More news updates from Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner :
" Bengkulu : Bird flu H5N1 preferably attacks native or backyard chickens, so broiler chicken meat consumption is relatively safe, said Head of Animal Health Division of Bengkulu Livestock Service (Disnakwan), Varisna Bahar.
Until now Disnakwan Bengkulu is still prohibiting chicken transport incoming and outgoing of Bengkulu. However, broiler chickens can be sold out of Bengkulu after the farms have passed certain examinations done by Disnakwan, and received transporting permit.
This action is done to prevent overstock of broiler chicken inside Bengkulu.
Varisna said bird flu H5N1 had killed hundreds of chicken in two municipals (Kabupaten) and a city; Kabupaten Central Bengkulu and Kepahiang, and Bengkulu city."
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Philippines : 53 die of dengue in Northern Mindanao
An article from ABS-CBN :
" MANILA, Philippines : A total of 53 people have died due to dengue in Northern Mindanao, the regional health office said Tuesday.
The Northern Mindanao's health office said that the 53 dengue deaths were among the 4,932 cases of dengue recorded from January to August.
Dr. May Demegillo of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) said that because of the increasing number of cases, the hospital has been forced to put 2 patients in one hospital bed.
Demegillo, a pediatric specialist, advised parents to immediately bring their children to the hospital at the initial detection of fever.
She said that there was a patient brought to NMMC who was initially diagnosed with urinary tract infection, but it turned out that the child is afflicted with dengue.
"Hindi na by the book ang symptoms. Hindi na dapat ipagwalang-bahala," Demegillo said.
Based from the Department of Health's latest update, a total of 54,659 cases of dengue with 429 deaths have been reported nationwide as of August 14."
" MANILA, Philippines : A total of 53 people have died due to dengue in Northern Mindanao, the regional health office said Tuesday.
The Northern Mindanao's health office said that the 53 dengue deaths were among the 4,932 cases of dengue recorded from January to August.
Dr. May Demegillo of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) said that because of the increasing number of cases, the hospital has been forced to put 2 patients in one hospital bed.
Demegillo, a pediatric specialist, advised parents to immediately bring their children to the hospital at the initial detection of fever.
She said that there was a patient brought to NMMC who was initially diagnosed with urinary tract infection, but it turned out that the child is afflicted with dengue.
"Hindi na by the book ang symptoms. Hindi na dapat ipagwalang-bahala," Demegillo said.
Based from the Department of Health's latest update, a total of 54,659 cases of dengue with 429 deaths have been reported nationwide as of August 14."
Wales : Avian flu still likely to strike in humans, says Welsh expert
Via Wales Online :
" THE threat of bird flu crossing over to humans and igniting a pandemic remains real, one of Wales’ leading experts on health and disaster management has claimed.
Alan Hawley, who until recently was the UK’s Director General of Army Medical Services, said climate change and international food scarcity has the potential to spread social and economic chaos across the globe.
His comments follow the decision of the Assembly Government to reduce the surveillance of live wild birds for avian influenza. Instead, attention will be focused on dead birds.
However, Prof Hawley said bird flu is not the greatest threat to Wales and the world.
The former major general, who is now the University of Glamorgan’s professor of disaster studies, described the Assembly Government’s decision to narrow the field of monitoring as “quite sensible”."
" THE threat of bird flu crossing over to humans and igniting a pandemic remains real, one of Wales’ leading experts on health and disaster management has claimed.
Alan Hawley, who until recently was the UK’s Director General of Army Medical Services, said climate change and international food scarcity has the potential to spread social and economic chaos across the globe.
His comments follow the decision of the Assembly Government to reduce the surveillance of live wild birds for avian influenza. Instead, attention will be focused on dead birds.
However, Prof Hawley said bird flu is not the greatest threat to Wales and the world.
The former major general, who is now the University of Glamorgan’s professor of disaster studies, described the Assembly Government’s decision to narrow the field of monitoring as “quite sensible”."
Australian Influenza Surveillance 2010 - Latest report
Via Australia's Department Health and Ageing, excerpt from the summary :
Summary
- Levels of influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) in the community are continuing to show signs of increasing through all surveillance systems.
- There have been 362 laboratory confirmed notifications of influenza during this reporting period, including 248 pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases. Notifications of laboratory confirmed influenza were highest in VIC, SA and QLD during the current reporting period.
- Results from sentinel laboratory surveillance systems for this reporting period show that 14% of the respiratory tests conducted over this period were positive for influenza, which is similar to the last reporting period (15%). In 2010, a total of 448 specimens have been positive for influenza (of 9,275 specimens tested), of which 66% were pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and 16% were A/H3N2. The most common respiratory viruses diagnosed by sentinel laboratories this reporting period were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in WA, RSV and rhinovirus in NSW, and picornavirus in VIC.
There's more, please visit the site. There's a 16 page PDF report too.
Malaria rising in Pakistan's provinces as new flood threatens
An article from The Sydney Morning Herald, Pakistan looks like a hub for all kinds of disease now no thanks to the floods :
As the waters increase, so does disease ... flood-affected locals carry a sick boy to aid in Thatta. Almost 300,000 people have abandoned the town as monsoon rains engulf the country in flood. -
" THATTA: Pakistani authorities plugged flood defences near a southern city as officials warned that farmland is unlikely to be fit for cultivation for at least six months and massive aid was needed to prevent social unrest.
Most of the 300,000-strong population had fled Thatta, which now is no longer under threat of being swamped. Concerns are now focused on Dadu.
''The water has entered into its districts and if the flow increases, it will affect 600,000 people,'' said Khair Muhammad Kalwar, the director of operations at Sindh province's Provincial Disaster Management Authority.
Suspected cases of malaria are increasing in Baluchistan and Sindh provinces, the World Health Organisation said. On August 28, cases of suspected malaria comprised 27 per cent of patient consultations in both Baluchistan and Sindh, it said.
''We expect another 1.5 million people will be affected by the flood now heading towards Dadu'' with little to block its path, said Fawad Hussain, a UN humanitarian affairs officer. "
India : H1N1 toll reaches 22, 15 at GMCH alone
From Times of India, excerpt :
" NAGPUR: The H1N1 death toll in various city hospitals since April 1 this season reached 22 excluding two suspected deaths. The number of deaths at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has reached 15 (thirteen in August. But these deaths still continue to be mainly from various cities and small towns in Vidarbha as well as cities from adjoining states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.)
The 22 deaths besides 15 from GMCH include three deaths at Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI), two at Chandak Hospital on Central Avenue and two deaths at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC). Besides these, two suspected deaths whose reports are still awaited and have not been declared as swine flu deaths include one death each at GMCH and IGGMC."
" NAGPUR: The H1N1 death toll in various city hospitals since April 1 this season reached 22 excluding two suspected deaths. The number of deaths at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has reached 15 (thirteen in August. But these deaths still continue to be mainly from various cities and small towns in Vidarbha as well as cities from adjoining states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.)
The 22 deaths besides 15 from GMCH include three deaths at Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI), two at Chandak Hospital on Central Avenue and two deaths at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC). Besides these, two suspected deaths whose reports are still awaited and have not been declared as swine flu deaths include one death each at GMCH and IGGMC."
Cholera in the times of Kashmir unrest
Via Hindustan Times :
" A major cholera epidemic in Kashmir was wrapped under the carpet due to ongoing civil unrest, protests and violence. Unattended contaminated water sources have affected more than 2,000 people and left one woman dead. The alarmed authorities on Monday seek public support to seize the
epidemic.
The cholera outbreak started in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, just 30 km away from Srinagar after incessant rains and cloudburst left many cattle dead and changed course of water of tributaries in the last week of August.
The main source of drinking water, Sukhnar stream, in Beerwah’s Arizaal area, was contaminated and later led to contamination of the Public Health Engineering’s (PHE) water sources, which remained unattended for many days.
“This year, Kashmir witnessed unprecedented monsoon and there were heavy rainfall for the last three months. There is presence of nomads and security forces in upper reaches in Budgam. They defecate in open and rains brought that down into water sources. This led to cholera,” said PHE chief engineer Ghulam Rasool Zargar.
A government sub-hospital in Beerwah treated patients in corridors and alleys of the building due to heavy rush of patients. “Since August 28, at least 2,108 patients have been diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. They were treated in 23 health stations functional round-the-clock,” said Budgam chief medical officer Dr Mohammad Abdullah."
" A major cholera epidemic in Kashmir was wrapped under the carpet due to ongoing civil unrest, protests and violence. Unattended contaminated water sources have affected more than 2,000 people and left one woman dead. The alarmed authorities on Monday seek public support to seize the
epidemic.
The cholera outbreak started in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, just 30 km away from Srinagar after incessant rains and cloudburst left many cattle dead and changed course of water of tributaries in the last week of August.
The main source of drinking water, Sukhnar stream, in Beerwah’s Arizaal area, was contaminated and later led to contamination of the Public Health Engineering’s (PHE) water sources, which remained unattended for many days.
“This year, Kashmir witnessed unprecedented monsoon and there were heavy rainfall for the last three months. There is presence of nomads and security forces in upper reaches in Budgam. They defecate in open and rains brought that down into water sources. This led to cholera,” said PHE chief engineer Ghulam Rasool Zargar.
A government sub-hospital in Beerwah treated patients in corridors and alleys of the building due to heavy rush of patients. “Since August 28, at least 2,108 patients have been diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. They were treated in 23 health stations functional round-the-clock,” said Budgam chief medical officer Dr Mohammad Abdullah."
Jamaica : Dengue death reported in Manchester
Via Jamaica Observer :
" THE Ministry of Health has confirmed one death of a patient in Manchester who had contracted the severe form of dengue fever - dengue haemorrhagic fever.
The identity of the dengue victim has not been released.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sheila Campbell Forrester expressed condolences to the family members of the individual and urged people to be vigilant in identifying and destroying mosquito breeding sites.
“Dengue can only be transmitted when an Aedes aegypti mosquito bites an infected person and then bites another. It is therefore important that we take steps to prevent the breeding of this mosquito and protect ourselves from being bitten by mosquitoes,” she said.
She urged persons who believe they have dengue fever to visit their health care provider."
" THE Ministry of Health has confirmed one death of a patient in Manchester who had contracted the severe form of dengue fever - dengue haemorrhagic fever.
The identity of the dengue victim has not been released.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sheila Campbell Forrester expressed condolences to the family members of the individual and urged people to be vigilant in identifying and destroying mosquito breeding sites.
“Dengue can only be transmitted when an Aedes aegypti mosquito bites an infected person and then bites another. It is therefore important that we take steps to prevent the breeding of this mosquito and protect ourselves from being bitten by mosquitoes,” she said.
She urged persons who believe they have dengue fever to visit their health care provider."
More description on Newcastle Disease
I've just posted a news report with regards to the Newcastle Disease outbreak in Mongolia (see below). Here's more information on the disease from OIE :
" AETIOLOGY
Classification of the causative agent
Virus family Paramyxoviridae, genus Rubulavirus
Temperature: Inactivated by 56°C/3 hours, 60°C/30 min
pH: Inactivated by acid pH
Chemicals: Ether sensitive
Disinfectants: Inactivated by formalin and phenol
Survival: Survives for long periods at ambient temperature, especially in faeces
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Hosts
- Many species of birds, both domestic and wild
- The mortality and morbidity rates vary among species, and with the strain of virus
- Chickens are the most susceptible poultry, ducks and geese are the least susceptible poultry
- A carrier state may exist in psittacine and some other wild birds
Transmission
- Direct contact with secretions, especially faeces, from infected birds
- Contaminated feed, water, implements, premises, human clothing, etc.
Sources of virus
- Respiratory discharges, faeces
- All parts of the carcass
- Virus is shed during the incubation period and for a limited period during convalescence
- Some psittacine birds have been demonstrated to shed ND virus intermittently for over 1 year
Occurrence
Newcastle disease is endemic in many countries of the world. Some European countries have been free of the disease for years
For detailed information on occurrence, see recent issues of World Animal Health and the OIE Bulletin"
" AETIOLOGY
Classification of the causative agent
Virus family Paramyxoviridae, genus Rubulavirus
Temperature: Inactivated by 56°C/3 hours, 60°C/30 min
pH: Inactivated by acid pH
Chemicals: Ether sensitive
Disinfectants: Inactivated by formalin and phenol
Survival: Survives for long periods at ambient temperature, especially in faeces
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Hosts
- Many species of birds, both domestic and wild
- The mortality and morbidity rates vary among species, and with the strain of virus
- Chickens are the most susceptible poultry, ducks and geese are the least susceptible poultry
- A carrier state may exist in psittacine and some other wild birds
Transmission
- Direct contact with secretions, especially faeces, from infected birds
- Contaminated feed, water, implements, premises, human clothing, etc.
Sources of virus
- Respiratory discharges, faeces
- All parts of the carcass
- Virus is shed during the incubation period and for a limited period during convalescence
- Some psittacine birds have been demonstrated to shed ND virus intermittently for over 1 year
Occurrence
Newcastle disease is endemic in many countries of the world. Some European countries have been free of the disease for years
For detailed information on occurrence, see recent issues of World Animal Health and the OIE Bulletin"
Mongolia reports outbreak of bird disease "Newcastle"
A report from Xinhua :
" ULAN BATOR, Aug. 30 : Mongolian State Emergency Commission on Monday announced an outbreak of contagious bird disease "Newcastle," the first time in the country's history.
The outbreak occurred at a commercial chicken farm in the Ulan Bator region. Chicken death was reported at the farm 10 days ago and experts confirmed the outbreak, tentatively concluding the disease was transmitted from chicken feed.
So far about 50 chicken on the farm have died. A total of 1,600 eggs will be confiscated and destroyed, 4,847 chicken be slaughtered and the farm is to be disinfected, according to a decree of the State Emergency Commission.
There are a total of about 270,000 chicken in chicken farms of the Ulan Bator region. Currently, quarantine has been imposed in all chicken farms and mobile patrols have been set up around the area."
" ULAN BATOR, Aug. 30 : Mongolian State Emergency Commission on Monday announced an outbreak of contagious bird disease "Newcastle," the first time in the country's history.
The outbreak occurred at a commercial chicken farm in the Ulan Bator region. Chicken death was reported at the farm 10 days ago and experts confirmed the outbreak, tentatively concluding the disease was transmitted from chicken feed.
So far about 50 chicken on the farm have died. A total of 1,600 eggs will be confiscated and destroyed, 4,847 chicken be slaughtered and the farm is to be disinfected, according to a decree of the State Emergency Commission.
There are a total of about 270,000 chicken in chicken farms of the Ulan Bator region. Currently, quarantine has been imposed in all chicken farms and mobile patrols have been set up around the area."
Indonesia: H5N1 Infected Chickens Sold At Market
As always Mike Coston at Avian Flu Diary provides his insightful thought when covering any news coverage, this time on H5N1 in Indonesia, excerpt :
" Back in the late 1920s my grandfather kept chickens in the backyard. Every Sunday morning he’d tell my Dad (who was a young boy at the time) to go out back and grab the sickliest looking bird for their Sunday meal.
It was a pragmatic decision back then, given the lack of refrigeration. And, of course, bird flu wasn’t a concern.
But today, sickly chickens are viewed somewhat more suspiciously, at least in regions where bird flu is endemic.
At least, that’s what we expect to happen.
But a story today from ANTARA news tells us that there are exceptions to that practice. A poultry vendor in East Java, Indonesia who had 60 chickens die suddenly last week, admits he sold the fresh carcasses to a wet market."
" Back in the late 1920s my grandfather kept chickens in the backyard. Every Sunday morning he’d tell my Dad (who was a young boy at the time) to go out back and grab the sickliest looking bird for their Sunday meal.
It was a pragmatic decision back then, given the lack of refrigeration. And, of course, bird flu wasn’t a concern.
But today, sickly chickens are viewed somewhat more suspiciously, at least in regions where bird flu is endemic.
At least, that’s what we expect to happen.
But a story today from ANTARA news tells us that there are exceptions to that practice. A poultry vendor in East Java, Indonesia who had 60 chickens die suddenly last week, admits he sold the fresh carcasses to a wet market."
India : Dengue claims 3rd life in Delhi
An article from Central Chronicle :
" An 11-year-old boy has died of dengue in the Capital, taking the total number of people succumbing to the disease to three.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi Health Committee Chief V K Monga said one Anikesh died of dengue in Jaipur Golden Hospital on Friday.
''Anikesh was a resident of Om Vihar area of Narela zone and was admitted to the hospital three days before he died,'' Dr Monga said today.
With this, three people have lost their lives due to the disease so far in this season. Two of them belonged to Delhi while one was from Bihar, Mr Monga said.
Moreover, 63 fresh dengue cases were also reported, taking the total number of patients affected by the mosquito-borne disease to 863."
" An 11-year-old boy has died of dengue in the Capital, taking the total number of people succumbing to the disease to three.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi Health Committee Chief V K Monga said one Anikesh died of dengue in Jaipur Golden Hospital on Friday.
''Anikesh was a resident of Om Vihar area of Narela zone and was admitted to the hospital three days before he died,'' Dr Monga said today.
With this, three people have lost their lives due to the disease so far in this season. Two of them belonged to Delhi while one was from Bihar, Mr Monga said.
Moreover, 63 fresh dengue cases were also reported, taking the total number of patients affected by the mosquito-borne disease to 863."
India : Three more swine flu deaths in Delhi, toll reaches 29
Via Times of India :
" NEW DELHI: The national capital reported three more swine flu deaths even as another 37 patients tested positive for H1N1 virus taking the total number of people infected by the disease to 873 so far this year.
"Three men succumbed to H1N1 virus in the last three days. Two were from outside the city and one person was a resident of Delhi. With this, the toll of the city alone is 18 as of now," Dr Debashish Bhattacharya, Delhi government's nodal officer for H1N1 cases, said today.
In this season so far, 11 outstation flu patients also died in city hospitals, taking the total number to 29."
" NEW DELHI: The national capital reported three more swine flu deaths even as another 37 patients tested positive for H1N1 virus taking the total number of people infected by the disease to 873 so far this year.
"Three men succumbed to H1N1 virus in the last three days. Two were from outside the city and one person was a resident of Delhi. With this, the toll of the city alone is 18 as of now," Dr Debashish Bhattacharya, Delhi government's nodal officer for H1N1 cases, said today.
In this season so far, 11 outstation flu patients also died in city hospitals, taking the total number to 29."
Monday, August 30, 2010
Nigeria : Stop This Cholera Scourge
An article from All Africa :
" Almost 400 people have died since the recent wave of the cholera epidemic hit the nation two months ago. Latest figures show over 6,000 people have contracted the disease from the start of this new outbreak in Adamawa State in June this year.
A total of ten states have now recorded both thousands of cases and hundreds of fatalities arising from the epidemic. These states include Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Yobe, Taraba, Kaduna, Cross-River, Rivers and of course Adamawa.
This quick spread of the deadly disease confirms the federal ministry of health's warning that 'Although most of the outbreaks occurred in the North-West and North-East zones, epidemiological evidence indicates that the entire country is at risk.' It is unfortunate that cholera, which used to be heard of once or twice in a decade, has now become an annual epidemic in this country. Even more unfortunate is the fact that despite its regular yearly occurrence, our authorities are always never ready to arrest the disease when the first few cases occur.
Lack of prompt government response and insufficient vaccines have been the first complaints from health workers directly on the scene of these outbreaks. The delayed official response leads to quick spread and avoidable deaths because help does not get to the affected people fast enough.
In Borno State, tales of vaccine shortage forcing affected victims to return home and resort to self-medication were rampant, with the result that victims could not be quarantined, and easily spread the infection to those around them."
" Almost 400 people have died since the recent wave of the cholera epidemic hit the nation two months ago. Latest figures show over 6,000 people have contracted the disease from the start of this new outbreak in Adamawa State in June this year.
A total of ten states have now recorded both thousands of cases and hundreds of fatalities arising from the epidemic. These states include Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Yobe, Taraba, Kaduna, Cross-River, Rivers and of course Adamawa.
This quick spread of the deadly disease confirms the federal ministry of health's warning that 'Although most of the outbreaks occurred in the North-West and North-East zones, epidemiological evidence indicates that the entire country is at risk.' It is unfortunate that cholera, which used to be heard of once or twice in a decade, has now become an annual epidemic in this country. Even more unfortunate is the fact that despite its regular yearly occurrence, our authorities are always never ready to arrest the disease when the first few cases occur.
Lack of prompt government response and insufficient vaccines have been the first complaints from health workers directly on the scene of these outbreaks. The delayed official response leads to quick spread and avoidable deaths because help does not get to the affected people fast enough.
In Borno State, tales of vaccine shortage forcing affected victims to return home and resort to self-medication were rampant, with the result that victims could not be quarantined, and easily spread the infection to those around them."
‘Perth flu’ warning in Bulgaria
Via The Sofia Echo :
" An influenza strain called the Perth H3N2 virus will spread in Bulgaria in the coming cold months, according to the head of microbiology at the Bulgarian Academy of Science, Bulgarian National Television said on August 30 2010.
Earlier, media reports and health advisories said that there had been cases of the flu in various states in the United States.
According to Bulgarian Academy of Science head of microbiology Angel Galabov, the virus – named after the city in Australia – is "lighter" than Swine Flu, which will circulate for a second consecutive year. The Perth H3N2 virus will peak at the end of 2010, Galabov said."
" An influenza strain called the Perth H3N2 virus will spread in Bulgaria in the coming cold months, according to the head of microbiology at the Bulgarian Academy of Science, Bulgarian National Television said on August 30 2010.
Earlier, media reports and health advisories said that there had been cases of the flu in various states in the United States.
According to Bulgarian Academy of Science head of microbiology Angel Galabov, the virus – named after the city in Australia – is "lighter" than Swine Flu, which will circulate for a second consecutive year. The Perth H3N2 virus will peak at the end of 2010, Galabov said."
New Zealand : Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 (swine flu) - Update 204
The latest H1N1 update from New Zealand's Ministry of Health, update 204 :
" Influenza H1N1 activity is continuing across the country, with variable rates of infection according to geographic region. Recent information suggests that some regions may be starting to see a decline in influenza activity, especially in the North Island where most activity has been occurring. However, it is too early to tell whether this is the start of a downward trend.
The number of calls to Healthline is still higher than normal, though the number of calls requiring assessment of influenza-like illness seems to be decreasing.
As at midday today, there have been 609 hospitalisations of laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1, including 14 people currently in intensive care. So far this year, a total of 99 people with confirmed H1N1 have been admitted to intensive care. These figures do not include influenza-like illness among people admitted to hospital without a positive H1N1 laboratory test result.
Since last Thursday's update, there has been an additional death linked to swine flu, bringing the total this year to 16. Twelve of these deaths have so far been confirmed as being due to swine flu. Further information on the latest death is available on Auckland DHB’s website."
" Influenza H1N1 activity is continuing across the country, with variable rates of infection according to geographic region. Recent information suggests that some regions may be starting to see a decline in influenza activity, especially in the North Island where most activity has been occurring. However, it is too early to tell whether this is the start of a downward trend.
The number of calls to Healthline is still higher than normal, though the number of calls requiring assessment of influenza-like illness seems to be decreasing.
As at midday today, there have been 609 hospitalisations of laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1, including 14 people currently in intensive care. So far this year, a total of 99 people with confirmed H1N1 have been admitted to intensive care. These figures do not include influenza-like illness among people admitted to hospital without a positive H1N1 laboratory test result.
Since last Thursday's update, there has been an additional death linked to swine flu, bringing the total this year to 16. Twelve of these deaths have so far been confirmed as being due to swine flu. Further information on the latest death is available on Auckland DHB’s website."
Nepal : Dengue, Leptospirosis detected in various parts of the country
Via Nepal News :
" Cases of dengue fever and Leptospirosis have been detected in various parts of the country including Kathmandu, Chitwan, Dhangadi, Nepalgunj, Kanchanpur, Bhairahawa, Tanahu and Dhading in the recent days, Kantipur daily reported.
The disease is spread from a kind of mosquito that breeds in fresh water. Tests have shown the two diseases are spreading fast in Chitwan.
Out of 72 samples of patients suffering from viral fever sent from Chitwan for special tests at the central laboratory in Kathmandu, ten samples tested positive for Leptospirosis, three for Dengue and one for both.
"Of the samples we found Leptosporis in ten, dengue in three and both in one," said Dr Geeta Shakya, director of the central laboratory. "There is a need to investigate further on these diseases."
Dr Basuedev Pande, a specialist doctor at Shahid Shukraraj Tropical and Contagious Diseases Hospital in Teku, warned of an epidemic if preventive measures are not taken soon.
"The cases of dengue has been found in many places of the country," said Dr Pande. "It will invite an epidemic if it is not controlled on time."
Dr Pande claimed two persons from Kathmandu were undergoing treatment for Dengue at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) and two Japanese nationals had also contracted the disease in Chitwan."
" Cases of dengue fever and Leptospirosis have been detected in various parts of the country including Kathmandu, Chitwan, Dhangadi, Nepalgunj, Kanchanpur, Bhairahawa, Tanahu and Dhading in the recent days, Kantipur daily reported.
The disease is spread from a kind of mosquito that breeds in fresh water. Tests have shown the two diseases are spreading fast in Chitwan.
Out of 72 samples of patients suffering from viral fever sent from Chitwan for special tests at the central laboratory in Kathmandu, ten samples tested positive for Leptospirosis, three for Dengue and one for both.
"Of the samples we found Leptosporis in ten, dengue in three and both in one," said Dr Geeta Shakya, director of the central laboratory. "There is a need to investigate further on these diseases."
Dr Basuedev Pande, a specialist doctor at Shahid Shukraraj Tropical and Contagious Diseases Hospital in Teku, warned of an epidemic if preventive measures are not taken soon.
"The cases of dengue has been found in many places of the country," said Dr Pande. "It will invite an epidemic if it is not controlled on time."
Dr Pande claimed two persons from Kathmandu were undergoing treatment for Dengue at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) and two Japanese nationals had also contracted the disease in Chitwan."
Indonesia : Meulaboh’s chickens test positive bird flu; Forty percent Indonesia’s bird flu victims are children
Via the ever reliable Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner, 2 different reports about bird flu :
Meulaboh, Aceh - Meulaboh’s chickens test positive bird flu.
" Meulaboh : Chickens in Seuneubok village, kecamatan (sub-district) Johan Pahlawan, Meulaboh, West Aceh found to have suddenly died since Friday (27/8).
Further investigation by Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response (PDSR), Agriculture of Livestock Service West Aceh confirmed those chickens died of bird flu H5N1.
Control measures had been taken by burning and burying dead chickens, also by culling the survivors."
Indonesia - Forty percent bird flu victims in Indonesia are children
" National Committee of Avian Influenza Control and Influenza Pandemic Preparedness (Komnas FPBI) recorded forty percent of 160 bird flu victims in Indonesia are children.
This was stated by Communication Specialist Staff, Arie Rukmantara in Padang, West Sumatera, Sunday (29/8) at a meeting of animal and human bird flu information dissemination for West Sumatera authorities.
“Data was taken from 2006 to 2009. Of forty percent cases mostly occurred in Jakarta, Banten and Surabaya,” said Arie."
Go to Ida's site for the respective links.
Meulaboh, Aceh - Meulaboh’s chickens test positive bird flu.
" Meulaboh : Chickens in Seuneubok village, kecamatan (sub-district) Johan Pahlawan, Meulaboh, West Aceh found to have suddenly died since Friday (27/8).
Further investigation by Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response (PDSR), Agriculture of Livestock Service West Aceh confirmed those chickens died of bird flu H5N1.
Control measures had been taken by burning and burying dead chickens, also by culling the survivors."
Indonesia - Forty percent bird flu victims in Indonesia are children
" National Committee of Avian Influenza Control and Influenza Pandemic Preparedness (Komnas FPBI) recorded forty percent of 160 bird flu victims in Indonesia are children.
This was stated by Communication Specialist Staff, Arie Rukmantara in Padang, West Sumatera, Sunday (29/8) at a meeting of animal and human bird flu information dissemination for West Sumatera authorities.
“Data was taken from 2006 to 2009. Of forty percent cases mostly occurred in Jakarta, Banten and Surabaya,” said Arie."
Go to Ida's site for the respective links.
India : Two die of swine flu, toll 19
Via Hindustan Times :
" Two women died of swine flu in Orissa, taking the total number of deaths due to the influenza to 19 in the state since July, an official said on Monday. The women died Sunday at the Veer Surendra Sai Medical College and Hospital in Burla town of Sambalpur district, about 350 km from here, an official of the state health control room said.
The number of people infected by the H1N1 virus went up to 79 in Orissa after four more people tested positive for the disease Sunday. Two cases each were reported from Burla and Bhubaneswar, he said."
" Two women died of swine flu in Orissa, taking the total number of deaths due to the influenza to 19 in the state since July, an official said on Monday. The women died Sunday at the Veer Surendra Sai Medical College and Hospital in Burla town of Sambalpur district, about 350 km from here, an official of the state health control room said.
The number of people infected by the H1N1 virus went up to 79 in Orissa after four more people tested positive for the disease Sunday. Two cases each were reported from Burla and Bhubaneswar, he said."
India : 2 more die of malaria in Mumbai
A report coming out of Mumbai, via Hindustan Times :
" Malaria claimed two more lives on Sunday, taking the toll of the mosquito-borne disease to 46 this month. The latest victims were a 66-year-old woman from Prabhadevi and a 45-year-old man from Byculla. Swine flu also killed one more Mumbaiite. A 45-year-old woman from Vikhroli (East) succumbed to the infection on Saturday.
“She was admitted to a private hospital on Thursday and was suffering from cold, fever and breathlessness. She was put on a tamiflu dose on the same day. But she died on Saturday due to inflammation of heart muscle along with swine flu,” said executive health officer, Dr GT Ambe.
He added that the woman was obese which made her more vulnerable to complications related to swine flu. Six more people also tested positive for swine flu and 731 others were hospitalised with various monsoon-related ailments. Of these patients, 171 had malaria, 489 had fever, 13 had dengue, 56 had gastroenteritis and two had leptospirosis."
" Malaria claimed two more lives on Sunday, taking the toll of the mosquito-borne disease to 46 this month. The latest victims were a 66-year-old woman from Prabhadevi and a 45-year-old man from Byculla. Swine flu also killed one more Mumbaiite. A 45-year-old woman from Vikhroli (East) succumbed to the infection on Saturday.
“She was admitted to a private hospital on Thursday and was suffering from cold, fever and breathlessness. She was put on a tamiflu dose on the same day. But she died on Saturday due to inflammation of heart muscle along with swine flu,” said executive health officer, Dr GT Ambe.
He added that the woman was obese which made her more vulnerable to complications related to swine flu. Six more people also tested positive for swine flu and 731 others were hospitalised with various monsoon-related ailments. Of these patients, 171 had malaria, 489 had fever, 13 had dengue, 56 had gastroenteritis and two had leptospirosis."
Pakistan : Dengue cases on the rise in Karachi
Via The Nation, diseases starts to flow in Karachi :
" KARACHI : Dengue Fever has resurfaced here in the provincial metropolis following the heavy monsoon rains, as dozens of patients with symptoms of the fever are said to have been reported in different hospitals of the city.
The patients are rushing to different health facilities with the symptoms of bleeding, high fever and vomiting, as rainy days are specific for breeding of mosquitoes causing dengue fever, which is largely an urban phenomenon.
The heavy torrential rains in the province may help activating victors (eggs) of the mosquitoes as rains have created new ponds which have the potential to multiply the incidence of the disease if the water of these temporary pools does not drain out immediately.
The water collected under air conditioner vents, and even unused WCs in the house can serve as breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquito. While the temperature from 22 to 30 degree centigrade help in the breeding of mosquitoes. However, dilemma of flood in the country, especially in Sindh may aggravate the situation. On the other hand, the Sindh Health Department has yet to activate its Dengue Fever Monitoring Cell despite the fact that several dengue cases have resurfaced in the city."
" KARACHI : Dengue Fever has resurfaced here in the provincial metropolis following the heavy monsoon rains, as dozens of patients with symptoms of the fever are said to have been reported in different hospitals of the city.
The patients are rushing to different health facilities with the symptoms of bleeding, high fever and vomiting, as rainy days are specific for breeding of mosquitoes causing dengue fever, which is largely an urban phenomenon.
The heavy torrential rains in the province may help activating victors (eggs) of the mosquitoes as rains have created new ponds which have the potential to multiply the incidence of the disease if the water of these temporary pools does not drain out immediately.
The water collected under air conditioner vents, and even unused WCs in the house can serve as breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquito. While the temperature from 22 to 30 degree centigrade help in the breeding of mosquitoes. However, dilemma of flood in the country, especially in Sindh may aggravate the situation. On the other hand, the Sindh Health Department has yet to activate its Dengue Fever Monitoring Cell despite the fact that several dengue cases have resurfaced in the city."
India : Suspected swine flu patient dies in PGI
Via Indian Express :
" A 28-year-old man suspected to have been infected with the H1N1 influenza, died at the PGI on Sunday.
The deceased was a doctor and resident of Baddi whose swab samples had been sent for testing and the results were awaited. The man had been undergoing treatment at Barotiwala for the past few days. As his condition deteriorated he was admitted to PGI.
His relatives were reportedly told by PGI doctors to cremate the body at the earliest and not to touch it. The cremation was done at the electric crematorium.
The test results of the doctor are expected by Monday. If swine flu is confirmed, this would be the second death due to the influenza in the tricity. A 48-year-old resident of Chandigarh had passed away at Fortis Hospital on Friday where he was undergoing treatment for the influenza.
Nodal Officer for swine flu Dr Abha Rana said: “His samples had been sent for testing. The result is likely to come by tomorrow. Only then can we confirm whether he was suffering from swine flu or not. There are other suspect cases also whose samples are being tested,” she says."
" A 28-year-old man suspected to have been infected with the H1N1 influenza, died at the PGI on Sunday.
The deceased was a doctor and resident of Baddi whose swab samples had been sent for testing and the results were awaited. The man had been undergoing treatment at Barotiwala for the past few days. As his condition deteriorated he was admitted to PGI.
His relatives were reportedly told by PGI doctors to cremate the body at the earliest and not to touch it. The cremation was done at the electric crematorium.
The test results of the doctor are expected by Monday. If swine flu is confirmed, this would be the second death due to the influenza in the tricity. A 48-year-old resident of Chandigarh had passed away at Fortis Hospital on Friday where he was undergoing treatment for the influenza.
Nodal Officer for swine flu Dr Abha Rana said: “His samples had been sent for testing. The result is likely to come by tomorrow. Only then can we confirm whether he was suffering from swine flu or not. There are other suspect cases also whose samples are being tested,” she says."
China : Hospitals to keep eye on superbugs
An article from Shanghai Daily, excerpt :
" A NETWORK of "surveillance" hospitals from each province and municipality has been set up by the Ministry of Health to monitor and research the so-called superbugs.
Research into multi-drug-resistant bacteria, or superbugs, will include NDM-1, which aroused concern recently after at least five people died in Britain and more than 170 people were infected worldwide.
Though NDM-1 hasn't been detected on the Chinese mainland, hospitals in Zhejiang Province, Beijing and Shanghai had found another superbug with similar resistance to almost all antibiotics, medical experts told a lecture on microbiology at Shanghai's Ruijin Hospital yesterday.
"The superbug NDM-1 is actually an enzyme called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase which makes bacteria resistant to most antibiotics," said Dr Ni Yuxing, director of clinical microbiology department of Ruijin Hospital, the city's surveillance hospital.
"A similar enzyme, plasmid-mediated imipenem-hydrolyzing enzyme KPC-2, has been found in domestic hospitals in recent years."
" A NETWORK of "surveillance" hospitals from each province and municipality has been set up by the Ministry of Health to monitor and research the so-called superbugs.
Research into multi-drug-resistant bacteria, or superbugs, will include NDM-1, which aroused concern recently after at least five people died in Britain and more than 170 people were infected worldwide.
Though NDM-1 hasn't been detected on the Chinese mainland, hospitals in Zhejiang Province, Beijing and Shanghai had found another superbug with similar resistance to almost all antibiotics, medical experts told a lecture on microbiology at Shanghai's Ruijin Hospital yesterday.
"The superbug NDM-1 is actually an enzyme called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase which makes bacteria resistant to most antibiotics," said Dr Ni Yuxing, director of clinical microbiology department of Ruijin Hospital, the city's surveillance hospital.
"A similar enzyme, plasmid-mediated imipenem-hydrolyzing enzyme KPC-2, has been found in domestic hospitals in recent years."
India : Swine Flu Death Toll in Orissa rises to 17
Via Breaking News Online :
" A five-year-old girl became the latest victim of Swine Flu in Orissa, taking the death toll in the state to 17. Swab samples of the girl, who died in Cuttack, were later tested positive.
The victim was identified as Tamisha Dabang. She hailed from Samitipada in Angul. She was first admitted to Cuttack Sishu Bhavan and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
The number of Swine Flu positive cases in Orissa has now gone up to 75. While 17 of them died of H1N1, 49 people have been discharged after treatment. Nine people are still being treated at various hospitals."
" A five-year-old girl became the latest victim of Swine Flu in Orissa, taking the death toll in the state to 17. Swab samples of the girl, who died in Cuttack, were later tested positive.
The victim was identified as Tamisha Dabang. She hailed from Samitipada in Angul. She was first admitted to Cuttack Sishu Bhavan and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
The number of Swine Flu positive cases in Orissa has now gone up to 75. While 17 of them died of H1N1, 49 people have been discharged after treatment. Nine people are still being treated at various hospitals."
India : AIIMS becomes dengue den, 1 dead
Via Times of India :
" NEW DELHI: AIIMS, the country's premier medical institute, seems to have become a hub of dengue cases. On Sunday, a 25-year-old son of an AIIMS staffer died of the disease and family members of many doctors living on campus have been diagnosed positive.
Doctors say as many as 40 to 45 dengue cases have been reported from the campus, though officials did not confirm this.
The situation, say faculty members, has not changed despite four notices and two consecutive challans served on the institute. Mosquito breeding continues to be high on the campus and the staff are paying the price for what NDMC chief medical officer R N Singh called the ``failure of the institute administration even after repeated warnings''.
Dr Randeep Guleria, professor in the medicine department confirmed the disease was rampant on campus. ``In our department, we are seeing eight to 10 cases of suspected dengue fever every day from within the institute,'' he said."
" NEW DELHI: AIIMS, the country's premier medical institute, seems to have become a hub of dengue cases. On Sunday, a 25-year-old son of an AIIMS staffer died of the disease and family members of many doctors living on campus have been diagnosed positive.
Doctors say as many as 40 to 45 dengue cases have been reported from the campus, though officials did not confirm this.
The situation, say faculty members, has not changed despite four notices and two consecutive challans served on the institute. Mosquito breeding continues to be high on the campus and the staff are paying the price for what NDMC chief medical officer R N Singh called the ``failure of the institute administration even after repeated warnings''.
Dr Randeep Guleria, professor in the medicine department confirmed the disease was rampant on campus. ``In our department, we are seeing eight to 10 cases of suspected dengue fever every day from within the institute,'' he said."
US : Flu vaccine now available, and nearly everyone should get it
An article from Kansas City :
" Just after the news that “swine flu” is no longer a global threat, it’s time to roll up our sleeves for another shot.
Flu vaccination season started early this year, and it’s expected to be bigger than ever.
A bumper crop of 160 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine is being produced, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. This is about 40 percent more than last year.
For the first time, the CDC is recommending universal influenza vaccination. Instead of confusing lists based on age and health status, now it’s simple: Everybody more than 6 months old is advised to get a shot.
“We in public health think that vaccination can benefit everybody. We’ve been moving in that direction for several years,” said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner.
“The bottom line is people can start getting vaccinated now. If it’s available, go get it."
" Just after the news that “swine flu” is no longer a global threat, it’s time to roll up our sleeves for another shot.
Flu vaccination season started early this year, and it’s expected to be bigger than ever.
A bumper crop of 160 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine is being produced, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. This is about 40 percent more than last year.
For the first time, the CDC is recommending universal influenza vaccination. Instead of confusing lists based on age and health status, now it’s simple: Everybody more than 6 months old is advised to get a shot.
“We in public health think that vaccination can benefit everybody. We’ve been moving in that direction for several years,” said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner.
“The bottom line is people can start getting vaccinated now. If it’s available, go get it."
India : 800 dengue cases in Delhi
Via Hindustan Times :
" Dengue cases increased alarmingly in the national capital as 59 more patients tested positive for the vector-borne disease, taking the total number of people being affected by it to 800.
The national capital has recorded two confirmed and three suspected dengue deaths this season. According to MCD, there are 59 new cases since yesterday. Among the total 800 cases so far, 676 have been reported from MCD areas, 91 from NDMC areas and the rest were from other parts of the city and outstation cases.
Among the fresh cases, the highest 14 have come from MCD Civil Lines Zone followed by Central Zone (12).
The MCD said it has deployed additional staff to tackle the situation in the worst-hit Central and South Delhi, from where 271 cases have been reported so far. It is also maintaining round-the-clock surveillance near all the Commonwealth Games venues, Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra said.
According to statistics released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the number of cases till this time in 2009 was only four. The figure was 67 and 17 in the same periods in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
Authorities are more worried about the spread of dengue as the city will host the Games in October, a month which generally sees high prevalence of the disease.
According to the MCD, in the previous years, the number of dengue cases and deaths were 1,153 and 3 (2009), 1,312 and 2 (2008), 548 and 1 (2007) and 3,366 and 36 (2006)."
" Dengue cases increased alarmingly in the national capital as 59 more patients tested positive for the vector-borne disease, taking the total number of people being affected by it to 800.
The national capital has recorded two confirmed and three suspected dengue deaths this season. According to MCD, there are 59 new cases since yesterday. Among the total 800 cases so far, 676 have been reported from MCD areas, 91 from NDMC areas and the rest were from other parts of the city and outstation cases.
Among the fresh cases, the highest 14 have come from MCD Civil Lines Zone followed by Central Zone (12).
The MCD said it has deployed additional staff to tackle the situation in the worst-hit Central and South Delhi, from where 271 cases have been reported so far. It is also maintaining round-the-clock surveillance near all the Commonwealth Games venues, Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra said.
According to statistics released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the number of cases till this time in 2009 was only four. The figure was 67 and 17 in the same periods in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
Authorities are more worried about the spread of dengue as the city will host the Games in October, a month which generally sees high prevalence of the disease.
According to the MCD, in the previous years, the number of dengue cases and deaths were 1,153 and 3 (2009), 1,312 and 2 (2008), 548 and 1 (2007) and 3,366 and 36 (2006)."
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Philippines : Dengue virus turns virulent, makes recovery more difficult
Via Inquirer :
" Health authorities yesterday warned the public against four strains of the dengue virus circulating in Cebu which could make their recovery from the mosquito born-disease more difficult.
Dr. Raymund Ogan, dengue coordinator of the Cebu City Health Department, said it would be more difficult for a person infected by two if not by four strains of the dengue virus to recover.
Ogan said the second infection would be more severe since a patient’s immune system had just barely recovered.
A person recuperating from one type of dengue virus is not immune to the three other strains.
Ogan said that a person infected with more than one dengue virus would immediately experience symptoms after three days compared to the eight to 15 days for only one dengue virus. The person’s health will also decline faster.
He said the strains of dengue are not classified according to the intensity of the virus. They only differ in the type of the carrier mosquitoes."
" Health authorities yesterday warned the public against four strains of the dengue virus circulating in Cebu which could make their recovery from the mosquito born-disease more difficult.
Dr. Raymund Ogan, dengue coordinator of the Cebu City Health Department, said it would be more difficult for a person infected by two if not by four strains of the dengue virus to recover.
Ogan said the second infection would be more severe since a patient’s immune system had just barely recovered.
A person recuperating from one type of dengue virus is not immune to the three other strains.
Ogan said that a person infected with more than one dengue virus would immediately experience symptoms after three days compared to the eight to 15 days for only one dengue virus. The person’s health will also decline faster.
He said the strains of dengue are not classified according to the intensity of the virus. They only differ in the type of the carrier mosquitoes."
Crof : Thinking about Pakistan
An excellent piece from Crof at H5N1. It's a must read, I wish I could write even half like that, excerpt from the article but please visit Crof's site for more :
" Floods in a faraway country may seem a bit off topic for a blog created to cover influenza, but the last year and a half has been an education for me: Nothing happens in isolation. Epidemics and pandemics don't wait for a convenient time to break out. They just aggravate everything else that's going on, and everything else aggravates the epidemics.
Everything else is indeed going on. Mike Coston and Arkanoid Legent are reporting tonight on H3N2 flu in Hanoi, and Chen Qi is covering dengue and chikungunya in Karnataka. So bear with me while I think about what's happening to the 170,000,000 million men, women and children in Pakistan.
This is a new country, founded in 1947 in a ghastly act of near-genocidal ethnic cleansing when the British got out of South Asia. But it sits on some of the oldest civilized ground on earth, where people living in mud-brick villages have earned a living from the Indus River for eight or nine thousand years. They have survived untold disasters before, including Alexander the Great, the Mongols, Tamerlane, and the Moghuls.
Modern Pakistan may lack its ancestors' resilience. Its civilian politics seems to depend on two or three aristocratic families, who kill one another off with dreary frequency."
" Floods in a faraway country may seem a bit off topic for a blog created to cover influenza, but the last year and a half has been an education for me: Nothing happens in isolation. Epidemics and pandemics don't wait for a convenient time to break out. They just aggravate everything else that's going on, and everything else aggravates the epidemics.
Everything else is indeed going on. Mike Coston and Arkanoid Legent are reporting tonight on H3N2 flu in Hanoi, and Chen Qi is covering dengue and chikungunya in Karnataka. So bear with me while I think about what's happening to the 170,000,000 million men, women and children in Pakistan.
This is a new country, founded in 1947 in a ghastly act of near-genocidal ethnic cleansing when the British got out of South Asia. But it sits on some of the oldest civilized ground on earth, where people living in mud-brick villages have earned a living from the Indus River for eight or nine thousand years. They have survived untold disasters before, including Alexander the Great, the Mongols, Tamerlane, and the Moghuls.
Modern Pakistan may lack its ancestors' resilience. Its civilian politics seems to depend on two or three aristocratic families, who kill one another off with dreary frequency."
Malaysia mulls landmark trial of GM anti-dengue mosquitoes
Via Channel News Asia, a new way to eradicate dengue? Only time will tell, excerpt from the article :
" KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is considering releasing genetically modified mosquitoes designed to combat dengue fever, in a landmark field trial that has come in for criticism from environmentalists.
In the first experiment of its kind in Asia, 2,000-3,000 male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes would be released in two Malaysian states in October or November.
The insects in the study have been engineered so that their offspring quickly die, curbing the growth of the population in a technique researchers hope could eventually eradicate the dengue mosquito altogether.
Females of the Aedes species are responsible for spreading dengue fever, a sometimes deadly illness that has killed 100 people so far this year in Malaysia alone.
The World Health Organisation estimates worldwide infections at 50 million annually. Numbers have grown dramatically in recent decades, due to rapid urbanisation and enhanced mobility that has carried the virus further afield.
The proposal field trial follows a series of lab tests conducted in Malaysia since 2006, and the government is seeking public feedback before moving to the next step.
But environmentalists are not convinced, and are concerned the genetically modified (GM) mosquito could fail to prevent dengue and could also have unintended consequences."
" KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is considering releasing genetically modified mosquitoes designed to combat dengue fever, in a landmark field trial that has come in for criticism from environmentalists.
In the first experiment of its kind in Asia, 2,000-3,000 male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes would be released in two Malaysian states in October or November.
The insects in the study have been engineered so that their offspring quickly die, curbing the growth of the population in a technique researchers hope could eventually eradicate the dengue mosquito altogether.
Females of the Aedes species are responsible for spreading dengue fever, a sometimes deadly illness that has killed 100 people so far this year in Malaysia alone.
The World Health Organisation estimates worldwide infections at 50 million annually. Numbers have grown dramatically in recent decades, due to rapid urbanisation and enhanced mobility that has carried the virus further afield.
The proposal field trial follows a series of lab tests conducted in Malaysia since 2006, and the government is seeking public feedback before moving to the next step.
But environmentalists are not convinced, and are concerned the genetically modified (GM) mosquito could fail to prevent dengue and could also have unintended consequences."
Cholera outbreak hits eastern China
Via AFP, excerpt :
" BEIJING : At least 30 people in eastern China have been stricken by cholera in recent weeks, with unsanitary food conditions believed to be behind the outbreak, state press said Sunday.
Twenty people remain hospitalised with the disease, which has spread in Mengcheng county of Anhui province over the past two weeks, the Beijing Times reported, citing local health officials.
Ten other patients have already left hospital, the report said. No deaths have yet been reported in the region.
Cholera causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to dehydration, and can be fatal if not treated quickly.
The Anhui outbreak is believed to have been caused by unsanitary food, the report said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cholera is surging again in parts of the world, especially in Africa as well as in impoverished nations like Afghanistan, Nepal and Papau New Guinea.
"Cholera, contrary to other illnesses, can generate panic because the death can take place in several hours," Claire-Lise Chaignat, of the WHO, said earlier this month."
" BEIJING : At least 30 people in eastern China have been stricken by cholera in recent weeks, with unsanitary food conditions believed to be behind the outbreak, state press said Sunday.
Twenty people remain hospitalised with the disease, which has spread in Mengcheng county of Anhui province over the past two weeks, the Beijing Times reported, citing local health officials.
Ten other patients have already left hospital, the report said. No deaths have yet been reported in the region.
Cholera causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to dehydration, and can be fatal if not treated quickly.
The Anhui outbreak is believed to have been caused by unsanitary food, the report said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cholera is surging again in parts of the world, especially in Africa as well as in impoverished nations like Afghanistan, Nepal and Papau New Guinea.
"Cholera, contrary to other illnesses, can generate panic because the death can take place in several hours," Claire-Lise Chaignat, of the WHO, said earlier this month."
Myanmar : Dengue fever kills 181 people in Yangon region in five years
From Xinhua :
" YANGON, Aug. 29 : A total of 181 people died of dengue fever in Myanmar's Yangon region alone in the past five years out of 19,000 such cases occurring in the region during the half decade, the local Flower News reported Sunday.
The five-year period ran from 2005 to 2009, the statistical report said.
However, according to the Yangon City Development Committee, the city saw less dengue fever occurrence in the first quarter of 2010 correspondingly.
According to earlier report, the number of people infected with dengue fever in the whole country in 2009 amounted to 3,129 with 37 deaths registered.
Meanwhile, the Myanmar health authorities is stepping up preventive measures against dengue fever in this sensitive rainy season by extending injection to people free of charge.
According to local report, the preventive measure is being taken with seven wards in Yangon's Hlaingtharya township where the disease occurs most."
" YANGON, Aug. 29 : A total of 181 people died of dengue fever in Myanmar's Yangon region alone in the past five years out of 19,000 such cases occurring in the region during the half decade, the local Flower News reported Sunday.
The five-year period ran from 2005 to 2009, the statistical report said.
However, according to the Yangon City Development Committee, the city saw less dengue fever occurrence in the first quarter of 2010 correspondingly.
According to earlier report, the number of people infected with dengue fever in the whole country in 2009 amounted to 3,129 with 37 deaths registered.
Meanwhile, the Myanmar health authorities is stepping up preventive measures against dengue fever in this sensitive rainy season by extending injection to people free of charge.
According to local report, the preventive measure is being taken with seven wards in Yangon's Hlaingtharya township where the disease occurs most."
India : Swine flu cases increase in August
Via Times of India :
" AHMEDABAD: There has been a sudden spurt in the number of swine flu cases in the city with at least four deaths recorded in the month of August. This has been the highest number of cases in the last four months. In the city's rural outskirts too, on Friday two cases of swine flu were reported from Karakthal and Dholka area. The contacts of these swine flu cases have been kept under watch.
A clear pattern that has emerged is that swine flu cases have a tendency to increase in August, when the rains begin to subside. If it was 54 cases last year in August with four deaths it is 33 cases and exactly four deaths in August this year too. This has led health authorities to gear up surveillance and awareness activities."
" AHMEDABAD: There has been a sudden spurt in the number of swine flu cases in the city with at least four deaths recorded in the month of August. This has been the highest number of cases in the last four months. In the city's rural outskirts too, on Friday two cases of swine flu were reported from Karakthal and Dholka area. The contacts of these swine flu cases have been kept under watch.
A clear pattern that has emerged is that swine flu cases have a tendency to increase in August, when the rains begin to subside. If it was 54 cases last year in August with four deaths it is 33 cases and exactly four deaths in August this year too. This has led health authorities to gear up surveillance and awareness activities."
India : With 67 new cases, dengue tally now 741
An article from Times of India :
" NEW DELHI: The number of dengue cases are increasing on an alarming rate in the capital. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) reported 67 new cases on Saturday. With this, the number of dengue cases has risen to 741.
"The number of cases would only increase now. With sporadic rains, there is lot of breeding happening in various pockets of Delhi. A majority of cases are coming from south and central zone,'' said Dr NK Yadav, MHO, MCD.
Meanwhile, city hospitals continue to report high incidence of dengue cases. Doctors say people are reporting with high grade fever and body ache."
" NEW DELHI: The number of dengue cases are increasing on an alarming rate in the capital. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) reported 67 new cases on Saturday. With this, the number of dengue cases has risen to 741.
"The number of cases would only increase now. With sporadic rains, there is lot of breeding happening in various pockets of Delhi. A majority of cases are coming from south and central zone,'' said Dr NK Yadav, MHO, MCD.
Meanwhile, city hospitals continue to report high incidence of dengue cases. Doctors say people are reporting with high grade fever and body ache."
Nepal : Diarrhea kills woman
Via Republica :
" BUTWAL, Aug 28: A woman died of diarrhea in Marchawar region of Rupandehi on Saturday.
The deceased is 43-year-old Phoolmati Kohar of Belkuiya village.
More than 21 people are suffering from diarrhea of whom five are critical, Rupandehi District Public Health Office (DPHO) said.
A team led by DPHO chief Maheshwar Shrestha had reached the region and started treatment immediately after being informed about the diarrheal outbreak."
" BUTWAL, Aug 28: A woman died of diarrhea in Marchawar region of Rupandehi on Saturday.
The deceased is 43-year-old Phoolmati Kohar of Belkuiya village.
More than 21 people are suffering from diarrhea of whom five are critical, Rupandehi District Public Health Office (DPHO) said.
A team led by DPHO chief Maheshwar Shrestha had reached the region and started treatment immediately after being informed about the diarrheal outbreak."
Philippines : Three die of dengue in Abra
Via Philippine Information Agency, more fatalities in Abra :
" Bangued, Abra (28 August) : At least three casualties of dengue have already been reported by the Abra Provincial Health Office headed by Dr. Godofredo Gasa.
In an interview over the local radio here with Catherine F. Cabunoc, head nurse of the Abra Provincial Hospital, there are now three reported deaths in the province caused by dengue.
Because of this, she urged the people to observe cleanliness in all places especially in houses, schools as well as offices and all other establishments to insure that breeding places for dengue biting mosquitoes are eliminated.
The provincial health department staff are now campaigning that people refrain from the use of flower vases for fresh flowers because these are the most potent breeding stations of dengue mosquitoes.
Cabunoc further warned the public of be cautious of the symptoms of dengue disease and to bring their patients to the hospitals for immediate clinical observation so that appropriate medical treatment could be administered to prevent deaths.
Meanwhile, the all-out campaign on dengue prevention is already on-going in the province with the barangay folks highly involved in the massive cleaning of the environment."
" Bangued, Abra (28 August) : At least three casualties of dengue have already been reported by the Abra Provincial Health Office headed by Dr. Godofredo Gasa.
In an interview over the local radio here with Catherine F. Cabunoc, head nurse of the Abra Provincial Hospital, there are now three reported deaths in the province caused by dengue.
Because of this, she urged the people to observe cleanliness in all places especially in houses, schools as well as offices and all other establishments to insure that breeding places for dengue biting mosquitoes are eliminated.
The provincial health department staff are now campaigning that people refrain from the use of flower vases for fresh flowers because these are the most potent breeding stations of dengue mosquitoes.
Cabunoc further warned the public of be cautious of the symptoms of dengue disease and to bring their patients to the hospitals for immediate clinical observation so that appropriate medical treatment could be administered to prevent deaths.
Meanwhile, the all-out campaign on dengue prevention is already on-going in the province with the barangay folks highly involved in the massive cleaning of the environment."
India : H1N1 claims 95 lives in Karnataka
Via New Kerala, this report has an update about dengue and chikungunya too :
" Bangalore, Aug 27 : The death toll due to dreaded H1N1 influenza in Karnataka was to 95 till August 25 this year, Minister for Health B Sriramulu said today.
Talking to newsmen here, he said 1702 people were affected by the H1N1 this year. Necessary instructions were given to District Health Officers (DHOs) to take all precautions and provide timely treatment to the affected.
Stating that there was no shortage of medicines, the minister said the responsibility has been fixed on DHOs and whoever was found responsible for any laxity would face strict action.
He said steps were also taken to fight chikungunya and dengue in view of the revival of the monsoon.
He said there were 927 chikungunya cases in the state, but no death had occurred, he said.
Dengue claimed one life while 1,294 had been affected by it, he added."
" Bangalore, Aug 27 : The death toll due to dreaded H1N1 influenza in Karnataka was to 95 till August 25 this year, Minister for Health B Sriramulu said today.
Talking to newsmen here, he said 1702 people were affected by the H1N1 this year. Necessary instructions were given to District Health Officers (DHOs) to take all precautions and provide timely treatment to the affected.
Stating that there was no shortage of medicines, the minister said the responsibility has been fixed on DHOs and whoever was found responsible for any laxity would face strict action.
He said steps were also taken to fight chikungunya and dengue in view of the revival of the monsoon.
He said there were 927 chikungunya cases in the state, but no death had occurred, he said.
Dengue claimed one life while 1,294 had been affected by it, he added."
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Vietnam : Doctors concerned about likely expansion of H3N2 flu virus in Hanoi
Via Saigon Daily :
" Medical workers fretted that seasonal H3N2 flu virus continued to be widespread in Hanoi and the disease is likely to erupt into epidemic.
Seasonal influenza viruses, H1N1 and H3N2, flow out of overlapping epidemics in Vietnam. Meanwhile H1N1 has been controlled, most influenza infections this season have been attributed to influenza A (H3N2) viruses.
According to Dr. Nguyen Hong Ha, deputy director of the National Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, there has been an increase of H3N2 patients. The hospital receives over 130 people suffering from the flu a day, doubling the number of last weeks.
All of patients experienced high fever, cough, respiratory problems, body pain, runny nose and sore throat. Tests proved the disease is caused by H3N2 virus. Dr. Ha stressed although it is normal seasonal flu, patients can suffer dangerous complications because H3N2 can cause pneumonia which leads to death. These people of the high risk group including pregnant women, the elderly, children, and people with chronic diseases are vulnerable to the virus."
" Medical workers fretted that seasonal H3N2 flu virus continued to be widespread in Hanoi and the disease is likely to erupt into epidemic.
Seasonal influenza viruses, H1N1 and H3N2, flow out of overlapping epidemics in Vietnam. Meanwhile H1N1 has been controlled, most influenza infections this season have been attributed to influenza A (H3N2) viruses.
According to Dr. Nguyen Hong Ha, deputy director of the National Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, there has been an increase of H3N2 patients. The hospital receives over 130 people suffering from the flu a day, doubling the number of last weeks.
All of patients experienced high fever, cough, respiratory problems, body pain, runny nose and sore throat. Tests proved the disease is caused by H3N2 virus. Dr. Ha stressed although it is normal seasonal flu, patients can suffer dangerous complications because H3N2 can cause pneumonia which leads to death. These people of the high risk group including pregnant women, the elderly, children, and people with chronic diseases are vulnerable to the virus."
Philippines : 8-year-old boy dies from dengue in Negros Occ.
An article from GMA News :
" An eight-year-old boy from Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental died from the dengue Thursday, after getting medical help too late.
The boy was the 21st dengue-related death this year in Negros Occidental and the sixth in Himamaylan, news site Visayan Daily Star reported Saturday.
The report did not name the boy, who was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City, but he was already in critical condition.
CLMMRH doctor Ceres Baldevia of the CLMMRH said the boy's mother said he had fever for three days but she did not bring him to a hospital for treatment because it was “trangkaso lang (just flu)."
When his fever subsided after the third day, the mother said she gave her son a bath and he started vomiting blood.
This prompted her to rush him to the Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial Hospital in Himamaylan City.
The boy arrived at the Himamaylan hospital with no more blood pressure and was later rushed to the CLMMRH, Baldevia said.
“At the CLMMRH we tried to stabilize his condition but he kept bleeding and we lost him after about seven to eight hours," Baldevia said.
She said the public must be informed that if a patient has been suffering from fever above 38 degrees he must be brought to a doctor for treatment.
One should not wait beyond 24 hours, Baldevia said."
" An eight-year-old boy from Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental died from the dengue Thursday, after getting medical help too late.
The boy was the 21st dengue-related death this year in Negros Occidental and the sixth in Himamaylan, news site Visayan Daily Star reported Saturday.
The report did not name the boy, who was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City, but he was already in critical condition.
CLMMRH doctor Ceres Baldevia of the CLMMRH said the boy's mother said he had fever for three days but she did not bring him to a hospital for treatment because it was “trangkaso lang (just flu)."
When his fever subsided after the third day, the mother said she gave her son a bath and he started vomiting blood.
This prompted her to rush him to the Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial Hospital in Himamaylan City.
The boy arrived at the Himamaylan hospital with no more blood pressure and was later rushed to the CLMMRH, Baldevia said.
“At the CLMMRH we tried to stabilize his condition but he kept bleeding and we lost him after about seven to eight hours," Baldevia said.
She said the public must be informed that if a patient has been suffering from fever above 38 degrees he must be brought to a doctor for treatment.
One should not wait beyond 24 hours, Baldevia said."
India : Chandigarh man dies of swine flu
Via Times of India :
" CHANDIGARH: A man has died of swine flu in Chandigarh's neighbouring Mohali town, a health official said here on Saturday.
Gurmeet Singh, 43, a resident of Sector 36 in Chandigarh, died of swine flu at a private hospital in Mohali late on Friday.
"Gurmeet was admitted in a hospital in Mohali Aug 20 and since then he was on life support system. He was suffering from swine flu and died of cardiac arrest late on Friday," Abha Rana, nodal officer of swine flu in Chandigarh, told IANS.
"We are also checking the health of people who had come in contact with Gurmeet during the past few days. Some of his family members have been quarantined and administered tamiflu dosage," she added.
Earlier this month, 48-year-old Malti Devi died of swine flu at civil hospital in Amritsar. Besides, around 10 suspected cases of the deadly H1N1 virus were reported in Chandigarh hospitals in August, out of which three tested positive."
" CHANDIGARH: A man has died of swine flu in Chandigarh's neighbouring Mohali town, a health official said here on Saturday.
Gurmeet Singh, 43, a resident of Sector 36 in Chandigarh, died of swine flu at a private hospital in Mohali late on Friday.
"Gurmeet was admitted in a hospital in Mohali Aug 20 and since then he was on life support system. He was suffering from swine flu and died of cardiac arrest late on Friday," Abha Rana, nodal officer of swine flu in Chandigarh, told IANS.
"We are also checking the health of people who had come in contact with Gurmeet during the past few days. Some of his family members have been quarantined and administered tamiflu dosage," she added.
Earlier this month, 48-year-old Malti Devi died of swine flu at civil hospital in Amritsar. Besides, around 10 suspected cases of the deadly H1N1 virus were reported in Chandigarh hospitals in August, out of which three tested positive."
India : 1 doc, 300 patients at H1N1 screening centre
Reading this article from Indian Express (posted below), just proves the fact that no doubt India is a country with a big population but the health care system is so fragile, its just waiting time to collapse.
That's why H1N1, dengue, malaria in India is more to cause fatalities compared to any other country which has a decent health care. Sometimes you just wonder when will this change?? The rich is getting richer and the poor is getting poorer.
" As many as 300 patients queued up on Thursday at the swine flu screening centre at Khinswara Hospital of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Thergaon. Two feet away, patients and relatives form a parallel queue for medicine from the pharmacist. There is yet another long queue of women waiting to meet the gynaecologist.
A lone doctor examines suspected swine flu cases in the serpentine queue extending outside the gates. From 9 am to 1.30 pm, she examines over 300 patients. The number is roughly the same on Mondays.
“On Mondays and Thursdays, we have over 300 patients undergoing checks for suspected swine flu. On other days, around 150-200 troop in,” says V D Sawant, hospital in-charge. The staff say there is so much rush the situation gets volatile if anybody tries to jump queue. “Waiting for long hours results in frayed tempers and heated exchanges,” they say."
That's why H1N1, dengue, malaria in India is more to cause fatalities compared to any other country which has a decent health care. Sometimes you just wonder when will this change?? The rich is getting richer and the poor is getting poorer.
" As many as 300 patients queued up on Thursday at the swine flu screening centre at Khinswara Hospital of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Thergaon. Two feet away, patients and relatives form a parallel queue for medicine from the pharmacist. There is yet another long queue of women waiting to meet the gynaecologist.
A lone doctor examines suspected swine flu cases in the serpentine queue extending outside the gates. From 9 am to 1.30 pm, she examines over 300 patients. The number is roughly the same on Mondays.
“On Mondays and Thursdays, we have over 300 patients undergoing checks for suspected swine flu. On other days, around 150-200 troop in,” says V D Sawant, hospital in-charge. The staff say there is so much rush the situation gets volatile if anybody tries to jump queue. “Waiting for long hours results in frayed tempers and heated exchanges,” they say."
India : Malaria threat not over: Medics
From Times of India :
" MUMBAI: Two more Mumbaikars succumbed to malaria on Thursday, taking the monsoon-related death toll this month to 52, 43 of which are due to malaria.
While a 58-year-old man from Worli who was admitted and died due to malaria on Thursday, another 55-year-old man from Govandi admitted on Monday, died on Thursday. These recent deaths take the total monsoon-related casualties to 87 from June this year, out of which 66 Mumbaikars have died due to malaria. But if last year's statistics are taken into consideration, then this year hasn't been much worse, say civic officials. "A total of 70 people died due to monsoon ailments last August, 39 of which succumbed to malaria,'' said a civic official."
" MUMBAI: Two more Mumbaikars succumbed to malaria on Thursday, taking the monsoon-related death toll this month to 52, 43 of which are due to malaria.
While a 58-year-old man from Worli who was admitted and died due to malaria on Thursday, another 55-year-old man from Govandi admitted on Monday, died on Thursday. These recent deaths take the total monsoon-related casualties to 87 from June this year, out of which 66 Mumbaikars have died due to malaria. But if last year's statistics are taken into consideration, then this year hasn't been much worse, say civic officials. "A total of 70 people died due to monsoon ailments last August, 39 of which succumbed to malaria,'' said a civic official."
Philippines : Dengue kills 7 in Cavite
From Manila Times :
" Seven people between 15 to 25 years old succumbed to dengue fever in Cavite province, the Provincial Epidermiology Office (PEO) reported on Friday. PEO Chairman Dr. Liza Capupus, said that four of the fatalities hailed from Dasmariñas City and the rest from Silang, Rosario and General Trias towns.
She also said that dengue ranked third in the list of killer diseases in the province, with 399 reported cases from January to August 26—a 51-percent increase from last year, which had 265.
The increase of dengue cases in Dasmariñas City, which began on January and peaked on July, prompted health authorities to raise serious concerns."
" Seven people between 15 to 25 years old succumbed to dengue fever in Cavite province, the Provincial Epidermiology Office (PEO) reported on Friday. PEO Chairman Dr. Liza Capupus, said that four of the fatalities hailed from Dasmariñas City and the rest from Silang, Rosario and General Trias towns.
She also said that dengue ranked third in the list of killer diseases in the province, with 399 reported cases from January to August 26—a 51-percent increase from last year, which had 265.
The increase of dengue cases in Dasmariñas City, which began on January and peaked on July, prompted health authorities to raise serious concerns."
India : 3 more H1N1 death take toll to 19
From Times of India :
" NAGPUR: The death of three more H1N1 positive women in the isolation ward of Government Medical College and Hospital on Thursday, has again underlined the higher susceptibility of women to the virus. Although all the three women died on Thursday, the hospital declared their death as H1N1 positive only on Friday after their reports were received from National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.
Each of them had some other underlying condition like diabetes, sickle cell and pregnancy. The death of these women has brought the death toll of swine flu patients at GMCH to 13 since April 1. Of these, 11 deaths have occurred since August 5."
" NAGPUR: The death of three more H1N1 positive women in the isolation ward of Government Medical College and Hospital on Thursday, has again underlined the higher susceptibility of women to the virus. Although all the three women died on Thursday, the hospital declared their death as H1N1 positive only on Friday after their reports were received from National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.
Each of them had some other underlying condition like diabetes, sickle cell and pregnancy. The death of these women has brought the death toll of swine flu patients at GMCH to 13 since April 1. Of these, 11 deaths have occurred since August 5."
India : 65 test positive for dengue on Friday; count reaches 674
An article from The Pioneer, dengue is picking up pace in New Delhi :
" Delhiites saw season's highest confirmed cases of dengue on Friday with 65 more patients testing positive for the mosquito-borne disease. With this the number of people affected by this disease has reached a massive figure of 674. Among the total 674 cases reported so far, 558 have been recorded from MCD areas, 84 from NDMC areas. The rest cases include patients from other parts of the city as well as patients from other States. Among the fresh cases , the highest 14 were reported from MCD Civil Lines zone, followed by 11 cases from the South Zone.
According to statistics released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the numbers of cases till this time in 2009 were only four. The figure was 67 and 17 in the same periods in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
According to the MCD, in the previous years, the number of dengue cases and deaths were 1,153 and 3 (2009), 1,312 and 2(2008), 548 and 1 2007) and 3,366 and 36 (2006)."
" Delhiites saw season's highest confirmed cases of dengue on Friday with 65 more patients testing positive for the mosquito-borne disease. With this the number of people affected by this disease has reached a massive figure of 674. Among the total 674 cases reported so far, 558 have been recorded from MCD areas, 84 from NDMC areas. The rest cases include patients from other parts of the city as well as patients from other States. Among the fresh cases , the highest 14 were reported from MCD Civil Lines zone, followed by 11 cases from the South Zone.
According to statistics released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the numbers of cases till this time in 2009 were only four. The figure was 67 and 17 in the same periods in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
According to the MCD, in the previous years, the number of dengue cases and deaths were 1,153 and 3 (2009), 1,312 and 2(2008), 548 and 1 2007) and 3,366 and 36 (2006)."
India : More men than women victims, says study
Via Times of India :
" PUNE: The H1N1 virus has claimed more men than women, an analysis of the gender pattern of H1N1 casualties in Pune district has revealed. The official data says that a total of 192 men died due to swine flu as against 181 women since August 2009 till date.
"The H1N1 virus has killed more men than women over the year. This gender pattern of the swine flu casualties has been seen across the globe," said Sharad Agarkhedkar, president of the city chapter of Indian Medical Association ( IMA).
"Women have been able to fight the infection better. Their defence mechanism is stronger than men's. They are genetically empowered with more disease-fighting capacity. Women have two X chromosomes that enable them to have more fighting capacity against any type of infection. We have observed that premature baby girls survive more often than baby boys because of these reasons. There are studies which substantiate these observations. Hence H1N1 infection has claimed more males than females," he said."
" PUNE: The H1N1 virus has claimed more men than women, an analysis of the gender pattern of H1N1 casualties in Pune district has revealed. The official data says that a total of 192 men died due to swine flu as against 181 women since August 2009 till date.
"The H1N1 virus has killed more men than women over the year. This gender pattern of the swine flu casualties has been seen across the globe," said Sharad Agarkhedkar, president of the city chapter of Indian Medical Association ( IMA).
"Women have been able to fight the infection better. Their defence mechanism is stronger than men's. They are genetically empowered with more disease-fighting capacity. Women have two X chromosomes that enable them to have more fighting capacity against any type of infection. We have observed that premature baby girls survive more often than baby boys because of these reasons. There are studies which substantiate these observations. Hence H1N1 infection has claimed more males than females," he said."
India : H1N1 claims two lives in City
Via Deccan Herald :
" The resurgence of the H1N1 influenza turned deadlier on Friday with the death of two women in separate private hospitals in the City.
A 22-year-old woman, who was seven months into her pregnancy, died early Friday morning at the Fortis Hospital in Sheshadripuram.
Dr Lloyd Nazareth, medical superintendent of the hospital, said the woman was suffering from fever and cold when she was admitted to the hospital on August 24. “Though we put her on ventilator and administered Tamiflu on the same day, she came very late. Her swab report confirmed her for flu,” he said.
Another woman, Krishna Kumari (40) was admitted to the hospital for a week and was on ventilator. In spite of being administered Tamiflu, she did not survive.
A resident of Vijayanagar, Kumari is survived by her husband and 10-year-old son. Doctors said she came with high fever and breathing problem. The hospital has one more confirmed case of H1N1 Influenza."
" The resurgence of the H1N1 influenza turned deadlier on Friday with the death of two women in separate private hospitals in the City.
A 22-year-old woman, who was seven months into her pregnancy, died early Friday morning at the Fortis Hospital in Sheshadripuram.
Dr Lloyd Nazareth, medical superintendent of the hospital, said the woman was suffering from fever and cold when she was admitted to the hospital on August 24. “Though we put her on ventilator and administered Tamiflu on the same day, she came very late. Her swab report confirmed her for flu,” he said.
Another woman, Krishna Kumari (40) was admitted to the hospital for a week and was on ventilator. In spite of being administered Tamiflu, she did not survive.
A resident of Vijayanagar, Kumari is survived by her husband and 10-year-old son. Doctors said she came with high fever and breathing problem. The hospital has one more confirmed case of H1N1 Influenza."
Puerto Rico : Baby’s dengue death lifts P.R. toll to 8
Dengue is back in Puerto Rico, an article from Carribbean Business :
" The death toll from the dengue epidemic in Puerto Rico hit eight as the number of cases of the mosquito-borne virus shot up again after a brief slowdown.
Health Secretary Lorenzo González said the latest fatal victim was a San Juan infant of less than a year old.
A total of 904 dengue cases were reported during the most recent week registered July 30-August 5), 734 cases above the epidemic threshold and 174 more cases than logged during the prior week. The 730 suspected dengue cases logged that week (July 23-29) marked the only slowing in the incidence of dengue since the epidemic was declared months ago.
Another two new cases of hemorrhagic dengue, the most serious strain, were confirmed in the most recent week reported, bringing the total to 27 for the year.
The municipalities with the most cases for the week were: Ponce, San Juan, Aguadilla, San Sebastián, Arecibo and Bayamón."
" The death toll from the dengue epidemic in Puerto Rico hit eight as the number of cases of the mosquito-borne virus shot up again after a brief slowdown.
Health Secretary Lorenzo González said the latest fatal victim was a San Juan infant of less than a year old.
A total of 904 dengue cases were reported during the most recent week registered July 30-August 5), 734 cases above the epidemic threshold and 174 more cases than logged during the prior week. The 730 suspected dengue cases logged that week (July 23-29) marked the only slowing in the incidence of dengue since the epidemic was declared months ago.
Another two new cases of hemorrhagic dengue, the most serious strain, were confirmed in the most recent week reported, bringing the total to 27 for the year.
The municipalities with the most cases for the week were: Ponce, San Juan, Aguadilla, San Sebastián, Arecibo and Bayamón."
WHO : Influenza - update 115
WHO's latest Influenza update, excerpt but please read the whole update :
" Situation update:
27 August 2010 : Worldwide, H1N1 2009 virus transmission remains most intense in parts of India and in parts of the temperate southern hemisphere, particularly New Zealand and more recently in Australia.
In India, the current national influenza H1N1 2009 epidemic, which first began during late May and June 2010 in the southern state of Kerala (co-incident with start of the monsoon rains), continues to remain regionally intense in several western and southern states as well as the in the capital. The western state of Maharashtra, which to date, has detected the highest numbers of cases (including fatal cases), continues to record the most intense influenza H1N1 2009 activity, however, the rate of increase in the numbers of new cases reported per week appears to have slowed during mid-August 2010, suggesting that current epidemic activity may be peaking. Increasing H1N1 2009 activity has also been reported in Delhi since early August 2010, and in the southern states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh since late July 2010. A number of other states, primarily in western and northern India, reported small numbers of new cases during the third week of August 2010, suggesting that low level circulation of H1N1 2009 may be more geographically extensive. Since late July 2010, the vast majority of influenza virus detections have been H1N1 2009.
In New Zealand, H1N1 2009 virus transmission remains active and locally intense, particularly in areas that were less affected during last winter's first pandemic wave. As of the third week of August 2010, the overall national weekly rate of consultations for ILI continued to increase above the seasonal baseline for the fourth consecutive week, however, the rate of increase in ILI consultations appears have slowed during the most recent reporting week, suggesting that peak epidemic activity may occur in the weeks ahead. Although the overall national rates of ILI consultations has not exceeded levels seen during the 2009 winter pandemic wave, several areas of New Zealand, most notably Hawke's Bay, Hutt Valley and Lakes, are all reporting local rates of ILI consultations that match or surpass rates seen at the national level at the peak of last winter's pandemic wave. The vast majority of influenza virus detections during the current epidemic period have been H1N1 2009."
" Situation update:
27 August 2010 : Worldwide, H1N1 2009 virus transmission remains most intense in parts of India and in parts of the temperate southern hemisphere, particularly New Zealand and more recently in Australia.
In India, the current national influenza H1N1 2009 epidemic, which first began during late May and June 2010 in the southern state of Kerala (co-incident with start of the monsoon rains), continues to remain regionally intense in several western and southern states as well as the in the capital. The western state of Maharashtra, which to date, has detected the highest numbers of cases (including fatal cases), continues to record the most intense influenza H1N1 2009 activity, however, the rate of increase in the numbers of new cases reported per week appears to have slowed during mid-August 2010, suggesting that current epidemic activity may be peaking. Increasing H1N1 2009 activity has also been reported in Delhi since early August 2010, and in the southern states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh since late July 2010. A number of other states, primarily in western and northern India, reported small numbers of new cases during the third week of August 2010, suggesting that low level circulation of H1N1 2009 may be more geographically extensive. Since late July 2010, the vast majority of influenza virus detections have been H1N1 2009.
In New Zealand, H1N1 2009 virus transmission remains active and locally intense, particularly in areas that were less affected during last winter's first pandemic wave. As of the third week of August 2010, the overall national weekly rate of consultations for ILI continued to increase above the seasonal baseline for the fourth consecutive week, however, the rate of increase in ILI consultations appears have slowed during the most recent reporting week, suggesting that peak epidemic activity may occur in the weeks ahead. Although the overall national rates of ILI consultations has not exceeded levels seen during the 2009 winter pandemic wave, several areas of New Zealand, most notably Hawke's Bay, Hutt Valley and Lakes, are all reporting local rates of ILI consultations that match or surpass rates seen at the national level at the peak of last winter's pandemic wave. The vast majority of influenza virus detections during the current epidemic period have been H1N1 2009."
Friday, August 27, 2010
Malaysia : Six died from dengue last week
Via Yahoo News, excerpt :
" KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 : A 24 year-old pregnant woman from Gelang Patah, Johor and a 16 year-old student from Batu Caves, Selangor were among six people who died from dengue fever in the last one week.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said in a statement here today four other deaths were recorded in Kelantan and Penang.
The victims were a 30 year-old fishmonger and a 24 year-old rubber tapper from Kuala Krai, a 46 year-old private sector worker from Kota Baharu and a food hawker from Penang.
States also saw increase in cases led by Kelantan (46), Perak (31), Terengganu (23), Kedah and (18), Johor (10), Selangor (8), Sabah (4) and Perlis (3).
Liow said deaths rose 48 percent from Jan-Aug 21 making a total 101 cases compared to 68 over the corresponding period last year."
" KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 : A 24 year-old pregnant woman from Gelang Patah, Johor and a 16 year-old student from Batu Caves, Selangor were among six people who died from dengue fever in the last one week.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said in a statement here today four other deaths were recorded in Kelantan and Penang.
The victims were a 30 year-old fishmonger and a 24 year-old rubber tapper from Kuala Krai, a 46 year-old private sector worker from Kota Baharu and a food hawker from Penang.
States also saw increase in cases led by Kelantan (46), Perak (31), Terengganu (23), Kedah and (18), Johor (10), Selangor (8), Sabah (4) and Perlis (3).
Liow said deaths rose 48 percent from Jan-Aug 21 making a total 101 cases compared to 68 over the corresponding period last year."
US : Portable PCR kit for detection of avian flu in wild birds
An article from Vetsweb :
" Researchers in the US carried out a field detection of avian influenza virus in wild birds and evaluated a portable rRT-PCR system and freeze-dried reagents.
Wild birds have been implicated in the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAIV) of the H5N1 subtype, prompting surveillance along migratory flyways. Sampling of wild birds is often conducted in remote regions, but results are often delayed because of limited local analytical capabilities, difficulties with sample transportation and permitting, or problems keeping samples cold in the field.
In response to these challenges, the performance of a portable real-time, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) unit (RAPID®, Idaho Technologies, Salt Lake City, UT) that employed lyophilized reagents (Influenza A Target 1 Taqman; ASAY-ASY-0109, Idaho Technologies) was compared to virus isolation combined with real-time RT-PCR conducted in a laboratory.
This study included both field- and experimental-based sampling. Field samples were collected from migratory shorebirds captured in northern California, while experimental samples were prepared by spiking fecal material with an H6N2 AIV isolate."
" Researchers in the US carried out a field detection of avian influenza virus in wild birds and evaluated a portable rRT-PCR system and freeze-dried reagents.
Wild birds have been implicated in the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAIV) of the H5N1 subtype, prompting surveillance along migratory flyways. Sampling of wild birds is often conducted in remote regions, but results are often delayed because of limited local analytical capabilities, difficulties with sample transportation and permitting, or problems keeping samples cold in the field.
In response to these challenges, the performance of a portable real-time, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) unit (RAPID®, Idaho Technologies, Salt Lake City, UT) that employed lyophilized reagents (Influenza A Target 1 Taqman; ASAY-ASY-0109, Idaho Technologies) was compared to virus isolation combined with real-time RT-PCR conducted in a laboratory.
This study included both field- and experimental-based sampling. Field samples were collected from migratory shorebirds captured in northern California, while experimental samples were prepared by spiking fecal material with an H6N2 AIV isolate."
Vietnam : Dengue fever claims two more lives in Ben Tre
Via Thanh Nien News :
" Two children in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre have died of dengue fever, increasing the mosquito-borne disease’s death toll since last month to five, a local official said Monday.
All of them were children, said Nguyen Van Thang, vice director of the provincial Department of Health.
Ben Tre currently has 2,654 people with dengue fever, up 379 from last week, according to Ben Tre Center of Preventive Health.
Ba Tri District is hardest-hit with 1,070 patients and 20-25 people hospitalized a day with the fever, which is caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes."
" Two children in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre have died of dengue fever, increasing the mosquito-borne disease’s death toll since last month to five, a local official said Monday.
All of them were children, said Nguyen Van Thang, vice director of the provincial Department of Health.
Ben Tre currently has 2,654 people with dengue fever, up 379 from last week, according to Ben Tre Center of Preventive Health.
Ba Tri District is hardest-hit with 1,070 patients and 20-25 people hospitalized a day with the fever, which is caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes."
India : H1N1 patient's death in Pune sparks warning
Via Times of India :
" PUNE: If one is suffering from cold, cough, fever, diarrhoea or sore throat basically any upper respiratory illness or even an attack of asthma he/she should not take the H1N1vaccine, said Sharad Agarkhedkar, president of the city chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), here on Thursday.
The IMA warning comes following the death of an H1N1 patient on August 24, 10 days after he was administered an intra-nasal vaccine in a private hospital.
Bhupendra Thakur (35) of Bhairoba Nallah in Pune Camp, was administered a dose of Nasovac, produced by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, on August 14, the victim's brother, Rajnikant Thakur, told TOI.
"Bhupendra was suffering from cold and cough since the first week of August, so we thought he should be given the vaccine as a precautionary measure. We purchased Nasovac from a medical store in Pune Camp and took him to a private hospital, where he was administered the nasal drops by a doctor. His condition worsened and he was taken to the Sassoon hospital on August 17, where he tested positive for the H1N1 flu. He was put on the ventilator, but he succumbed to the flu," Rajnikant said."
" PUNE: If one is suffering from cold, cough, fever, diarrhoea or sore throat basically any upper respiratory illness or even an attack of asthma he/she should not take the H1N1vaccine, said Sharad Agarkhedkar, president of the city chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), here on Thursday.
The IMA warning comes following the death of an H1N1 patient on August 24, 10 days after he was administered an intra-nasal vaccine in a private hospital.
Bhupendra Thakur (35) of Bhairoba Nallah in Pune Camp, was administered a dose of Nasovac, produced by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, on August 14, the victim's brother, Rajnikant Thakur, told TOI.
"Bhupendra was suffering from cold and cough since the first week of August, so we thought he should be given the vaccine as a precautionary measure. We purchased Nasovac from a medical store in Pune Camp and took him to a private hospital, where he was administered the nasal drops by a doctor. His condition worsened and he was taken to the Sassoon hospital on August 17, where he tested positive for the H1N1 flu. He was put on the ventilator, but he succumbed to the flu," Rajnikant said."
India : H1N1 claims two more, toll up to 370
An article from Times of India :
" PUNE: The H1N1 influenza claimed two more lives, taking the toll in the city to 370. According to state health officials, Bhupandra Thakur (35) of Bhairobanala died due to swine flu on August 24. He was suffering from cough and fever for eight days. Harshal Palaskar (30) of Akurdi died at YCM hospital on August 25. Palaskar had cold from August 13 and later had fever and cough from August 15. He had developed breathlessness and cough from August 18."
" PUNE: The H1N1 influenza claimed two more lives, taking the toll in the city to 370. According to state health officials, Bhupandra Thakur (35) of Bhairobanala died due to swine flu on August 24. He was suffering from cough and fever for eight days. Harshal Palaskar (30) of Akurdi died at YCM hospital on August 25. Palaskar had cold from August 13 and later had fever and cough from August 15. He had developed breathlessness and cough from August 18."
India : One dies of dengue in Delhi, 59 new cases reported
Via Hindustan Times :
" An 11-year-old girl died of dengue in the national capital as 59 more new cases of the mosquito-borne disease were reported, an official said on Thursday. "The girl was admitted in Safdarjung hospital and was a resident of Delhi," N K Yadav, chief medical officer of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), told IANS.
This takes to two the number of confirmed deaths due to dengue. Three deaths due to suspected dengue have also been reported in the capital.
The capital also reported 59 new cases of dengue, taking the total number of infected people to 609, Yadav added.
The Delhi government has launched a 12-hour special helpline -- 22307145 -- which will be operational 8 am-8 pm.
In addition, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in Shahdara and Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital are operating 24 hours to treat the patients."
" An 11-year-old girl died of dengue in the national capital as 59 more new cases of the mosquito-borne disease were reported, an official said on Thursday. "The girl was admitted in Safdarjung hospital and was a resident of Delhi," N K Yadav, chief medical officer of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), told IANS.
This takes to two the number of confirmed deaths due to dengue. Three deaths due to suspected dengue have also been reported in the capital.
The capital also reported 59 new cases of dengue, taking the total number of infected people to 609, Yadav added.
The Delhi government has launched a 12-hour special helpline -- 22307145 -- which will be operational 8 am-8 pm.
In addition, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in Shahdara and Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital are operating 24 hours to treat the patients."
New CDC flu numbers: This may not go well
This comes from Maryn McKenna at Superbug. As always she does wonders with her writing, excerpt (go to her site for the full context) :
" In public health, one of the numbers you hear most often — and especially so the past few years — is 36,000. That's the number of deaths that the CDC estimates occur in an average year from influenza.
Or rather, estimated. Because today, in its weekly bulletin MMWR and also in a teleconference for the press, the CDC announced that it is discarding that widely used number, in favor of newer numbers from newer studies that take into account the wide variation in illness and death from one flu season to the next.
The new estimate is: 23,607. Or, a range that goes from 3,349 to 48,614. Or, in the language recommended by a CDC scientist and a communications specialist in the press call, "tens of thousands of people [who] may die each year in an average flu season."
" In public health, one of the numbers you hear most often — and especially so the past few years — is 36,000. That's the number of deaths that the CDC estimates occur in an average year from influenza.
Or rather, estimated. Because today, in its weekly bulletin MMWR and also in a teleconference for the press, the CDC announced that it is discarding that widely used number, in favor of newer numbers from newer studies that take into account the wide variation in illness and death from one flu season to the next.
The new estimate is: 23,607. Or, a range that goes from 3,349 to 48,614. Or, in the language recommended by a CDC scientist and a communications specialist in the press call, "tens of thousands of people [who] may die each year in an average flu season."
Egypt announces 36th bird flu death
Via Almasryalyoum. A big thanks to Mike and Crof for the link :
" Egypt announced Thursday its 36th death linked to the H5N1 virus, commonly referred to as avian or bird flu.
The 33-year-old victim, a woman from Qalyubiya, was hospitalized in Cairo Wednesday after experiencing a high fever and difficulty breathing. The Ministry of Health suspects she contracted the virus through contact with infected poultry.
The World Health Organization says Egypt ranks third globally in H5N1 documented cases. The majority of the cases in Egypt have come as the result of close contact with infected domestic poultry. Approximately five million Egyptian families depend on poultry as an important source of food and income."
" Egypt announced Thursday its 36th death linked to the H5N1 virus, commonly referred to as avian or bird flu.
The 33-year-old victim, a woman from Qalyubiya, was hospitalized in Cairo Wednesday after experiencing a high fever and difficulty breathing. The Ministry of Health suspects she contracted the virus through contact with infected poultry.
The World Health Organization says Egypt ranks third globally in H5N1 documented cases. The majority of the cases in Egypt have come as the result of close contact with infected domestic poultry. Approximately five million Egyptian families depend on poultry as an important source of food and income."
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Taiwan reports year's first dengue fever death
From Focus Taiwan News Channel :
" Taipei, Aug. 26 : The Centers for Disease Control confirmed Thursday the country's first reported case of dengue fever fatality for this year.
The victim, a 75-year-old woman from Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan, succumbed to the disease Wednesday after being diagnosed Aug. 20 and reported Aug. 24 to have developed a potentially fatal complication called dengue hemorrhagic fever, according to CDC Deputy Director-General Chou Chih-hao.
She was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit because of a sudden drop in blood pressure, where she died of myocardial infarction, pneumonia and multiple organ failure, according to Chou.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, Chou said, adding that people suffering from chronic illnesses if infected with dengue fever are more likely to develop hemorrhagic fever, Chou added."
" Taipei, Aug. 26 : The Centers for Disease Control confirmed Thursday the country's first reported case of dengue fever fatality for this year.
The victim, a 75-year-old woman from Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan, succumbed to the disease Wednesday after being diagnosed Aug. 20 and reported Aug. 24 to have developed a potentially fatal complication called dengue hemorrhagic fever, according to CDC Deputy Director-General Chou Chih-hao.
She was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit because of a sudden drop in blood pressure, where she died of myocardial infarction, pneumonia and multiple organ failure, according to Chou.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, Chou said, adding that people suffering from chronic illnesses if infected with dengue fever are more likely to develop hemorrhagic fever, Chou added."
India : Hospitals choked as Delhi battles dengue
Via Deccan Herald, excerpt :
" Patients suffering from dengue are finding it difficult to get admission in city hospitals because of a sudden spurt in the number of cases and limited beds at these medical facilities.
Three hospitals in the city -- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital -- are taking maximum burden of dengue patients, despite having limited beds at their disposal thus choking the resources. Premier medical institute AIIMS has reported the highest number of admissions related to dengue fever till now. The city has reported 550 dengue cases and one death this season.
"All wards are full. Nearly 50 patients including children are admitted for dengue fever. Every day we get 10 to 15 new admissions. Some are confirmed cases while others are suspected cases. Those suspected are admitted for monitoring for sudden fall in platelet count or some additional symptoms along with high fever," a doctor with the Department of Medicine said."
" Patients suffering from dengue are finding it difficult to get admission in city hospitals because of a sudden spurt in the number of cases and limited beds at these medical facilities.
Three hospitals in the city -- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital -- are taking maximum burden of dengue patients, despite having limited beds at their disposal thus choking the resources. Premier medical institute AIIMS has reported the highest number of admissions related to dengue fever till now. The city has reported 550 dengue cases and one death this season.
"All wards are full. Nearly 50 patients including children are admitted for dengue fever. Every day we get 10 to 15 new admissions. Some are confirmed cases while others are suspected cases. Those suspected are admitted for monitoring for sudden fall in platelet count or some additional symptoms along with high fever," a doctor with the Department of Medicine said."
Nepal : One dead, 200 others take ill due to diarrhea
An article from Himalayan Times :
" NEPALGUNJ: At least one person was killed and more than 200 others have badly been affected by diarrhea in Banke district on Thursday.
The disease, which has been spreading in the district since last three days, claimed the life of 25-years-old Jaggu Raisad, a local resident of Udarpur VDC of the district.
More than 100 people are suffering from the disease in Ward No. 8 and 9 of Udarapur VDC and at least 150 people, in Sonpur VDC."
" NEPALGUNJ: At least one person was killed and more than 200 others have badly been affected by diarrhea in Banke district on Thursday.
The disease, which has been spreading in the district since last three days, claimed the life of 25-years-old Jaggu Raisad, a local resident of Udarpur VDC of the district.
More than 100 people are suffering from the disease in Ward No. 8 and 9 of Udarapur VDC and at least 150 people, in Sonpur VDC."
Indonesia : Pamekasan, East Java - Bird flu not transmitted to people
From Ida, at Bird Flu Information Corner :
" Pamekasan : Health Service of Pamekasan ensured bird flu H5N1 is not transmitted to chicken owner and neighbours.
“Medics have examined people who had direct contact with dead chickens. And they are clear,”said Head of Health Service, Hendro Santoso, Thursday (26/08).
Previous report mentioned a total 60 chickens in Kelurahan Bugih, Kecamatan Kota, Pamekasan died of bird flu. Chickens had been found dead since Saturday (21/8). After the finding, Health Service had been dispatched to examine people around the infected area."
" Pamekasan : Health Service of Pamekasan ensured bird flu H5N1 is not transmitted to chicken owner and neighbours.
“Medics have examined people who had direct contact with dead chickens. And they are clear,”said Head of Health Service, Hendro Santoso, Thursday (26/08).
Previous report mentioned a total 60 chickens in Kelurahan Bugih, Kecamatan Kota, Pamekasan died of bird flu. Chickens had been found dead since Saturday (21/8). After the finding, Health Service had been dispatched to examine people around the infected area."
Cuba reports 67 cases of imported dengue
Via Xinhua :
" HAVANA, Aug. 26 : Cuba registered 67 dengue patients who had been infected by the mosquito-borne disease outside of the island, a Public Health Ministry official said Wednesday.
"There aren't local cases of dengue" on the island, Otto Pelaez Sanchez, chief of the Department of Communicable Diseases, said.
The official said that 34 countries had currently reported dengue cases, but Cuba was the only one where the transmission was not active.
The provinces most at risk of transmission were Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Camaguey and Havana, due to the presence of the dengue-carrying mosquito, Aedes aegypti, he said.
The goal was to minimize the risk of transmission by eliminating mosquito breeding to prevent a national epidemic, he said."
" HAVANA, Aug. 26 : Cuba registered 67 dengue patients who had been infected by the mosquito-borne disease outside of the island, a Public Health Ministry official said Wednesday.
"There aren't local cases of dengue" on the island, Otto Pelaez Sanchez, chief of the Department of Communicable Diseases, said.
The official said that 34 countries had currently reported dengue cases, but Cuba was the only one where the transmission was not active.
The provinces most at risk of transmission were Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Camaguey and Havana, due to the presence of the dengue-carrying mosquito, Aedes aegypti, he said.
The goal was to minimize the risk of transmission by eliminating mosquito breeding to prevent a national epidemic, he said."
New Zealand : Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 (swine flu) - Update 203
The latest H1N1 update from New Zealand's Ministry of Health :
" Influenza H1N1 activity is continuing across the country, with variable rates of infection according to geographic region. Hawke's Bay has been experiencing the highest rates of influenza-like illness, with many people visiting their GP. Recent information suggests that some regions may be starting to see a decline in influenza activity, especially in the North Island where most activity has been occurring, however it is too early to tell whether this definitely the start of a downward trend.
The number of calls to Healthline is still higher than normal, and at a similar level to this time last year. Over the past week around a third of all calls to Healthline were from people seeking advice for influenza-like illness.
As at midday today, there have been 583 hospitalisations of lab-confirmed pandemic influenza H1N1 this year to date in New Zealand, including 13 people currently in intensive care with confirmed H1N1 (in intensive care at four hospitals in the North Island and two hospitals in the South Island). So far this year, there have been a total of 91 admissions of confirmed H1N1 to intensive care. These figures do not include influenza-like illness among people admitted to hospital without a positive H1N1 lab test result.
Pandemic influenza H1N1 is the most common strain of influenza circulating in the community, although most people will not be tested for it. For the majority of people it's a mild to moderate illness, but for some it can be serious.
So far this year there have been fifteen deaths reported as linked to swine flu. Eleven of these deaths have so far been confirmed as being due to swine flu. The five deaths reported since Monday's (23/8) update occurred in the Auckland and Waitemata DHB regions. Further information on these cases is available from Auckland and Waitemata DHBs websites."
" Influenza H1N1 activity is continuing across the country, with variable rates of infection according to geographic region. Hawke's Bay has been experiencing the highest rates of influenza-like illness, with many people visiting their GP. Recent information suggests that some regions may be starting to see a decline in influenza activity, especially in the North Island where most activity has been occurring, however it is too early to tell whether this definitely the start of a downward trend.
The number of calls to Healthline is still higher than normal, and at a similar level to this time last year. Over the past week around a third of all calls to Healthline were from people seeking advice for influenza-like illness.
As at midday today, there have been 583 hospitalisations of lab-confirmed pandemic influenza H1N1 this year to date in New Zealand, including 13 people currently in intensive care with confirmed H1N1 (in intensive care at four hospitals in the North Island and two hospitals in the South Island). So far this year, there have been a total of 91 admissions of confirmed H1N1 to intensive care. These figures do not include influenza-like illness among people admitted to hospital without a positive H1N1 lab test result.
Pandemic influenza H1N1 is the most common strain of influenza circulating in the community, although most people will not be tested for it. For the majority of people it's a mild to moderate illness, but for some it can be serious.
So far this year there have been fifteen deaths reported as linked to swine flu. Eleven of these deaths have so far been confirmed as being due to swine flu. The five deaths reported since Monday's (23/8) update occurred in the Auckland and Waitemata DHB regions. Further information on these cases is available from Auckland and Waitemata DHBs websites."
Barbados : Dengue outbreak as infected rises to 98
Via The Barbados Advocate :
" CHIEF Medical Officer, Dr Joy St John, confirmed that Barbados is in fact in a dengue outbreak.While on a tour of the Accident and Emergency Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Dr. St John expressed her concerns about the growing number of infected Barbadians and urged citizens to do their part to contain the vector population in their area.Dr. St John presented facts and figures that convincingly show the high increase in confirmed cases, but maintains that there are, as of yet, no confirmed deaths as a result of dengue fever or any of its types.
“To date, there have been ninety-eight confirmed cases of dengue fever and we have many more notifications coming in from all over the island. There have been eighteen persons hospitalised: Thirteen of those have been confirmed as dengue, five we are waiting on laboratory results. We have three confirmed cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever, one was a clinical diagnosis."
" CHIEF Medical Officer, Dr Joy St John, confirmed that Barbados is in fact in a dengue outbreak.While on a tour of the Accident and Emergency Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Dr. St John expressed her concerns about the growing number of infected Barbadians and urged citizens to do their part to contain the vector population in their area.Dr. St John presented facts and figures that convincingly show the high increase in confirmed cases, but maintains that there are, as of yet, no confirmed deaths as a result of dengue fever or any of its types.
“To date, there have been ninety-eight confirmed cases of dengue fever and we have many more notifications coming in from all over the island. There have been eighteen persons hospitalised: Thirteen of those have been confirmed as dengue, five we are waiting on laboratory results. We have three confirmed cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever, one was a clinical diagnosis."
India : Growing dengue cases cause concern
Via The Asian Age :
" With 54 fresh cases reported on Wednesday, the total number of dengue cases in the capital reached 530, raising questions over the ability of the civic agencies to check the spread of the disease in time for the Common-wealth Games. The fact that the incidence of dengue tends to go up in the month of September and continues till the better part of October, which is the time when the Games are going to be held, can only worsen the situation.
A dengue awareness and prevention programme was launched by the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences. The hospital has organised a preview of its facilities and full preparedness to deal with dengue cases reported from Delhi and the surrounding NCR areas.Dr N.K. Pandey, chief surgeon, Chairman & MD, AIMS, said, “It is essential to promote dengue awareness and dengue prevention camps in Delhi, NCR regions.
50-100 million dengue fever infections per year are reported globally. We at AIMS are fully prepared to deal with the dengue virus. We have made special arrangements to treat dengue patients.”
" With 54 fresh cases reported on Wednesday, the total number of dengue cases in the capital reached 530, raising questions over the ability of the civic agencies to check the spread of the disease in time for the Common-wealth Games. The fact that the incidence of dengue tends to go up in the month of September and continues till the better part of October, which is the time when the Games are going to be held, can only worsen the situation.
A dengue awareness and prevention programme was launched by the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences. The hospital has organised a preview of its facilities and full preparedness to deal with dengue cases reported from Delhi and the surrounding NCR areas.Dr N.K. Pandey, chief surgeon, Chairman & MD, AIMS, said, “It is essential to promote dengue awareness and dengue prevention camps in Delhi, NCR regions.
50-100 million dengue fever infections per year are reported globally. We at AIMS are fully prepared to deal with the dengue virus. We have made special arrangements to treat dengue patients.”
Australia : Swine flu cases rising in Australia
An article from Brisbane Times :
" It has arrived much later this winter, but experts say the swine flu is now on Australia's doorstep.
Transmission of the a(H1N1) virus has been elevated in New Zealand for several weeks, The Influenza Specialist Group (ISG) reports, and a jump in new infections was also now emerging in Australia.
"The timing of the flu season can vary somewhat each year," said ISG chairman Dr Alan Hampson.
"Current data now show that infections are on the increase in Australia and influenza is now at significant levels in New Zealand, which usually shortly precedes Australia.
"To us this means that outbreaks are imminent."
" It has arrived much later this winter, but experts say the swine flu is now on Australia's doorstep.
Transmission of the a(H1N1) virus has been elevated in New Zealand for several weeks, The Influenza Specialist Group (ISG) reports, and a jump in new infections was also now emerging in Australia.
"The timing of the flu season can vary somewhat each year," said ISG chairman Dr Alan Hampson.
"Current data now show that infections are on the increase in Australia and influenza is now at significant levels in New Zealand, which usually shortly precedes Australia.
"To us this means that outbreaks are imminent."
India : Two succumb to malaria in 2 days
From Hindustan Times :
" Two people died of malaria in the city in the last two days, taking the total death toll to 38 this month. One of the victims was a 42-year-old woman from Mahim, who had been admitted to hospital on August 21 and died two days later. The other victim was a 65-year-old man from Ghatkopar. He had been admitted to the hospital on August 22 and died on August 24.
On Wednesday alone, public hospitals admitting 151 new malaria patients. More than 4,600 patients have been admitted to public hospitals since August 1."
" Two people died of malaria in the city in the last two days, taking the total death toll to 38 this month. One of the victims was a 42-year-old woman from Mahim, who had been admitted to hospital on August 21 and died two days later. The other victim was a 65-year-old man from Ghatkopar. He had been admitted to the hospital on August 22 and died on August 24.
On Wednesday alone, public hospitals admitting 151 new malaria patients. More than 4,600 patients have been admitted to public hospitals since August 1."
Cholera Claimed 352 Lives in 11 States, Says FG
Via This Day :
" The Federal Government yesterday gave an update on the number of casualties resulting from the cholera outbreak across the country, saying the disease has so far caused the death of 352 persons in the last seven months.According to statistics made available to THISDAY by the Special Assistant on (Communications), Rakiya Zubairu, cholera disease has claimed a total of 352 lives in 11 states of the country between January and August 25th, 2010.
The states are Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Cross River, Kaduna and Rivers.An update provided by the Federal Ministry of Health through the Special Assistant to the Minister on Communication, Rakiya Zubairu also gave the total number of reported cases of cholera within the period as 6,597.
The Ministry said outbreaks of Cholera in most states particularly in the North- eastern part of the country this year were as a result of heavy rains in most parts of the country leading to flooding in many communities."
" The Federal Government yesterday gave an update on the number of casualties resulting from the cholera outbreak across the country, saying the disease has so far caused the death of 352 persons in the last seven months.According to statistics made available to THISDAY by the Special Assistant on (Communications), Rakiya Zubairu, cholera disease has claimed a total of 352 lives in 11 states of the country between January and August 25th, 2010.
The states are Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Cross River, Kaduna and Rivers.An update provided by the Federal Ministry of Health through the Special Assistant to the Minister on Communication, Rakiya Zubairu also gave the total number of reported cases of cholera within the period as 6,597.
The Ministry said outbreaks of Cholera in most states particularly in the North- eastern part of the country this year were as a result of heavy rains in most parts of the country leading to flooding in many communities."
India : Now, chikungunya rears its head
Via DNA India :
" It’s the season for mosquito-borne illnesses. After malaria and dengue, yet another mosquito-borne viral illness, chikungunya, has reared its head, much to the dismay of overburdened doctors and patients in the city.
“There has been a sudden spurt in dengue and chikungunya cases,” said Dr Om Shrivastav, consultant on infectious diseases, Jaslok Hospital, and unit head at Kasturba.
According to doctors, what is worrying is that the infection may go unrecognised or be misdiagnosed as dengue. This is because chikungunya symptoms, like chills, joint pain, body ache, etc, are quite similar to the ones for dengue. "
" It’s the season for mosquito-borne illnesses. After malaria and dengue, yet another mosquito-borne viral illness, chikungunya, has reared its head, much to the dismay of overburdened doctors and patients in the city.
“There has been a sudden spurt in dengue and chikungunya cases,” said Dr Om Shrivastav, consultant on infectious diseases, Jaslok Hospital, and unit head at Kasturba.
According to doctors, what is worrying is that the infection may go unrecognised or be misdiagnosed as dengue. This is because chikungunya symptoms, like chills, joint pain, body ache, etc, are quite similar to the ones for dengue. "
Bahrain geared to contain flu virus
An article from Gulf Daily News :
" BAHRAIN is fully prepared to handle any situation related to a possible surge in H1N1 swine flu cases, a top official said yesterday.
The ministry has vigilant staff and the Public Health Laboratory is fully prepared to handle any situation, said Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer.
"There are also plenty of anti-flu drugs and other medication available," he said following a meeting with senior officials held yesterday at the ministry in Juffair.
"Isolation and intensive care facilities at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) are ready to receive patients and emergency services are on standby."
The meeting was called by Dr Al Hamer following directives from His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa after two cases of HIN1 were reported on Monday.
The two men, an Indian and a Pakistani, are reported to be in critical condition at the SMC."
" BAHRAIN is fully prepared to handle any situation related to a possible surge in H1N1 swine flu cases, a top official said yesterday.
The ministry has vigilant staff and the Public Health Laboratory is fully prepared to handle any situation, said Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer.
"There are also plenty of anti-flu drugs and other medication available," he said following a meeting with senior officials held yesterday at the ministry in Juffair.
"Isolation and intensive care facilities at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) are ready to receive patients and emergency services are on standby."
The meeting was called by Dr Al Hamer following directives from His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa after two cases of HIN1 were reported on Monday.
The two men, an Indian and a Pakistani, are reported to be in critical condition at the SMC."
Philippines : Dengue express lanes in local hospitals pushed
Via Sun Star :
" AMID the continuous increase in the number of dengue cases in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) is strongly urging local government units to set up express lanes in their hospitals.
In a phone interview, DOH-Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases Unit Manager Lyndon Lee Suy advised local hospitals to replicate the putting up of express lanes in DOH-run hospitals.
“We encourage them to set up express lanes para ma-accommodate yung mga suspected cases of dengue nationwide,” said Lee Suy.
Back in 2006, then DOH chief Francisco Duque ordered the establishment of dengue express lanes for faster case management and treatment in all the 72 DOH-run hospitals.
On Tuesday, the health department said there are 54,659 cases recorded in hospitals in the Philippines."
" AMID the continuous increase in the number of dengue cases in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) is strongly urging local government units to set up express lanes in their hospitals.
In a phone interview, DOH-Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases Unit Manager Lyndon Lee Suy advised local hospitals to replicate the putting up of express lanes in DOH-run hospitals.
“We encourage them to set up express lanes para ma-accommodate yung mga suspected cases of dengue nationwide,” said Lee Suy.
Back in 2006, then DOH chief Francisco Duque ordered the establishment of dengue express lanes for faster case management and treatment in all the 72 DOH-run hospitals.
On Tuesday, the health department said there are 54,659 cases recorded in hospitals in the Philippines."
India : Woman dies of swine flu in Jamnagar, 4 new cases admitted
Via Times of India, excerpt :
" JAMNAGAR: One person succumbed to swine flu while four new cases of the disease were admitted to Jamnagar's Guru Govindsinh (GG) hospital in the past 48 hours, authorities said on Wednesday.
According to hospital sources, Damyanti Nanani, 60, a resident of Jamnagar, died at the hospital at 9.30 pm. She had been admitted two days ago and tested positive for the disease on Tuesday morning."
" JAMNAGAR: One person succumbed to swine flu while four new cases of the disease were admitted to Jamnagar's Guru Govindsinh (GG) hospital in the past 48 hours, authorities said on Wednesday.
According to hospital sources, Damyanti Nanani, 60, a resident of Jamnagar, died at the hospital at 9.30 pm. She had been admitted two days ago and tested positive for the disease on Tuesday morning."
Pune, India : H1N1 menace continues; three dead, toll up to 368
The death toll rises in Pune, India due to H1N1. Looks like H1N1 is not over yet in India. A report from Times of India :
" PUNE: The H1N1 influenza claimed three more lives, taking the death toll in the city to 368 since August 2009. Of the three dead, one is from Ahmednagar district. According to state health officials, Shailesh Vasant Kandhare (32), a resident Kasarwadi, died due to swine flu at 3 am at YCM Hospital on August 22. His throat swab report came on Tuesday, declaring him positive for the H1N1 virus.
Lalitha Mogalappa Dhangar (14), a resident of Lohianagar, fell victim to the virus at 12.15 am at Bharati Hospital on August 24. She tested positive on August 21. Manisha Chandev Thorat (30), a resident of Karjat in Ahmednagar district, died due to swine flu at 6.15 am at Sassoon Hospital on August 24. She had tested positive for the virus on August 23."
" PUNE: The H1N1 influenza claimed three more lives, taking the death toll in the city to 368 since August 2009. Of the three dead, one is from Ahmednagar district. According to state health officials, Shailesh Vasant Kandhare (32), a resident Kasarwadi, died due to swine flu at 3 am at YCM Hospital on August 22. His throat swab report came on Tuesday, declaring him positive for the H1N1 virus.
Lalitha Mogalappa Dhangar (14), a resident of Lohianagar, fell victim to the virus at 12.15 am at Bharati Hospital on August 24. She tested positive on August 21. Manisha Chandev Thorat (30), a resident of Karjat in Ahmednagar district, died due to swine flu at 6.15 am at Sassoon Hospital on August 24. She had tested positive for the virus on August 23."
India : 17-yr-old boy succumbs to swine flu; toll rises to 17
An article from New Kerala :
" Nashik, Aug 25 : A 17-year-old boy succumbed to the deadly H1N1 virus here, taking the death toll of swine flu to 17 in the district.
The victim, identified as Jayesh Baban Jaldhar, a resident of Nashik road area, was admitted to the Dr Zakir Hussain civil hospital on August 18, where he died yesterday.
His blood sample had been sent to National Institute of Virology at Pune for testing. The report is still awaited, hospital sources said."
" Nashik, Aug 25 : A 17-year-old boy succumbed to the deadly H1N1 virus here, taking the death toll of swine flu to 17 in the district.
The victim, identified as Jayesh Baban Jaldhar, a resident of Nashik road area, was admitted to the Dr Zakir Hussain civil hospital on August 18, where he died yesterday.
His blood sample had been sent to National Institute of Virology at Pune for testing. The report is still awaited, hospital sources said."
KUNA: Egypt Announces 112th Bird Flu Infection
From the Superman of Flublogia, Mike Coston at Avian Flu Diary, thanks Mike! :
" From the Kuwaiti News Service, KUNA today, we have this brief announcement of a new human infection by the H5N1 virus in Egypt.
I’ve run the original Arabic through the Google Translator (this link - please go to Mike's site for the link) to produce the following:
Egyptian Ministry of Health declares human infection with bird flu, No. 112
Health 08/25/2010 5:39:00 PM
Cairo - 25-8 (KUNA) - Ministry of Health announced today that No. 112 of human infection with bird flu since the disease appeared in Egypt, noting that they belong to a woman, aged 33, from Qaliubiya described her condition critical."
" From the Kuwaiti News Service, KUNA today, we have this brief announcement of a new human infection by the H5N1 virus in Egypt.
I’ve run the original Arabic through the Google Translator (this link - please go to Mike's site for the link) to produce the following:
Egyptian Ministry of Health declares human infection with bird flu, No. 112
Health 08/25/2010 5:39:00 PM
Cairo - 25-8 (KUNA) - Ministry of Health announced today that No. 112 of human infection with bird flu since the disease appeared in Egypt, noting that they belong to a woman, aged 33, from Qaliubiya described her condition critical."
Health alert in Bolivia after teen dies from plague
Via AFP (hosted by Google) :
" LA PAZ : Bolivia declared a health alert Tuesday in northern La Paz department after a 14-year-old boy died from bubonic plague, the Health Ministry said.
An emergency plan will "increase health controls and prevention programs... in communities where an increase of rodents and fleas has been reported," regional Health Minister Rene Barrientos said.
So far, eight cases of bubonic plague, including the death of the teenager, have been reported in Apolo, a town with 5,000 inhabitants bordering Peru, where three people have died after an outbreak of plague in the past two months."
" LA PAZ : Bolivia declared a health alert Tuesday in northern La Paz department after a 14-year-old boy died from bubonic plague, the Health Ministry said.
An emergency plan will "increase health controls and prevention programs... in communities where an increase of rodents and fleas has been reported," regional Health Minister Rene Barrientos said.
So far, eight cases of bubonic plague, including the death of the teenager, have been reported in Apolo, a town with 5,000 inhabitants bordering Peru, where three people have died after an outbreak of plague in the past two months."
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
India : 54 test positive in a day, dengue cases reach 550 in Delhi
India, with its vast population has so many diseases to deal with - malaria, cholera, H1N1, diarrhea and list goes on and on. This time dengue is running rampant in New Delhi, an article from The Hindu.
" The national capital on Wednesday recorded the highest single-day incidence of dengue this season with 54 more patients testing positive for the disease, taking the total number of cases to 550.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said it has deployed additional staff to tackle the situation in worst-hit Central and South Delhi from where 209 cases have been reported so far. It is also maintaining round-the-clock surveillance near all the Commonwealth Games venues, Municipal Commissioner K. S. Mehra said.
According to statistics released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the number of cases till this time in 2009 was only three. The figure was 63 and 15 in the same periods in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
The civic body has said there were one confirmed and three suspected dengue deaths this season though private hospitals are giving a much higher figure.
According to the MCD, there were 54 new cases since Tuesday. Among the total 550 cases so far, 446 have been reported from MCD areas, 73 from NDMC areas and the rest were from other parts of the city and outstation cases."
" The national capital on Wednesday recorded the highest single-day incidence of dengue this season with 54 more patients testing positive for the disease, taking the total number of cases to 550.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said it has deployed additional staff to tackle the situation in worst-hit Central and South Delhi from where 209 cases have been reported so far. It is also maintaining round-the-clock surveillance near all the Commonwealth Games venues, Municipal Commissioner K. S. Mehra said.
According to statistics released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the number of cases till this time in 2009 was only three. The figure was 63 and 15 in the same periods in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
The civic body has said there were one confirmed and three suspected dengue deaths this season though private hospitals are giving a much higher figure.
According to the MCD, there were 54 new cases since Tuesday. Among the total 550 cases so far, 446 have been reported from MCD areas, 73 from NDMC areas and the rest were from other parts of the city and outstation cases."
India : Three more succumb to H1N1 in Pune
Via Times of India :
" PUNE: Three more persons succumbed to swine flu in the city taking the death toll to 368 even as health authorities stepped up efforts to combat the pandemic which has started showing an upward trend once again with the onset of monsoon.
The number of designated hospitals to treat the H1N1 infection has been increased to 25 with provision of 501 cots in the isolation wards. About 25 patients are reported to be on ventilator, according to the latest figures circulated by district officials.
They said civic health department was gearing up to meet a possibility of further spurt in transmission of the virus during the ensuing Ganesh festival that would attract large crowds for the ten-day celebrations."
" PUNE: Three more persons succumbed to swine flu in the city taking the death toll to 368 even as health authorities stepped up efforts to combat the pandemic which has started showing an upward trend once again with the onset of monsoon.
The number of designated hospitals to treat the H1N1 infection has been increased to 25 with provision of 501 cots in the isolation wards. About 25 patients are reported to be on ventilator, according to the latest figures circulated by district officials.
They said civic health department was gearing up to meet a possibility of further spurt in transmission of the virus during the ensuing Ganesh festival that would attract large crowds for the ten-day celebrations."
Martinique and Guadeloupe : Dengue death toll rises to 18 in French islands
A report from Xinhua :
" PARIS, Aug. 24 : The death toll from an outbreak of dengue fever in the French Caribbean islands Martinique and Guadeloupe about six months ago has risen to 18, local media reported on Tuesday.
About 26,000 people have been infected with the mosquito-borne disease in Martinique and 13 of them have died.
Some 33,000 cases have been reported in Guadeloupe and five have died, with the fifth victim, a 16-year-old teenager, having also suffered from sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disease, said Patrick Portecop, director of the local emergency department.
He said patients who have sickle cell anemia or diabetes must be given special care if they were infected with dengue fever.
Portecop added that no cases of hemorrhagic dengue, which is much more dangerous than the classic type, had been reported yet in Guadeloupe."
" PARIS, Aug. 24 : The death toll from an outbreak of dengue fever in the French Caribbean islands Martinique and Guadeloupe about six months ago has risen to 18, local media reported on Tuesday.
About 26,000 people have been infected with the mosquito-borne disease in Martinique and 13 of them have died.
Some 33,000 cases have been reported in Guadeloupe and five have died, with the fifth victim, a 16-year-old teenager, having also suffered from sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disease, said Patrick Portecop, director of the local emergency department.
He said patients who have sickle cell anemia or diabetes must be given special care if they were infected with dengue fever.
Portecop added that no cases of hemorrhagic dengue, which is much more dangerous than the classic type, had been reported yet in Guadeloupe."
Indonesia : Pamekasan, East Java - Chickens die of bird flu
From the ever reliable Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner :
" Pamekasan : Bird flu H5N1 infected a total 60 chickens in Kelurahan Bugih, Kecamatan Kota, Pamekasan, Madura, East Java.
The chicken owner, Sofiullah, said he found number of chickens died since a while ago, but he had suspended reporting the incident to Livestock Service of Pamekasan. After more chickens observed to have died, Sofiullah reported the case to Livestock Service. Further test to dead chickens showed H5N1 infection.
Following to the finding, Livestock Service had done control measures by disinfection of infected area."
" Pamekasan : Bird flu H5N1 infected a total 60 chickens in Kelurahan Bugih, Kecamatan Kota, Pamekasan, Madura, East Java.
The chicken owner, Sofiullah, said he found number of chickens died since a while ago, but he had suspended reporting the incident to Livestock Service of Pamekasan. After more chickens observed to have died, Sofiullah reported the case to Livestock Service. Further test to dead chickens showed H5N1 infection.
Following to the finding, Livestock Service had done control measures by disinfection of infected area."
Panama : High levels of dengue infestation continue to plague ChiriquÃ
A report from Prensa, with regards to the dengue situation in Panama :
" At least 10 communities in the province of Chiriquà continue to register a high rate of infestation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, vectors of dengue.
Among the communities identified are: San Vicente, Los Abanicos, El Porvenir, La Estrella, Santa Marta, Bugaba, San Cristóbal, San José, IVU Dos Pinos, and Santa Cruz.
Coordinator of the vector department of the Ministry of Health, Patricio Camarena, reported that in the areas of San Vicente and Los Abanicos, aedes aegypti breeding sites were found at one of every 10 households.
Meanwhile, in the district of Bugaba, in Vista Hermosa and El Porvenir, the infestation rate registered at 8 percent and 4.7 percent respectively, while the towns of La Estrella and Santa Marta registered rates of 3.8 percent and 3.2 percent respectively."
" At least 10 communities in the province of Chiriquà continue to register a high rate of infestation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, vectors of dengue.
Among the communities identified are: San Vicente, Los Abanicos, El Porvenir, La Estrella, Santa Marta, Bugaba, San Cristóbal, San José, IVU Dos Pinos, and Santa Cruz.
Coordinator of the vector department of the Ministry of Health, Patricio Camarena, reported that in the areas of San Vicente and Los Abanicos, aedes aegypti breeding sites were found at one of every 10 households.
Meanwhile, in the district of Bugaba, in Vista Hermosa and El Porvenir, the infestation rate registered at 8 percent and 4.7 percent respectively, while the towns of La Estrella and Santa Marta registered rates of 3.8 percent and 3.2 percent respectively."
Australia : Swine flu concerns in north Queensland
Via The Age, swine flu is picking in some parts of Australia :
" Health authorities in north Queensland are concerned over a recent spate of swine flu cases.
Four people have been admitted to the Cairns Base Hospital's intensive care unit since June, including three local transmissions in recent weeks.
In the most serious case, a 39-year-old north Queensland man was transferred to Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital for specialised treatment and is in a critical but stable condition.
Two others, both men in their 50s, remain in Cairns Base Hospital.
Queensland Health Infectious disease expert Dr Enzo Binotto said while the H1N1 pandemic was over, recent hospitalisations were a reminder for those at risk of developing complications to stay vigilant."
" Health authorities in north Queensland are concerned over a recent spate of swine flu cases.
Four people have been admitted to the Cairns Base Hospital's intensive care unit since June, including three local transmissions in recent weeks.
In the most serious case, a 39-year-old north Queensland man was transferred to Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital for specialised treatment and is in a critical but stable condition.
Two others, both men in their 50s, remain in Cairns Base Hospital.
Queensland Health Infectious disease expert Dr Enzo Binotto said while the H1N1 pandemic was over, recent hospitalisations were a reminder for those at risk of developing complications to stay vigilant."
Vietnam : Bird flu back with a vengence
Via Meat Trade News Daily, the whole report :
" The authorities sent an Immediate Notification dated 17 August to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
The report describes six outbreaks (at two farms and four villages) of HPAI in four provinces of the country. In total, 6,525 birds were involved, of which 5,000 died and 1,525 were destroyed.
The presence of the H5N1 sub-type of the virus has been confirmed."
" The authorities sent an Immediate Notification dated 17 August to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
The report describes six outbreaks (at two farms and four villages) of HPAI in four provinces of the country. In total, 6,525 birds were involved, of which 5,000 died and 1,525 were destroyed.
The presence of the H5N1 sub-type of the virus has been confirmed."
Trinidad and Tobago : ‘Dengue killed my son’
A moving report from News Day, fatality from dengue, excerpt :
" EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Andrew Anirudh had high hopes of receiving good grades in this year’s CAPE examinations. But he never got a chance to collect the results. The former A-Level pupil of Miracle Ministries College in Couva, died yesterday at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH), days after contracting the deadly dengue haemorrhagic fever.
Anirudh’s father Siewlal was inconsolable as he recounted the last times spent with his son. Siewlal sat on a chair at the family home in Rodney Road, Orange Field, Carapichaima and wept as he gazed at a photo of his son. He explained that two weeks ago, his son began experiencing symptoms associated with dengue and was taken to the Couva Health Centre. Staff members took several blood tests but told relatives to return last Thursday since a machine was not working.
“We eventually carried him by a private doctor who confirmed he had dengue. On Thursday, he fainted while going to the wash room and was again taken to Couva. They transferred him in San Fernando Hospital...” Siewlal sobbed. The weeping man begged municipalities to spray and control the breeding of the disease vector the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. “Spray the area and all other areas so that families do not have to go through what I and the rest of my family are going through. Dengue killed my boy! He was my love...my sugar,” Siewlal said.
Anirudh’s mother Nalini said her son’s condition deteriorated rapidly. “He was very weak and could not help himself. I believe the doctors at San Fernando could have done more for him. The situation in the hospital is very sad, it is very poor,” Nalini said."
" EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Andrew Anirudh had high hopes of receiving good grades in this year’s CAPE examinations. But he never got a chance to collect the results. The former A-Level pupil of Miracle Ministries College in Couva, died yesterday at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH), days after contracting the deadly dengue haemorrhagic fever.
Anirudh’s father Siewlal was inconsolable as he recounted the last times spent with his son. Siewlal sat on a chair at the family home in Rodney Road, Orange Field, Carapichaima and wept as he gazed at a photo of his son. He explained that two weeks ago, his son began experiencing symptoms associated with dengue and was taken to the Couva Health Centre. Staff members took several blood tests but told relatives to return last Thursday since a machine was not working.
“We eventually carried him by a private doctor who confirmed he had dengue. On Thursday, he fainted while going to the wash room and was again taken to Couva. They transferred him in San Fernando Hospital...” Siewlal sobbed. The weeping man begged municipalities to spray and control the breeding of the disease vector the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. “Spray the area and all other areas so that families do not have to go through what I and the rest of my family are going through. Dengue killed my boy! He was my love...my sugar,” Siewlal said.
Anirudh’s mother Nalini said her son’s condition deteriorated rapidly. “He was very weak and could not help himself. I believe the doctors at San Fernando could have done more for him. The situation in the hospital is very sad, it is very poor,” Nalini said."
India : Death toll on the rise
Via Times of India, excerpt :
" PUNE: The H1N1 influenza claimed three more lives, taking the death toll in the city to 365 since August 2009. Of the three dead, one is from Nashik. According to district information officer, Navnath Baban Bankhele (36), a resident of village Manchar in Pune district, died due to the virus at Sahyadri Munot Hospital, Swargate at 9.50 pm on August 22.
He had tested positive for the virus on August 8. Vijay Namdeo Damdhere (38), a resident of Warje Malwadi, died due to swine flu at 6.30 am at KEM hospital on August 23. He had tested positive on August 10. Asha Keshav Musale (28), a resident of Nashik, fell victim to the virus at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital at 2.20 pm on August 23. She had tested positive on August 6."
" PUNE: The H1N1 influenza claimed three more lives, taking the death toll in the city to 365 since August 2009. Of the three dead, one is from Nashik. According to district information officer, Navnath Baban Bankhele (36), a resident of village Manchar in Pune district, died due to the virus at Sahyadri Munot Hospital, Swargate at 9.50 pm on August 22.
He had tested positive for the virus on August 8. Vijay Namdeo Damdhere (38), a resident of Warje Malwadi, died due to swine flu at 6.30 am at KEM hospital on August 23. He had tested positive on August 10. Asha Keshav Musale (28), a resident of Nashik, fell victim to the virus at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital at 2.20 pm on August 23. She had tested positive on August 6."
Nigeria : Cholera - Death Toll Rises to 283
Via This Day Online :
" The death toll from the cholera epidemic and a related disease has risen to 283 in some states in the North, according to various official figures last night.The figure of those infected by cholera in the past two weeks has also risen above 5,000 from the earlier 4,600 figure announced last week, officials said.
Among the states mostly hit according to a report by AFP are Yobe, Katsina and Kaduna. Cholera, a water-born disease, causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to dehydration and with a short incubation period it could be fatal if not treated on time.
The latest outbreak was recorded in Yobe State where 42 people died in the past week from a disease health officials said was a form of gastro-enteritis, characterised by vomiting and diarrhoea, which are also cholera symptoms.Sixteen persons also died as a result of suspected gastro-enteritis, while 226 others have been hospitalized in Funtua and Kankia local government councils of Katsina State .
Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu said last Thursday that 231 people had died of cholera, while 4,600 others were infected in some states, particularly in the North with Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa being worst hit."
" The death toll from the cholera epidemic and a related disease has risen to 283 in some states in the North, according to various official figures last night.The figure of those infected by cholera in the past two weeks has also risen above 5,000 from the earlier 4,600 figure announced last week, officials said.
Among the states mostly hit according to a report by AFP are Yobe, Katsina and Kaduna. Cholera, a water-born disease, causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to dehydration and with a short incubation period it could be fatal if not treated on time.
The latest outbreak was recorded in Yobe State where 42 people died in the past week from a disease health officials said was a form of gastro-enteritis, characterised by vomiting and diarrhoea, which are also cholera symptoms.Sixteen persons also died as a result of suspected gastro-enteritis, while 226 others have been hospitalized in Funtua and Kankia local government councils of Katsina State .
Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu said last Thursday that 231 people had died of cholera, while 4,600 others were infected in some states, particularly in the North with Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa being worst hit."
New Zealand : South Island warned to brace itself for swine flu
Via TVNZ :
" South Islanders are being warned about complacency over swine flu, as a wave of cases is expected to head their way.
The virus has already caused six deaths around the country, and is implicated in four others, all in the North Island.
But health officials are now telling those in the south to brace themselves for the illness.
Dr Mark Jacobs from the Ministry of Health says this means people who aren't immunised should consider doing so quickly, before the H1N1 virus hits its peak in the south.
"People are nearly running our of time to actually get vaccinated to give themselves protection," he told ONE News. "
" South Islanders are being warned about complacency over swine flu, as a wave of cases is expected to head their way.
The virus has already caused six deaths around the country, and is implicated in four others, all in the North Island.
But health officials are now telling those in the south to brace themselves for the illness.
Dr Mark Jacobs from the Ministry of Health says this means people who aren't immunised should consider doing so quickly, before the H1N1 virus hits its peak in the south.
"People are nearly running our of time to actually get vaccinated to give themselves protection," he told ONE News. "
Australia : Authorities step up dengue outbreak measures
Via ABC News :
" The Queensland Government has joined forces with the Townsville City Council to prevent a repeat of last year's dengue outbreak in the state's north.
More than 1,000 cases of dengue fever were recorded across north Queensland in 2009 and for the first time there was also an outbreak of the disease during this year's winter months.
As part of control measures, dengue patrol teams will check more than 3,500 homes in six Townsville suburbs.
Councillor Dale Last says it is the largest suburban inspection of its kind in Australia.
"The last thing we want in this community is another outbreak of dengue - it's hard to control when you do get an outbreak," he said.
"Dengue is not restricted to the summer months of the year, it can in fact be all-year-round."
" The Queensland Government has joined forces with the Townsville City Council to prevent a repeat of last year's dengue outbreak in the state's north.
More than 1,000 cases of dengue fever were recorded across north Queensland in 2009 and for the first time there was also an outbreak of the disease during this year's winter months.
As part of control measures, dengue patrol teams will check more than 3,500 homes in six Townsville suburbs.
Councillor Dale Last says it is the largest suburban inspection of its kind in Australia.
"The last thing we want in this community is another outbreak of dengue - it's hard to control when you do get an outbreak," he said.
"Dengue is not restricted to the summer months of the year, it can in fact be all-year-round."
India : 3 more deaths in city, toll reaches 154 - H1N1
An article from Indian Express :
" As many as three H1N1 deaths were reported in different hospitals in the city on Monday.
Navnath Baban Bankhele, 36, of Ambegaon in Pune district, was suffering from fever from July 31 and dies at the Sahyadri Munot Hospital here on Monday. Vijay Damdhere, 38, of Warje Mawadi died at KEM Hospital on Monday. Asha Musale, 28, succumbed to the virus at the Deeenanath Mangeshkar Hospital .
A total of 154 deaths have been registered by the health department since April this year. Officials said the total number of deaths due to swine flu in Pune from August last year is 365. "
" As many as three H1N1 deaths were reported in different hospitals in the city on Monday.
Navnath Baban Bankhele, 36, of Ambegaon in Pune district, was suffering from fever from July 31 and dies at the Sahyadri Munot Hospital here on Monday. Vijay Damdhere, 38, of Warje Mawadi died at KEM Hospital on Monday. Asha Musale, 28, succumbed to the virus at the Deeenanath Mangeshkar Hospital .
A total of 154 deaths have been registered by the health department since April this year. Officials said the total number of deaths due to swine flu in Pune from August last year is 365. "
India : Girl dies of ‘dengue’, locals protest against civic body
Via Indian Express :
" The residents of Bawamanpura area on Tuesday vented their ire on the civic body following the death of a 22-year-old girl earlier in the day. The locals claimed Shabana Sheikh died of dengue, which has spread due to unhealthy conditions in the area.
On Tuesday afternoon, they barged into the corporator’s house and demanded immediate steps to clean up the area.
Police said the residents asked Corporator Nafisa Kapadia to give an explanation on the sorry state of affairs in the locality."
" The residents of Bawamanpura area on Tuesday vented their ire on the civic body following the death of a 22-year-old girl earlier in the day. The locals claimed Shabana Sheikh died of dengue, which has spread due to unhealthy conditions in the area.
On Tuesday afternoon, they barged into the corporator’s house and demanded immediate steps to clean up the area.
Police said the residents asked Corporator Nafisa Kapadia to give an explanation on the sorry state of affairs in the locality."
India : Rural areas witness more deaths
Via Times of India :
" PUNE: More than half of the H1N1 deaths reported in the state this year have been from rural areas. Of the 311 people who succumbed to the swine flu infection in Maharashtra since April this year, 162 were from the rural areas. Fresh cases of swine flu are being largely reported from rural areas which were left unscathed last year, say experts. "Viruses always find newer areas to get entrenched in. Last year, cities bore the brunt.
This time around, it is mainly the rural areas," said Arun Jamkar, dean of the Sassoon general hospital. "In June, the mortality rate vis-?-vis the number of severely positive cases had gone down. However, with the rise in critically ill patients in July and August, more casualties were reported from rural parts of the state," said a health official."
" PUNE: More than half of the H1N1 deaths reported in the state this year have been from rural areas. Of the 311 people who succumbed to the swine flu infection in Maharashtra since April this year, 162 were from the rural areas. Fresh cases of swine flu are being largely reported from rural areas which were left unscathed last year, say experts. "Viruses always find newer areas to get entrenched in. Last year, cities bore the brunt.
This time around, it is mainly the rural areas," said Arun Jamkar, dean of the Sassoon general hospital. "In June, the mortality rate vis-?-vis the number of severely positive cases had gone down. However, with the rise in critically ill patients in July and August, more casualties were reported from rural parts of the state," said a health official."
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