<<Advancing Bird Flu-H5N1...Now following MERS and Ebola approaching PANDEMICS>>>

[link to www.bio-medicine.org]
people are losing faith in baxters
Watch how money starts to move ...good indicator

G'day Arkay,

Found this to be of extreme interest. The consequences are unquantifiable ..... transmission via air is worst case scenario.

Swine flu virus mutation is transmissible by air

Pigs can be infected by swine flu, human flu and avian flu, making them a perfect mixing pot for different versions of the virus to swap genes.

An influenza virus isolated from Korean pigs is deadly and transmissible by air in ferrets, which are used as stand-ins for humans when studying the disease.

This particular virus is likely not a grave threat to humans, said study researcher Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. However, the findings do highlight the need to understand more about the viruses circulating among pigs, Webby said.

"We've identified a couple of mutations that seem to be important for swine viruses and potentially increase their risk to humans," Webby told LiveScience. "The more of those type markers we can find, the better our surveillance and the more informative our surveillance can be."

[link to www.mnn.com]

Hi Rickster, good to see you here and thanks for your post.

There have been several similar articles popping up on this topic in just the last few days, and your post has just added another.

This is looking to be a bit out of character...again!

From that article, a bit further down, mention is made of H1N2, "and should it develop the ability to jump to humans"...

Well sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but just in the last few of my posts there IS news of this virus in America, right now, and it is designated with the "v", variant designation, meaning that it is human to human transmissable.

And if that wasnt bad enough the three positive cases so far detected in humans also carry the H1N1 "M" gene that made the Swine Flu H1N1 virus so easily transmissible for it to go pandemic in 2009, and there is every reason to believe that this will repeat itself again with this strain.

What all this means is that this flu IS already in circulation in humans in America, it has apparently popped up around those county fairs AGAIN, but worse now is the fact that the USDA has settled on and finalized the contents of next years flu season's vaccination, and it does NOT carry any sort of protection against this particular flu strain.

So far, there has been little mentioned as to the extent of harm that getting this strain may impose on its sufferers.

We really havent heard if it will just make us typically ill as with most influenzas, or is it far deadlier than suspected.

From where we appear to now be, it would seem like this strain will be a major problem world wide in the coming flu season.

It will probably become the seasonal strain of influenza that will circulate and there will be no protection against it. (Except perhaps in Germany!)

And, we might as well have another look at the news that our UK anon just uncovered the other day.

I have to stress her that its very important to follow any links that UK anon posts as they always contain highly topical and relevant information, as follows.

German authorities have already begun to "soften" their people with news for them to expect a worse than usual flu season, based on our Australian experience so far this year, which sounds a bit odd, but, heres the thing.

The German Government and its essential service people together with their military are to be given a DIFFERENT vaccination for this years upcoming flu season.

(Could you call this an antidote vaccination, protecting against what other vaccines wont?)

Now why in the world would they feel that this is necessary, and just to add a further weird aspect to all this.

That "special" vaccination is being prepared by none other than Baxter Pharamacuticals.

This plot is getting so thick and muddy, one just has to wonder what all this is leading up to.

One thing seems certain, there is definately something very strange at play and we are definately NOT seeing the whole picture.

Now before you take on board everything that is being said in Rickster's article, "Webby said, meaning that people who have been vaccinated or exposed to that pathogen are likely safe from this one". (meaning H1N1)

Have a look at the statements and research being referred to in this article that UK anon posted on the second last post on page 71 of this thread.

It would seem to be contradicting these assertions being made about vaccinations and protection in relation to H1N1.

Vancouver researcher finds flu shot is linked to H1N1 illness

By Helen Branswell, Canadian Press September 10, 2012

Dr. Danuta SkowronskiPhotograph by: Jason Payne, PNG , The Canadian PressA strange vaccine-related phenomenon spotted in Canada at the start of the 2009 flu pandemic may well have been real, a new study suggests.

Researchers, led by Vancouver's Dr. Danuta Skowronski, an influenza expert at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, noticed in the early weeks of the pandemic that people who got a flu shot for the 2008-09 winter seemed to be more likely to get infected with the pandemic virus than people who hadn't received a flu shot.

Five studies done in several provinces showed the same unsettling results. But initially research outside Canada did not, and the effect was dismissed as a "Canadian problem," a problem with the flu vaccine used in Canada.

But a new study suggests the findings were real.

Link to this article here...

[link to www.edmontonjournal.com]


Heres that extract from further down in the link that Rickster has posted.

Again, thanks for the good work there Rickster.

H1N2 is a close cousin of the H1N1 pandemic virus, Webby said, meaning that people who have been vaccinated or exposed to that pathogen are likely safe from this one. That means that even if H1N2 develops the ability to jump to humans, it likely isn't a major threat.

This is a very big and diverse puzzle, but, some of the pieces do appear to be dropping into place.

The huge problem that we appear to be witnessing is the prelude to next years flu season and the very real possibility that it will be a very disasterous year, possibly with a full on pandemic that would become unbelieveably lethal should it come into contact with H5N1, and that possiblity looks to be an almost certain bet with each new development that surfaces, almost daily now.

Im prepared to make the call that this isnt all a natural occurance either, there are human forces at work here too, of that I am certain.

Too many unanswered questions, too many convenient coincidences and all playing towards the same goal, this is NOT a natural process.

This above post from UK anon has been taken from "Nature. com" and was reprinted at the link above.

This next link will take readers directly to Nature and that article.

But this extract particularly caught my eye.

Remember here that we are talking about the H3N2v strain that is being associated with county fairs in the US, but Patient Zero has been identified as a person who was admitted to hospital for other medical reasons and was not initially infected with this flu on admission into hospital, but who tested positive for H3N2, two days AFTER admission into hospital.

That remains a very highly suspicous incident and there have been no answers forthcoming to date that can account for this mysterious "spontaneous" infection of Patient ZERO, and with this first strain of H3N2v that also (conveniently) carries the H1N1 "M" gene that gives it a pandemic potential.

Pandemic potential
Choi wanted to assess the pandemic potential of Korean strains. His team tested two H1N2 and two H3N2 viruses isolated from pig abattoirs before the 2009 pandemic. Most of these viruses did not cause any signs of serious disease in ferrets.

Sw/1204 was the exception. It replicated in the airways and lungs of three infected ferrets, killing one and causing such severe disease in the others that they had to be euthanized. The virus also spread through the air to infect three healthy ferrets that were housed in cages next to infected ones.

Link here...

[link to www.nature.com]

This next post has already appeared on this thread before, but in light of all the posts today, it deserves to be re-posted as it will help to give a clearer picture of todays posts.

Flu parallels: Swine-origin H1N2 has gene from 2009 H1N1
Robert Roos News Editor


Sep 7, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – The swine-origin H1N2 virus found in three Minnesotans last week carries the matrix gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus, marking the first time such a virus has been found in humans, according to state and federal health officials.

The variant H1N2, or H1N2v, virus is different from the swine-origin H3N2v strain that has cropped up in nearly 300 people within the past year. But the two are alike in that both picked up the pandemic virus's matrix gene.

The number of H3N2v cases has risen to 297, an increase of 7 since a week ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) new count, posted today. Nearly all the cases have been in people who were exposed to pigs, most of them at agricultural fairs this summer. Only one death, that of an Ohio woman who had other medical conditions, has been linked to the virus, but there have been 16 hospitalizations.

No ongoing human-to-human transmission of either H3N2v or H1N2v viruses has been reported, but the CDC has said that the H1N1 matrix gene might increase the transmissibility of H3N2v and that a few instances of likely human-to-human spread of that virus have been found.

Link here...

[link to www.cidrap.umn.edu]

This next article goes some way at describing the emergence of a new strain of H5N1 in Vietnam and that it is also believed to be a deadlier strain of avian influenza that earlier seen strains.

As if we need an even deadlier strain to be dealing with.

This is a very bad development.

A new bird flu strain is developing unexpectedly in Viet Nam and causing great concern to the government and public.

According to the National Animal Health Diagnosis Center, the new strain of bird flu virus, which is suspected to have higher risk of causing human death than previously known ones [see comment], appeared in July 2012 and widely spread in August 2012 in Viet Nam's 7 central and northern provinces.

Hoang Van Nam, head of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)'s Animal Health Department, said that this virus, thought to belong to H5N1 Clade 2.3.2.1, is different from the 2 strains of A and B that appeared in Viet Nam in 2011, due to its higher pathogenic risk [pathogenicity].

According to the department, as of 6 Sep 2012, the new virus strain has attacked 7 central and northern cities and provinces, including Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Can and Quang Ngai, and over 180 000 infected poultry have been culled so far this year [2012].

Apart from the newly-found strain of the virus, the bird flu has developed unexpectedly in the country so far this year [2012]. Normally, avian influenza appears shortly before or after the traditional lunar Tet holidays (which often fall in late January and early February). However, it has appeared since July this year [2012] and spread fast without warning. In the Central Highlands' Dak Lak province, about 30 influenza epidemic spots were found in only one day.

According to local experts, the epidemic will become more complicated once it reaches its peak in the coming months.

Link here...

[link to www.promedmail.org]

In the left menu under the heading...

10 Sep 2012 Avian influenza (53): Viet Nam, H5N1 virus evolution

Last Edited by arkay on 09/11/2012 01:05 AM

From the American Academy of Pediatrics, we have this policy statement.

It reflects the "recepie" for next years flu vaccine that was recently released by the USDA.

Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2012–2013

COMMITTEE ON INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Abstract
The purpose of this statement is to update recommendations for routine use of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine and antiviral medications for the prevention and treatment of influenza in children. The key points for the upcoming 2012–2013 season are: (1) this year’s trivalent influenza vaccine contains A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)–like antigen (derived from influenza A [H1N1] pdm09 [pH1N1] virus); A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)–like antigen; and B/Wisconsin/1/2010–like antigen (the influenza A [H3N2] and B antigens differ from those contained in the 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 seasonal vaccines); (2) annual universal influenza immunization is indicated; and (3) an updated dosing algorithm for administration of influenza vaccine to children 6 months through 8 years of age has been created. Pediatricians, nurses, and all health care personnel should promote influenza vaccine use and infection control measures. In addition, pediatricians should promptly identify influenza infections to enable rapid treatment, when indicated, to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Link here...

[link to pediatrics.aappublications.org]

Yet more H5N1 outbreaks in Vietnam.

Note that the source is said to be unknown.

Ongoing HPAI in Vietnam, 2152 birds destroyed
//10 Sep 2012
Three new outbreaks in Vietnam of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 were reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health. Two outbreaks took place in villages in the north of the country and one outbreak was in the south.
The three outbreaks were all localised to villages, and the source of the epidemic is as yet unknown.

Link here...

[link to www.worldpoultry.net]

[link to pandemicinformationnews.blogspot.co.uk]

September 11, 2012

Vietnam: Concern over unknown insect causing skin infection

Via Saigon Giai Phong: Concern over unknown insect causing skin infection. Excerpt:
A local clinic in Huong Son Ward in the central city of Hue reported on September 8 that in the last few days about 200 households living in Huong Son Resettlement Area had expressed concern about a skin infection that seemed to be caused by an unidentified insect that seemed to sting during night time.
Residents living in the area described the insect as being twice the size of a normal ant, with a red body, black wings, and a pointed tail.
These creatures came out mostly at night, flew around the house and could even penetrate through a mosquito net and bite people.
The insect bite stings and the skin itches and the wound festers, soon after which high fever sets in. So far it is believed that the insects generate at the same time as the harvest crop.
According to Le Thi Anh Dao, head of the Huong Son Clinic in the locality, among the five cases examined for insect bites, four were infected with Zona (officially known as Herpes Zoster). She therefore believes that the symptoms mentioned above were not necessarily caused by insect bite alone.


may be worth finding out more about this i.e. does this also attack animals
pigs , horses , cats all would worry me

Recently we reported three positive cases of people who had contracted H1N2 and that tests were still uncomplete for a forth person who was suspected of having contracted that same strain of flu.

Information confirming that case as positive for the same H1N2 strain has now been forthcoming.

Keep in mind that although these cases did emerge, all from the same county fair and all associated with direct contact with display swine, they all have the H1N1 pandemic "M" gene.

This strain is also the same influenza, though it may be a different strain that has been the subject of study in South Korea and where that strain has already acquired airbourne transmissibility and has been able to infect and kill ferrets, which are used as an equivalent human model for influenza studies.

Swine flu case linked to Minnesota State Fair
---------------------------------------------
A 4th case of swine flu [H1N2] has been linked to the Minnesota State Fair -- this one in a teenage boy who exhibited hogs at the Swine Barn. The boy was at the fair on 23 to 26 Aug 2012 and became ill 4 days after he went home, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. He did not require hospitalisation.

All 4 cases linked to the fair so far involved patients who spent long hours in the Swine Barn, and all 4 recovered quickly. The 4 cases involved a strain of flu different from the one [H3N2v] that prompted national warnings in August.

Link here...

[link to www.promedmail.org]

In the top left menu under the heading...

11 Sep 2012 Influenza (85): USA: (MN) swine H1N2 influenza, human cases

Its good to see that the US Government is taking great care with H5N1 and the very real threat that it presents to the world should it go pandemic.

This next artice outlines the actions and funding that is being made in preparedness for such an event.

It would be appropriate for many other countries to also be considering similar action for the benefit of their own peoples.

U.S. government takes threat of bird flu pandemic seriously; spends $25 billion for medical countermeasures
By John Keller
Posted by John Keller

Evidently the U.S. government is taking the threat of a global bird flu pandemic very seriously, as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded five contracts collectively worth as much as $25.36 billion for medical countermeasures to the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

There is ample reason to take the threat of an H5N1 bird flu pandemic seriously, too. Over the last decade there have been 608 confirmed cases of H5N1 in humans, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. Of those, 359 died; that's nearly a 70 percent mortality rate.

Of those confirmed cases of H5N1 and their resulting deaths, most have been in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Egypt. No cases have been reported in the U.S. -- yet.

To keep any potential H5N1 bird flu pandemic in check, HHS officials on 4 Sept. awarded contracts potentially worth $9 billion to Novartis Vaccines and Diagonostics Inc. in Boston; $8.2 billion to MedImmune LLC in Gaithersburg, Md.; $4.7 billion to Sanofi Pasteur Inc. in Swiftwater, Pa.; $2 billion to GlaxoSmithKline LLC in Philadelphia; and $1.5 billion to CSL Biotherapies Inc. in King of Prussia, Pa.

Link here...

[link to www.militaryaerospace.com]

It would appear that South Carolina is about to have its county fair and their Department of Health and Environmental Control has released the following press release regarding display swine and the potential risks again with H3N2v.

While it is controversial, one must wonder at the wisdom of continuing to allow swine displays without at least complete sheilding from the public.

Some small cost to isolate fair goers from the same air and posible direct contact, like glassed in display pens must surely be considered little to pay in the face of overall human safety and well being.

This virus, while not all that deadly must not be underestimated as its presence and low level risk arent the only considerations at play.

Far more important are the risks that it can present as it joins the general landscape along with all the other flu viruses, which over time with any increased viral load in the general community can lead to outcomes that havent even been considered.

This is one good reason to take very serious any flu presence anywhere and anytime.

News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 11, 2012

DHEC supports efforts to prevent flu transmission during fair season

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Department of Health and Environmental Control is working with Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health to help prevent the possible spread of the newly identified H3N2v influenza virus at the 2012 S.C. State Fair, the agency announced today.

“H3N2v is a new strain of the influenza virus that is circulating in pigs and has infected a number of people in several states,” said Interim State Epidemiologist Linda Bell, M.D. “Influenza is a reportable condition in South Carolina and part of our ongoing disease surveillance activities. At this time, we have not identified an Influenza A H3N2v case in South Carolina.”

Dr. Bell said H3N2v is a variant influenza virus that results when an influenza virus that normally circulates in swine is detected in humans. Influenza viruses are not unusual in swine and can be directly transmitted from swine to people and from people to swine. Influenza has not been shown to be transmitted by eating properly handled and prepared pork.

“Spread of the new influenza virus has been limited to people who have had direct contact with infected pigs or are close contacts of those who are infected,” said Dr. Bell. “Many cases resulted from caring for pigs at local fairs. With the upcoming arrival of the State Fair and several county fairs across the state, we encourage people to take good sense steps to protect themselves against possible exposure. These steps can help ensure a trip to the fair is both fun and safe.”

Dr. Bell recommends several simple methods for preventing the spread of illness at state or county fairs or when touring livestock centers:

•Wash your hands frequently with soap and running water before and after exposure to animals.
•Never eat, drink or put things in your mouth in animal areas, and don’t take food or drink into animal areas.
•Young children, pregnant women, people 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems should avoid pigs and swine barns at the fairs this year.
•If you have animals – including swine – watch them for signs of illness and call a veterinarian if you suspect they might be sick.
•Avoid close contact with animals that look or act ill, when possible.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that persons at “high risk” for serious complications from the flu avoid swine barns at the fair. “High risk” includes children younger than 5, people 65 and older, pregnant women and people with certain long-term health conditions (such as asthma and other lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune systems and neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions). Persons at high risk who develop signs of flu should seek prompt treatment.

“We are reminded once again by these cases of H3N2v influenza in swine and humans in other states that pigs and people can be susceptible to the same strains of influenza,” said Boyd H. Parr, DVM, director of CULPH and state veterinarian for S.C. “As always, biosecurity remains our best defense and works both ways by reducing or preventing infection of people by pigs and also the infection of pigs by people. CULPH is providing to SC fairs and youth livestock exhibitors recommendations that can minimize the opportunity for disease spread and allow the livestock education and entertainment opportunities provided by our fairs to continue.”

To help prevent the spread of seasonal influenza, Dr. Bell recommends frequent hand washing, coughing or sneezing into your arm instead of your hands, staying home if you become sick, avoiding others who appear to be sick, and getting an annual influenza shot.

Additional information about the H3N2v influenza virus can be found at [link to www.scdhec.gov] Additional information about influenza in swine can be found at [link to www.clemson.edu]

###

For media inquiries:
Jim Beasley – (803) 898-7769
Email - [email protected]

Link here...

[link to www.scdhec.gov]

You just have to marvel and admire those researchers that never endingly persist to study and advance knowledge that will lead to saving millions of lives.

This next article describes the lengths that these heros will go to to eek out the tinniest bit of information that they can add to their knowledge base and sooner or later each and every little peice joins the rest to help achieve those eventual goals.

I really cant commend these people anywhere near enough.

Reconstruction of the 1918 Influenza Virus: Unexpected Rewards from the Past
Jeffery K. Taubenbergera, David Baltimoreb, Peter C. Dohertyc, Howard Markeld, David M. Morense, Robert G. Websterf, and Ian A. Wilsong
+ Author Affiliations

Viral Pathogenesis and Evolution Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USAa;
Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USAb;
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australiac;
Center for the History of Medicine and Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USAd;
Office of the Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USAe;
Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USAf; and
Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USAg
Address correspondence to Jeffery K. Taubenberger, [email protected].

ABSTRACT
The influenza pandemic of 1918–1919 killed approximately 50 million people. The unusually severe morbidity and mortality associated with the pandemic spurred physicians and scientists to isolate the etiologic agent, but the virus was not isolated in 1918. In 1996, it became possible to recover and sequence highly degraded fragments of influenza viral RNA retained in preserved tissues from several 1918 victims. These viral RNA sequences eventually permitted reconstruction of the complete 1918 virus, which has yielded, almost a century after the deaths of its victims, novel insights into influenza virus biology and pathogenesis and has provided important information about how to prevent and control future pandemics.

Footnotes
Citation Taubenberger JK, et al. 2012. Reconstruction of the 1918 influenza virus: unexpected rewards from the past. mBio 3(5):e00201-12. doi:10.1128/mBio.00201-12.
Copyright ©2012 Taubenberger et al.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License, which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Link here...

[link to mbio.asm.org]

Many times on this thread we have pointed to the irregularities that the CDC has been involved with in its handling of the H3N2v information and what information it seems to be releasing, but is in clear conflict with other large health organizations like the USDA.

When you handle the facts so loosely there has to be a reason and its usually for all the wrong reasons.

This rediculous and quite obvious issue surrounding the H3N2v facts being disseminated by the CDC is digging a large hole that they seem completely content to sink themselves ever deeper into.

In some way or another they are demonstrating that they are indeed complicit at attempting to conceal facts.

Facts that in every likleyhood would reveal that there is direct human intervention in this particular saga and those intents and actions are quite sinister in there nature, and the CDC IS aware of all this, if not directly involved.

Its time that direct questions are put straight to the CDC and accurate answers are provided.

This has gone on for long enough, and nobody is being fooled, except perhaps the CDC itself.

Here a link to part of an article that needs to be scrutinized for all the evidence that these assertions speak of.

The discordance between the human and swine cases was glaring when the H3N2pM swine cases were compared to the human cases. In 2011 the first human H3N2pM case was identified in July in Indiana. The constellation and lineages for the 8 gene segments was novel. Five of the genes (PB2, PA, HA, NP, NS) matched the dominant human sequences for H3N2v cases in 2010, while the other three gene segments (PB1, NA, MP) matched H1N2v cases such as found in the Ohio isolate, A/swine/Ohio/10-1/2010. This combination was novel and has not been found in any swine sample collected prior to the human cases. The first 10 human cases in 2011 matched Indiana isolate in all 8 gene segments, which included the H1N1pdm09 M gene. Included were the three isolates from Iowa, which had no swine exposure.

However, the remaining cases for 2011 were also from a cluster with no swine exposure. The West Virginia sequences matched the early 10 human cases in 7 of the 8 gene segments. However, the N2 was not from an H1N2 lineage, but instead was from a swine H3N2 lineage. These two N2 lineages were easily distinguished. The West Virginia cluster created considerable concern, because in addition to the two confirmed cases, 22 additional contacts of the index case had influenza-like illness and the time gap between the two confirmed case was too large to support direct transmission. Moreover, the disease onset dates indicated the H3N2v was transmitting at the day care center for 3-4 weeks. As`was seen for the Indiana case, the West Virginia sub-clade was novel and had not been reported in swine previously.

Link here...

[link to www.recombinomics.com]

This next extract describes some of the issues that Indonesia has faced and continues to face in its dealings with H5N1.

Where it perhaps falls short is in highlighting the fact that very litte information regarding H5N1 actually is ever released from Indonesia, making it very difficult to understand the H5N1 situation there any any sort of meaningful way.

Norrmally this wouldnt be all that bad, however Indonesia could well be on top of the list, in terms of its human fatality rates, and we really dont get a very good picture of what the human to human threat might be to other countries.

H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Indonesia: Retrospective Considerations.
Daniels P, Wiyono A, Sawitri E, Poermadjaja B, Sims LD.
SourceAustralian Animal Health Laboratory, CSIRO Animal, Food and Health Sciences, PMB 24, Geelong, 3220, Australia, [email protected].

Abstract
Indonesia is one of the five countries where highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the H5N1 subtype (H5N1 HPAI) remain endemic in poultry. Importantly, it is one of the countries where the virus causes human infections. WHO data indicate that as of 2 May 2012, 189 human cases of Influenza A (H5N1) had been reported in Indonesia, with 157 human deaths. These human cases included a small number in which limited human-to-human transmission could have occurred. Hence, there remains a critical need in Indonesia for a more effective One Health approach to the control and prevention of this disease in people and in poultry. This chapter explores a number of aspects of the evolution of this disease in Indonesia, the virus that causes it and the control and preventive measures introduced, focusing on the successes and shortcomings of veterinary and One Health approaches. Indonesia provides many examples of situations where this latter approach has been successful, and others where further work is needed to maximize the benefits from coordinated responses to this disease leading to effective management of the risk to human health.

Link here...

[link to www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

This next article definately needs to be read as it delves quite deeply into the H1N2 facts that are becoming available to us and some of that news might not be what we have been expecting or wanting to hear


Swine flu evolves under the radar
12 September 2012 by Debora Mackenzie
Magazine issue 2882. Subscribe and save
For similar stories, visit the Epidemics and Pandemics Topic Guide
SWINE flu is back with a vengeance. Two weeks ago, a woman died after catching flu from a pig at an agricultural fair in Ohio. Now it seems that pigs in Korea are harbouring a similar strain of flu that spreads more easily and is more lethal - at least in animals - than the experimental bird flu that caused intense controversy last year.

Robert Webster and colleagues at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, put an H1N2 flu virus, taken from the lungs of a pig slaughtered in South Korea in 2009, into the noses and windpipes of three ferrets. All the animals died, which is worrying, as ferrets catch and develop flu in a similar way to humans. What's more, the virus was transmitted via airborne droplets to three ferrets in nearby cages, killing two of them.

Link here...

[link to www.newscientist.com]

Here is another story that discusses the relationship between humans and animals and how each play a role in influenza evolution.


During the 1918 human influenza pandemic, clinical signs of respiratory disease were reported in pigs in Europe and in the United States. Since that time, there has been a complex interplay of viruses between humans, poultry (birds) and pigs.

Acute respiratory disease can occur in pigs, but in many instances the infections are subclinical.

Pigs appear to play a role in the reassortment of flu viruses, and this process has been documented repeatedly in the last 20 years.

The 2009 human influenza pandemic of H1N1 arose from a reassortment of North American and Eurasian viruses. That same virus was found in pigs in many areas of the world. Infections in pigs appeared to be initially due to transmission from humans — but then pig-to-pig spread occurred.

Link here...

[link to nationalhogfarmer.com]

Recently we observed the release from the USDA of the recepie for next years seasonal flu vaccine, along with the companies that they were lisencing to produce this vaccine.

At the time, the question was asked if that vaccine would actually contain any protection against the newly circulating H3N2v virus that has been associated with county fairs in the US and where there have been over 300 human cases reported to date.

This author has repeatedly asserted that this strain was a deliberate human intervention.

A juvenile has been identified as Patient Zero.

This individual was initially negative to influenza when admitted into hospital for a different medical condition, but developed this new strain of influenza two days after admission.

The stand out fact about this first person to contract this strain is that it for the first time also, has the H1N1 Pandemic Swine Flu "M" gene attached to it, and it is that "M" gene that gave the H1N1 Swine flu its pandemic abilities when it did go pandemic in 2009.

Our question has been whether next years flu vaccination will in fact give protection against this new H3N2v flu, and from the contents of the following article, it would appear that this might NOT be the case.

That implies that this strain of H3N2v could easily become the dominant seasonal flu for next year as there will be no pretection against it, but as it has the H1M1 "M" gene it will naturally be highly contagous to humans, and will spread very easily indeed.

This also now adds itself to the latest flu strain that has also just emerged from those county fairs, and while only four cases have been positively identified, this strain called H1N2, has been identified in South Korea as highly transmissible in air and also highly deadly to ferrets, which researchers use as human models for influenza testing.

About the only thing we dont as yet know is if the two strains, one in the US and the other in South Korea are exactly the same H1N2 strains, if they are we are in for one very very bad flu season next year as there will be no protection against either of them.

This will inevidibly lead to many hunderds if not thousands to tens of thousands of fatalities from influenza next year.

The HHS statement noted that the previous set of contracts was used earlier this year to develop a vaccine against the swine-origin H3N2v flu strain that has infected a number of people exposed to pigs. Close to 300 cases have been reported in the past year, most of them this summer in people who had contact with pigs at county and state fairs.

HHS announced in January that Sanofi and Novartis would make a vaccine aimed at the H3N2v strain for use in clinical trials.

Link here...

[link to www.cidrap.umn.edu]

This next comment in relation to two infections of H3N2v that states..."Both visited the Minnesota State Fair on the same day and developed symptoms three days later, signaling efficient transmission".

The fact that this strain can emerge with just three days incubation from natural processes would also go on to further support the contention that deliberate innoculation could see this influenza emerge after just two days if delivered in a more efficient manner and sufficiently heavy viral load as would be possible in an environment such as a hospital setting would provide, especially if Patient Zero had any type of drip attached at any time inthose first two days of admission to hospital.

So my assertions that relate to Patient Zero continue to be bourne out by the experience being observed" on the ground" with this H3N2v virus.

More of the story here.

H3N2v Cases Linked to Minnesota State Fair
Recombinomics Commentary 22:00
September 13, 2012


The new cases occurred in a school-aged girl from the Twin Cities area and a pre-school-aged boy from greater Minnesota.

Both children visited the swine barn at the Minnesota State Fair with their families on Sept. 2, and became ill on Sept. 5.

Link here...

[link to www.recombinomics.com]

India continues to report a steady stream of fatalities resulting from H1N1.

This trend has been and appears to be an ongoing matter, and one that deasent seem to show any evidence of abating.

Whis could mean that it will increase in severity as India approaches closer to its flu season.

Indore: Swine Flu today claimed the life of an Ujjain-resident who was undergoing treatment at MY Hospital here.



Jagdish Karpari (35) was found H1N1 positive by a Jabalpur laboratory on September 5, and was referred to MY hospital on September 6, health officials said. He died this morning.



On September 10, Subhadra, of Ratlam, had died of H1N1 infection at a private hospital here, while another woman had died in the city in May.

Link here...

[link to daily.bhaskar.com]

It appears that someone is listening!

well, at least reading...!!

This next update on the state of influenza activity, especially in relation to our reporting of H3N2, H3N2v,and H1N2 comes from the CDC.

Now with all cases included it does make CDC look like the professional organization they should be.

Also added in for good measure is a previously obscure report of detection of H1N1v in the US.

This is s good summary that agrees with all our assertions from all our reporting but still manages to give a "clowdy" picture of H2H transmissions of H2N3v, the particular strain that all the scuttlebut has been about.

From all this it just goes to demonstrate that squeeky doors do in fact get the oil.

Our constant and unrelenting persistant assertions regarding the H3N2v strain and Patient Zero is getting attention and now we are witnessing the CDC doing some housecleaning in some sort of attempt to re-establish itself with a modicum of credibility.

But, the big question remains unanswered and we will maintain pressure to have it answered.

That question is very clear and simple.

It is, How did Patient Zero contract H3N2 that contained the H1N1 "M" gene?

Please answer this question.

Latest variant flu cases include rare H1N1 strain
Robert Roos News Editor


Sep 14, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – The number of swine-origin H3N2 (variant H3N2, or H3N2v) influenza cases in the United States has climbed by 9 in the past week, to 305, and another rare swine-origin variant, H1N1v, has cropped up in Missouri, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.

The case in Missouri involves an H1N1v virus carrying the M (matrix) gene from the pandemic 2009 H1N1 (pH1N1) virus, marking only the second finding of such an isolate, the CDC reported. The previous case was reported in Wisconsin in December 2011; 12 other H1N1v cases (without the pH1N1 M gene) have been reported since 2005, CDC reports show.

The Missouri case was found because of increased surveillance for H3N2v cases, the CDC said in its weekly flu update. The patient got sick after contact with pigs and has since recovered. The agency gave no further details about the case.

The CDC's report on the H1N1v case in Wisconsin in December 2011 said similar viruses had been found in US swine since 2010 and that the strain was susceptible to antiviral drugs.

The CDC said the total number of variant flu cases detected since July has now reached 309. That includes the 305 H3N2v cases, the Missouri H1N1v case, and three H1N2v cases that were recently reported in Minnesota. All three strains contain the pH1N1 M gene.

Link here...

[link to www.cidrap.umn.edu]

More mention is being made in this article that relates to the rare case of detection of H1N1v in the US and that it appears to have emerged from a display swine at a county fair.

Again something needs to be done to change the way the animals are displayed at county fairs, before it is too late.

There are just too many incidences and variations of strains emerging form these events for this to continue to be ignorred.

Missouri H1N1v Case Raises Concerns
Recombinomics Commentary 17:15
September 14, 2012


As a result of enhanced surveillance activities for H3N2v, one infection with an influenza A (H1N1) variant (H1N1v) virus has been detected in Missouri in a patient who became ill after contact with swine.

Confirmatory testing at CDC identified H1N1v with the matrix (M) gene from the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in specimens collected from this patient.

The above comments from the CDC’s week 36 FluView describe a Missouri patient infected with H1N1v with an H1N1pdm09 M gene. This result is similar to reports at the end of 2011 of a Wisconsin case, A/Wisconsin/28/2011, which also was infected with H1N1v with an H1N1pdm09 M gene. These are the only cases since the 2009 H1N1pdm09 pandemic.

Link here..

[link to www.recombinomics.com]

This is a very big world, yet in many aspects it really isnt all that big at all.

Today, someone gave me a karma point, with a very cryptic note.

For that, first of all, let me offer my most humble appreciation to whom ever made that very generous contribution. (Sadly, they didnt identify themself!)

Next, please allow me to say that the accompanying cyptic message is a bit of a thing to get my head around, but, I think Im getting there!

I can only put into print the information that I collect from numerous sources, which I do almost daily.

And from that I draw my conclusioins and present them, right or wrong.

The sunlight reveals that which would hide itself, and by so doing, it exposes the truth.

This next extract looks at the lack of overall preparedness for a pandemic in US schools, where rapid spread occure because of the close proximity of students.

Majority of US Schools not ready for next pandemic, SLU researchers say


ST. LOUIS – Many U.S. schools are not prepared for bioterrorism attacks, outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases or pandemics, despite the recent 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic that resulted in more than 18,000 deaths worldwide, Saint Louis University researchers say.

The study, led by Terri Rebmann, Ph.D., associate professor at SLU's Institute for Biosecurity, surveyed about 2000 nurses working in elementary, middle and high schools across 26 states. The findings reveal that only 48 percent of schools address pandemic preparedness and only 40 percent of schools have updated their plans since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic that spread illnesses in more than 214 countries.

"There is a lot of research that shows influenza spreads quickly in schools because it's a communicable disease and kids interact closely," Rebmann said. "Schools need to have a written pandemic plan in order to be prepared to put interventions into place quickly when an event occurs."

Link here...

[link to www.eurekalert.org]

Influenza reports for New South Wales for the period from the 1st of September to the &th of September 2012 are as follows.

3. Laboratory testing summary for influenza
For the week ending 7 September 2012: A total of 1466 tests for respiratory viruses were performed at sentinel NSW laboratories (Table 2) with 11.4% testing positive for influenza. Influenza A: 65 specimens (4.4%) tested positive (Table 2, Figure 4). Of these:
&#61607; 38 (52%) tested positive for influenza A(H3N2)
&#61607; Three tested positive for influenza A(pH1N1). The remainder tested negative to influenza A(pH1N1) and are assumed to have been A(H3N2). Influenza B: 103 specimens (7.0%) tested positive (Table 2, Figure 4). The proportion of respiratory specimens positive for influenza A decreased further compared to the previous week. However influenza B activity increased compared to the previous week.

Link here...

[link to www.health.nsw.gov.au]

Influenza reporting for Queensland, though their site quotes "Weekly" figures, Queensland prefers to see some benefit and logic by reporting NOT weekly figures, like all other reporting centres, they instead choose to add their figures and come up with "year to date" figures which of course are more or less useless.

Here is what they offer!

Year to date 2 September 2012

Year to date (YTD) there have been 13916 notifications of influenza in Queensland.

Link here...

[link to www.influenzaspecialistgroup.org.au]

South Australia on the other hand seem to understand what they are in fact actually doing and this is clearly demonstrated with these usefull figures.

South Australia
Week ending 1 September 2012

There were 187 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week, a decrease from 279 cases reported in the previous week. Of these cases, 27 were attributed to influenza B virus and 160 were typed as Influenza A. There have been 4,883 influenza cases year-to-date compared to 3,178 cases reported for the same period last year.

Link here...

[link to www.influenzaspecialistgroup.org.au]

Tasmania seems to have similar issues with Queensland with what they preceive comprises a useful report as is shown below with their version of a weekly assesment of influenza activity.

Influenza A was responsible for the July-August 2012 peak in influenza notifications. Influenza A notifications have since declined steadily, with only 27 received during the last fortnight. When sub-typing of Influenza A viruses has been conducted, almost all have been the influenza A H3N2 subtype. Influenza A H1N1 (pandemic or "swine" flu) remains rare. An increasing number of influenza B notifications have been received since mid-August, with 15 received during the last fortnight.

Link here...

[link to www.dhhs.tas.gov.au]

In Victoria, for the week ending on the 9th of September, we obtain these figuers.

Meaningful, simple, consise and worthwhile reporting.

Why can we not have some simple consistence with this important data?

This week we received 33 surveillance swabs of which 17 (52%) were positive for influenza. Of these swabs 1 was A(H1N1)pdm09, 8 were A(H3N2), 3 were untyped and 5 were influenza B.

Link here...

[link to www.influenzaspecialistgroup.org.au]