get a message from them, it is never good news: “stay away from rallies… or certain splavovi.”
Officials are treating the public in ways that mushroom farmers would find very familiar.
Some agencies don’t realize some of the public knows how to use “the internets” and “the Google” to listen to ethical scientists and others in “the reality-based community”.
Spin “the wardrobe on order” as much as they want; if the public starts to pay attention, they will see the Emperor has no pandemic preparedness clothes. Should have been a grass-roots effort from the start; households and communities need to become more sustainable. Our way of life better be negotiable.
Not today’s date, sorry if a repeat; Nov.22 JOWHAR, Somalia, (Reuters) - Dozens of dead birds in a flood ravaged village in Somalia have raised fears of an avian flu outbreak in a country with limited health facilities, officials said on Wednesday.
The carcasses of the dead birds, which were thought to be ducks, were found in Elbaraf, 55 km (34 miles) north of the town of Jowhar, local veterinarian Ali Hamud told Reuters.
“We burnt 51 carcasses,” Hamud said.”…”Hamud said most of the birds found had tags around their feet and necks indicating they had been come via the “Orient Institute” in Zagreb, Croatia.
Somalia is already battling floods that have submerged villages and farmland and washed away bridges and food stocks.
“We don’t have the capacity to test the birds here for bird flu or other diseases. Floods are already ravaging villages here and the last thing we want is an epidemic,” Hamud said.
Resident Nur Jimale said the birds were spotted 10 days ago in flocks of hundreds.
“We fear the unusual birds have brought diseases with them. I just saw their carcasses lying everywhere yesterday. I have never seen such birds in Somalia,” he said.”…
“Natural causes”…”Dr. Mohamed Ali Hamud, a health official with SASPA, theorized that the birds escaped from Croatia’s Orient Institue but died after they failed to adapt to the weather in Somalia, worsened by heavy rains in parts of Lower Shabelle region in recent weeks.
Furthermore, Dr. Hamud categorically dismissed concerns that the birds carried a deadly brand of the avian flu that has reportedly killed more than 150 people globally.
Out of a total of 52 such birds in the area, 51 carcasses were burned in El-Baraf village.”
New York Times
Published: November 26, 2006
Because detecting Avian flu with standard tests is so difficult and time-consuming, waiting for laboratory confirmation of an outbreak would cause dangerous treatment delays, according to new studies of two flu outbreaks.
The studies, published Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine, were of family clusters of flu cases in Turkey and Indonesia.
Rapid tests on nose and throat swabs failed every time, and in Turkey, so did all follow-up tests known as Elisas. The only tests that consistently worked were polymerase chain reaction tests, or PCRs, which can be done only in advanced laboratories and take several hours.
“It’ll be a disaster if we have to use PCRs for everybody,” said Dr. Anne Moscona, a professor of pediatrics and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College. “It just isn’t available at a whole lot of places.”
If the A(H5N1) flu mutates into a pandemic strain, rapid tests “will be really key,” she said.
The studies followed clusters in three families in Indonesia in 2005 and in what appears to have been one extended family near Dogubayazit, in eastern Turkey, in January. Case clusters particularly worry public health authorities because they raise the possibility that the flu is mutating to spread faster between people.” -excerpt
crfullmoon – at 19:32 wrote:
Officials are treating the public in ways that mushroom farmers would find very familiar
Some agencies don’t realize some of the public knows how to use “the internets” and “the Google” to listen to ethical scientists and others in “the reality-based community”.
Give crfullmoon a cigar!
Not sure where this should go-the nepal thread has been closed.
Seven die of mystery disease in Nepal
Seven persons have died of a mysterious disease in Solukhumbu district of Nepal over the last two days.
The disease characterised with a high fever and loss of mental balance ultimately results in death.
People from all age groups from infants to old people have been victims of the disease.(please google title for more info)
witness – at 21:30 found it - sounds nasty. :(
Seven die of mystery disease in Nepal [ 25 Nov, 2006 1207hrs ISTPTI ]
KATHMANDU: Seven persons have died of a mysterious disease in Solukhumbu district of Nepal over the last two days, officials said.
The disease characterised with a high fever and loss of mental balance, ultimately results in death.
People from all age groups from infants to old people have been victims of the disease that has affected Gudel village development committee of Solukhumbu district, officials said.
The disease could not be diagnosed due to the lack of health workers in the remote district in eastern Nepal.
Thanks Nimbus—I am sooo computer illiterate, I can only put the ball into play. Someone else has to score for me.
From another news article on same subject.The disease is said to be communicable---From:Unidentified disease claims 7 in Solukhumbu
More good news from India
Sri Lanka confirms Chikungunya viral fever epidemic
Doctors suspect it has infected 5,000 people in the island’s far north.
There are several different fevers. Not all fevers reported are Chikungunya.But added that bird flu was very,very unlikely.
Since thousands are sick I’m not sure ‘unlikely’ is very comforting.
Cash could run out in flu pandemic as ATMs go unstocked, warns watchdog
Cash supplies could dry up at the peak of a flu pandemic in parts of the country as bank branches close and leave automated teller machines unstocked, the City watchdog has warned. The Financial Services Authority said the vulnerability of the cash supply system was a serious weakness that the government, regulators and industry needed to address. Its comments came as the watchdog revealed the preliminary conclusions of a six-week exercise designed to simulate the impact of a flu pandemic on the financial services sector.
A growing number of companies and governments around the world have launched simulations to assess the risks of a pandemic, which the World Health Organisation has estimated could infect up to a third of the world’s population and cause up to 7m deaths, even in a mild form. …
The events of a five-month pandemic were squeezed into the six-week simulation. Absence rates due to sickness, caring, mourning and fear rose from 15 per cent to 49 per cent as the pandemic took hold. The FSA then lifted rates by another 10 per cent in some areas by injecting a freak blizzard that caused transport chaos into its scenario….
Flu outbreak forces lock-down of second nursing home
second Canberra nursing home has closed one of its wards after residents were exposed to a potentially deadly influenza virus.
A note on the front door of Morling Lodge in Red Hill says at least one elderly person in special care has come into contact with influenza A. The lock-down affects 42 residents.
Sixty-nine people have fallen ill from the unknown virus at the Narrabundah aged care facility, while eight residents have since died. Baptist Community Service regional manger Bill Aldritt says the special care ward at Morling Lodge will remain under quarantine until the affected person is tested.
“We actually suspect that this person doesn’t have the influenza A strain of the virus that the other facility has,” he said.
Novel H3N1 Swine Influenza Virus Identified in Pigs in Korea
For the first time, researchers from the U.S. and abroad have identified the H3N1 swine influenza virus in domestic pigs in Korea. They report their findings in the November 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
A highly infectious respiratory pathogen, the H3N1 influenza A virus is a new genetic reassortment of influenza viruses first identified in pigs in the U.S. in 2004. The virus can be found in birds and mammals (including humans and pigs), but is not generally transmissible between birds and humans. Pigs are believed to be susceptible to both origins resulting in them being deemed “mixing vessels” for the virus and ultimately reinforcing concerns of zoonosis and pandemic outbreaks. … http://tinyurl.com/y8ykrf
Flu outbreak at local school
The flu has arrived.
The Calgary Health Region say they have confirmed the first outbreak of influenza A at King George elementary school in the northwest. Dr. Judy MacDonald, deputy medical officer for the health region, said they were alerted to the outbreak after noticing the absence of more than 10% of students at the school.
“We investigate as part of our routine outbreak surveillance,” she said. MacDonald said the testing of three students confirmed the flu had arrived at the school.
“Influenza at this time of year is not uncommon, so we expect to see individual cases in the region,” she said.
It takes about seven days for children to no longer be contagious and MacDonald warns parents to keep their kids home from school if they’re ill with the virus.