Recent cases of H5N1 occurring in people in several countries, including China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, and Egypt.

Human H5N1 Cases Reported by WHO

(case onset from Sep 1, 2011)
# Location Age/
Gender Symptom Onset Death Notes
1 Egypt/ Gharbia 1M Sept 17 Recovered
2 Indonesia/ Bali 5F Sept 27 Oct 9 Family contact w/ Cases 3 & 4
3 Indonesia/ Bali 10M Sept 30 Oct 10 Family contact w/ Cases 2 & 4
4 Indonesia/ Bali 29F Oct 10 Oct 17 Family contact w/ Cases 2 & 3
5 Egypt/ Cairo 2F Oct 30 Recovered Treated on an outpatient basis
6 Egypt/ Dakahlia 31F Nov 10 Nov 29: In critical condition
7 Egypt/ Dakahlia Adult F Nov 26 Dec 3 24 weeks pregnant; family
contact w/ Cases 8 & 9
8 Egypt/ Dakahlia Child F Nov 26 Recovered Family contact w/ Cases 7 & 9
9 Egypt/ Dakahlia 29M Dec 8 Dec 19 Family contact w/ Cases 7 & 8
10 Egypt/ Menofia 42M Dec 16 Dec 22
11 China/ Guangdong 39M Dec 21 Dec 31 No reported poultry contact
12 Indonesia/ Jakarta 23M Dec 31 Jan 7 Family contact with Case 15
13 Egypt/ Fayium 31M Jan 1 Jan 19: In critical condition
14 Cambodia/
Banteay Meanchey 2M Jan 3 Jan 18
15 Indonesia/ Jakarta 5F Jan 7 Jan 16 Family contact with Case 12
16 Vietnam/ Kien Giang 18M Jan 10 Jan 16

Bird flu can only be caught by humans from birds such as chickens but it is usually lethal. Scientists fear that bird flu could mutate into a form that humans could catch from other humans. After the first world war, an influenza mutation (known as Spanish influenza) killed an estimated 40 million people.

Last year, the United States government asked scientific journals to restrict their coverage of the new developments in the study of bird flu out of fear that the information could be used by terrorists to create biological weapons.

Wendy Barclay, professor of influenza virology at Imperial College, London, one of the signatories of the letter, said the influenza research community was fully aware of the risks and benefits of their work.

“The idea of the 60-day pause is to allow time for everyone concerned, media, ethicists and scientists alike, to be involved in the debate,” she said. “It is imperative that we do not react on impulse but weigh up the benefits this type of research can bring and review again the appropriate ways to control dangerous pathogens that we work with in the closed laboratory.”

(Snip) Although research is carried out under high security, the possibility of human error, accident or a criminal act leading to an escape of the viruses is a constant concern.
Continued:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/20/bird-flu-scientists-epidemic-fears

Bangladesh
• CIDRAP: Bangladesh reports 3 H5N1 outbreaks on poultry farms

Bhutan
• Bird flu Advice not to use poultry products
• Another H5N1 outbreak in poultry

Canada
• Ontario: First flu case reported in Northumberland
• Ontario: Two local babies catch flu

China
• Hong Kong: H5N1 in wild bird

Colombia
• Danger! Relive the virus AH1N1 in Colombia

Egypt
• WHO confirms 2 human H5N1 cases

Greece
• Infant dies of H1N1 flu
• Libyan baby dies of swine flu in Greece: ministry

India
• Bird flu under control: Meghalaya govt
• Bad weather stalls culling operations

Indonesia
• Kemenkes: Boy Dies Due to Bird Flu
• Jakarta: U.S. Positive Bird Flu Death
• Bird Flu Cases Spread Through Tanjung Priok Pigeon
• WHO reports human H5N1 case (Link)
• Indonesia Health Minister Suspects Bird Flu is Immune to Drug

Mexico
• Mexico City: Two die of A(H1N1) swine flu in Mexico: official
• Nuevo Leon: Nine people with confirmed influenza virus A-H1N1

Russia
• Bird Flu: Let us not forget the Grim Reaper

Taiwan
• Flu threat expected to heighten as holiday nears

United States
• Flu Season May Strike Later This Year
• KY: Number Of Confirmed Flu Cases In Lexington Up To 37
• TX: Flu season gets under way in North Texas
• First U.S. Cell-Based Flu Vaccine Plant Awaits Pandemic
• MN: Fatal H1N1 case involved rare combination of mutations (CIDRAP)

Vietnam
• Vietnamese officials record bird flu death
• Bird flu kills 2 in Cambodia, Vietnam
• Vietnam, Cambodia report bird flu deaths
• Bird Flu Kills Vietnamese Youth
• After Cambodia, Bird Flu Also Grabbed a Life in Vietnam
• WHO confirms fatal human H5N1 case
• Officials fear spread of meningitis, bird flu
• Bird flu virus kills teen farmer in Vietnam

Research
• More labs close to deadly bird flu mutations: researcher
• New bird flu deaths, as influenza research debate continues
• H5N1 virus targets pulmonary endothelial cells
• Bird flu research halted to ensure safety of experiments

Commentary
• Recombinomics: H5N1 Clade 2.3.2.1 Migrates Into South Asia
• Recombinomics: H5N1 Fatal Cluster In Tanjung Priok North Jakarta Indonesia

• Recombinomics: Published H5N1 One Change From Efficient Transmission
• Recombinomics: Indonesia Confirms H5N1 Cluster In North Jakarta
• H5N1 Transmission Experiment Halt – Censorship Continues

www.americanfever.com

I recieved an advanced copy and have just finished it. It truely is sobering, raw, packed with studies, survival related information with the hyperlinks, and a great love story. American Fever is a very realsitic look at life during a flu pandemic of epic porportion through the eyes of a flu blogger.

It has shaken me on a personal level.

NAMRU-3 has not released any H5N1 sequences from any human case since March, 2010. (Snip)

The recombination with human sequences seen in the avian isolates strongly suggests serious recombination in human H5N1 cases.

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01131201/H5N1_Egypt_H1N1_H3N2_pH1N1.html

(It’s very frustrating to assess Egypt’s H5N1 state when they report no news. Until then, we won’t have a larger picture of the H5N1 situation between humans and birds.-cottontop)

Bhutan
• H5N1 in Poultry
• H5N1 Bird Flu Confirmed in Bhutan
China
• CHP investigates confirmed case of severe paediatric influenza B infection
• Live chicken sales to resume in Hong Kong after bird flu case
• Hong Kong downgrades bird flu alert
• Hong Kong Resumes Live Poultry Imports
Egypt
• Egypt’s poultry farms stop clucking
Finland
• Compensation paid out for vaccine-related narcolepsy sufferers
India
• Odisha on high alert to tackle bird flu in Khurda villages
• Odisha: Mayurbhanj on high alert for bird flu
• Odisha: Bird flu alert in Bhitarkanika
• Odisha: Bird flu outbreak – Experts heading for Keranga
• Bird Flu: Odisha to start culling tomorrow
• Meghalaya: ‘Bird flu’ declared in govt poultry farm in East Garo Hills
• Odisha: Bird Flu, culling in place at Khurda
• Odisha: Bird flu – Teams collect samples
• Bird flu in Meghalaya
• Odisha: Bird flu battle begins in state
• Odisha: Poultry sale hit after bird flu outbreak
• Assam: Bird flu alert sounded in Assam
• Bird flu scare continues to grip Odisha
• Bird flu: Mopping up ops begin in Meghalaya
• Migratory bird death causes flu ripples in Chilika
• Man dies of swine flu in city
Indonesia
• Latest Bird Flu Death Puts Jakarta Back on High Alert
• Bird Flu Suspect Still Under Observation in Friendship
• WHO confirms human H5N1 case (fatal)
• Two Bird Flu Suspects Negative
• Anticipation of Bird Flu Transmission, Kemenkes Monitor PD Location
• City on alert to ward off bird flu
Japan
• Bill sets curbs on public in epidemics
Pakistan
• Bird flu claims 15 peacocks at park
Republic of Ireland
• Narcolepsy vaccine link progress criticised
South Africa
• South African ostriches culled due to bird flu
South Korea
• Influenza Advisory In Effect
Taiwan
• Low-Avian Flu Alert in Taipei
• Flu claims four more lives in Taiwan, including 10-month-old infant
United States
• Bill Blocking NIH Public Access Policy Draws Fire
• CIDRAP: Viruses found in wildlife parts illegally imported into US
• AZ: Report on Arizona flu season is in
• WV: New Swine Flu Concerns in West Virginia
• WA: Whatcom health officials: When flu season comes, it could be severe
Research
• Pharma company hid vital data on Tamiflu, scientists claim

(Snip) the sequence has Q196K, which has been reported in vaccine resistant H5N1 in Egypt. Q196R has been reported in an H5N1 cluster in Iraq. These RBD chnages are in addition to V223I and M230I seen in prior clade 2.3.2.1 isolates from wild birds as well as 2010 H5N1 cases in Hubei, A/Hubei/1/2010, and Hong Kong, A/Hong Kong/6841/2010. H5N1 also has D225G, which targets the lung.

(Snip) although the sequence is clade 2.3.2.1, the HA cleavage site has acquired an R to yield IERRRKR.

These changes raise serious transmission issues. Release of the PB2 sequence and status of position 627 would be useful.

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01041201/H5N1_Shenzhen_Q196K_S227R.html

Bhutan
• Bird flu possibly wiped out Chukha poultry farm
• Culling underway in affected poultry farms

Canada
• Swine flu virus (H3N2v) may be spreading between people
• Nova Scotia on outlook for new swine flu

China
• Hong Kong Keeps Ban on Some Poultry Imports Due to Avian Flu Tie
• China attempts to allay fears of bird flu epidemic
• Hong Kong Urges Bird-Flu Vigilance
• Hong Kong finds H5N1 virus in dead gulls
• Cited fear of bird flu fever treatment, rose two percent
• Chinese State Media Deny Poultry Slaughter Due to Bird Flu
• WHO confirms human H5N1 case

Egypt
• WHO confirms human H5N1 case (fatal)

India
• Vets step up surveillance for bird flu
• India free from bird flu: Government
• Bird flu panic in Tripura

South Korea
• Travel Warning for China After Bird Flu Death

Taiwan
• More flu deaths reported: CDC

Vietnam
• First bird flu outbreak contained in Hau Giang

• Vietnam culls over 2,500 chickens in bird flu fight

United States
• New Flu Strain (H3N2v) Puts Pork Industry on Alert After 2009 Pandemic

• US: HHS orders novel H3N2 vaccine for clinical trials
• CA: State, area health officials stay on guard against viruses
• NE: Flu death reported in Nebraska

United Kingdom
• ‘Just-in-time’ business models put UK at greater risk in event of disasters, warns thinktank

Research
• CIDRAP: Study – Steroids did not improve survival in severely ill H1N1 patients

• Swine flu (H3N2v) outbreak sends vaccine-maker’s stock soaring
• Viruses and Viral Diseases: Vaccine Against New Swine Flu Strain Being Developed

• Animal-Related Diseases Concern Scientists

Commentary
• Recombinomics: HA Changes In Fatal H5N1 Case In Shenzhen Raise Concerns

• Controversial bird flu studies raise complex problem, defy easy solutions: WHO

• Recombinomics: Shenzhen H5N1 P198S Is In Clade 2.2 Escape Mutant
• Recombinomics: Flu-Like Illness In 23 Contacts of West Virginia H3N2v Cluster
• Recombinomics: Pediatric H3N2v Case In Napa County California

• Recombinomics: West Virginia H3N2v Cluster N2 Recombination
• Recombinomics: US HHS Contracts for H3N2v Vaccine Clinical Trials

“The Epidemics and Disease Control centre has not informed me about any outbreak, but they are closed and we can only know that after the holidays,” Health minister Henry Madzorera said today.

This week the MDC-T party’s Bulawayo Women’s Assembly chairperson and Senator for Mabutweni, Gladys Dube Gombami, 48, died of bird flu, according a report by the MDC-T party.
(Snip)
“We were finally given post mortem results and they show that she was taken away by bird flu,” said Samuel Gombami, a family spokesperson of the Gombamis. Hon Gombami died after complaining of dizziness. According to a relative, the moment of illness and death took place in less than 20 minutes. She was travelling home to Bulawayo from a funeral in Gokwe.

There are concerns following Gombami’s death that there could be an outbreak of bird flu in the country. (Snip) there are worrying scenes developing as there has been no public official word from the responsible authorities.

http://www.zimeye.org/?p=43225

China
• Report: Hong Kong suspends poultry imports from some areas in China
• Video: Shenzhen confirmed cases of human infection of bird flu deaths – Government to be prepared to combat the epidemic (translated title)
• Cause of bird flu death in S China still unclear
• First victim of bird flu in China
• Bird Flu is China’s First in 18 Months
• Bird Flu death man ‘caught virus after jogging in park’ in China

Malaysia
• Health D-G: No fear of bird flu spreading from China

Vietnam
• CIDRAP: Vietnamese study finds high H1N1 seroprevalence in slaughterhouse pigs

Zimbabwe
• Health Minister unaware of Bird Flu outbreak
• Madzorera denies bird flu death
• Thousands bid farewell to Senator Gombami

Research
• CIDRAP: Study – H1N1 transmissibility likely due to constellation of genes
• CIDRAP: H1N1 antibody response in kids may correlate with disease severity
—————————————–

The only clear deduction I can make
on how the bus driver became infected is H2H. Here’s what I think for what it’s worth.
A rundown of what happened:

December 21, 2011 had no incentive to fever, self-medication and outpatient emergency treatment did not improve.
(was already sick. Took sick leave. I believe it was at some point he fell at home trying to move around being extremely sick with high fever and fell injuring his ankle. I don’t think it had anything to do with jogging or excerising. he was too sick for that prior.)

December 25, 2011 Check Bao’an District People’s Hospital, appeared in respiratory failure, heart, kidney and other organ failure, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation(http://www.f-paper.com/).

December 26, 2011 the development of ‘severe pneumonia’, transferred to the intensive care unit treatment.

December 30, 2011 Guangdong Expert Group on the diagnosis of suspected human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza infection.

December 31, 2011 bird flu prevention and control of the Ministry of Health expert group to determine the cases of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed cases.

11 am, Guangdong human avian influenza medical care members of the Group, Shenzhen City, the medical treatment of human avian influenza team leader Zhou Boping said in an interview with reporters, the patient’s condition is very critical, life-threatening at any time. It is reported that the date of the patient’s condition continued to increase, heart, lung, liver damage increase, increased shock, pulmonary fibrosis, effusion increased.

At 13:33 on December 31, 2011, the patient’s condition rapidly worsened after he died.

snip

Reporters learned from the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control, surnamed Chen December 21 last year, fever after five days because of a sprained foot and will rest at home. ‘Chen’s wife during the day, Mr(News News http://www.f-paper.com/). Chen alone at home.’ Guangdong Provincial Communicable Disease He Jianfeng, director of prevention and control of the chief physician, said Chen’s wife said he usually does not eat birds, last month the family has not eaten chickens, ducks and other birds.

Patients as a bus driver, and a large number of passengers per day in the car with a dense bus passengers be considered close contacts it?

http://www.f-paper.com/?i11113…

(I tried to find out just what kind of bus he drove, ie worked for a bus station, city transportation. It seems he drove a bus for city transportation. I’m not sure if poultry is allowed on the buses or not in the Bao’an district. Even if they are, he wouldn’t have direct contact with the birds. I believe he come into contact with something on the bus that another infected person touched, and he ate or touched his face without washing his hands. It is classic H2H transmission. I do not believe we will hear any further follow ups on his wife. -cottontop)

The new website will continue to have the news. It will have material, resources, a forum, FNN store and hopefully more articles from me as time allows.

The American Fever Novel by Peter Christian Hall will be released 1/16/2012 in eBook and print form. For more information:

http://www.americanfeverbook.com/

I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year celebration. See you next year.

cottontop

A man who had been diagnosed with China’s first case of bird flu in more than a year has died in the southern city of Shenzhen, health officials say.

The 39-year-old bus driver was admitted to hospital with pneumonia but tested positive for the bird flu virus.

The H5N1 bird flu strain has a high level of mortality, killing up to 60% of humans infected with it.

Positive tests on a dead market chicken last week prompted nearby Hong Kong’s government to issue an alert.

snip

But it was not clear whether the chicken came from a local farm or was imported.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16372348

MDC senator for Mabutweni dies of bird flu
By Pindai Dube
Friday, 30 December 2011 10:20
BULAWAYO – Gladys Gombami-Dube the mainstream MDC senator for Mabutweni died of bird flu, a family spokesperson told journalists at her house in Mpopoma high density suburb on Wednesday.

Family spokesperson Samuel Gombami who is brother to Gladys’ husband Fanuel said that postmortem results released on Tuesday in Harare shows that she died of bird flu.

“We were finally given postmortem results and they show that she was taken away by bird flu. We still can’t believe this as a family, we are in still shock,” said Fanuel Gombami.

Bird flu also known as avian influenza is a contagious disease of birds, caused by influenza (A) viruses.

The outbreak of avian influenza of most concern began in poultry in South Korea in mid-December 2003.

The Mabutweni senator was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and dozens of MPs and senators attended the funeral.

Gombami-Dube, 48, died after complaining of disorientation and dizziness while travelling home to Bulawayo from a funeral in Gokwe on Boxing Day.

She was rushed to a hospital in Kadoma where she died. The senator was the deputy chairperson for the parliamentary select committee (Copac).

MDC deputy chairperson for Bulawayo province Dorcas Sibanda said the party was shocked with the sudden death of Gombami-Dube and will give all the assistance needed to the family.

“We are shocked and worried about the death of our respected senator for Mabutweni because this doesn’t usually happen. We are still running around to give our mother a descent burial,” said Sibanda who is also the legislator for Bulawayo Central.

Gombami Dube’s Mabutweni constituency covers Mpopoma, Pelandaba, Njube and Lobengula. Above that she has for the past two-and-a-half years been an active member of Copac.

Gombami who is also one of the founding members of the MDC in 1999 was born on November 21, 1963 in Bulawayo.
She did her primary education at Lukhanyiso Primary School in Mpopoma before going to Mzilikazi High School for her secondary education.

She got married to Fanuel Gombami in 1983. She is survived by three children, two girls and a boy.

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/index.php/news/34-news/6235-mdc-senator-died-of-bird-flu.html

Australia
• CIDRAP: Tamiflu-resistant pH1N1 reportedly on rise in Australia

Canada
• Potent strain of flu gaining a foothold in British Columbia
• British Columbia: Health Authorities Urging people To Get themselves Vaccinated Against Flu

India
• Uttar Pradesh district bans poultry imports from Nepal

Mexico
• In Guerrero, 118 deaths from respiratory diseases (translated)
• Detected seven new cases of H1N1 virus infection in Mexico

Myanmar
• ProMED: Undiagnosed respiratory disease – Myanmar: (CH) RFI

Netherlands
• CIDRAP: Study finds contact tracing of H1N1 plane passengers not effective

Taiwan
• Taiwan govt warns public to be on guard against flu

United States
• WA: Flu season is expected to pick up
• MD: First Flu Case Of The Season Reported
• NH: Flu Hits New Hampshire

Commentary
• Recombinomics: Critical H5N1 Case In Shenzen China
• Helen Branswell: Flu Factories
• WebMD Editorial: Mutant Bird Flu – “Playing with Fire”

General
• Interview: Should Research Into the Dangerous Lab-Made Flu Virus Been Classified?
• What Really Happened in Malta This September When Contagious Bird Flu Was First Announced?
• WHO “Deeply Concerned” by Mutated Bird Flu Research

Thanks for stopping by and for your continued support.

nia
cottontop

Human infections with novel influenza A viruses normally found in swine are rare events. Recently, however, the frequency of such detections has increased. This could be occurring for a number of reasons, including one or more of the following factors: First, laboratory methods for testing for these viruses in the United States were improved following the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. These improvements may be resulting in viruses being identified now that would have gone undetected previously. Second, this could be due to increased surveillance in the United States for influenza at this time of year. CDC has requested that states analyze, and then send, their first influenza virus specimens of the season for seasonal influenza surveillance purposes. This practice, coupled with very low levels of seasonal flu activity at this time, could mean that sporadic novel influenza infections are more likely to be tested. Third, it is possible that the increased frequency of detection of novel influenza viruses with swine origins identified by CDC represents a true increase in the number of such cases, possibly occurring from exposure to infected swine or through subsequent, limited human-to-human transmission.

The above comments from today’s CDC “Have You Heard” on the two novel human cases, trH1N2 (A/Minnesota/19/2011) and trH3N2 (A/West Virginia/06/2011) list possibilities for the increased detection of novel H1 and H3 triple reassortants, which ignores the sequence similarities between these isolates with the prior 2011 cases, H3N2pdm11. Other than the H1, all other gene segments in the H1N2 case are closely related to the 2010 human trH3N2 cases or the 2011 H3N2pdm11 cases. Similarly, the trH3N2 case matches the prior 2011 cases in all genes except the H2, which is closely related to swine H3N2 sequences.

Thus, the close relationship between these human cases and the prior cases indicates several different triple reassortants are circulating in humans, and the abysmal surveillance described above, which target one case per state, limits the true picture of the frequencies, which appear to be alarmingly high in US children under the age of 10. Continued:

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12091103/H3N2pdm11_Abysmal.html

Brazil
• Rises to 22 the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in Ceará

China
• CIDRAP News: Hong Kong residents, poultry workers see low avian flu risk
• China confirms bird flu outbreak in Tibet
• China Reports Bird Flu in Tibet, Animal-Health Organization Says

India
• City gets high-tech research lab for testing of airborne diseases

Indonesia
• Bird Flu Keeps Threatening Indonesia
• RI Opens First WHO Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms
• Indonesia Receives Facilities from WHO to Contain Bird Flu

Nepal
• Poultry deaths spur bird flu fear

Pakistan
• Bird flu threat looms large over Pakistan

United States
• CIDRAP News: CDC reports two more novel flu cases
• KY: Health department confirms 14 flu cases in Lexington
• MN: Baby’s flu case was mild, but strange enough to raise flags

Vietnam
• Health department warns of new ‘swine flu’ virus strain (Link)

Commentary
• Recombinomics: PB1 E618D In Novel trH1N2 Minnesota Case Raises Concerns
• Recombinomics: Human Transmission of Multiple Novel Influenza Constellations
• Recombinomics: CDC Discovers 2011 H3N2pdm11 Pandemic By Accident
• Recombinomics: CDC Urban Legend: H3N2pdm11 Not In Big Cities
• Recombinomics: CDC Upates Comments On H3N2pdm11 In Swine

General
• Bird flu virus now deadly to humans
• Get your shot! Swine flu may cause baldness