Tracking the next pandemic: Avian Flu Talk |
WHO: "Virus is relatively stable." |
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Posted: February 10 2006 at 10:55am |
Birds may spread single sub-strain of H5N1 virus
10 Feb 2006 17:40:41 GMT Source: Reuters GENEVA, Feb 10 (Reuters) - A senior scientist at the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday that a limited number of migratory birds appear to be spreading a single sub-strain of the H5N1 virus, a potentially positive discovery. In theory, this could lower opportunities for the lethal H5N1 virus to mutate into an easily transmissible form which could spark a human influenza pandemic, according to Michael Perdue, an epidemiologist in WHO's global influenza programme. Scientists are increasingly convinced that some migratory waterfowl carry the lethal virus in its highly pathogenic form, introducing it to poultry flocks along their routes. Four family groups of the H5N1 virus have been identified, with multiple substrains within each, but it appeared that only one was "moving westward," Perdue said. "We are looking at what I think is probably limited (migratory bird) species that are infected with what appears to be a single sub-strain of the Asian viruses," he told reporters. "That is better news than thinking all the birds are spreading the virus all over the world -- that's not happening. In that sense, it's not as grim perhaps as it looks," he said. Perdue later told Reuters: "It could reduce the mutation level...You are less likely to have widespread mutation than if you had 20 strains hop- skotching across Asia." "It also appears that this virus is relatively stable." The WHO has said that the viruses from Turkey's first two fatal human cases were virtually identical to viruses from Quinhai Lake nature reserve in central China, where there was an unprecedented die-off of 6,000 migratory birds in April 2005. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10570500.htm |
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RicheeRich
Valued Member Joined: February 08 2006 Status: Offline Points: 203 |
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Okay, I'm sending all my stuff back for a refund !!
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Groups urge Nigeria to step up bird flu fight
10 Feb 2006 16:41:51 GMT Source: Reuters PARIS, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Nigeria must step up measures to control bird flu, clamp down on poultry trade and use culling, vaccination and movement controls where outbreaks occur, world animal health bodies said on Friday. "Control measures need to be intensified," the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said. They said the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, which has been found in northern Nigeria, was often spread through the movement of infected birds. "Therefore the movement of poultry should be stopped immediately in order to contain the disease. People should not import or trade livestock or livestock products, including poultry," the groups said in a statement. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10674236.htm |
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RicheeRich
Valued Member Joined: February 08 2006 Status: Offline Points: 203 |
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The Federal Aviation Administration is probably going to have to ground all bird traffic, too.
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KANO, 10 Feb 2006 (IRIN) “We are sad that until this hour nobody from the ministry of agriculture has shown up,” said Awalu Haruna, Secretary of the Kano State branch of the Poultry Association of Nigeria. “We are only doing what we can to stop the spread of this disease, believe me nobody has told us that it is bird flu.” http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51658&SelectRegi on=West_Africa&SelectCountry=NIGERIA |
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Friday 10/06
Bird Flu: Red Alert In Lagos, Kaduna Hospitals • Sick Chickens On Sale In Kano • Kenya Bans Poultry Imports From Nigeria Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, tried to calm nerves on Thursday over the outbreak of bird flu that has claimed over 200,000 chickens and poses a threat to humans. He set up a team to curb the spread of the possible epidemic and put all hospitals in the state on red alert to treat suspected cases of the lethal H5N1 virus, while Sambawa Farms has been quarantined. Hospitals in Lagos have also been put on red alert. Makarfi disclosed after a meeting with stakeholders and donor agencies that the affected chickens were bought from five different places in Kano. He said he has ordered health officials to conduct tests in all major poultry farms to ascertain the level of the spread of the disease. However, he added, "it is not as alarming as people believe. http://www.independentng.com/news/nnfeb100601.htm |
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Ah what conflicting stories from the WHO. Amazed that this was on Yahoo this morning, but it was gone from the news homesite in a minute! I'll highlight points of interest in RED Avian flu was blamed for another death in The virus was discovered in birds in the west African country of United Nations official called a devastating spread from southern Nigerian authorities say they are acting to curb The World Health Organization (WHO) has already confirmed 16 deaths from the disease in Human victims contract the flu from close contact with infected birds. There are fears the virus could mutate to a form where it can spread from human to human, sparking a pandemic in which millions could die. David Nabarro, who heads the U.N. drive to contain the virus, said there was no evidence it had mutated to that point, but added "it's not far away." "I don't want to scare anyone but the truth is this virus is undergoing changes slowly," Nabarro told a gathering of advocacy and humanitarian groups at U.N. headquarters. "This warning that nature is giving us has to be heeded." As recently as last June, the disease was confined largely to birds in southern But in the seven months between June and last month, "something fairly devastating happened," he said, noting the spread of the disease into Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and now sub-Saharan His point was underlined when The birds were found in the Caspian Sea near the Absheron peninsula, which includes the capital Four children died in neighboring The WHO has warned that The WHO is rolling out a public education campaign to warn of the dangers of bird flu, using a planned polio vaccination program at the weekend as an opportunity. "The critical thing at this point in the avian flu epidemic is to prevent human exposure to the virus, to prevent human cases, if they've not already occurred," said Bruce Aylward, coordinator of WHO's polio initiative. Farmers and workers in northern "I have not seen this kind of infection before. I have no idea what it is," said one who gave his name only as Shehu. |
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I love the fact that your news posts are always followed with a news link. I don't read or give credence to those without links. I look forward to your news posts everyday. It's my way of keeping abreast of the situation. Anyway, I really appreaciate you. Thanks. |
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Tired
V.I.P. Member Joined: January 13 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 170 |
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WHO needs to get their
story straght! Within the same day (today) I have read quotes from WHO
officials saying that the virus is slowly changing into a form that
could be easier to transfer from human to human. THEN I read that they
are saying "it may not be as grim as we thought," and "the virus is
stable."
How the heck are we supposed to get ACCURATE info when there quotes and comments are all over the place. Either the virus is stable, or it's slowly mutating.....which is it? |
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Better to be safe than sorry.... |
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