Referral: A FluTrackers Commentary

 

 

 

# 5161

 

Over the past 24-36 hours we’ve been watching a number of confusing (well, to me anyway) media stories out of Egypt combining reports of both H1N1 and H5N1 influenza cases.

 

It certainly sounds like something is going on, but I don’t have a lot of confidence (yet) in the details of these reports (see Keeping One Eye On Egypt).

 

Machine translations are at best murky and convoluted, and sometimes border on the indecipherable.  They can often provide us with early indications that something is amiss, but I tend not to put a lot of faith in their details.

 

The good news is, the newshounds on the flu forums continue to find, translate, and post these articles, while they and other forum members attempt to dissect and analyze them.

 

To that end, overnight Sharon Sanders Editor-in-Chief of FluTrackers has put together a terrific summary of recent (confirmed and suspected) H5N1 cases out of Egypt, along with some thoughts on the current situation there.

 

I’ve only posted the opening to a much longer analysis (with links to source material).  Follow the link to read it in its entirety.

 

 

Commentary - December in Egypt - A/H1N1 and A/H5N1 Quandary

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by The FluTrackers Team -

In December the influenza situation has intensified. There have been reports of confirmed and suspected cases of both A/H5N1 and A/H1N1 in humans. In addition, it appears that many poultry continue to be infected with A/H5N1 and this is a direct threat to humans who are in the vicinity.

In December we believe that there are 4 total H5N1 cases confirmed by the central government and/or governorate authorities:

#113 - 30 year old female, onset date November 28, 2010 - hospitalized December 1, 2010 - Gharbia governorate – Death

Governorate confirmed case- 30 year old male, onset date unknown, death reported on December 7, 2010 - Dakahlia governorate – Death

#114 - 25 year old female, onset date unknown at this time - Behiera governorate

#115 - 44 year old male, onset date unknown at this time - Dakahlia governorate Death

The case designated as "Governorate confirmed case" was confirmed by Dakahlia public health officials but has not been confirmed by the Egypt Ministry of Health (MOH) or by the World Health Organization.

Confusing this situation further, the Egyptian MOH fired the director of a hospital on December 16 for not reporting an H5N1 case. We do not know which case this is in reference to. It might be this case or an entirely new case that we have no information about.

In addition, an unnamed "medical source" reported 3 "confirmed" H5N1 cases in Sharqia Governorate yesterday but these cases have not been ratified by either the govenorate or Egyptian MOH. Tests are also pending for 2 suspected cases in Fayoum govenorate.

(Continue . . . )

 

Kudos to Sharon, and everyone on the FluTrackers team, for this commentary and the source material behind it.

 

While it may not provide definitive answers, it certainly does help put things into perspective. 

Dr. William Schaffner Radio Interview

 

 

# 4435

 

Later today (4pm EDT) Sharon Sanders of FluTrackers will interview Dr. William Schaffner on the Infectious Disease show on Radio Sandy Springs 1620 AM.    This will be the second time Dr. Schaffner has appeared on this show, the last time being in August of 2009.

 

Radio Sandy Springs 1620 AM, is a low-powered Atlanta based talk radio station that simulcasts on the Internet.   An archive of recent Infectious Disease Hour shows may be accessed here.

 

Dr.  William Schaffner is a Professor and Chairman, Department of Preventive Medicine Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

 

Other notable interviews conducted by Sharon Sanders over the past 6 months include:

 

03/01/10 Guests Richard Stapleton and Andrew Wilson

02/22/10 Guest Gregory Hartl

01/11/10 Guest Revere of Effect Measure

01/04/10 Guest Vincent Racaniello, PhD

11/02/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

08/17/09 Guest William Schaffner, MD

08/10/09 Guest Author John Barry

05/26/09 Guest Dr. Michael Osterholm

05/18/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

06/29/09 Guest Gregory Härtl of the WHO

 

 

As with these past interviews, a downloadable archive of today’s interview should be available in a couple of days.   You can, however, listen live at 4PM today at Radio Sandy Springs.

Gregory Härtl Radio Interview Today

 

 

# 4368

 

 

With the World Health Organization poised to meet this week to discuss whether to move to a post-pandemic alert phase, Sharon Sanders at FluTrackers has picked an opportune time to interview Gregory Härtl – spokesperson for the WHO – on the Infectious Disease Show which airs on Radio Sandy Springs.

 

This session, which was recorded late last week, is the second  time that Sharon has interviewed Härtl – the first time being late last June.  That interview may be heard a:

 

06/29/09 Guest Gregory Härtl of the WHO

 

Today’s show will air at 4pm EST and can be heard on 1620 AM in the Atlanta area, but is more widely listened to online at Radio Sandy Springs.    The show will be archived in a couple of days as well, in case you miss it.

 

Other notable interviews conducted by Sharon Sanders over the past 6 months include:

 

11/02/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

08/17/09 Guest William Schaffner, MD

08/10/09 Guest Author John Barry

05/26/09 Guest Dr. Michael Osterholm

05/18/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

 

In the same vein, an interview with Gregory Härtl appears in this morning’s Globe & Mail on the upcoming WHO meeting.

 

Q&A / Gregory Hartl

The World Health Organization's H1N1 spokesman tells Caroline Alphonso its team will attempt to determine if the pandemic's peak has passed

CAROLINE ALPHONSO

TORONTO — From Monday's Globe and Mail Published on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 12:00AM EST Last updated on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 3:55AM EST

 

Its worldwide spread could not be stopped. It infected and killed thousands, pushing countries to rush to develop a vaccine that would limit its reach. The World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert level to the maximum 6. But now, months later, is the H1N1 pandemic virus still creating havoc?

 

That's the main topic of discussion when the WHO's emergency committee of 15 influenza experts meets tomorrow. New clusters of the virus may still emerge, but Gregory Hartl, WHO's spokesman for the H1N1 pandemic, said the experts will look at the possibility of moving into a new phase of the pandemic.

(Continue . . . )

`Revere’ Of Effect Measure Interviewed Today

 

 

# 4242

 

 

Later today one of the Reveres from Effect Measure will be interviewed on Radio Sandy Springs  by Sharon Sanders of FluTrackers.  

 

Which one, you ask?   Sorry . . .  that’s above my pay grade.

 

`Revere’ is one of the editors of Effect Measure, and they describe themselves this way: they are senior public health scientists and practitioners. Paul Revere was a member of the first local Board of Health in the United States (Boston, 1799). The Editors sign their posts "Revere" to recognize the public service of a professional forerunner better known for other things.

Of course, those of us in Flublogia recognize the Reveres of Effect Measure as being dispensers of solid scientific information and clear explanations about influenza, public health matters, and assorted trivia.

 

They are also no strangers to controversy, are possessed of a wonderfully warped sense of humor, and speak their minds freely.  So this should be a lively interview.

 

 

The show will air at 4pm EST, on Atlanta's 1620 AM, and will be simulcast on the Internet on Radio Sandy Springs.

 

If you are unable to listen at 4pm, the show is archived for downloading within a couple of days. 

 

This the latest in series of high profile interviews conducted by Sharon on Radio Sandy Springs.  Over the past year she has had Dr. David Fedson,  Dr. Michael Osterholm,  Dr William Schaffner, writer and historian John Barry, and most recently Professor Vincent Racaniello as her guests, among others.

 

If you missed these shows, the follow links will take you to the archive, where you can listen online or download the MP3 files.

 

11/02/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

08/17/09 Guest William Schaffner, MD

08/10/09 Guest Author John Barry

06/29/09 Guest Gregory Härtl of the WHO

05/26/09 Guest Dr. Michael Osterholm

05/18/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

 

Last week’s interview with Vincent Racaniello should be posted soon.

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Radio Sandy Springs 1620 AM, is a low-powered Atlanta based talk radio station that simulcasts on the Internet.   An archive of recent Infectious Disease Hour shows may be accessed here.

Vincent Racaniello Interview Today

 

 

# 4218

 

 

Later today Dr. Vincent Racaniello will be interviewed on Radio Sandy Springs by Sharon Sanders of Flutrackers.

 

The show will air at 4pm EST, on Atlanta's 1620 AM, and will be simulcast on the Internet on Radio Sandy Springs.

 

If you are unable to listen at 4pm, the show is generally repeated at 6pm, and is archived for downloading within a couple of days. 

 

Vincent Racaniello, a professor of Virology at Columbia University, pens the excellent Virology Blog and hosts the TWiV and TWiP  podcasts on the Internet.

 

This should be a fascinating interview, and I look forward to hearing it.

 

This the latest in series of high profile interviews conducted by Sharon on Radio Sandy Springs.  Over the past year she has had Dr. David Fedson,  Dr. Michael Osterholm,  Dr William Schaffner, and writer and historian John Barry as her guests, among others.

 

If you missed these shows, the follow links will take you to the archive, where you can listen online or download the MP3 files.

 

11/02/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

08/17/09 Guest William Schaffner, MD

08/10/09 Guest Author John Barry

06/29/09 Guest Gregory Härtl of the WHO

05/26/09 Guest Dr. Michael Osterholm

05/18/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

 

 

      *       *       *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *

 

Radio Sandy Springs 1620 AM, is a low-powered Atlanta based talk radio station that simulcasts on the Internet.   An archive of recent Infectious Disease Hour shows may be accessed here.