Two people showing flu symptoms are under observation and were tested for the virus and a quarantine was set up around the farm.

Dr Christianne Glossop, chief veterinary officer for Wales:

“I’d like to think people have learned from foot-and-mouth. Wales and Great Britain contingency plans have been activated and in line with these the farm has been placed under restrictions.

We are not yet asking bird keepers within the zone to bring their birds indoors.”

[source: TheHerald]

Tags: H7N2, low pathogenic strain, bird flu, Wales

Post from: Blisstree

Bird flu strain H7N2 confirmed in Wales, UK

Bird Flu Expert Warns of More Outbreaks in Nigeria. Nineteen states and Abuja, the Nigerian capital, have reporte bird flu outbreaks in poultry in the past days, amidst news of the first human case of H5N1. Concerns abound that Nigeria risks becoming a permanent host to the virus. Already considered one of the weakest links in the campaign to curb the disease, Nigeria suffers from overcrowded cities, endemic poverty, weak surveillance and greater animal-to-human contact especially among the numerous backyard farmers. [via VoA]

England reports first H5N1 poultry outbreak. A confirmed H5N1 outbreak was reported at a large turkey farm in Suffolk, England that began on January 27 and affected 2,500 turkeys being raised for meat production. The strain is similar to the one detected on a goose farm in southeastern Hungary in late January. [via CIDRAP]

In a related development, 160,000 birds now culled after H5N1 avian flu outbreak. Experts are working on finding the source of the H5N1 strain. A Suffolk farm worker was admitted to the hospital with a mild respiratory illness but England’s Health Protection agency said it could not yet confirm if the person was exposed to H5N1. [via 24dash, Manchester Online]

Tags: bird flu, H5N1, outbreak, Egypt, Nigeria, England, UK, human case, human fatality

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Express news on bird flu (February 6, 2007)

Vietnam faces shortage of bird flu vaccine. Because of illegal hatching of free-range ducks, plus the illegal transport of poultry during the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, Vietnam is now in serious shortage of the bird flu vaccine. Already 20 million doses of the vaccines have been given to local authorities.[via Thanh nien news ]

Deadly bird flu found in Hungary. A suspected H5N1 bird flu outbreak has been detected in a flock of 3,000 geese south of Hungary. This is the first outbreak of bird flu in the European Union this year, but the virus first appeared in Hungary early last year in wild geese, swans and domestic poultry. [via BBC] In a related development, Serbia banned poultry imports from Hungary over bird flu.[ via Reuters]

Indonesian scientist warns of bird flu in flies. A new study reveals that bird flu can survive in the digestive and respiratory tracts of flies, along with the cuticle layers, flesh and ovum. The virus was not only found in flies taken from areas in the middle of bird flu outbreaks but also from places that had been declared bird-flu free.[ via Bernama ]

Tags: flu, bird flu, avian influenza, H5N1

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Express news on flu (January 24, ‘07)

The farm owner was quoted as saying he was “99 percent certain it is not bird flu”. Autopsy and clinical results didn’t point to bird flu, but full reports won’t be in until Tuesday. So we’ll wait for further notice, and do hope it’s not H5N1. The last outbreak in February had more than 11,000 turkeys dying or slaughtered, and caused panic across the EU.

[Source: Reuters AlertNet]

Tags: France, H5N1, bird flu, chickens, poultry

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Is the bird flu in France? 4,000 chickens died

A UK expert panel has criticized its government of heavily relying on Tamiflu as the drug-of-choice against bird flu, and recommends that UK implement a diverse strategy such as stockpiling new drug classes and vaccines.

I have a feeling UK is NOT the only country guilty of this.

[Source: WorldPoultry.Net]

Tags: United Kingdom, bird flu, Tamiflu, antiviral drugs, drug resistance

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Reliance of single flu drug is risky – UK Royal Society

DermaSalve Sciences is a pharmaceutical company known making skincare products for people with extremely dry skin. Dr. Mark Randle, CEO, announced that the gel, which also has anti-bacterial properties and beneficial for dry skin treatment, will be in the market by the end of 2006.

Well, it remains to be seen how effective this gel is… if only it were this easy to get rid of the flu virus…

I checked out the DermaSalve website but didn’t find anything on this news. However, Medical News Today and several others here and here carry the news.

Tags: H5N1, hand gel, Pharmaceutical, DermaSalve

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Anti-flu hand gel?

Russia bans poultry imports from both the Netherlands and the USA

A low pathogenic bird flu H7 strain was found at a large poultry farm in the Netherlands early August, and Dutch authorities quickly moved to prevent spread of the disease. Last week, two mute wild swans from the Lake Erie Michigan area were identified to carry two separate strains – an H5 and an H1, but investigators say they don’t necessarily fit together to form the dreaded H5N1 subtype.

According to Reuters Alert, Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev told the Interfax News Agency, “we must make sure that this dangerous infection will not be brought into Russia along with poultry meat imports.” Last year, Russia imported 811,900 ton of poultry meat from the US.

I wonder if I should stop eating US poultry meat because two wild swans have the low-pathogenic bird flu? Duh.

Tags: avian flu, Europe, low-pathogenic bird flu, Netherlands, poultry, poultry industry, USA

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Russia bans Dutch and US poultries

The flu subgroup of the Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are also advising that the “at risk group” be extended to people with degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. At present, the flu vaccine is offered to everyone over 65 years old, and those with diabetes or respiratory disease.

Although the recommendations still await approval from the JCVI, the vaccine may become available to this group by 2007 should approval be ratified later this year.

Rosie Dodds, of the National Childbirth Trust, said: “Pregnant women are at greater risk of contracting infections because there immune system is compromised by being pregnant.

“But I think if this does happen the risks of side effects will need to be fully explained to women so they can make a choice as there are some vaccines pregnant women are advised not to have.”

In the US, pregnant women are now encouraged to be vaccinated with the flu shot, but not the nasal-spray flu vaccine, at any stage of pregnancy.

[Source: BBC]

Tags: Europe, flu vaccines, health, pregnancy, public awareness and prevention, United Kingdom

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UK: Flu jabs advised during pregnancy

Although authorities are saying that the strain is low-pathogenic and not deadly to humans, the exact strain is yet unknown.In 2003, the Netherlnds had had an outbreak of H7N7, a more dangerous strain that had infected 90 people and killed one. In its highly pathogenic form, H7 can kill large numbers of birds, and infect people.

Because the Netherlands is constantly exposed to the spread of low pathogenic viruses by wild birds and the country being one of the world’s top poultry exporter, a vaccination campaign was launched earlier this year. Unfortunately, most farmers did not comply for fear that importing countries will refuse to buy their meat and eggs because of consumer worries about possible health risks.

Well, because of this recent outbreak of even a low-pathogenic bird flu, Hongkong has decided to ban all importations of poultry from the Dutch. Ironic, isn’t it? Well have to see if other countries follow suit to Hongkong’s move.

[Source: Reuters; Forbes]

Tags: avian flu, epidemic, Europe, flu outbreak, health, Hongkong, low-pathogenic bird flu, Netherlands, public awareness and prevention, transmissibility

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The case of Netherlands: low-pathogenic but still spreading concern

The good news: tests showed the outbreak wasn’t caused by either the H5 or H7 strains, Agriculture Minister Nihat Kabil told reporters (Reuters), instead this was a mixed infection of bird flu and Newcastle disease. The infected village will continue to be quarantined and the European Union will still band poultry exported from the region but judicious culling of chickens will prevent further spread of the disease.

Newcastle disease virus is a contagious and fatal disease that’s spread through direct contact between a health bird a the bodily discharge of an infected bird. The virus is so virulent and rapidly infective that birds die without showing any clinical signs. It’s transmitted through bird droppings and secretions and can be picked up on shoes and clothing so commercially raised chickens are especially vulnerable.

From Wikipedia: Exposure of humans to infected birds (for example in poultry processing plants) can cause mild conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms, but NDV otherwise poses no hazard to human health. Interest in the use of NDV as an anticancer agent has arisen from the ability of NDV to selectively kill human tumour cells with limited toxicity to normal cells.

Today, there should be a collective sigh of relief in Bulgaria.

[News Source: Reuters]

Tags: avian influenza, bird flu deaths, Bulgaria, H5N1, Newcastle disease virus

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Bird Flu Update: Bulgarian outbreak is Newcastle virus, not H5N1