# 4534
Over the past several days we’ve seen a series of `flu-related’ news reports from places as divergent as Vancouver, Australia, and Indonesia.
All of these stories are still ongoing, but there are bits and pieces of news on each of them.
In an environmentally conscious attempt to conserve our dwindling national supply of electrons, I’ve decided to update all of these stories in a single blog.
On Wednesday of this week we learned of an outbreak of an – as yet – unidentified respiratory virus in a long-term care facility in Vancouver, British Columbia (see Investigating A Viral Outbreak In Vancouver).
H1N1, along with other strains of Influenza A and B, have been ruled out. Nine residents had died, all of whom were described as `elderly and frail’.
The virus behind this outbreak remains unidentified, but today we learn that 3 staff members are out sick, and at least one other reported similar illness a month ago.
Without a diagnosis, it is impossible at this time to know if any of these illnesses are related. Complicating matters, the facility has been plagued with a Norovirus outbreak over the past month.
This from The Times Colonist (hat tip Tetano on FluTrackers)
3 workers fall sick at Glengarry, where illness claimed 9 lives
By Joanne Hatherly, Times Colonist
April 30, 2010 1:21 AM
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is monitoring three sick staff members at Glengarry Hospital, where nine people have died from an unspecified respiratory illness.
VIHA spokeswoman Shannon Marshall said the three staff members reported sick yesterday, but it has not been determined if they are suffering from the illness that broke out in the Chandler Unit at Glengarry Hospital last week.
Maureen Donaldson, 50, a care attendant in the unit -- where the nine people died and 11 more were infected -- said she became ill a month ago with the same respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms that she saw afflict residents.
"We are front-line workers and we are in contact with every body fluid," said Donaldson, who is currently undergoing tests.
Marshall said no new cases have been reported among the residents. So far, the patients have tested negative for influenza A, B and H1N1. Yesterday, VIHA learned that tests for legionella -- associated with Legionnaires' disease -- were also negative.
Jumping now to Australia, where their trivalent seasonal flu vaccine is suspected of having triggered an unusual number of fevers and convulsions in children under the age of five (see Australian Vaccine Investigation Widens).
Initial examination of the vaccine hasn’t turned up any contaminants, or anything else that officials believe explains these reactions, but the temporary ban on vaccinating children under the age of five remains in place.
Flu vaccine for under fives stays on hold
By Pamela Medlen
Federal and state health authorities have agreed to keep seasonal flu vaccines for young children on hold.
Hundreds of children under the age of five suffered fever, vomiting and convulsions after receiving the flu vaccine.
The Federal Government's chief medical officer, Professor Jim Bishop, says there is no evidence to suggest that faulty batches of flu vaccine are to blame for adverse reactions in children.
Professor Bishop says tests of batches of the vaccine show no abnormalities, although further testing is yet to be completed.
He says higher numbers of adverse reactions to the vaccine in Western Australia could be explained by the higher rate of vaccination in the state.
But Professor Bishop says the ban will remain.
And lastly, we update the two suspected bird flu reports out of Indonesia, which I mentioned yesterday in A Couple Of Bird Flu Reports Out Of Indonesia.
First, Dutchy at FluTrackers has a report on the 11 year-old who was being treated at Lubukbasung hospital, and who has now been transferred to Dr M. Djamil Padang Hospital in order to received specialized care.
According to this story, Dr M. Djamil Padang Hospital is currently treating two suspect H5N1 patients.
Bird Flu Victim in Agam was rushed to the department of internal medicine
Harmen - Padang Ekspres
RS (11), bird flu victims in Padang ellipse Bio-Bio, Bawan village, district Ampek Nagari, Agam regency was rushed to Dr M. Djamil Padang to obtain special care, Thursday (04/29/2010).
This is done to provide optimal medical help for victims of the virus H5N1 is the worst and anticipate the impact to the victim.
Agency Head Kesbangpol Agam M. Dt.Maruhun and district when Ampek Nagari Welvizar contacted separately mentioned, this week, recorded two original bird flu victims Agam was referred to Dr M. Djamil Padang.
Previously, similar cases occurred in Lapaukonsi, Lubukbasung, where the victim-Budget not her real name (5) also received intensive care. Until now, victims still undergoing treatment.
And finally, an update from Riau, where 9 members of one village are ill with what authorities fear may be H5N1. All are apparently receiving Tamiflu, but most are refusing to go to the hospital.
Ida at BFIC brings us this update from Riau Pos.
Sungaiapit, Riau ::: Bird flu spreads to other villages
Posted by Ida on April 30, 2010
Sungaiapit, Riau – Bird flu H5N1 had spread to Desa Parit I/II, Desa Harapan and Kelurahan Sungaiapit since it was firstly identified in Desa Lalang. Until now, bird flu infected human suspect has reached nine victims. Two of them are now being treated at Arifin Achmad hospital in Pekanbaru, while others are refused to be hospitalized.
Based on the investigation of Health Service and Livestock Service of Kabupaten Siak, so far dead chickens had been tested positive bird flu H5N1. Furthermore, Health Service had collected patient’s liquid samples for further test and treated patients with Tamiflu.
Source: Indonesia local newspaper. Riau Pos.
