Over 1,600 ducks have died from H5N1 in the southern Thap Muoi district and another site in a northern Quang Ninh Province. So far this month, bird flu was confirmed in 15 communies in 6 provinces across the asian nation. The VietnamNet reports that no pattern can be found in this latest string of outbreaks.

Normally this disease appears in the cold and wet weather but this year it occurs in the hot weather, which stirs worries of the change of the H5N1 virus in Vietnam.

Tags: bird flu, outbreaks, Vietnam

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Bird flu confirmed again in Vietnam

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

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Bird flu strain H7N2 confirmed in Wales, UK

The rest of the 6,000 birds on the affected farms have been culled but there are no reports of human infection.

This year alone, there have been 23 H5N1 outbreaks in Pakistan but authorities are quick to say these have been rapidly controlled. In a rare case, an Islamabad zoo was affected last February when the virus was found in peacocks and geese.

[source: MedIndia]

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Bird flu outbreaks in 3 Pakistan farms

Nigeria has suffered as having the fastest growing spread of the bird flu virus in Africa. A weak monitoring system and unqualified health personnel are being blamed for the uncontrolled outbreaks.

Nigeria Veterinary Association President Garba Sharabutu:

“Up till now, the populace has not come to terms with the issue of movement of birds,” he said. “And the second thing is that, we are also trying to caution members of our profession and the quack doctors that move about, because by the time people engage people who do not know the implication of moving from one farm to another without taking necessary precautions, it is possible to have these [new infections].”

[source: VOANews]

Tags: bird flu, outbreak, Africa

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Nigerian outbreak confirmed

A poultry outbreak is reported in the eastern port city of Tema, Ghana. All the 1,600 birds on the farm have been incinerated when 145 birds were confirmed to be H5N1-infected.

Neighboring countries have already reported oubreaks since last year, including Africa’s most populous nation -Nigeria.

[source: iht.com]

Tags: bird flu, flu, Ghana, outbreak, H5N1, virus

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First bird flu case appears in Ghana

Just three, in fact – two from a recent samples of the virus, and one from an infected Chinese patient in 2003. Prior to this one-year lapse, the Chinese government has sent six samples to WHO designated laboratories. But since the last time (in May 2006), five new human cases have been reported in China, and it’s those five samples that are critical to tracking the recent migration and possible mutation of the H5N1 virus.

Although it’s not mandatory for samples to be sent to WHO, scientist stress the importance of sharing viral samples. China has complained that the samples it sent to WHO in 2004 were used in research that failed to acknowledge the contribution of Chinese scientists, in a breach of protocol for which the WHO has apologised.

Hopefully, the puzzle of H5N1 will begin to fit better now that China has become congenial again.

[source; image]

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After a year of lag, China sends bird flu samples to WHO

A 22-year old woman died Saturday, followed by a 15-year old boy on Sunday, and a 39-year old man on Wednesday.

This news followed the announcement made yesterday by Indonesian health minister Siti Fadilah Supari that sharing bird flu samples with WHO will resume immediately after a three-month standoff.

[Souce: Bangkok Post]

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Three Indonesians die of bird flu

In Laos, a 15-year old girl from Daqahliya got exposed to dead poultry and tested positive for H5N1.

In Egypt, a 4-year old woman from Fujian also contracted the bird flu virus.

In China, a 44-year old woman also tested positive for the lethal avian virus.

Source: CIDRAP]

Tags: influenza, flu, virus, H5N1, colds, viruses, diseases, illness, health, medicine

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New humans cases of H5N1 appear in China, Laos and Egypt

The highly pathogenic Asian-type bird flu virus has killed at least 333 domestic birds since February 9. More birds are being slaughtered and villages have been quarantined in a desperate effort to stop the outbreaks.

Fortunately for veterinary officials, all the first five outbreaks could be traced to one location – the Sadovod market, commonly known as “”Ptichka” (”Birdie”), Moscow’s best known pet market. This makes it so much easier for health officials to trace the movement of possibly infected birds, quarantine infected areas and determine possible human cases. So far, no humans have reported any flu-like symptoms.

Sources:

Russia confirms bird flu outbreak

Official: Avian flu confirmed in Moscow

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Bird flu breaks out in 8 Moscow districts

Until Indonesia. And bird flu.

The World Health Organization revealed that Indonesia has stopped sharing bird flu samples since January of this year in antipication of a vaccine deal with Baxter International.

Since the bird flu outbreaks began, countries have been sharing viral samples with WHO to keep track of small genetic mutation and catch emergent strains that could cause a serious human flu epidemic.

Indonesia and other poor countries feels slighted by the system of sharing because the viruses are often used to make vaccines that only benefit countries that can afford them. So now, Indonesia wants to claim intellectual property rights over the strains of the H5N1 virus discovered in the country.

“Their concern,” Dr. Heymann said, “is that their strains have been used by several manufacturers to produce vaccines, and that Indonesia should get some compensation. From their point of view, it’s understandable.”

“We cannot share (virus) samples for free. There should be rules of the game for it,” a health ministry spokeswoman was quoted by news agency Reuters.

Ok, so the vaccines do need to be shared with poor countries (who also happen to suffer most from the outbreaks) but I don’t get why Indonesia would cut off supplying the WHO with information that could help stop this virus. After all, the country has the biggest human case fatality at 70% and have continuing problems controlling the spread of the virus. It’s like telling the world that they can solve the problem themselves, thank you.

Sources:
Indonesia to stop sharing bird flu samples
Indonesia May Sell, Not Give, Bird Flu Virus to Scientists

Tags: H5N1, bird flu, Indonesia, World Health Organization, Baxter International

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Indonesia makes money selling bird flu virus samples