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Public Health Solutions
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Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
-- Latest New and Key Facts --
November 14, 2008 (Jakarta Post). 7 in hospital with suspected bird flu. A South Sulawesi hospital was overwhelmed as it admitted in two days 17 patients believed to have bird flu, an official said Thursday. The patients, mostly children, presented with symptoms of the disease, such as a high fever, cough and respiratory problems, spokesman for Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital in Makassar said. He said the hospital had conducted urgent tests for the first seven patients, with the results indicating the presence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The hospital is waiting for confirmation of the results from blood tests conducted by the Micro Laboratory of the Hasanuddin University Medical School and the Visual Conversion Reaction, he said. Source: http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20081114.A05&irec=4
November 13, 2008 (Madison Capital Times). Local firm gets loan for bird flu vaccine. Vaccine research and development firm FluGen Inc. is getting a $250,000 loan from Wisconsin State to help in the development of a bird flu vaccine. The governor announced the Technology Venture Fund loan to FluGen on Wednesday. FluGen was
founded in 2007 to create faster, less expensive ways to make flu vaccine. The loan will be used by the Madison company to buy equipment and continue research and development in the $2 million “bird flu” vaccine project.Source: http://www.madison.com/tct/business/314212
2003-04 Avian Influenza Outbreak
During December 2003--February 2004, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) among poultry were reported in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. As of February 9, 2004, a total of 23 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza A (H5N1) virus infections in humans, resulting in 18 deaths, had been reported in Thailand and Vietnam. In addition, approximately 100 suspected cases in humans are under investigation by national health authorities in Thailand and Vietnam. CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), and national health authorities in Asian countries are working to assess and monitor the situation, provide epidemiologic and laboratory support, and assist with control efforts. This report summarizes information about the human infections and avian outbreaks in Asia and provides recommendations to guide influenza A (H5N1) surveillance, diagnosis, and testing in the United States.
The majority of the human H5N1 cases are apparently associated with direct exposure to infected birds or to surfaces contaminated with excretions from infected birds. The family respiratory illness cluster in Vietnam suggests the possibility of limited person-to-person transmission. However, other possibilities (e.g., transmission through exposure to surfaces contaminated by H5N1-infected poultry feces) cannot be ruled out. Although no evidence for sustained person-to-person transmission of influenza A (H5N1) has been identified, influenza viruses have the capacity to change quickly. Continued monitoring for new transmission patterns is an important aspect of the current investigation.
Information on Influenza A (H5N1)
Background: Influenza A (H5N1) is a subtype of the Type A influenza virus. Wild birds are the natural hosts of the virus, hence the name avian influenza or bird flu. The virus was first isolated from birds (terns) in South Africa in 1961. The virus circulates among birds worldwide. It is very contagious among birds and can be deadly to birds, particularly domesticated birds like chickens.
Infection: The virus does not typically infect humans. In 1997, however, the first instance of direct bird-to-human transmission of H5N1 was documented during an outbreak of avian influenza among poultry in Hong Kong; the virus caused severe respiratory illness in 18 people, of who 6 died. Since that time, there have been other instances of H5N1 infection among humans. (See "Basic Information about Avian Influenza.") But so far, H5N1 viruses have not been capable of efficient human-to-human transmission. This is something that is being watched carefully and is being investigated during this outbreak.
Spread: Infected birds shed virus in saliva, nasal secretions and feces. Avian influenza viruses spread among susceptible birds when they have contact with contaminated excretions. It is believed that most cases of H5N1 infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms of Avian Influenza in Humans
The reported symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications.
(Source: NHHS website as of March 2006)
More information:
CDC Avian Influenza, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
Recommendations for Evaluation and Reporting of Suspected Cases,
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5305a1.htm
World Health Organization (WHO), http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), http://www.oie.int/eng/en_index.htm
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