New Diagnostic Flu Test Wins Approval

 

 

# 2344

 

 

It's called the Human Influenza Virus Real-Time RT-PCR Detection and Characterization Panel  (it just sorta rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?) or the  rRT PCR Flu Panel for short, and it uses a molecular biology technique to detect and differentiate between various influenza A viruses.

 

It is being hailed as a major step forward in our ability to do laboratory testing for seasonal and novel influenza A viruses.

 

Here is the press release from the HHS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Contact: FDA Press Office, CDC Press Office
(301) 827-6242, (404) 639-3286

FDA Clears New CDC Test to Detect Human Influenza

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today cleared a new test developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to diagnose human influenza infections and the highly pathogenic influenza A (H5N1) viruses.

 

The device, called the Human Influenza Virus Real-Time RT-PCR Detection and Characterization Panel (rRT-PCR Flu Panel), uses a molecular biology technique to detect flu virus and differentiate between seasonal and novel influenza.

 

The device is used to isolate and amplify viral genetic material present in secretions taken from a patient’s nose or throat. The viral genetic material is labeled with fluorescent molecules, which are then detected and analyzed by a diagnostic instrument called the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Dx, also cleared today by the FDA for diagnostic use simultaneously with the CDC’s rRT-PCR Flu Panel.

 

The test panel and diagnostic system can detect and identify commonly circulating human influenza viruses as well as influenza A (H5N1) viruses. Results can be available within four hours and the system can test multiple samples at once.

 

“This is a significant achievement for public health surveillance,” HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. “The test allows us to better support laboratories on the front line of influenza testing in the United States and abroad.”

 

“The application of the test to detect an emergent influenza virus would be especially important in the early stages of a pandemic,” Secretary Leavitt added. “This breakthrough allows for a more timely detection of a pandemic virus, which helps in determining when to begin broad control strategies as well as life-saving mitigation measures, such as closing schools, cancelling social gatherings and informing businesses to begin work-at-home policies.”

 

The test will be available to CDC-qualified laboratories for diagnosing influenza this fall, and some laboratories will be able to obtain reagents (certain substances used in the testing process) at no cost. This test should help ensure the accuracy of influenza testing results among the different qualified laboratories that conduct influenza subtype testing.

 

“This new test provides us another tool in our toolbox to fight seasonal influenza, a virus that unfortunately kills thousands of people each year in the United States,” said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. “We’ll now be able to detect influenza in the community faster, which allows us to take steps more quickly to protect and save lives.”

 

Since influenza viruses are always changing, test reagents need to be evaluated regularly against circulating viruses to ensure the sensitivity and specificity of the test to diagnose current influenza viruses.

 

“Because the test can tell the difference between seasonal human influenza viruses and novel viruses, it will also provide qualified laboratories with a means to rapidly detect new influenza viruses that have not been identified yet and that could pose a pandemic risk," said FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner and Chief Scientist Dr. Frank Torti, M.D., M.P.H.

 

The CDC, Applied Biosystems of Foster City, Calif., and the Association of Public Health Laboratories collaborated on the development of this new test. State public health laboratories in Virginia, Iowa, California, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Washington performed clinical evaluations of the new flu panel.

 

Scientists around the world are concerned that the H5N1 virus could one day mutate and acquire the properties needed to quickly spread between people, resulting in a pandemic. H5N1 viruses circulate widely in birds in Asia, Africa and Europe and have caused human illness and death. These viruses have never been detected in the Americas.

 

For more information, please visit www.pandemicflu.gov, and www.cdc.gov

Bangkok Post: Bird Flu Suspect Dies

 

 

# 2343

 

 

Thailand hasn't reported a human infection from the H5N1 virus in 2 years, the last one occurring in late September of 2006.     After a rocky start in 2004-2005, Thailand has moved very aggressively to contain and eradicate the virus. 

 

Today the Bangkok Post is reporting on a suspected case - a fatality - although at this juncture, it isn't entirely clear if this is really a case of human H5N1 infection.

 

 

 

Suspected bird flu victim dies

Wednesday October 01, 2008

 

SITTHIPOJ KEBUI and APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL

 

PHICHIT : A worker on a free-range duck farm died from bird flu-like symptoms in Pho Prathap Chang district yesterday, and health authorities put his 12-year-old son under close observation for signs of infection with the virus.

 

 

Manee Mankhetkit, 48, was taken to the provincial hospital on Monday after he developed a high fever, suffered from a cough, sore throat, chest pains and breathing difficulties.

 

The man was treated in an isolated intensive care ward because he had come into contact with fowls. He was a hired hand at a duck farm which has more than 1,600 birds. Doctors pronounced him dead due to kidney and heart failure.

 

His 12-year-old son Sakda, who worked alongside his father, was taken to Phichit hospital yesterday. He too was put in an isolation ward for observation, and no visitors were allowed to see him.

 

Livestock officials have collected samples from the free-range ducks, which have being dying in big numbers over the past week, for testing for the bird flu virus.

 

Public health permanent-secretary Prat Boonyawongwirot said lab tests were being made on samples collected from the dead man's body to see whether he was infected with the deadly H5N1 virus as believed.

 

The results were expected to be released today.

 

Dr Prat said leptospirosis could also not be ruled out as a possible cause of death as the area was affected by floods.

 

There were reports of poultry, particularly free-range ducks, dying en masse in the district during the past week.

 

(Continue)

 

 

Thailand has recently been hit by major flooding, resulting in the deaths of at least 23 people, and blamed for thousands of illnesses.   Leptospirosis, which is mentioned as a potential alternative diagnosis, is one of those diseases often associated with floods.

 

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and other animals, caused by the Leptospira bacteria.   Outbreaks can occur when people are exposed to water contaminated by the urine of infected animals. 

 

Many animals can carry the bacteria, although rodents are often associated with the disease.  Symptoms can include high fever, `flu-like symptoms', vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and even jaundice.    Complications can include kidney damage, meningitis, and respiratory distress. 

 

Leptospirosis is not uncommon in Thailand, with several hundred cases reported each year.  Fatality rates of over 4% have been reported.

 

 

We shall have to wait until lab tests come back before we can know if this victim was infected with the H5N1 virus.   The good news is, Thailand has a pretty good record of following up on these reports.

 

 

This report on the recent flooding, and disease outbreaks, from the Canadian Press.

 

 

 

Thailand flooding kills 23 over past 2 weeks

 

BANGKOK, Thailand — Floods in Thailand have killed 23 people and sickened more than 230,000 over the past two weeks, including many who contracted waterborne ailments after wading through dirty water, the government said Tuesday.

 

The 23 people were swept away by flash floods that have afflicted 27 of Thailand's 75 provinces since early September, the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement.

 

Seven of the 23 victims were elderly people and four were children under 12, said Siripon Kanchana, deputy permanent secretary at the ministry.

 

Most of those who sought medical treatment suffered from skin funguses, cold symptoms and respiratory problems.

 

The health ministry warned residents that floodwaters were full of parasitic leeches, human waste and bacteria that can cause skin infections and fungus.

 

The floods, which destroyed farmland and inundated villages, have caused nearly US$8 million in damage, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center said.

 

Heavy downpours in northern and northeastern Thailand at the height of the rainy season caused rivers to swell, Water Resources Department Director-General Siripong Hungspreuk said, warning residents in low-lying areas to remain vigilant for flash floods and mudslides.

Pandemic Planning: Not Just For The Fortune 500

 

 

# 2342

 

 

 

For every business, large and small, there is a pressing need to prepare for a pandemic.   Whether it happens this year, or next . . .or five years from now - a pandemic will come again.  

 

As we are reminded almost daily by the CDC and the WHO: It isn't a matter of `if', it's just a matter of `when'.

 

When that day comes (and it will probably last a year, perhaps longer) - and if the pandemic is on the severe end of the spectrum - then every business large and small will find themselves literally fighting for survival.

 

To get through a severe pandemic intact will require good planning and foresight.

 

Fortune 500 companies are spending millions of dollars to prepare for this eventuality,  but preparations shouldn't be limited to multi-million dollar enterprises.   

 

If you own a business, not matter how small, you need to be preparing it to weather a pandemic storm.

 

There are, quite frankly, some business models that are going to have a very tough time during a pandemic.    Movie theatres, sports venues, and some sit-down restaurants may find themselves closed, at least temporarily, during the height of a pandemic wave by order of the local health department.

 

Social distancing will be a major concern, and business models that require crowds of people in close quarters are going to run into problems.    Businesses that supply or support these entities are also likely to see difficulties.

 

How badly these businesses will be impacted will depend upon the severity, and longevity, of a pandemic.  

 

Businesses that could otherwise stay open will find other challenges. 

 

Providing a safe working environment for employees will be one of the biggest challenges facing business owners, as a failure to do so would not only increase absenteeism it could also open them up to legal liabilities. 

 

The Federal government, while not mandating specific rules for employers, has issued `guidelines' that speak strongly about the need for businesses to prepare for a pandemic event. 

 

 

The following are just a few of the ones be found on the WORKPLACE PLANNING page at www.pandemicflu.gov.

 

Employer and Employee Guidance

• Interim Guidance on Environmental Management of Pandemic Influenza Virus
  CDC guidance on hygiene and use of disinfectants on surfaces frequently touched by hand (equipment, door handles, light switches, etc.).

• Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers (PDF - 405 KB) (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

• Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic  (PDF - 313 KB) (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

  Provides guidance and recommendations on infection control in the workplace, including information on engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment, such as respirators and surgical masks.

• Guidance for Protecting Workers Against Avian Flu (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

  Learn how employees who may be exposed to avian flu can stay protected.

• Cover Your Cough (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

  Includes flyers and posters, in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Chinese, Hmong, and Khmer.

• Stopping the Spread of Germs at Work (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

  Basic precautions for protecting employee health.

• Quick Cards for Employees to Protect Yourself from Avian Flu (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
  • General Precautions (PDF - 28.9 KB)
  • Poultry Employees (PDF - 28.3 KB)
  • Laboratory Employees (PDF - 28.1 KB)
  • Animal Handlers (PDF - 28.5 KB)
  • Food Handlers (PDF - 28.4 KB)
  • Health Care Workers
• Federal Employment Laws
  • Federal Employment Laws - For Employees
  • Federal Employment Laws - For Employers
  • Contacts for Employers and Employees with Questions on Federal Employment Laws
• Workplace Questions (U.S. Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
  Information on many of the questions that arise during pandemic planning. The subjects covered include: human resource policies, equal employment and privacy issues, workplace benefits, workplace safety and health issues, and unemployment issues and financial assistance.

 

Not being a lawyer, I can't speak to the liability a business might incur by not abiding by these guidelines.   But if it were me, I'd certainly be discussing this with my attorneys.

 

 

Dealing with absenteeism will be another major problem for most employers.   While trying to work with 40% of your workers absent will be difficult, there are some positions absolutely critical to operations.

 

 

If Gladys in accounting is the only one who knows how to run the payroll program, and she is out with the flu, then no one gets paid. 

 

 

During a pandemic, it is even possible that some employees will succumb to the virus.   Others may be disabled or suffer a long convalescence.    Employers need to be planning now for that eventuality.  

 

Cross training employees, particularly for mission critical tasks like payroll management, should be  a priority.   Businesses that have `depth' in their employee's skills, are more likely to survive. 

 

The HHS has put together a business planning checklist.   If you don't already have a pandemic plan, then this is a good basis to start with to create one.

 

 

Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist

Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®.

 

Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (PDF - 284.24 KB)

[En Español (PDF) (276KB)]

Letter to Business Leaders from Secretaries Chertoff, Leavitt, and Gutierrez

 

In the event of pandemic influenza, businesses will play a key role in protecting employees' health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the economy and society. Planning for pandemic influenza is critical. To assist you in your efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed the following checklist for large businesses. It identifies important, specific activities large businesses can do now to prepare, many of which will also help you in other emergencies. Further information can be found at www.pandemicflu.gov and www.cdc.gov/business.

---

Checklist Sections

• Plan for the impact of a pandemic on your business
• Plan for the impact of a pandemic on your employees and customers
• Establish policies to be implemented during a pandemic

• Allocate resources to protect your employees and customers during a pandemic
• Communicate to and educate your employees
• Coordinate with external organizations and help your community

 

 

A pandemic could last a year, perhaps longer.   We haven't the luxury of sending everyone home for 12 months until it is over.  

 

Life, and business, must go on - even during a pandemic crisis.

 

There will be many casualties during a severe pandemic.

 

Adequate planning and preparation now could help ensure that your business isn't one of them.

The Importance Of Having A Plan

 

# 2341

 

 

 

While the death toll from Hurricane Ike hovers around 60 nationwide, two weeks after it came ashore on Galveston Island, roughly 400 people still remain unaccounted for.   

 

The video below comes from KHOU - TV and is from a Sept 28th newscast.

 

 

Hopefully some of the missing are in shelters somewhere, and simply haven't managed to contract friends or relatives. 

 

Sadly, others are probably victims of the storm. The fear is that an unknown number of people who remained on the barrier islands may have washed out to sea.

 

Not knowing is a terrible burden for the friends and families of the missing.

 

One of the tenants of any emergency plan is having a way to contact one-another after a crisis.   There should be a standardized meeting place as well.  

 

 

The following good advice comes from the Ready.gov website.

 

 

 

 

Make A Plan

Family Emergency Plan

 

 

---

Download the PDF Family Emergency Plan.
Download the XLS Family Emergency Plan.
Acrobat Reader Excel 2003 Viewer

---

 

Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.

 

Family Emergency Plan

 

• It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
• Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.
• You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether, but be patient.

 

Emergency Information

Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call, or emergency workers may go door-to-door.

 

Emergency Plans

You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance. Read more: School and Workplace.

 

 

 

Preparedness for any emergency, not just a pandemic, needs to become a way of life in our nation. 

 

Disasters happen. 

 

Hang around long enough, and the odds are one will happen near you.

 

It only makes sense to be prepared for it when it does.

U.S. State Dept: Pandemic Resources For Travelers

 

 

# 2340

 

 

When it comes to pandemic information, we invariably think first of the CDC or the HHS as sources for good information.    Pandemicflu.gov has become the most popular portal of government sponsored pandemic information, but it is by no means the only place to get good information.

 

For Americans who travel abroad, however,  the U.S. State Department has copious amounts of important information and advice.    Their avian flu fact sheet (updated Sept 2008) gives the U.S. policy on returning Americans during a pandemic.

 

 

 

(A hat tip goes to Treyfish on Flutrackers for posting these updates)

 

Once the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms a severe pandemic – defined as the emergence of a sustained, efficient human-to-human transmission of a new influenza virus that kills at least 1-2% of the people it infects – American citizens (including non-emergency government employees, their dependent family members and private citizens) residing or traveling overseas should consider returning to the United States while commercial travel options (air, land or sea) are still available.

 

Americans will be permitted to re-enter the United States, although the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/CDC) may quarantine or isolate incoming travelers, depending on their health status and whether they are traveling from or through an area affected by pandemic influenza.

 

 

Obviously good news for travelers.   But of course, being allowed to return home and being able to are two different things.

 

The State Department warns that if a serious pandemic erupts you may be forced to . . .

 

Remain in Country During a Pandemic.

(reformatted for readability)

 

Health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus among animals (mainly poultry) in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe has the potential to significantly threaten human health. 

 

If highly pathogenic avian influenza, such as the H5N1 subtype, mutates and spreads easily from one person to another, influenza could break out globally, and lead to a pandemic. 

 

While there are no reports of sustained human-to-human transmission of such a virus, the U.S. Government and international health agencies are advising Americans living, working and/or traveling overseas how to prepare for a pandemic, should one strike.  

 

Private American citizens should be aware that it may not be possible to travel during an outbreak.  Governments may close borders suddenly and without advance warning; commercial air, land and sea carriers could curtail or cancel service; and restricting travel may be the best way to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus.

 

These developments could impede a return to the United States or travel to another country or region.  Therefore, Americans who are overseas during a pandemic may need to remain where they are until conditions improve, a situation which could last several months.  

 

Private American Citizens Living and/or Working Overseas:  Consider local conditions and evaluate your ability to maintain adequate supplies of food, water, and medication should a pandemic result in borders closing or disruptions in international travel. 

 

Decide on your optimal location in a pandemic and plan accordingly.  Ask your doctor in advance about obtaining appropriate medication for treatment if you become ill, keeping in mind it could take many months to develop and produce sufficient quantities of a vaccine during a pandemic. 

 

Remember that U.S. embassies, consulates and military facilities lack the legal authority, capability, and resources to dispense medications, vaccines or medical care to private American citizens overseas. 

 

If you are a private American citizen (e.g. living, working, touring, studying overseas) you will need to rely on local health care providers and locally-available medications since U.S. government facilities will not be able to provide medications or treat you.

 

Short-Term Visitors, Tourists, and Students Abroad: Consult with your doctor before you travel and ask about medications you should take with you. Research the availability and quality of medical facilities at your destination. 

 

Be aware that hotels may cease to provide housekeeping and food services during a pandemic. Consider changing your travel plans or returning to the U.S. once there is evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission, since commercial air transport may become unavailable at an early point. 

 

Plan to Remain in Country: If the WHO declares a pandemic, Americans who are overseas should be prepared to remain in country for an extended period. 

 

You should avoid non-essential travel beyond your home and workplace and you should limit activities that could expose you to others who may be ill. 

 

Based on varying conditions abroad, Americans should prepare contingency plans and emergency supplies (non-perishable food, potable water or water-purification supplies, medication, etc.) for the possibility of remaining in country for at least two and up to twelve weeks. 

 

Visit www.pandemicflu.gov to see examples of comprehensive planning checklists for individuals, businesses, schools, and other groups. 

 

(Continued . . .)

 

 

 

The State Department also has a page of frequently asked questions, along with their responses.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Avian Influenza A (H5N1) and Pandemic Influenza

• What is the difference between seasonal, avian (or bird) and pandemic influenza?
• Where can I find up-to-date medical and planning information on H5N1 avian influenza Type A (H5N1) and pandemic influenza?
• How can I prepare for a pandemic?
• Are Tamiflu® and Relenza® effective in treating or preventing human cases of avian influenza?
• How can I obtain antiviral medications?
• I have a pre-existing medical condition?
• Will the U.S. Government evacuate Americans from overseas?
• What will happen if I can’t return to the United States?
• What if foreign health officials quarantine me overseas?
• Why can’t I get a pandemic vaccine?
• What should I do if avian influenza A (H5N1) breaks out in poultry where I am living?
• Can avian influenza infect my pets?

---

 

 

I know of no other nation that is providing this much good information to its citizens about the difficulties they may encounter  during a pandemic.   While it may require a bit of searching to find, the information is out there.

 

If you are planning to travel abroad it would be well worth your time to visit the State Department's website.

 

 

Another resource International travelers should consult before traveling is OSAC, the Overseas Security Advisory Council, which provides the latest information about security threats around the world.

I Got Mine On Friday

 

# 2339

 

 

My annual fu shot, that is.

 

This year it seems you can't go to a grocery store or pharmacy without finding a flu clinic setup, and a nurse giving shots.    While I had planned on getting the vaccine in October- when I saw the clinic, and that there was no line - I rolled up my sleeve.

 

I know of at least a dozen other places within 5 miles of me that are doing similar clinics.  The store where I got my shot has 16 days between now and November when they will be holding the clinic.

 

The cost?  Twenty-five dollars.   They do accept Medicare part B, however.

 

While I stumbled upon this clinic quite serendipitously, there is an online resource you can use to find places that are giving flu shots in your area. 

 

Findaflushot.com  allows you to input your zip code, and a radius  (I used 5 miles) and a date range (I used today through Nov 28th) and it will provide you with a list of places giving flu shots in your area.   

 

My search returned  11 results. 

 

Of course, these aren't the only locations.  This website didn't show the store where I got my shot, only those aligned with Maxim Health Systems.  Still, it's a good source.

 

 

There are some age restrictions, which vary by state. 

 

This year's flu shot contains three new strains of the influenza virus, and it is hoped it will prove more protective than last year's disappointing vaccine.   The last minute emergence of several relatively new flu strains last summer compromised the effectiveness of last year's shot.

 

This year, the CDC is pushing for more Americans than ever before to get the flu shot.   There will be between 143 million and 146 million shots available.  

 

While 261 million Americans fall into the `recommended' category for getting the vaccine this year, it is expected that only about half will seek out the vaccine.

 

For those with concerns about the inclusion of Thimerosal, a preservative containing 50% Mercury, many places are now offering Thimerosal-free vaccines. 

 

Flu shots are not without controversy, and the effectiveness of these vaccines in elderly recipients has been questioned in the past couple of years.

 

Some recent studies (here, here, and here) suggest that older patients may not benefit as much from these shots as previously believed.  However, more research is still needed, and the recommendation remains that they receive the shot.

 

Here are the CDC's recommendations for who should receive the flu shot this year.

 

 

 

When to Get Vaccinated

Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January, and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later. 

 

 

Who Should Get Vaccinated

In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, it is recommended by ACIP that certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, ACIP makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.

People who should get vaccinated each year are:

1. Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
2. Pregnant women
3. People 50 years of age and older
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
   a.   Health care workers
   b.   Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
   c.   Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

 

 

Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine

It should be noted that vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is always an option for healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

 

 

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated

There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. These include

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.
• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)

Housekeeping

 

# 2338

 

 

 

For far too long I've hung onto the old Blogspot format, frankly just a little afraid that if I upgraded I'd run into some horrible bug that would crash my entire site.

 

 

Today, after setting up a new blog and seeing just how nifty the new Blogspot blogger tools really were, I decided to take a chance.

 

 

As you can see, my sidebar has been cleaned up and reorganized.   Some dead links have been removed, while other links have been moved around a bit.  Hopefully I haven't made too much of a mess of it.

 

 

The biggest changes you will notice are the `live updates' of five of my fellow blogger's sites and the BabelFish website translator widget.  

 

 

I've limited the live updates to five blogs for now to see how much this slows down the loading of the site.  I may move one or two more into that list as time goes by.  

 

The BabelFish web site translator is a bit of an experiment.  I'd appreciate feedback from people on it.  I'm certain that these translations are pretty rough, and some of my English idioms probably don't translate well.

 

 

By clicking on the appropriate flag you can translate this blog to :

 

• French
• German
• Dutch
• Greek
• Italian
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish
• Simplified Chinese
• Japanese
• Korean

 

 

 

I've added a reminder and alerts section at the top of my sidebar, and have moved my bio information towards the bottom.  By now, everyone must be tired of seeing my ugly mug pop up anyway.

 

 

I've added several more ways to get RSS feeds from this site as well.   

 

 

Archived posts are now accessible from a drop-down menu.  Nice, but it's a shame the last dozen or so blog links are no longer displayed.   

 

 

Hopefully the result is a cleaner, faster loading, more accessible, and easier to read page.

And Now For Something Completely Different . . .

 

# 2337

 

 

 

 

While I have a deep and abiding interest in public health and pandemic preparedness matters, there is more to life than death and disease, even for an old paramedic like myself.

 

 

Or at least . . there should be.

 

 

For many years one of my hobbies has been collecting, and enjoying OTR.  Old Time Radio shows.  These shows were broadcast between the late 1920's and the early 1960's, and until television came around, were the main source of in-home entertainment. 

 

 

While most of these shows are lost forever, we are blessed with thousands of shows that were preserved.  Nearly all of them (before 1962) are in the public domain.  A few copyrights have been renewed over the years, but not many.

 

 

My personal collection now exceeds 12,000 shows.  And it is growing.

 

 

The Internet and today's computer technology has proven to be a boon to collectors, providing us with better and cheaper ways to copy and share our collections.  Along the way many collectors work to clean up, repair, and document these shows for future generations.

 

 

 

Once only available on expensive reel-to-reel tapes, or released on a few phonograph records, now thousands of shows have been converted into MP3 format, and are available online.

 

 

Similarly, hundreds of hours of early television from the 1950's has made its way onto the net, and are available for downloading.  My collection of early television and public domain movies is somewhat smaller than my radio show collection . . . but it too is growing.

 

 

For those of  us who are part of the Baby Boom generation, there is a good deal of nostalgia involved when we can look back on the TV or radio shows we grew up with.  

 

Ramar of the Jungle,  Rocky Jones Space Ranger,  Jack Benny,  Sid Caesar's Show of Shows , and the Colgate Comedy Hour are just a few examples.  

 

 

Today I've begun a new blog that will guide its readers to places where these shows can be freely (and legally) downloaded.  Along the way, I provide a bit of the history of the shows and the performers.    

 

 

Call it an affectionate look at the golden age of broadcasting. 

 

 

I hope to update this new blog 2 or 3 times  a week, highlighting new treasures each time.     Today I present 8 episodes of  Your Hit Parade for your viewing pleasure.

 

 

Whether you wish to relive fondly remembered shows of your past, or would like an introduction to a world of entertainment that came along  perhaps,  before you did  -  I hope you'll join me.   

 

 

The link now appears on my sidebar.   The site is called:

 

 

Master Of My Public Domain

 

 

I hope you enjoy it, and that you will share these treasures with other people who would appreciate them.

 

 

Now back to our regularly scheduled pandemic.

Dead Reckoning

 

 

# 2336

 

 

 

 

Note: This is a reprint (slightly updated) of a blog I did in May of 2007.   The only difference since that time is the fog has gotten thicker.

 

 

 

 

As a cruising sailor, my ultimate worry was always a devastating storm, one that would overwhelm my little vessel or crew.   Luckily, storms come around infrequently, and 95% of the time I cruised in relatively placid conditions.

 

 

For sailors, storms are not the only worry, however. 

 

 

Another threat, appearing less dangerous, but in reality just as unnerving, is fog.  A pea soup that would engulf my vessel, obscuring threats around me and, over time, erode my confidence as to exactly where I was.

 

 

My sailing days began before I could afford such niceties as Loran and GPS, which would give the navigator a precise, real-time, indication of the vessel's position. 

 

 

Instead, we navigated by dead reckoning. 

 

 

Basically by keeping track of where we'd been; and by adding our direction and speed over time, along with factors such as wind and tide, we could deduce where we were and what lay ahead. 

 

 

The problem with dead reckoning is, you need a way to double check your position along the way;  landmarks, buoys, even a sun sight with a sextant, in order to make corrections.  Over time, errors creep into your calculations, and the longer you go without confirming your position, the farther astray your assumed position may wander.

 

 

In clear conditions, there are ways to double check yourself, and it is easier to see that storm on the horizon, or outcropping of rocks in your path.  In a fog you lose that advantage.

 

 

Add in the surreal, and often unnerving aspects of sailing blind, and you begin to appreciate why they call it `dead reckoning'. 

 

 

 

Today, the world is sailing in a fog when it comes to the H5N1 virus, and as time passes, we are less certain as to our actual position. 

 

 

The fearsome storm over the horizon is a possible pandemic, and we have little forecasting ability as to when, or if it will strike.  Our charts are old, out of date, and mostly comprised of data from nearly 90 years ago.  

 

 

We lack equipment sophisticated enough to tell us exactly where we are, and so we must rely on the ancient but all-too fallible art of dead reckoning.

 

 

The fog obscuring our view, and masking dangers just beyond our vision, comes from multiple sources.  

 

 

Indonesia continues to embargo virus samples from that hard hit nation, preventing scientists from around the world from seeing what new mutations are appearing.  This refusal to share virus samples has been ongoing now for nearly two years.    

 

 

In recent months Indonesia has stopped timely reporting of human cases, or fatalities due to the H5N1 virus.    They will, they assure us, update us every few months. 

 

 

 

Of course Indonesia isn't alone.  

 

 

China hasn't reported a human case of avian flu since February, but it is difficult to take much solace from this lack of reporting given their long history of suppressing `bad news'.    Their recent `adulterated milk scandal' is only the latest example of how costly, in terms of lives and health, that government controlled media can really be.

 

 

Our vision is also obscured by countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nigeria, Cambodia, and Laos, where poor surveillance makes it difficult to know the situation on the ground.   Poor nations, faced with a multitude of critical problems and few resources to deal with them, often put avian flu on the back burner.  

 

 

And even in western nations, too many scientists have been slow to release crucial information, jealously guarding data until they can publish, or perhaps profit from it.

 

 

Add in politics, a fierce determination to protect local economies, fear, and corruption, and our ability to see beyond our own bowsprit degrades even more.

 

 

Recent financial upheavals, both here in the United States and around the world, are also likely to diminish our vigilance against the pandemic threat. 

 

When the  house is on fire, it's hard to worry about whether the creek might be rising.

 

 

 

As more time passes, and the fog grows thicker, we lose confidence in our position.  Soon the charts become meaningless, for knowing that there are dangers out there does little good when you don't know how close you are to them.

 

 

Like sailors of old, we tend to see monsters in the swirling mists, often imaginary, but no less frightening.   But one need only look to the charts to see evidence of ships lost and sunk to know that real dangers exist. 

 

 

Reports of mystery swine diseases decimating herds in China, like stories of the feared Kraken from sailing lore, permeate the anxious discussions of those standing watch.   Rumors from news services like Boxun, telling us of strange epidemics in China, vigorously denied by officials, only add to our sense of dread.

 

 

We try to tell ourselves that there are no such things as sea serpents, or Krakens, and that all we need to is stay the course, maintain a lookout, and all will be well.  Those words, however, ring hollow as the hours pass.

 

 

The fog, we pray, won't last forever.

 

 

In the eerie stillness, we begin to see things looming in the distance, and unable to discern exactly what they are, assign fearsome traits to them.  Some may really be threats, while others may be nothing more than the fruits of our imagination.

 

 

But in the fog, it is impossible to know which is which.

 

 

As the world gropes along in a pre-pandemic fog, we, like the sailors of old, must be ever vigilant.  We can scarcely afford to ignore threats, even those that might ultimately prove to be imaginary, when we can't see where we are or where we are going. 

 

 

For there are rocks out there, ready to hole our ship, and storms able to batter and sink us.   It doesn't take a kraken or a sea serpent to ruin our entire day.  

 

 

As we make our way through the darkness, unbeknownst to us, shoals in our path may be shifting or the barometer may be dropping unnoticed, and we must be ready to reef our sails and batten the hatches. 

 

 

Just as aboard a boat, life can go from normal to chaos in an instant.

 

 

And so it is with our prepandemic world.  We haven't run aground yet, and thus far, no monster has leapt up out of the sea, and we begin to think if it hasn't happened by now, it won't.

 

 

The tendency is to ignore the unseen threats, and go boldly forth without maintaining a proper watch.  Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.  Romantic perhaps, but unrealistic. A prudent sailor knows better.

 

 

There is an old saying amongst sailors.  There are old sailors, and there are bold sailors. 

 

 

But there are no old, bold sailors.

 

 

A cautionary tale, one worth remembering, as we plow through this pre-pandemic fog while crossing an unknown and merciless sea.

Major Culling Operation In Togo Capital

 

 

# 2335

 

 

Earlier this month we received word that H5N1 bird flu had been reported in the west African nation of Togo, on a farm near the capital of Lome.  

 

 

An OIE report was filed on September 18.

 

 

Today we are hearing of increased (and fairly dramatic) culling operations in the capital.   A door-to-door culling and disinfection campaign is underway according to reporters on the scene.

 

 

 

 

Poultry cull in Togo capital after bird flu outbreak

 

 

LOME (AFP) - Authorities have culled some 5,000 birds over the past two days in the capital of the west African state of Togo following the discovery of bird flu there early this month, an official said Saturday.

 

The poultry was killed and incinerated in Agbata, a Lome suburb where this most recent outbreak occurred, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries told AFP.

 

An AFP journalist saw hundreds of villagers converging on an Agbata square to hand in their poultry to veterinarians for destruction.

 

Other officials moved door-to-door seizing any live poultry and killed them on the spot. Affected farmers were immediately compensated.

 

Officials say that, in all, more than 16,000 birds have to be destroyed and hundreds of houses disinfected.

(Continue . . )

 

 

 

Sub Saharan Africa remains a huge question mark when it comes to avian influenza.  We get reports, on rare occasions, that poultry have been affected - but rarely hear of human cases.

 

 

The assumption is that human infections are occurring there, but that they simply aren't identified.   Testing is almost never done, and thousands of people die each day from a variety of diseases.  

 

 

Last year in Nigeria several human cases were strongly suspected, but only one fatality was ultimately confirmed.   And that case was only detected because a family member insisted on an autopsy and additional testing, and was willing to pay for them.

 

 

Surveillance in many parts of Africa is non-existent.   

 

 

Unfortunately, we can't say the same thing about the H5N1 bird flu virus.

No News Is No News

 

 

# 2334

 

 

Yesterday's `technical error' by Xinhua news - where they published the details of a space launch hours before it happened- would have been more amusing had it not occurred at the same time as another, more serious, media manipulation.

 

 

 

 

China space mission article hits Web before launch

Thu Sep 25, 9:20 AM ET

BEIJING - A news story describing a successful launch of China's long-awaited space mission and including detailed dialogue between astronauts launched on the Internet Thursday, hours before the rocket had even left the ground.

 

The country's official news agency Xinhua posted the article on its Web site Thursday, and remained there for much of the day before it was taken down.

 

A staffer from the Xinhuanet.com Web site who answered the phone Thursday said the posting of the article was a "technical error" by a technician. The staffer refused to give his name as is common among Chinese officials.

 

The Shenzhou 7 mission, which will feature China's first-ever spacewalk, is set to launch Thursday from Jiuquan in northwestern China between 9:07 a.m. EDT and 10:27 p.m. EDT.

 

The arcticle, dated two days from now on Sept. 27, vividly described the rocket in flight, complete with a sharply detailed dialogue between the three astronauts.

 

 

Absurd?  Yes, in the extreme.

 

 

And so cliché  as to evoke a bit of a smile.  

 

 

After all, this is propaganda so blatant, so unapologetic, so unabashedly bold as to be worthy of some sort of award.  

 

 

Unfortunately,  this is also indicative of just how reliable the news is coming out of China.  

 

 

Today we are now learning just how widespread the tainted milk scandal in China really is, and along with it, charges of government cover ups.

 

 

Chinese officials ordered cover-up of tainted milk

• Richard Spencer, Beijing
• September 26, 2008

A baby whose urine has just been tested for kidney stones waits with his mother in a hospital in Taipei. PICTURE: REUTERS Photo: Reuters

 

CHINESE authorities ordered a cover-up of a tainted milk scandal that has poisoned tens of thousands of babies because they feared social unrest if the news was made public.

 

Senior officials gave the order to Sanlu, the company whose poisoned milk powder is said to be responsible for at least four deaths and illnesses in almost 53,000 infants.

 

<snip>

 

The central Government had issued orders to suppress "bad news" during the period of the Olympic Games, which were starting that week. The authorities were also concerned about the effect on "social stability" - a euphemism for public protest - according to a source briefed by those present.

 

The details of the meetings are the first confirmation that the cover-up was deliberate policy and not bureaucratic inertia.

 

(Continue . . .)

 

 

 

This goes beyond the absurd.   This is tragic.   Or as the WHO (World Health Organization) has called it:  Deplorable.

 

 

For the want of `keeping the lid on things',  thousands of babies have been poisoned, and appropriate medical care has been delayed.

 

 

Of course, we've seen this sort of thing before.

 

 

In 2003 Chinese officials covered up the existence of a new, infectious, and highly fatal virus called SARS.   Their denials allowed thousands to become infected, and for the virus to escape the confines of China and make it to dozens of countries around the world.

 

We've been assured that such cover ups wouldn't happen again.  That China learned their `lesson'.  

 

 

Apparently not.

 

 

Hardly a comforting thought in a world where early notification of an outbreak of a novel influenza virus could mean the difference between life and death for thousands of people.  

 

 

The general lack of bird flu news over the summer has been slightly encouraging.   China hasn't reported a human infection with the H5N1 virus since last February.

 

 

But of course, to be really heartened, you'd have to believe that no news really is good news.   

 

 

And not just the result of a tightly controlled press.

 

 

 

China consistently ranks near the bottom of countries ranked by the freedom of their press by Reporters Without Borders.   Here are the bottom 10 countries on this year's list.

158 Iran
159 Saudi Arabia
160 Nepal
161 Vietnam
162 China
163  Eritrea
164 Turkmenistan
165 Burma
166 Cuba
167 North Korea

 

 

Many of the bird flu hot-zone countries fall into the more-restrictive press freedoms category.

 

 

 

RWB compiles and publishes an annual ranking of countries based upon the organization's assessment of their press freedom records

Low Path Avian Flu In Mexico?

 

 

# 2333

 

 

I can find no OIE notification of this outbreak, but there are several newspaper articles alluding to the fact that (unspecified strain) low path bird flu outbreaks have been detected in Veracruz.

 

 

ProMED Mail - the alert system of the International Society of Infectious Diseases -  has picked up on some of these news stories and has put out an RFI (Request for Information).

 

 

 

 

Date: Tue 23 Sep 2008

Source: Diario del Istmo, Agencia Imagen del Golfo report [in
Spanish, trans. & summ. CopyEd.MJ, edited]
<http://www.diariodelistmo.com/istmo_nivel3.php?id_noticia=99606>

 

An outbreak of bird flu was recorded in the northern area of the state of Veracruz, affecting 78 animals, which have already been slaughtered.

 

Efrain Acosta Martinez, chief of the animal health program of SAGARPA [Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing, and Food] indicated that, in any case, surveillance continues, and an epidemiological barrier is already in place to stop the disease from spreading.

 

Acosta Martinez added: "We have some outbreaks of avian influenza in backyards in the north, but we are already working hard [to control the situation]. We have evacuated the premises where the disease was detected, and we can say that we have it under control."

 

The federal official also stated that the 78 cases were not detected in poultry farms but in animals raised in backyards. After the slaughter of the birds and epidemiological surveillance of the area, Veracruz retains its "free of avian flu" status.

 

He explained that whenever a focus is detected, reaction has to be quick in order for the state to maintain its free-of-disease status; producers are compensated, [infected] animals are slaughtered, and long-term surveillance of the zone is implemented.

 

 

Other similar reports:
<http://www.veracruzenred.com/nota.php?N=3D13&Id=26796>
<http://www.imagendelgolfo.com.mx/resumen.php?id=68700>

 

 

 

The Veracruzenred.com report (machine translated) reads:

 

Bird flu detected in north state

Xalapa, Ver., 23-Sep 08 (Vreden) .- Although the state of Veracruz is free of the avian flu have been recorded 78 cases of the disease in backyard poultry in the northern part of the state, gave know the chief of Animal Health Program of the SAGARPA, Efrain Acosta Martinez.

 

"We have some pockets in the north of avian influenza in birds traspasito where this worked hard on it and we have left in the land where the disease has been found so we can say that we have it under control."

 

An official of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development and Fisheries said when it detects come with the owners who are compensated to the producer and then the animal is slaughtered.

 

Acosta added that Martinez will continue to sample monitoring along the entity to retain the status of health and to follow everything under control because the state is free of the disease but before any outbreak has to act very quickly .

 

On the other hand, said it had declined by 30 percent on imports of livestock in the foot this product in the prices of grains.

 

 

These reports make it sound as if this has been an ongoing problem.  No word is provided as to what strain of avian influenza has been detected, although H5N2 was reported in northern Mexico back in 1995.

 

 

Assuming these news reports are accurate, it begs the question:

 

 

Why hasn't there been an OIE report filed by Mexico for avian influenza anytime in the past 4 years?

Vietnam Reports Bird Flu Outbreak In Ducks

 

# 2332

 

 

 

Compared to last year, Vietnam has reported far fewer outbreaks of bird flu over the summer.    Still, the virus remains endemic in that country, and outbreaks, particularly in ducks, keep occurring.

 

This from the Bangkok Post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird flu recurs in Vietnam

 

Hanoi (dpa) - Vietnamese authorities have detected the H5N1 avian flu virus in a flock of ducks on a farm in the southern province of Ca Mau, a government official said Friday.

 

Hoang Van Nam, deputy director of Vietnam's Animal Health Department, said inspectors had found on September 22 that bird flu had killed more than 50 of 500 ducks on a Ca Mau farm.

 

All the ducks at the farm were ducklings under 45 days old, and had thus not been vaccinated yet, Nam said.

 

Authorities have culled all the ducks at the farm.

 

"Bird flu occurs occasionally in Vietnam," Nam said. "We cannot extinguish it, but only limit its spread."

 

On September 7, the Animal Health Department announced it had detected bird flu in a flock of 600 ducks on a farm in the southern province of Ben Tre, adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City.

 

According to Nam, bird flu outbreaks have been detected in 26 Vietnamese provinces since the beginning of 2008, killing 5 people and forcing authorities to cull more than 60,000 ducks.

 

H5N1 mainly affects poultry and wild birds, but can infect humans who have close contact with sick fowl. Scientists fear that if it spreads unchecked, the disease could mutate into a form which could be transmitted between humans, leading to a worldwide pandemic that could kill millions.

 

Bird flu has infected 105 people in Vietnam and killed at least 51 of them since it first appeared in the country in late 2003.

And the Answer Is . . . At Least Two Weeks

 

 

# 2330

 

 

During yesterday's HHS Webcast on personal preparedness the question was asked:

 

 

How long should American households be stocking up for?

 

 

The answer given by Dr. Richard Benjamin, Chief Medical Officer, of the American Red Cross was:

 

 

"At least two-weeks."

 

 

He went on to say, "but if you could do more, that would be a wonderful thing."   He added, "Six to 12 months would be wonderful, but that's probably not practical for most people."

 

 

And indeed, individual stockpiling for 6 to 12 months for a family would be a huge  undertaking.  There are, however, quite a few families that either have achieved that goal, or are working towards it.

 

 

Lest you think it involves some form of madness to stockpile weeks or months of food and water in your home, consider how much less pain and misery there would have been on the Texas Gulf Coast last week if every family had gone into Hurricane Ike fully prepared with at least two weeks of emergency supplies.

 

 

It doesn't require a pandemic to ruin your entire day.   A hurricane, or other natural disaster, can do nicely.

 

 

Here is some preparedness advice from the American Red Cross Pandemic Preparedness page.

 

 

Planning Ahead

During a flu pandemic, government officials may be required to limit community movement or impose travel restrictions to help prevent the flu virus from spreading. Things to keep in mind:

• You may be asked to stay home for an extended period of time even if you are not sick.
• Schools, workplaces and public gatherings such as sporting events or worship services may close temporarily.
• Mass transportation such as subways, buses, trains and air travel may be limited.
• You, your family and friends may need to rely on each other when you cannot depend on the services you normally use.

Think about how you handle stress and know your strengths. Take steps to plan for, get through and recover from a flu pandemic...

 

Planning at Home

Along with food, water and medical supplies, store cleaning supplies such as bleach with household emergency supplies.

 

• Store a two-week supply of food. Select foods that do not require refrigeration, preparation or cooking. Ensure that formula for infants and any child’s or older person’s special nutritional needs are a part of your planning. Plan for your pets as well.
• Store a two-week supply of water, 1 gallon of water per person per day, in clean plastic containers. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.
• Store a supply of nonprescription drugs, such as pain relievers, cough and cold medicines, stomach remedies and anti-diarrheal medication, as well as vitamins and fluids with electrolytes (such as sports drinks).
• Store health and cleaning supplies, such as bleach, tissues, a thermometer, disposable gloves, soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Ask your health care provider and health insurance company if you can get an extra supply of your regular prescription drugs and medical supplies, such as glucose monitoring supplies.
• Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick.

Planning in Your Community

• Ask about plans to enable you to stay home if you are or a family member is sick.
• Find out your employer’s plans to keep the business open if key staff can’t come to work.
• Find out now about your child’s school or daycare provider’s plans for handling a flu pandemic.
• Ask if there are plans to encourage sick children to stay home to reduce the spread of the disease.
• Ask if there are plans to close during a pandemic that would require all the children to remain at home.

Finding out the answers ahead of time will have a significant impact on your plans and decisions during a flu pandemic.

Related Content

• Build an emergency supplies kit
• Food and Water in an Emergency (A5055) (FEMA 477)
• Water storage before disaster strikes
• Water sources during an emergency
• Water treatment
• Food supplies in case of disaster
• Food supplies during an emergency
• Food safety (without power)

 

 

Remember, two-weeks is the minimum recommendation.   More, like they say, `would be wonderful'.

 

 

 

For more in-depth emergency preparedness information I can think of no better resource than  GetPandemicReady.Org.    Admittedly, as a minor contributor to that site, I'm a little biased.

 

 

 

But whether you are preparing for two-weeks or three-months, the important thing is to start.

 

Today.

CDC Awards $24 Million For Pandemic Preparedness Projects

 

# 2329

 

 

A pity there wasn't a civilian blogging category (I work cheap), but eligibility was limited to 62 state, local, and territorial public health departments that receive funding through PHEP cooperative agreements.

 

 

Still, even if I wasn't eligible, it is good to see local health departments encouraged (and funded) to set up pandemic preparedness projects. 

 

 

 

 

 

Press Release

CDC Awards $24 Million for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Projects

For Immediate Release: September 24, 2008
Contact: CDC Division of Media Relations, Phone: (404) 639-3286

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $24 million to fund 55 projects in 29 state and local public health departments that could serve as innovative approaches for influenza pandemic preparedness.

 

“What is learned from these projects can benefit everyone because it could improve national, regional and local public health detection and response to a pandemic involving influenza,” said Richard Besser, MD, Director of CDC′s Coordinating Center for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response. CDC intends for the recipients to implement promising practices or to develop effective approaches and models that can be replicated nationally, Dr. Besser said.

 

A total of 184 funding applications were submitted by state and local health departments in a competitive application process. Eligible applicants for the awards were limited to the 62 state, local and territorial public health departments that currently receive federal funding through CDC′s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement.

 

The 29 award recipients have one year to complete the projects, which begin on September 30, 2008. The projects focus on seven key areas and include:

 

1. Use of public engagement as part of the public health decision-making process
2. Electronic laboratory data exchange to support influenza pandemic monitoring
3. Integration of state-based immunization information systems to track distribution of influenza pandemic countermeasures.
4. Development of statewide electronic death reporting systems compliant with Public Health Information Network (PHIN) requirements
5. Collaborative planning among healthcare providers to ensure the delivery of essential services during an influenza pandemic
6. Development of interventions that promote preparedness for pandemic disease among identified vulnerable populations
7. Distribution and dispensing of antiviral drugs to self-isolated or self-quarantined persons in an influenza pandemic event

 

A list of the 29 award recipients and their projects can be found at http://emergency.cdc.gov/cotper/coopagreement/07/funding-schedule-pan-flu.asp.

 

The $24 million for the new projects are part of $600 million in PHEP supplemental funding appropriated by Congress to accelerate state and local influenza pandemic planning efforts. The focus of the funding, which was distributed in three phases beginning in 2006, was on practical, community-based procedures that could prevent or delay the spread of an influenza pandemic.

Iraq: H9 Bird Flu Detected In Duhok

 

# 2328

 

 

H9 viruses, while they have been known to infect humans on rare occasions, aren't viewed with quite the same dread as the H5 viruses. 

 

 

Beyond the H1's, H2's, and H3's that commonly circulate in mankind, we know that the H5's, H7's, H9's, and H10's have infected humans.  Other bird flu strains may also be capable of doing so, but have not been documented.

 

 

The headline in today's story calling the H9 virus `Harmless', however, is a tad optimistic.  

 

 

 

In 2007 a child was infected with the H9N2 virus in Hong Kong, and at least one major scientist expressed concerns over the H9's pandemic potential.

 

 

This excerpt from a 2007  CIDRAP news article:

 

 

 

Child's H9N2 flu case probably from birds

Robert Roos  News Editor

 

Mar 28, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Hong Kong officials concluded that a baby girl who was recently infected with H9N2 avian influenza—a strain believed to have pandemic potential—probably contracted it from birds, according to recent reports.

 

A 9-month-old girl who was hospitalized with respiratory symptoms twice in recent weeks tested positive for an H9N2 infection Mar 20. The girl had only a mild illness but was treated in isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital, the Hong Kong Department of Health reported in a Mar 22 statement. At the time of her second hospitalization she had respiratory syncytial virus, the statement said.

 

<snip>

 

Meanwhile, leading virologist Robert Webster warned this week that H9N2 is an "insidious" virus that needs close monitoring because it could trigger an outbreak in humans, according to a Mar 27 Bloomberg News report.

 

 

 

So while the H9 viruses are viewed as being far less of a problem than the H5 family of influenza viruses, they are not without their potential dangers.

 

 

 

This report (hat tip Dutchy on Flutrackers) from the Kurdish Globe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, 25 September 2008, 04:07 EDT

Harmless bird flu found in Duhok

 

Two veterinarians examine a chichen affected with the H5N1 virus. Photo/Globe

 

By Khidhr Domle
The Kurdish Globe

 

After the discovery of a harmless strain of the bird flu in the province's poultry, procedures are being developed to prevent its spread.

 

"More than 50,000 chicks were destroyed at two poultries in Semel town because of the H9 strain of bird flu," said Luqman Tayeb Omer, general director of the Duhok veterinary office. He gave assurances that this type of bird flu is not dangerous to humans, but he also stressed that strict procedures must be taken to contain it.

 

The veterinary office is developing a plan with related sides, especially the health and agriculture directories in the province. Omer showed optimism and stressed that the owners of the two infected poultries have already shown cooperation in fighting the disease.

 

Mosul is suspected to be the source.

 

 

"According to our information, this disease is found in Al-Hamdaniya, Talkef, and Shalalat districts near Mosul. It came from there. Thus, the government should take measures to prevent chicks from being brought here from those areas," said Omer.

 

 

The hatcheries in Duhok are clean from the infection, Omer stated.

 

 

"There are two hatcheries in the province: one in Semel and the other in Miruna district. In every period of 21 days, the two hatcheries produce 24,000 to 26,000 chicks." They are now being supervised.

 

 

Regarding the danger of the H9 strain, Omer gave further assurances that "this type of disease is found in several world countries and does not affect humans if necessary procedures are taken."

 

Bassim Ali Askar, a student of veterinary medicine at Duhok University, said: "There must be protections and health procedures, but eating these chickens is not dangerous." He warned that this disease can spread through touch, but if the meat is boiled well it can be safely consumed.

 

The danger of H9 is to poultries and their production, said Askar, and the disease has to be controlled to avoid economic damages.

 

The dangerous bird flu, known as H5, spread throughout parts of Kurdistan Region in February 2006, killing two people. Thousands of chickens were destroyed as a result.