Pandemic Flu

[mugwump]

The Bangkok Post reports that avian H5N1 has apparently re-emerged in northern Thailand, big time. Reports vary, but 30-34 people are under quarantine with flu symptoms. No test results yet.

Thailand is under review for an extension of their EU poultry import ban, so I expect major spinning from the government. Remember, this is the home country of CP and their powerful poultry lobby.

From the Bangkok Post article

The mysterious deaths of birds in Chachoengsao's Bang Khla district and some provinces in the Northeast have triggered another avian influenza scare. Hundreds of birds, including poultry, have died from unknown causes in the eastern province of Chachoengsao over the past week.

<snip>

In Nakhon Ratchasima, 30 patients with flu-like symptoms have been put in quarantine, while fowls have died mysteriously in nine tambons in the province.

mugwump

[mugwump]

The WHO have spoken! We've been awaiting your orders, great overseers.

Dimwits.

Work on Pandemic Flu Vaccines Must Start Now, WHO Report Says

July 15 (Bloomberg) -- Work on vaccines used to protect against a flu pandemic must start immediately, even though the effectiveness of the treatments might not be known until after a global outbreak ended, the World Health Organization said...

[The Reaper]

It is a real shame that litigation and governmental inaction have destroyed the American vaccine industry.

Greatest nation on the planet, unable to meet its own basic needs.

TR

[MtnGoat]

Originally Posted by mugwump

Dimwits.

Work on Pandemic Flu Vaccines Must Start Now, WHO Report Says

July 15 (Bloomberg) -- Work on vaccines used to protect against a flu pandemic must start immediately, even though the effectiveness of the treatments might not be known until after a global outbreak ended, the World Health Organization said...

Dimwits, I have a better word for them.

They are just now putting this out. I hope that this has been spoken in close doors. To start makeing vaccines now is a joke.

[jfhiller]

Business Standard is reporting success in developing bird flu vaccine. Seems that the vaccine is for the birds (not people), but the article wasn't entirely clear. Here's the lead:

"Scientists of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have succeeded in developing an indigenous vaccine against the dreaded bird flu disease which had surfaced in February last in Navapur and Jalgaon districts"

I don't have the expertise to evaluate this, but here it is for those of you who do.

http://www.business-standard.com/eco...no=98384&tab=r

[mugwump]

This is a poultry vaccine. It's very unclear in the article whether it's for birds or humans. There is hot debate whether vaccinating birds is a good approach in the long run. It keeps the chickens alive but it doesn't prevent them from becoming infected. By some estimates 1% to 15% of all poultry sold in Chinese "wet markets" is infected with H5N1 while still appearing healthy because of vaccination.

The fears are 1) because the birds appear OK there is more chance for contact w/ humans, leading to illness and 2) because the birds live longer there is greater chance they will get dual infection with H5N1 and a H3 flu, increasing the risk for genetic re-assortment.

The Indians are just proud of themselves. There are numerous poultry H5N1 vaccines...if things get bad enough you may get inoculated with one before this is all over.

[Pete]

Well the county health clinic says they have plenty of "H" Flue AKA pneumonia AKA meningitis shots available. 20 bucks a pop, first come first served.

If my team medic told me I needed a shot I got a shot.

Good 50/50 shot to take just in case to better yor odds?

And you medicos out there, just what is the connection between the meninges and the lungs? I think Mugwump covered the basics back around page 16 (?).

[InTheBlack]

Odd, haven't gotten a daily update since 6/22. Glad I checked back manually.

What's Augmentin for & what do I say I want it for to get the prescription?

[mugwump]

Originally Posted by InTheBlack

Odd, haven't gotten a daily update since 6/22. Glad I checked back manually.

What's Augmentin for & what do I say I want it for to get the prescription?

Augmentin is a broad spectrum antibiotic which is now off patent and relatively cheap. It can be used for a variety of infections in a pinch. It's particularly good if you are treating bacterial pneumonia in an outpatient setting. Bacterial pneumonia often occurs after a bout of viral influenza.

When I ordered it I said "My credit card number is..." and that's about all they cared about.

mugwump

[mugwump]

Research from NAMRU-3. Thank God for the US Navy, about the only group worth anything...

Qinghai-like H5N1 from Domestic Cats, Northern Iraq

Significant on many levels: cats are second only to primates in their similarity to human respiratory and receptor systems (pigs are a close third apparently, I always thought they were more similar -- live and learn); there are 60 million feral cats in the US and 50 million "outside" domestic cats and all hunt/eat wild birds; cat-to-cat infection is extremely efficient.

Obviously there will be implications if you have an "outside" cat and live near a flyway after H5N1 spreads to N. Am.

[60_Driver]

Originally Posted by mugwump

there are 60 million feral cats in the US and 50 million "outside" domestic cats and all hunt/eat wild birds; cat-to-cat infection is extremely efficient.

Soooo....we kill all the cats?

[InTheBlack]

Is Augmentin contraindicated if someone is known to be allergic to any class of antibiotics?

[mugwump]

I'm up to my ass in alligators and haven't had time to post.

There are major bird outbreaks and culling currently going on in China, Russia, and finally Thailand, who were forced to admit that avian H5N1 has re-emerged. There are five presumptive human H5N1 cases in Thailand and an awful lot of skepticism over the 30-odd suspected human cases recently reported to be negative (at least two died). There is no NAMRU or CDC confirmation or the negative results being sought.

According to the Bangkok Times:

"Medical doctors believe the H5N1 virus has already arrived in Thailand, but no one wants to confirm it," said the source, who asked not to be named.

On Friday (July 21) a leading virologist from Siriraj Hospital, Professor Prasert Thongcharoen, expressed doubt about the accuracy of official reports on bird flu. He said that in his experience when officials said "no" it meant "yes".

[mugwump]

There are reports coming out of Thailand of numerous new human cases, predominately children age 5 - 12 (in addition to the recent death of a 17M) but also two elderly males. All movement of poultry has been banned and massive culling is underway. There is one report that might indicate a provincial hospital has been overwhelmed and a nearby military hospital is taking up the slack. It's difficult to know if this means they've legitimately run out of regular beds, they've run out of intensive care beds, or there's just a whiff of panic in the air. (Machine translation: "There is sick persons too much that hospital armed forces [Army Hospital] catch up with increase.")

The provincial health officer in the region was sacked today for covering up the outbreak. He refuses to fall on his sword and insists that he began reporting bird deaths five weeks ago and that if there was a coverup it was at the national level. As mentioned in the 14Jul06 post, the EU's ban of Thai poultry was under review at the time. Hmmm...

Reports of bird deaths are trickling out of Laos and I suspect Viet Nam is not far behind.

This is not traditionally the flu season in SE Asia, so there is concern for what these outbreaks might foretell of a potential autumn/winter outbreak.

mugwump

[Big B]

Has any of this been confirmed in anything other than newspaper accounts?