Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors three additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (February 27), three additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hunan (two cases) and Jiangsu (one case) according to the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities.

The cases in Hunan involve two men aged 41 and 77, while the case in Jiangsu is a man aged 42. They are currently hospitalised for treatment.

As of yesterday, a total of 367 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (136 cases), Guangdong (81 cases), Jiangsu (42 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (16 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Swine flu kills 19 in Syria out of 59 suspects: health minister

Via Xinhua, excerpt :

" Syrian Health Minister Sa'ad al- Nayef said Thursday that swine flu has killed 19 people in Syria, mainly in the central province of Hama, official SANA news agency reported.

Nineteen out of 59 suspects died of swine flu in Syria, and in Hama alone 11 people died of the fatal flu, al-Nayef said, adding the H1N1 medicine was distributed in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Since the outbreak of swine flu, the Health Ministry has been ordering H1N1 vaccination for all health workers at intensive care units and in high-risk categories, the minister said."

Malaysia : 900pc hike in dengue cases

Via NST :

" THE number of dengue cases in Ipoh over the first eight weeks of this year has gone up by 907.6 per cent compared with the same time period last year.

A total of 534 cases were reported in the city from Dec 29 last year to Feb 22 this year compared with 53 cases last year.

There were three deaths last month in Taman Pearl, Rapat Setia and Taman Meru Jaya.

Ipoh Mayor Datuk Harun Rawi said 40 localities under the city's jurisdiction had been declared as dengue hot spots, adding that 124 cases had come from these hot spots.

He said this after chairing the city council's full board meeting here yesterday."

Australia : Cairns council warns of fines in dengue fight

Via ABC News :

 " The Cairns Regional Council is warning people could be fined up to $22,000 if they do not clear up mosquito breeding sites.

It has issued five public health orders in recent days after finding mosquito larvae in containers of water, and in one case, in the folds of a tarpaulin.

Acting Mayor Terry James says if there is non-compliance, individuals may be fined $550 and corporations up to $2,750, with larger penalties possible if the matter goes to court."

Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (February 26), two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Guangzhou and Zhejiang according to the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities.

The case in Guangzhou involves a woman aged 65 while the case in Zhejiang is a girl aged two. They are currently hospitalised for treatment.

 As of yesterday, a total of 364 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (136 cases), Guangdong (81 cases), Jiangsu (41 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (14 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

India, Jaipur : Woman tests positive for H1N1, first case in SMS hospital this year

Via Times of India, excerpt :

" A 25-year-old woman was tested positive for H1N1 influenza at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital on Wednesday.

SMS hospital officials claimed that it was the first H1N1 case of 2014 brought to SMS hospital. But in a city-based private hospital, a swine flu case has already been reported. He is undergoing treatment at the private hospital. He belongs to Beawar in Ajmer. He was brought to Jaipur when his condition deteriorated.

SMS hospital additional superintendent Dr Ajit Singh said, "The woman was brought to the hospital on Tuesday from Nagaur. She is a resident of Deedwana in Nagaur district."

Two flu fatalities in Cyprus

Via In Cyprus :

" Two people in Cyprus have died as a result of A H1N1 flu, the Health Ministry’s Medical Services confirmed Tuesday.

The two fatalities were people who had a particularly bleak medical history and the authorities underlined that there is no need for concern amongst the general public.

According to the available data, 20 confirmed serious cases of the A H1N1 flu have been diagnosed since January 1 this year, the majority of which involved people with a history of other serious ailments.

Also, 50% of the patient samples sent for testing turn out to be confirmed as A H1N1."

Dengue fever hits Cook islands

Via The Fiji Times Online :

" Cook Islands health officials are waiting for results of 44 cases of people presenting dengue like symptoms, in the country's first outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease in five years.

The Health Protection manager, Tata Vaeau, said there were already eight confirmed cases and they had sent blood samples to French Polynesia to verify what type of dengue strain appeared.

Mr Vaeau said it was an introduced outbreak, brought back to Rarotonga by people who visited French Polynesia.

He said people should go to the doctor immediately if they felt sick and health officials were erring on the side of caution."

Hong Kong : Outbreaks of influenza-like illness at two primary schools under CHP investigation

Press release from CHP :

"  The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 26) investigating outbreaks of influenza-like illness at two primary schools in Kwun Tong and Kowloon City, and hence reminded members of the public and staff of institutions to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza.

The outbreak at the school in Kwun Tong involves 22 pupils, comprising eight boys and 14 girls aged 6 to 11, who have developed fever, cough and sore throat since February 14. Among them, 21 sought medical consultation but none required hospitalisation. All are now in a stable condition.

The outbreak at the school in Kowloon City also involves 22 pupils. Fourteen boys and eight girls aged 6 to 12, have developed fever, cough and sore throat since February 12. Among them, 11 sought medical attention but none required hospitalisation. All are currently in a stable condition."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 25) received notification of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Foshan from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The patient is a man aged 71 who is currently hospitalised for treatment.

As of yesterday, a total of 362 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (80 cases), Jiangsu (41 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (14 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Vietnam fears lack of equipment to cope with H7N9

Via Thanh Nien News :

" Vietnamese health authorities have expressed concerns over the lack of equipment to cope with the possible outbreak of the new virulent H7N9 strain of bird flu.

Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien told an online conference Sunday that nine of the 28 thermometers at border gates across the country used for anti-bird flu work are currently out of order.

Meanwhile, H7N9 can enter the country at any time, she said.

According to a representative from the US Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the shut-down of poultry markets in China has led to poultry being sold to other countries at low prices, while it is difficult for Vietnam to control the imports of poultry via the border with China."

India, Ludhiana : Nine suspected swine flu cases reported

Via NDTV, excerpt :

"  Nine cases of suspected swine flu have been reported at hospitals in Ludhiana. 

Nine persons from different regions of the state were admitted to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) in Ludhiana in the last two days.

Civil surgeon Dr Subhash Batta said today that out of them, two each were from Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana and one each from Hoshiarpur, Moga and Nawashashar districts of Punjab."

Nepal : Avian influenza strikes again‚ government sets off alarm

Via The Himalayan Times :

" The Directorate of Animal Health has urged owners of poultry farms to subject their birds to bird flu tests. The appeal came after bird flu surfaced in two poultry farms in Itahari. 

“We have urged owners of poultry farms to conduct H5N1 tests if a large number of chickens die in their farms,” informed Dr Vijay Kant Jha, chief of the directorate. 

Bird flu has made inroads into two poultry farms at Tengratoli of Itahari-7, Sunsari district. After confirming that birds at the two farms were carrying H1N5 viruses, technicians from the Livestock Office Biratnagar culled more than 2,000 chickens in the farms in coordination with security personnel last Thursday. Jha added, “We have started collecting samples from poultry farms located close to the affected areas."

11 Vietnam provinces report bird flu outbreaks

Via Thanh Nien News :

" Eleven provinces around the country have reported outbreaks of bird flu, the agriculture ministry said.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, speaking at an online conference Tuesday, said that more than 23,000 fowls had died of the H5N1 strain of bird flu and 30,777 other infected birds had been culled.

The provinces are Nam Dinh and Lao Cai in the north, Quang Ngai, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Kon Tum, and Dak Lak in the central region and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Long An, Tay Ninh, and Ca Mau in the south."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of four additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) and one case of avian influenza A (H5) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 24) received notification of four additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangzhou (three cases) and Foshan (one case) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province.

The cases in Guangzhou involve a man aged 76 and two women aged 55 and 75 while the case in Foshan involves a man aged 33. They are currently hospitalised for treatment.

As of yesterday, a total of 361 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (79 cases), Jiangsu (41 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (14 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 23) received notification of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Jiangmen from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The case involves a man aged 31 who is hospitalised for treatment. 

As of yesterday, a total of 357 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (75 cases), Jiangsu (41 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (14 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Hong Kong : Driver's flu death casts doubt on bus air quality

Via The Standard :

" Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing- man said he has been assured by Kowloon Motor Bus there is sufficient ventilation in buses to minimize the risk of flu among drivers.

This came after a KMB bus driver died of pneumonia after being infected with human swine flu H1N1 on February 13.

The victim, named Yeung, 56, drove on Route 85B between Chun Shek in Sha Tin and Kowloon City ferry pier.

He was admitted to the intensive care unit of Prince of Wales Hospital suffering from flu one day after taking sick leave on January 20 and died 23 days later.

A KMB spokesman said sterilization of the bus that Yeung drove has been arranged. There were no other cases of flu, he said."

Egypt swine flu death toll rises to 63

Via Ahram Online :

" Sixty-three people have died from the H1N1 virus in Egypt since December, the health ministry said on Sunday.

Between Tuesday and Saturday last week 110 people were diagnosed with the virus – known as swine flu – eight of whom died.

A total of 539 people are suspected of having the virus.

Swine flu is a relatively new strain of influenza.

The beginning of the school year in Egypt has twice been postponed, due to security concerns and the outbreak of swine flu.

On Wednesday, the cabinet announced the academic year would start on 8 March."

US : ‘Swine flu’ strain returns; dramatic rise in deaths of young adults, children

Article via Washington Post, excerpt :

" The H1N1 virus responsible for the 2009 global pandemic is back. State health officials from across the country say the resurgence is resulting in a dramatic rise in flu deaths in young and middle-aged adults and in children this season.

While the reported death tolls so far are only a fraction of what they were four years ago, they are significantly higher than last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the flu has been killing at epidemic levels since mid-January."

Bahrain : Three swine flu cases recorded

Article via Gulf Daily News :

" 3 new swine flu cases have been recorded in Bahrain, it has emerged.

The patients were kept under observation in health centres and are now recovering at home.

However, an Ethiopian woman, who became the first person to test positive this year, remains in a critical condition at Salmaniya Medical Complex.

The 41-year-old walked into the Accident and Emergency department on February 3 with high fever, urinary tract infection and other complications.

Samples tested at the public health laboratory later showed she was infected with swine flu and is being kept in isolation.

"The Ethiopian patient continues to be in critical condition and is in the Intensive Care Unit," said Public Health directorate director Dr Mariam Al Mulla, who confirmed the three new H1N1 cases."

Cambodia reports 3rd bird flu case this year

Via Xinhua :

" A four-year-old boy from Cambodia's northeastern Kratie Province has been confirmed for H5N1 human avian influenza, becoming the 3rd case this year, said a joint statement by the World Health Organization and the Cambodian Health Ministry on Wednesday.

The boy was confirmed positive for the virus last Friday after he had onset fever, running nose, vomiting, sore throat and cough, the statement said.

"The boy was admitted to Kratie Provincial Hospital on Thursday last week and Tamiflu was administered on the same day," it said. "The symptoms were mild and the boy is now in good condition."

The statement said the boy had direct exposure with dead and sick poultry six days before his illness."

Hong Kong bans import of poultry eggs from four Vietnam provinces

From Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 18) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza were detected in villages in the provinces of Lao Cai, Long An, Phu Yen and Dak Lak in Vietnam, the import of salted duck eggs from the four provinces will be banned with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.

A CFS spokesman said, "The import of poultry and poultry products from Vietnam has been banned since January 2004 to help prevent avian influenza. The import of poultry eggs (including fresh, salted and preserved eggs) from the country was also banned from September 2012 until early October last year when the suspension for the import of salted duck eggs was lifted subject to compliance with the agreed health certification."

Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (February 17), an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hunan according to the latest report of the Mainland health authorities.

The patient is a 64-year-old man who is under treatment in hospital.

As of yesterday, a total of 348 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (69 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (13 cases), Anhui (eight cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case)."

40 Greeks Dead from H1N1 Virus

Via Greek Reporter :

" The flu virus (H1N1) is showing an alarming upsurge. There have been 40 fatalities due to the virus, two of which were small children, while a total of 143 people appear to be infected and have been hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU). At the moment 59 people are being hospitalized in the ICU.

Furthermore, according to recent news, three more people have been admitted in the ICU (two in the Venizelio hospital in Crete and one in Sotiria Hospital in Athens) and it is quite possible that they have the flu virus. However, in order to confirm this information, the hospitals need to conduct more laboratory testing."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of three additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 16) received notification of three additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Shenzhen (one case) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Jiangsu and Anhui (one case each) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The patient in Shenzhen is a man aged 44. The case in Jiangsu is a man aged 84 while the case in Anhui is a man aged 63. All of them are under treatment in hospital.

As of yesterday, a total of 347 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (69 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (12 cases), Anhui (eight cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case).

"Locally, enhanced disease surveillance, port health measures and health education against avian influenza are ongoing. We will remain vigilant and maintain liaison with the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant health authorities. Local surveillance activities will be modified upon the WHO's recommendations," a spokesman for the DH remarked."

Malaysia : MMA Suggests Government Provide Free Abate To Prevent Dengue

Via Bernama, excerpt :

" The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) today suggested that the government provide abate free to all clinics, even those in the private sector, for distribution to the people as a means of preventing dengue.

MMA president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said the abate must be given out to all households and should be available at all health clinics.

"The government is giving out so many handouts and aid to Malaysians. This is one thing they should be doing and, if funds are enough, it should be made available in all government departments, especially post offices," he said in a statement.

Abate is a potent larvicide based on the active ingredient temephos that effectively manages a broad spectrum of nuisance and disease-causing insects, such as mosquitoes."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of four additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Via CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 15) received notification of four additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Guangzhou (two cases) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Anhui and Hunan (one case each) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The cases in Guangzhou involve a four-year-old girl and a 79-year-old man. The case in Anhui involves a 14-year-old girl while the case in Hunan is a 46-year-old man. All of them are under treatment in hospital.

As of yesterday, a total of 344 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (68 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (40 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (12 cases), Anhui (seven cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case).

"Locally, enhanced disease surveillance, port health measures and health education against avian influenza are ongoing. We will remain vigilant and maintain liaison with the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant health authorities. Local surveillance activities will be modified upon the WHO's recommendations," a spokesman for the DH remarked.

"In view of human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) confirmed in Hong Kong and multiple cases notified by the Mainland, the activity of the virus is expected to be higher in the winter season. Those planning to travel outside Hong Kong should maintain good personal, environmental and food hygiene at all times," the spokesman urged."

China reports new H7N9 case, cities ban poultry trading

Via Xinhua :

" Chinese cities have stepped up control of the live poultry trade as the number of human H7N9 bird flu infections continues to rise.

Health authorities in east China's Anhui Province on Saturday reported a new human H7N9 infection. A teenage girl was diagnosed in a hospital in Huaining County, Anqing City on Friday. She is in stable condition.

Anhui, along with Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces, are the worst-hit regions for the deadly bird flu. Anhui reported one death from the virus on Monday, triggering concerns about more human H7N9 cases in the country in the near future.

There have been more than 120 human H7N9 cases reported in China so far this year, and at least 32 deaths, according to the health ministry's official tally earlier this week.

Poultry trade has been considered a primary source of human infection for the virus, as most of the diagnosed patients had close contact with poultry.

On Saturday, Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, banned all live poultry markets for two weeks. The ban will be in effect until Feb. 28 as part of the government's new effort to curb the spread of the H7N9 virus."

Malaysia : Tourists screened at KK airport following first case of avian flu

Via The Star, excerpt :

" Health officials were screening all foreign arrivals at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport on Friday as part of preventive measures following the first case of A(H7N9) virus infection in Sabah.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Masidi Manjun urged the public not to panic, as the H7N9 is not transmittable from humans.

“Health Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said earlier that the possibility of a human-to-human transmission of the H7N9 virus is remote,” he told The Star.

Masidi said humans would only get this virus from birds including chickens.

“In this case, the source is in China, not from the Chinese visitor who was in Sandakan before coming to Kota Kinabalu,” he said, adding that people should be more worried about going to China.

The 67-year-old woman infected by the avian flu had reportedly complained of fever, cough, body aches and fatigue four days before her arrival in Kuala Lumpur from Guangdong on Feb 3."

Malaysia : UMMC overwhelmed by dengue patients

Via The Star :

" Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) is now overwhelmed with dengue patients and the hospital management has made an appeal that patients with minor ailments not related to dengue to seek treatment in other government clinics or hospitals nearest to them.

UMMC director Prof Datuk Dr Ikram Shah Ismail said the hospital had 1,084 beds with bed occupancy rate of almost 99% of the figures.

"We appeal to the public to cooperate with us and not to come here if they have minor ailments but to go to government clinics or government hospitals nearest to them instead," he said in a press conference Thursday.

Dr Ikram said the public's cooperation could ease the waiting time for dengue patients who had to wait for seven to eight hours before they could be admitted.

He said that there was a surge in the number of dengue cases in UMMC."

Malaysia : Govt urged to install screening machines at airports

Article via The Borneo Post :

" Moyog assemblyman Terrence Siambun has proposed that the government installed screening machines at all entry points to the state, especially at airports.

The proposal was made following the detection of a Chinese woman having the Avian

Influenza A (H7N9) virus when she and a group of Chinese tourists were visiting Sabah.

“Although the Health Ministry has assured that this type of bird flu can only spread to humans

from infected poultry and the possibility of human to human infection is very rare, we should be 

more careful. I believe prevention if better than cure.

“It is important to increase the security system, especially at the airport to avoid any unwanted

threats such as the H7N9 to enter the country,” Siambun said yesterday.

He said the screening machines at the airport should be permanent, not only when the tourists 

had entered the country."

Malaysia : Vet dept on H7N9 alert

Via Sun Daily :

" The Veterinary Services Department has stepped up surveillance at all entry points and poultry farms nationwide following the first case of H7N9 reported in Malaysia.

All state veterinary services department directors are also on high alert for any breakouts at poultry farms with the disease as most of the cases reported in China and Hong Kong were due to the victims being exposed to live poultry or potentially contaminated environments, especially markets where live birds were sold.

The first case in Malaysia is a 67-year-old female tourist from China who arrived in Sabah on Feb 6. She landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Feb 3, and travelled to Kota Kinabalu two days later where she complained of not being well. A blood test result confirmed that she was infected with H7N9.

As a proactive measure, its director-general Datuk Dr Abd Aziz Jamaluddin, said the department has been monitoring all high risk premises such as entry points, wet markets, bird sanctuaries, bird pet shops and wild birds for avian influenza viruses including the H7N9 cases.

"With the first H7N9 cases reported in Malaysia, we have further intensified our surveillance nationwide, including Sabah and Sarawak," he told theSun today.

To date, there has been no cases of chickens or birds infected with the disease in Malaysia.

With Malaysia being an importer of chicken meat and chicken parts from China, he said they would be checked before being sold here."

Malaysia : Sabah’s livestock, poultry free from H7N9

Article via The Star :

" Livestock and poultry in Sabah are free from the A(H7N9) virus infection, according to Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin.

The Agriculture and Food Industry minister said the avian flu case involving a tourist from China here showed that the infection did not originate from Sabah.

"The public need not panic or worry. The ministry through the Veterinary Services and Animal Industry department has been and will constantly be monitoring and conducting inspections on livestock, poultry and pig farms, bird shops/sanctuaries and other animal breeding premises, that are highly susceptible to the bird influenza virus and other viruses which have stricken some countries in the region," he said in a statement here Thursday.

Yahya further advised the people as well as visitors to Sabah to observe preventive measures and regulations imposed by the department, particularly the restriction and prohibition on entry of livestock or poultry into the country from the affected countries."

Malaysia : Tests confirm Chinese tourist in Sabah infected with the avian flu

A little more information from The Star on Malaysia's first H7N9 case :

" The first Influenza A (H7N9) case in the country has been detected in a Chinese national.

The 67-year-old woman infected by the avian flu had reportedly complained of fever, cough, body aches and fatigue four days before her arrival in Kuala Lumpur from Guangdong on Feb 3.

She took off to Sandakan, Sabah, the next day before moving on to Kota Kinabalu on Feb 6.

“The woman was referred to a private hospital in Kota Kinabalu on Feb 7 and (after two screenings) on Feb 11, the sample showed positive results for H7N9,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said at a press conference here yesterday.

He added that the woman was in stable condition.

Dr Subramaniam said there was no cause for panic as the risk for human transmission of H7N9 was “very low”.

Screenings conducted on 20 people who had close contact with the Chinese woman in her tour group and at a holiday resort showed they were in good health, he said.

To date, 330 cases of H7N9 have been reported among humans in China, with 65 deaths.

The World Health Organisation has not issued any travel advisory against visits to China. There is currently no vaccinations available to prevent the H7N9 virus.

Nevertheless, Dr Subramaniam urged those travelling to China to take precautionary measures by avoiding contact with poultry there, including at farms and markets.

“We advise Malaysians to continuously maintain good hygiene practices, such as frequent sanitising or washing of hands,” Dr Subramaniam said.

He further advised the public to immediately seek medical attention if they have influenza-like symptoms, especially after coming into contact with live poultry.

In Sandakan, it is learnt that the tourist had felt ill when she first arrived in Kuala Lumpur but continued her journey to Sabah and then checked into a hotel in Tuaran, about 30km from here, on Feb 7.

She requested medical treatment and was taken to the district hospital where it was believed she was initially tested for the virus.

Upon a request she was transferred to a private medical centre in Kota Kinabalu, where a second test confirmed she was infected with Influenza A virus.

Sabah Health Department director Dr Christina Rundi could not be reached for comment."

Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors seven additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (February 12), seven additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Zhaoqing (one case), Guangzhou (two cases), Hunan (one case) and Zhejiang (three cases) according to the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities. 
 
The case in Zhaoqing involves a boy aged 8 while the two cases in Guangzhou involve two men aged 46 and 65. The case in Hunan is a man aged 19 and the three cases in Zhejiang are three men aged 46, 58 and 84 respectively. All of the patients are hospitalised for treatment.

As of yesterday, a total of 338 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (64 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (40 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (11 cases), Anhui (six cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case)."

Bahrain confirms first swine flu case in 2014

Via Xinhua :

" Bahrain registered Wednesday its first swine flu case in 2014 after test results of a 41-year-old woman proved positive.

The Bahraini Health Ministry said in a statement the patient was shifted to a quarantine facility and given Tami Flu drug at the main hospital Salmaniya Medical Complex.

"The patient walked in the emergency department of the Salmaniya Medical Complex on Feb. 3 with high fever and urine infection, and was diagnosed with H1N1," said the hospital's chief of medical staff Mohammed Awadhi.

He further said tests were conducted on the relatives of the patient and the results were negative.

The official added they were taking all precautionary measures among health care workers to prevent the spread of the virus."

Three more human H7N9 cases in China

Via Xinhua :

" China reported three more human H7N9 virus infections on Wednesday.

Three men aged 84, 58 and 46 in east China's Zhejiang Province were confirmed on Tuesday to have contracted the virus, bringing the total to 82 for the province.

The oldest patient is in a critical condition and the other two cases, severe.

China has reported more than 120 human H7N9 cases this year, including at least 31 deaths.

Medical experts are yet to find any evidence of widespread human to human transmission, but warn that poultry raised in people's homes is a source of danger if exposed to birds from poultry markets."

Malaysia : Chinese tourist confirmed positive for H7N9, condition stable, says Subra H7N9

Via Malay Mail :

" A Chinese woman who was with a group of Chinese tourists on a visit to Sabah has been confirmed to have been infected by the Avian Infleunza A(H7N9) virus, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

Describing it as the first A(H7N9) case reported in the country , Dr Subramaniam said the 67-year-old tourist from Guangdong province in China was now receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Kota Kinabalu but her condition was stable.

He clarified that this type of bird flu could only spread to humans from infected poultry and that the possibility of human-to-human infection was very remote."

Taiwan : 13 people die of flu in two weeks

Via Focus Taiwan :

" Taiwan reported 256 new flu cases within the last two weeks, including H3N2, H1N1 and type B strains, resulting in 13 fatalities, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.

The CDC said the oldest victim was 84 years old, while the youngest, a 3-year-old girl from central Taiwan, died just two days after developing symptoms.

She was also the youngest flu case recorded this year, the CDC said, adding that the other patients who died were around 50 years old and had various underlying conditions.
According to the CDC's flu monitoring data, 16.5 percent of patients who visited hospital emergency rooms between Feb. 2 and Feb. 8 showed flu symptoms and 37.1 percent of those who reported to local clinics tested positive for flu, higher than the number recorded in the week before the Chinese New Year holiday."

Canada : H5N1 death of Alberta nurse may have been from illegal Chinese poultry market

Via Edmonton Sun, excerpt :

" An illegal poultry market may be to blame for the H5N1 death of an Alberta woman.

That's according to a letter to the editor to the Journal of Infection by Chinese researchers in Beijing.

The researchers drew parallels between the Jan. 8, 2014, case and a Jan. 6, 2009, case where a 19-year-old woman died after buying a duck from a wet market in Hebei Province.

No one has reported whether the woman who died in 2014 in fact came in contact with live poultry, wet markets or fresh poultry during her stay in Beijing.

While it is illegal in Beijing to sell and slaughter live poultry in the markets, illegal dealings persist."

Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (February 11), two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hunan and Zhejiang affecting two men aged 23 and 70 respectively according to the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities. Both are hospitalised for treatment.

As of yesterday, a total of 331 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (132 cases), Guangdong (61 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (40 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (ten cases), Anhui (six cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case).

"Locally, enhanced disease surveillance, port health measures and health education against avian influenza are ongoing. We will remain vigilant and maintain liaison with the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant health authorities. Local surveillance activities will be modified upon the WHO's recommendations," a spokesman for the DH remarked.

"In view of human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) confirmed in Hong Kong and multiple cases notified by the Mainland, the activity of the virus is expected to be higher in the winter season. Those planning to travel outside Hong Kong should maintain good personal, environmental and food hygiene at all times," the spokesman urged."

Australia : More dengue fever cases confirmed in Cairns

Via ABC News :

" There are now more than 70 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Cairns in far north Queensland.

Another 11 people have been diagnosed with the mosquito-borne illness since late last week.

Health authorities say a separate outbreak near Port Douglas remains steady, at 17 cases.

The Dengue Action Response Team is continuing to treat affected suburbs in Cairns."

Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors five additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (February 10), five additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Guangzhou, Anhui (one case each) and Zhejiang (three cases) according to the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities.

The case in Guangzhou involves a girl aged five who recovered and has been discharged from hospital. The case in Anhui is a man aged 56 who died on February 7. The cases in Zhejiang are two men aged 62 and 67 and a woman aged 47. All of them are under treatment in hospital.

As of yesterday, a total of 329 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (131 cases), Guangdong (61 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (40 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (nine cases), Anhui (six cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case)."

Malaysia : Dengue cases triple in Perak

Via NST, excerpt :

" There has been a 200 per cent increase in the number of dengue cases reported in the state up to Feb 1, compared with the same period last year.

State Health Committee chairman Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi said 690 cases were reported statewide compared with 230 cases last year.

"Kinta district recorded the highest number with 427 cases reported, which is an increase of 870 per cent from the previous total of 44 cases last year," she said.

Nolee Ashilin stressed that three deaths were recorded -- all from Kinta district, which equals the total number of deaths reported throughout the state last year."

H7N9 bird flu kills another in China

Via Xinhua :

" Health authorities in east China's Anhui Province on Monday reported the death of a man who had contracted H7N9 bird flu.

Surnamed Chen, aged 56, the man was a native of Linquan County.

He died on Friday before it was confirmed that he had the virus on Sunday, said a statement issued by the provincial health department.

China has reported more than 120 human H7N9 cases this year, including at least 27 deaths, with provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong worst affected." 

Malaysia : New dengue strain ‘found’

Via New Straits Times, excerpt :

" Medical experts believe that the discovery of a fifth dengue variant in the country is just the tip of a greater risk to human lives.

Their worry is that the discovery of the latest dengue "Den-5" virus by researchers, was a portent of things to come.  

Malaysia Medical Association  president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said dengue researchers believed that the virus had been circulating in the jungles of Malaysia and Indonesia for possibly thousands of years without jumping into the urban transmission cycle.

They believed that that this may no longer be the case.

He said although the virus had not been detected in humans, except for one man in Sarawak who was found to be infected by the Den-5 virus several years ago, the need to keep the strain, as well as other possibly unidentified new dengue variants dormant in these obscure areas, couldn't be more pressing.

The Den-5 virus, exclusive only to Sarawak so far, is claimed to be the fifth dengue strain to be detected in the country.

It is the first new subtype in 50 years and those in medicine believe that this could be another challenge to the development of a dengue vaccine."

Mexico on Alert Over H1N1 Influenza: 2,994 Cases and 314 Deaths Registered

Via Latinos Post :

" Mexico health authorities are on alert due to the recent spike in the number of cases and deaths caused by the H1N1 influenza virus this year.

According to the most recent report from Mexico's Ministry of Health, up to Feb. 1, 2014, 2,994 cases of influenza have been registered in the country, and 314 people lost their lives to the virus.

According to CNN México, at least 2,554 of the total number of cases was caused by A(H1N1), a virus that in 2009 killed 19,000 people around the world.

Furthermore, 144 cases were caused by A(H3N2), 47 by B(H3N2) and 259 due to other types, reported the Ministry of Health in a press release for the media."

Malaysia : National dengue alert

Via The Sun, excerpt :

" The dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever situation is worsening nationwide, with the number of cases hitting 9,453 and 17 deaths, all within the first 37 days of this year.

For the same period last year, the figures were only 2,559 cases and five deaths.

Expressing concern, Deputy Director-General of Health (Public Health) Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said today: "Dengue is not only a big issue in Malaysia but also globally, as countries worldwide are experiencing an increase in deaths and cases and this is very worrying."

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), dengue cases has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. Over 2.5 billion people – more than 40% of the world's population – are now at risk from dengue and WHO currently estimates that there may be 50 million to 100 million dengue infections worldwide every year.

Lokman said the ministry has intensified its efforts to contain the outbreak but added that the public also needs to play an important role by keeping their houses and surroundings clean and free of mosquito breeding grounds."

Japan : Aichi man found to have H5N1 bird flu antibody

Via Japan Daily Press :

" Scientists from the Fujita Health University have discovered an antibody against the H5N1 bird flu virus in a man from Aichi Prefecture. Previously, it was believed that there was no human who had developed an antibody against the influenza virus, as this disease has never been detected in any persons in Japan.

One of the members of the research group and University President Yoshikazu Kurosawa explained that the man may have developed the ability to create the antibody because of past flu infections that he has had until he was 21 years old. When they gave the 60-year-old man a vaccination for the H1N1 influenza and then tested his blood a month later, they discovered that he had an antibody which is different from the one that fights the H1N1 virus. The VH1-69 antibody has the ability to block other virus including the H1N1 and H5N1. Scientists say that cells that have experienced past flu infections have developed this particular antibody.

Kurosawa said that other medical scientists have to conduct further studies on the man and find out if other people may have also developed the same antibody."

Seven people tested positive for H1N1 at hospital in Malaysia

Via Xinhua :

" Seven people are being treated for H1N1 at the Likas Women and Children's Hospital, and the entire ward at the hospital has been quarantined, according to local media reports on Thursday.

The Star, an English-language newspaper in Malaysia, quoted hospital director Tan Bee Hwai as saying that five children and two adult caregivers had been tested positive for the flu virus.

The entire ward at the hospital located some 10 km from downtown Kota Kinabalu has been quarantined, it said, adding that this included the patients, the caregivers and staff of the ward.

According to another Malaysian English language newspaper The New Straits Times, seven children are being treated at the Likas Women and Children's Hospital for H1N1, whose conditions were all under control after the first incident was found on Jan. 29.

The State Health Department is expected to issue a statement on the cases."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of 10 additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 5) received notification of 10 additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Zhaoqing (two cases), Foshan (one case) and Shenzhen (one case) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Fujian (one case), Guangxi (one case) and Zhejiang (four cases) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The cases in Zhaoqing involve a girl aged 5 and a man aged 42, while those in Foshan and Shenzhen are two men aged 49 and 56 respectively. All of them are now hospitalised for treatment.

The case in Fujian is a man aged 36 and that in Guangxi is a woman aged 41 with disease onset when working in Guangdong. The cases in Zhejiang involve two men aged 49 and 67 and two women aged 35 and 59. All are currently under treatment in hospital.

As of yesterday, a total of 302 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (122 cases), Guangdong (54 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (37 cases), Fujian (19 cases), Hunan (six cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (three cases), Guangxi (two cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case)."

China : New killer strain worries boffins

Via The Standard, excerpt :

" Mainland scientists have sounded the alarm after a new bird flu virus, H10N8, killed an elderly woman in December and infected another individual last month.

The fifth novel influenza strain to emerge in 17 years, the virus has a worrying genetic profile and should be closely monitored, they reported in The Lancet medical journal.

It appears to be able to infect tissue deep in the lung and may have features allowing it to spread efficiently among humans, they added.

"The pandemic potential of this novel virus should not be underestimated," said the team headed by Shu Yuelong from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing.

The warning stems from analysis of a virus sample taken from a 73-year-old woman who died in Nanchang, Jiangxi, on December 6. Her death was announced on December 18.

The Lancet study disclosed that a second case of H10N8 was recorded in Nanchang, on January 26."

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – update

From WHO :

" On 4 February 2014, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of eight additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, including two deaths.

Details of the cases are as follows

Six of the cases are male. The age range is 4 to 84 years old. Cases were reported from Zhejiang (4), Guangdong (3) and Jiangsu (1). Three cases are currently in a critical condition, two cases are currently in a severe condition and one is currently in a mild condition. All cases are reported to have had a history of exposure to poultry or a live poultry market.

• A 42 year-old man from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on 25 January and was admitted to hospital on 30 January. He is currently in a severe condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

• An 84 year-old man from Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on 24 January and was admitted to hospital on 28 January. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient has a history of exposure to poultry.

• A 56 year-old man from Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on 24 January and was admitted to hospital on 1 February. He is currently in a severe condition. The patient has a history of exposure to a live poultry market.

• A 51 year-old man from Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, who became ill on 27 January and was admitted on 1 February. He is currently in a critical condition. The patient has history of exposure to a live poultry market.

• A 4 year-old girl from Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province, who became ill on 26 January and was admitted to hospital on 3 February. She is currently in a mild condition. The patient has a history of exposure to live poultry.

• A 76 year-old man from Yangjiang City, Guangdong Province, who became ill on 27 January and was admitted to hospital on 1 February. He died on 3 February. The patient had a history of exposure to live poultry.

• A 52 year-old man from Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, who became ill on 25 January and was admitted to hospital on 2 February. He died on 3 February. The patient had a history of exposure to live poultry.

• A 59 year-old woman from Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, who became ill on 26 January and was admitted to hospital on 29 January. She is currently in a critical condition. The patient has history of exposure to a live poultry market."