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

In another story out of Egypt, there has been another culling of 7000 poultry in Luxor.

This story appears to suggest the this culling event was done "discreetly", which seems to be puzzling as these type of outbreaks must be reported.

Avian Taiaurersdt "Ahram Gate" in Luxor Governorate Monday evening emergence of new cases among birds sick bird flu, resulting in the execution of 7 thousand birds Esna center south of Luxor after illness amid severe discreetly by officials.

Link here...

[link to gate.ahram.org.eg]

(google translated)

Prague is reporting three people infected with H1N1 swine flu, being hospitalized.

Three people with swine flu stay in Prague Hospital in Warsaw. Their condition is good, but in the hospital, a prohibition to visit - gives kontakt24.tvn.pl.
In three individuals confirmed the presence of H1N1 virus. Patients are good - said Richard Feldman, Deputy Director of the Warsaw Medical Hospital.

Link here...

[link to www.wprost.pl]

(google translated)

India continues to report more positive cases of H1N1 swine flu.

SANGRUR/BARNALA: Two cases of swine flu has come to light in adjoining Sangrur and Barnala districts pointing towards the spread of the deadly disease in Punjab' Malwa region.

Satish Kumar of Sunam Udham Singh Wala in Sangrur and Sukhdev Singh of village Kaleka in Barnala district have been reported as confirmed case of the flu. Satish Kumar is admitted at Ludhiana's DMC hospital while Sukhdev Singh is admitted at a private hospital in Patiala. Sangrur CMO Dr HS Bali confirmed that both the cases have been found to be swine flu positive cases.

Link here...

[link to timesofindia.indiatimes.com]

Norway is also recording significant numbers of H1N1 swine flu being detected among other flu strains there too.

Southern Hospital sends out daily updates on the situation, and here's Tuesday's status:

Southern Hospitality Trust has today, Tuesday 8 January, hospitalized a total of 10 patients with proven influenza, eight of which have proven swine flu. In addition, we have six patients with suspected influenza. We have an adult patient in the ICU who are seriously ill, triggered by swine flu. The condition of the other flu patients is not severe.

Today Southern hospitals HF examined 43 samples of flu. 13 of the samples were positive for influenza A, of which nine were swine flu. One sample was positive for influenza B.

Link here...

[link to www.austagderblad.no]

(google translated)

It appears the all the significant outbreaks of H5N1 in Indonesia has resulted with a person being treated for H5N1 avian influenza there.

It is unfortunate to hear this news however with the poor manner that health authorities treat the danger and potential risk of human infection with H5N1, this news is somewhat to be expected.

We can only hope the those authorities can come to terms with the real risks and begin to respond in a more appropriate manner.

Suspect Bird Flu Treated
Monday, 14 January 2013 16:32
RSMH - The issue of bird flu re-emerged in several regions including in Palembang. A man aged 45 years, is currently being treated in hospital pavilion Jasmine Muhammad Husayn Palembang. Unfortunately, the information suspect bird flu was still covered by the hospital. According to one of the employees RSMH Yini Palembang in one patient confirmed the pavilion of a man aged around 45 years, was admitted RSMH since Sunday (13/01) at 22:00 pm.
"We have no right to give information, please ask the hospital and head of public relations agencies. But it is true that there is a patient suspected of contracting bird flu, "he said on Monday (14/01).
Unfortunately the PR RSMH Palembang was also unable to provide information about it. So is the Chief Sal Melati Pavilion.
Dr. Ahmad Spp Zen DKP, a specialist in internal medicine is it can not comment on the truth of patients who contracted the bird flu disease.
"I can only testify to what was the bird flu virus. Truth about whether or not the patient who was admitted to this hospital, I can not comment because it was the right director, "he said.

Link here...

[link to palembang-pos.com]

(google translated)

Recently we reported that H5N1 avian influenza had been detected in a bird in the US.

New information has now confirmed the this virus is a H5 type, however the N designation has NOT been established at this point in time.

I received additional information that may be of interest to your readers after sending the diagnostic information. The text below incorporates the diagnostic information sent in a previous e-mail.

On behalf of Veterinary Services, APHIS, US Department of Agriculture, I'd like to provide the following additional information on the 12 Jan 2013 posting "Avian influenza (03): USA (NY), H5N1 LPAI, poultry, RFI":

A Muscovy duck from a Brooklyn, NY, Live Bird Market tested positive by rRT-PCR specific for the hemagglutinin H5 gene and negative for the neuraminidase N1 gene of avian influenza virus.

Virus isolation is pending and we do not have an N-type at this time.

The amino acid sequencing at the hemagglutinin protein cleavage site is compatible with North American low pathogenic avian influenza.

The market underwent an immediate sell down, closure, and cleaning and disinfection (C&D). The C&D was completed on 11 Jan 2013.

Tracing and testing of the source flocks is underway.

--
Randall L Levings, DVM PhD
Scientific Advisor
Emergency Management and Diagnostics
VS, APHIS, USDA
USA

Link here...

[link to www.promedmail.org]

In the left ment under the heading...

15 Jan 2013 Avian influenza (04): USA (NY) H5 LPAI, poultry, RFI for N-type

The subject of Mercury and its association with vaccinations in the form of thiomersal is a topic that constantly surfaces at regular intervals.

This next article suggests that mercury use and potentially thiomersal could be banned depending on findings from worldwide government bodies looking at this topic.

A global treaty on mercury pollution will do more harm than good if it bans the vaccine preservative thiomersal

NEXT week, governments from around the world will gather in Geneva to finalise a long-overdue treaty on mercury. The aim of the negotiations is laudable: to ban those mercury-laden products and pollutants that are a danger to human health and the environment.

Among the targets are some of the most toxic products of the industrial age, including methyl mercury. This notorious compound killed and injured thousands in the Japanese city of Minamata in the 1950s and 1960s and still poses a significant global health risk.

Another compound facing a possible ban, however, is a benign medicinal preservative called thiomersal (thimerosal in the US). Although it contains mercury, there is no evidence that it is harmful. In fact, it helps save the lives of well over a million children every year. Banning it would be a grave mistake.

Link here...

[link to www.newscientist.com]

From time to time some story will surface and if the matter wasnt so serious youd laugh at the sheer stupidity of how things are sometimes handled.

Here we are witnessing a bun fight over the right, thats correct, the rights to be acknowledged as the original discoverer of the new novel coronavirus that emerged in Saudi Arabia last year.

And, if I might add to this crazy argument, didnt this coronavirus actually originate in Jordan where their useless Minister of Health ignored it and stood by while several of his medical people succumed to this bug.

Honestly, this coronavirus deserves some other type of characterization that better reflects all the insane stories that it has been spawned or been associated with.

Tensions linger over discovery of coronavirus
A continuing row pits researchers against authorities in Saudi Arabia, where deadly pathogen was first isolated.

Declan Butler 14 January 2013 Corrected: 15 January 2013

A coronavirus discovered last year in Saudi Arabia is at the centre of an international controversy.

Tensions linger over discovery of coronavirus
A continuing row pits researchers against authorities in Saudi Arabia, where deadly pathogen was first isolated.

Declan Butler 14 January 2013 Corrected: 15 January 2013

A coronavirus discovered last year in Saudi Arabia is at the centre of an international controversy.

Elizabeth R. Fischer, Rocky Mountain Labs/NIAID/NIH

When microbiologist Ali Mohamed Zaki mailed out a sample of a deadly virus he had found in Saudi Arabia to a leading virologist, he thought he was helping to alert the world to a potential public-health threat. But Saudi authorities are unhappy that, although the virus was first isolated in their country, Zaki’s action has resulted in handing sovereign and intellectual-property rights on the first diagnostic tests or treatments over to an institute in the Netherlands.

As the World Health Organization convenes researchers and public health officials to a meeting in Cairo today to take stock of the novel virus, which has quickly sparked international concern, the dispute over its discovery continues. The row is highlighting potential tensions between scientists’ pursuit of research and the responsibility they have to flag up threats to national authorities. It also underscores the lack of clear international rules for what rights and credit should be assigned to countries where pathogens are first isolated.

Link here...

[link to www.nature.com]

H1N1, Swine flu has claimed the lives of four people in the Taiz Governorate of Yemen, where there are a further 9 cases confirmed but in good care.

4 swine flu deaths in Taiz, 9 confirmed cases
Published on 21 January 2013

TAIZ, Jan. 20 — Four people have died of the H1N1 virus - commonly known as swine flu - in Taiz governorate over the last two days, according to Dr. Abdulanaser Al-Kebab, the Health Office director of the governorate. Three of the victims were not from Taiz, but went to seek treatment in the governorate before succumbing to the disease.

Link here...

[link to www.yementimes.com]

miss you guys just don't have the time hope you all had a great christmas and a happy new year

Really do miss your presence here UK anon, and so good to hear from you.

Our Christmas was quiet for a change, but by choice.

It was pleasant and the New Year arrived with anticipation, it was really good to see the end of last year, one that really doesent need to be seen again!

I certainly hope that you enjoyed your holiday season and got some quality time with those close to you.

Please drop in from time to time to say hi when time allows.

Hope all else is everything as you like things to be.

Please take good care of yourself.

cheers

arkay

In very sad news the pediatric death rates in the US from Pneumonia and Influenza have taken a dramatic turn for the worst with significant percentage increases and showing signs that the total pediatric fatalites this season could potentially exceed the 2003 record death rates.

The week 3 Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Death Rate jumped to 9.8% from 8.3% in week 2. The 8.3% in week 2 represented a full percentage point jump from the 7.3% in week 1, which was just above the epidemic threshold. The 8.3% produced a dramatic spike as seen above, while tomorrow’s graph will be alarming and may precipitate another CDC telebriefing. The 9.8% rate is the highest rate since the peak in late 2003, when the rate briefly topped 10%. However, the steep curve in the recent rates suggests the rate in week 4 may be higher than the record level in 2003.

Last week the 8.3% rate was associated with 16 cities that had at least 10 P&I deaths and a rate of at least 10%, including one city with a rate above 20% (Springfield MA) and three additional cities with a rate above 15% (Knoxville TN, Akron OH, Nashville TN). In week 3 the number of cities that match the above criteria increased to 36 (see list below) including six with a rate above 20% (Canton OH, Duluth MN, New Haven CT, Knoxville TN, Worchester MA, Waterbury CT) as well as 9 more with rates above 15% (Erie PA, Ogden UT, South Bend IN, Akron OH, Des Moines IA, Washington DC, Syracuse NY, Providence RI, Austin TX).

Link here...

[link to www.recombinomics.com]

Further to the above post, the actual numbers of Pediatric deaths are understood to stand and a horrifying total of fifty lost souls so far this season.

US Pediatric Flu Deaths Increase To Fifty
Recombinomics Commentary 18:00
January 24, 2013


NYC (1 ), FL (2 ), TX (1 ), CO (4)

The above numbers from the week 3 MMWR reportable diseases page indicate tomorrow’s CDC week 3 FluView will have 8 more pediatric deaths, increasing the season total to 37, which surpasses last season’s total of 34 deaths. However, 4 of the 8 cases listed above are from Colorado, which had been reported in the state reports for weeks 50 and 2. The FluView numbers have a significant lag. Colorado reported a fifth death in its week 3 report and as seen in the list below, there are 13 confirmed or probable cases that have already been reported, raising the season total to fifty. Moreover, many of the state week 3 reports have not been made public yet, so the total below may increase further this week.

Link here...

[link to www.recombinomics.com]

Beijing is reporting H1N1 swine flu continuing to be at its peak with some deaths resulting from these infections.

Beijing this year, reports 133 cases of A/H1N1 flu cases, 5 died

Jan 24, 2013 5:37 Source: China News web surface

BEIJING, January 24 (Reporter Du Yan) Beijing ILI incidence level is still at its peak, this year, reported a total of 133 cases of Influenza A (H1N1) cases, 5 cases died.

Link here...

[link to health.timedg.com]

India is also reporting continuing increases of H1N1 swine flu cases.

Eight cases of Swine flu detected in Punjab Bhaskar News |

Jan 24, 2013, 03:32AM IST Article


Ludhiana: The number of cases of Swine Flu is increasing in Punjab. On Tuesday alone, eight cases were detected in hospitals in Punjab. This has increased the tally to an alarming 34.

State epidmicologist Dr Deepak Bhatia informed that four cases were detected in Ludhiana's DMC, two in Fortis of Mohali, one in Ropar and one in Max Hospital.

Link here...

[link to daily.bhaskar.com]

France too is reporting increasing cases of influenza and influenza associated deaths, with no specific type being dominant but all 2 type A influenzas and the B strains all present.

Epidemic Influenza: 15 deaths since November

Posted on January 23, 2013 at 16:32

Originally 15 deaths since November, the flu epidemic continues to expand.

But it does not "particularly serious", according to the Institute of Health Surveillance (VS).

The outbreak of flu has killed 15 people, according to a bulletin of the Institute of Health Surveillance (VS) released Wednesday.

Since the resumption of monitoring the November 1, InVS states that 129 serious cases have also been reported.

Link here...

[link to lci.tf1.fr]

Last Edited by arkay on 01/24/2013 07:24 PM

Indonesia continues to experience fresh outbreaks of H5N1 Avian Influenza in its poultry flocks, which indicates that their officials are yet to gain the upper hand with their ongoing problems with this deadly threat to all of humanity.

NASIONALVirus Bird Flu outbreak in Jambi, Thousands of Chickens Found MatiKamis, January 24, 2013 | 21:50 pm

Avian Influenza outbreak in Jambi, Thousands of Chickens Found Dead

Bali Bird Flu Spreads in 4 KabupatenMetrotvnews.com, Jambi:

H5N1 bird flu virus is rapidly evolving Batanghari, Jambi, and has caused the death of thousands of chickens owned by residents in the area.

Observation in the field, on Thursday (24/1), outbreaks of bird flu virus was originally found in the Durian Luncuk then spread to other villages.

Currently, the virus is again attacked residents in the Village poultry Rengas Condong, District Muarabulian. The chicken deaths from bird flu positive.

Link here...

[link to www.metrotvnews.com]

(google translated)

The announcement to resume research on H5N1 has been made.

This comes from scientists have become frustrated with the way America seems not to be able to arrive at any resolutions regarding which research restrictions should be made and how they are to be implemented and administrated.

Research to Resume on Modified, Deadlier Bird FluBy DENISE GRADY
Published: January 23, 2013

Experiments with a deadly flu virus, suspended last year after a fierce global debate over safety, will start up again in some laboratories, probably within the next few weeks, scientists say.
Break...

During a telephone news conference on Wednesday, Ron Fouchier, a virologist who conducted some of the flu experiments at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, said the scientists were lifting the moratorium without waiting for guidelines from the United States.

“How long do you want us to wait?” Dr. Fouchier asked. “If this was the Netherlands, would the U.S. wait? Should all countries really wait for the U.S., and why?”

Link here...

[link to www.nytimes.com]

H5N1, Avian influenza has tragically claimed the lives of two people, and another, a child has recovered from the same H5N1 infection.

All these cases have come from Cambodia and are the first human cases to be reported so far this year.

These cases have all been associated with infected poultry and the two fatal cases are believed to have been the result of eating sick cooked poultry.

Of note are the previous assertions that have been made by some poorly informed Indonesian authorities that cooked poultry is safe to eat.

Perhaps this news will clearify that deadly advice given to the Indonesian people.

Nothing associated with H5N1 infection is remotely safe in any situation as far as the general community should be concerned.

Cambodia reports three H5N1 illnesses, two fatal
Lisa Schnirring Staff Writer


Jan 25, 2013 (CIDRAP News) – Cambodia's health ministry today announced three new H5N1 avian influenza cases, two of them fatal and all located in the southwestern part of the country with exposure to poultry, according to a joint statement from the ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The cases are the world's first to surface in 2013 and push the number of H5N1 infections in Cambodia since 2005 to 24, which includes 21 deaths.

Link here...

[link to www.cidrap.umn.edu]

The following is a copy of the News Release from the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia, in relation to the Cambodian reports of human infection by H5N1 Avian Influenza, and the known relevant details specific to each of these cases.

Three new human cases of avian influenza H5N1 in Cambodia in 2013
Joint news release of the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia and World Health Organization

PHNOM PENH, 25 January 2013 - The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to advise members of the public that three new human cases of avian influenza have been confirmed positive for the H5N1 virus.

The first case, an 8-month old infant boy from Chrey Korng Village, Sangkat Chorm Chao, Khan Por Sen Chey, Phnom Penh has been diagnosed with H5N1 influenza. He developed symptoms on 08th January 2013 then was brought to the National Paediatric Hospital for consultation on 9th January with fever, cough, runny nose, and vomiting. The boy was registered in the Influenza-Like Illness Sentinel Surveillance and the samples were sent to the National Institute of Public Health's laboratory on 11th January. The result was confirmed by Institut Pasteur du Cambodge on 22nd January 2013. The infant has recovered and had history of coming into contact with poultry prior to becoming sick.

The second case, a 15-year-old female from Snao village, Snao commune, Prey Kabass district, Takeo Province, has been diagnosed with H5N1 influenza on 22nd January 2013. She became sick on 11th January suffering with fever and cough. She was initially treated by local private practitioners. Her condition worsened and she was admitted to Kantha Bopha Hospital on 17th January with fever and shortness of breath. Unfortunately, despite intensive medical care, she died on 21st January. There is evidence of recent deaths among poultry in the village and the patient prepared sick chicken for food prior to becoming sick.

In the third case, a 35-year-old man from Trapeang Sla village, Preah Nipean commune, Kong Pisey district, Kampong Speu province has been diagnosed with H5N1 influenza on 23rd January 2013 by Institut Pasteur du Cambodge. He became sick on 13th January, 2013 suffering with fever and cough. He was initially treated by local private practitioners. His condition worsened and he was admitted to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh with fever and dyspnea on 21st January. Samples were taken the same day and sent to the National Institute of Public Health's laboratory. Despite intensive medical care, the patient died soon after the samples were taken. There is evidence of recent deaths among poultry in the village and the patient prepared sick chicken for food prior to becoming sick. The man is the twenty-fourth person in Cambodia to become infected with H5N1 virus, and the third person this year and the twenty-first person to die from complications of the disease. Of all the twenty four cases, 15 were children under 14, and fifteen of the twenty four confirmed cases occurred in females.

"Avian influenza H5N1 is still a threat to the health of Cambodians. This is the three cases of H5N1 infection in human this year, and children still seem to be most vulnerable. I urge parents and guardians to keep children away from sick or dead poultry, discourage them from playing in areas where poultry stay and wash their hands often. If they have fast or difficulty breathing, they should be brought to medical attention at the nearest health facilities and attending physicians be made aware of any exposure to sick or dead poultry." said HE Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health.

The Ministry of Health's Rapid Response Teams (RRT) have gone to the hospitals and the field to identify the patient’s close contacts, any epidemiological linkage among the three cases and initiate preventive treatment as required. In addition, public health education campaigns are being conducted in the villages to inform families on how to protect themselves from contracting avian influenza. The government's message is - wash hands often; keep children away from poultry; keep poultry away from living areas; do not eat sick poultry; and all poultry eaten should be well cooked.

H5N1 influenza is a flu that normally spreads between sick poultry, but it can sometimes spread from poultry to humans. Human H5N1 Avian Influenza is a very serious disease that requires hospitalization. Although the virus currently does not easily spread among humans, if the virus changes it could easily be spread like seasonal influenza. Hence, early recognition of cases is important.

Globally since 2003, there have been 613 laboratory confirmed cases of avian influenza with 362 related deaths.

The Ministry of Health will continue to keep the public informed of developments via the MoH website www.cdcmoh.gov.kh where relevant health education materials can also be downloaded.

For more information on human influenza please call the MoH Influenza Hotline numbers:
115 (free call); 012 488 981 or 089 669 567

or contact:
Ministry of Health
Dr Sok Touch: Tel +855 12 856 848
Dr Ly Sovann: Tel +855 12 825 424

World Health Organization
Dr Pieter JM van Maaren: Tel +855 23 216 610
Dr Reiko Tsuyuoka: Tel +855 23 216 610

Link here...

[link to www.wpro.who.int]

Even as sophisticated as we believe health authorities and organizations in America to be, the following article would appear to indicate that belief could be poorly founded as it seems that even the Americans can have difficulty organizing simple reporting standards for recording Influenza fatalities of pedeatrics.

This really is a pretty poor report card for those responsible.

Reporting Delays In US Pediatric Flu Deaths
Recombinomics Commentary 15:00
January 26, 2013





Eight influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 3. Two were associated with influenza A viruses for which the subtype was not determined and occurred during week 1 (week ending January 5, 2013), and six were associated with influenza B viruses and occurred during weeks 43, 46, 50, 52, and 3 (weeks ending October 27, November 17, December 15 and 29, 2012 and January 19, 2013).

A total of 37 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported during the 2012-2013 season from New York City [1] and 18 states (Arkansas [1], Colorado [4], Florida [4], Indiana [1], Kansas [1], Maine [1], Massachusetts [1], Michigan [4], Minnesota [1], Nebraska [1], New Jersey [2], New York [3], Ohio [1], South Carolina [1], Tennessee [1], Texas [7], Washington [1], and Wisconsin [1]).

Link here...

[link to www.recombinomics.com]

From Pro-MED mail we have the latest Flu reports released by the World Health Organization in relation to the Northern Hemisphere flu season.

Summary
-------
The patterns of influenza activity remain diverse across the WHO European Region. Consultation rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) and/or acute respiratory infection (ARI) are increasing in the majority of countries in the Region, including eastern Europe, but have started to decrease in northern countries. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and type B viruses are circulating in the Region, but the relative proportion of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in samples from sentinel and non-sentinel sources continues to increase. The number of reported hospitalizations due to severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is increasing slowly in association with the increase in influenza activity in the eastern part of the Region

Virological surveillance for influenza
-------------------------------
The number of specimens testing positive for influenza in the Region was similar to the previous week, again mainly due to detections in the western part of the Region. Overall, a total of 3741 specimens tested positive for influenza in week 3/2013, which 2840 (76 percent) were influenza A.

For week 3/2013 the picture related to the proportion of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses versus A(H3N2) was similar to those in the 2 previous weeks, with A(H1N1)pdm09 dominating: of 1856 influenza A viruses subtyped, 1488 (80 percent) were A(H1N1)pdm09 while 368 (20 percent) were A(H3N2).


Since the beginning of the season (week 40/2012), 16 457 influenza viruses from sentinel and non-sentinel sources have been typed: 11 318 (69 percent) were influenza A and 5 139 (31 percent) influenza B. Of the influenza A viruses, 6698 were subtyped: 4552 (68 percent) as A(H1N1)pdm09 and 2146 (32 percent) as A(H3N2). In addition, since week 40/2012, the lineage for 788 influenza B viruses has been determined: 707 (90 percent) belonged to the B/Yamagata lineage and 81 (10 percent) to B/Victoria.

The circulation of influenza viruses remains variable across the Region. Influenza A (mainly A(H1N1)pdm09) continues to be reported as the dominant virus in an increasing number of countries in northern and central Europe, the Russian Federation and Turkey, while influenza B is reported as the dominant virus in some countries in the southern and western parts of the Region. Between these areas, co-circulation of A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and influenza B is reported.

Virus strain characterisations
------------------------
For the 2012/2013 northern hemisphere influenza season, the WHO recommends inclusion of A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like, A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like and B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like (from the B/Yamagata lineage) viruses in vaccines. The majority of characterized viruses from the WHO European Region have been similar to these vaccine viruses.

Since week 40/2012, 964 influenza viruses characterized antigenically by 10 countries (Denmark, the United Kingdom (England), Germany, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Scotland, Slovakia, Switzerland) corresponded with the viruses recommended by WHO for inclusion in the current northern hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccine.

11 countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland) have characterized 240 influenza viruses genetically. At present, both A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses fall into a number of different genetic groups, but they remain antigenically similar to their respective vaccine viruses, A/California/7/2009 and A/Victoria/361/2011.

Influenza B viruses of the B/Victoria/2/87 and the B/Yamagata/16/88 lineages are co-circulating with the clear dominance of the B/Yamagata lineage viruses this season. Influenza B viruses of the B/Victoria lineage, all fall within the B/Brisbane/60/2008 clade and are antigenically indistinguishable. B/Yamagata lineage viruses in circulation clearly fall into 2 distinct genetic clades, 2 and 3 represented by B/Estonia/55669/2011 and B/Wisconsin/1/2010 respectively. Viruses in these clades can be distinguished antigenically from each other, but the antigenic differentiation of these clades is not clear-cut as post-infection ferret antisera raised against clade 2 viruses are more clade-specific than are antisera raised against clade 3 viruses. Nevertheless, viruses within these clades remain antigenically similar to the current vaccine strain.

Link here...

[link to www.promedmail.org]

In the left menu under the heading...

26 Jan 2013 Influenza (10): European region update

Regular readers here will be aware of Treyfish and his web site that correlates closely with the work we do here.

From time to time Treyfish has been good enough to post some important information for us here, and I regularly check his site out for news that we tend not to cover here.

Today I notice this introduction to his current reporting on the situation in Indonesia with the massive and growing problems that their authorities there are experiencing with continuing outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza there.

Both Trayfish and I would appear to agree that the problem in Indonesia seems to lay fair and squarely with the innappropriate attitude that their authorities have taken and continue to take towards this humanity threatening menace.

Indonesias record is abysmal when it comes to their handling of avian influenza where over half of the whole worlds human deaths have been reported from just there alone.

I suggest readers follow the link and regularly check out Treyfish's excellent work.

Faulty Indo tests hide true extent of bird deaths
I could go on to post 47 stories of birds that died, but tested negative
for h5n1 ..47 stories.
..But that would spoil all the fun.
Please try to guess how many you think are dead this week and add 4 zero's to it.

Now.. can you guess which strain is killing what?? Don't feel bad, they can't neither!
Of course, with the 321 Death strain going haywire and leftover old vaccines for
the last prevalent strain being doubled up on.. soon you will see some shit in the fan.

2 Different bf strains circulating in the same village, using the wrong vaccine and twice as much, throwing the dead chickens anywhere at all or selling them to the unsuspecting buyers, surely cannot continue for much longer..

Link here...

[link to swineflumagazine.blogspot.com.au]

An article from Natural news.com caught my eye with some information regarding the REAL effectiveness of flu vaccines.

Here is the articles heading...


CDC admits to flu vaccine's ineffectiveness as huge influx of flu victims fills hospitals across the country

Of greater interest than the actual lead heading which is noteworthy enough, the article goes on to quote a Lancet study that reveals that the CDC's figures are missleading because their sampling stastistics are biased or skewed, revealing that real vaccination effectiveness is actually less than a pathetic 2%.

I would advise caution in relation to simply accepting these figures being correct as stated as there is no "link" for me to check the veracity of the claims being made.

I have just spent some time searching the Lancet's web site for that study referred to in this article and I cant find it.

Perhaps somone else can assist here please.

Here is their link...

[link to www.thelancet.com]

Naturally if any reader is able to contribute any other helpful information of this subject it will be greatly appreciated as this is an extremely important issue and to be honest its about time we all got the real picture on this much talked about topic.


But as we reported back in 2011, the data the CDC is using to claim even a 60 percent effectiveness rate for the flu shot is largely misinterpreted. Only about 2.7 in 100 adults gets the flu every year on average, according to the Lancet published meta-analyses that the CDC is referring to with its 60 percent effectiveness claim. But when you introduce vaccines into the picture, that number only drops by 1.5 percent.

In other words, flu vaccines have an effectiveness rate of only about 1.5 percent, according to the Lancet study that health authorities now routinely use to claim that flu vaccines are effective. When you take into account possible margins of error and other discrepancies, the true effectiveness of the flu shot is negligible, based on all available data.

Link here...

[link to www.naturalnews.com]

There has been a report of two further deaths from H5N1 avian influenza in Cambodia, which now increases the deaths from this deadly virus to four souls during this year.

Cambodia reports 2 more H5N1 cases, both fatal
Robert Roos News Editor


Jan 28, 2013 (CIDRAP News) – Two Cambodian children died of H5N1 avian influenza infections today, raising the nation's 2013 H5N1 death toll to four and its case total to five, according to an Associated Press (AP) report.

Cambodia has had more H5N1 cases and deaths this month than in all of 2012, when, according to World Health Organization figures, there were three cases, all fatal.

Link here...

[link to www.cidrap.umn.edu]

There have been several stories about the relationship of GSK flu vaccinations and an increase in cases of narcolepsy.

Now a large scale study has confirmed this suspected relationship.

Study finds post-H1N1-vaccination rise in narcolepsy in 3 nations
Lisa Schnirring Staff Writer


Jan 30, 2013 (CIDRAP News) – A large study of narcolepsy background rates in six European countries before and after 2009 H1N1 pandemic vaccine campaigns confirmed increases in Finland and Sweden—the two countries that first reported the problem—but also detected a rise in Denmark.

The findings, from one of the largest known studies of narcolepsy epidemiologic patterns, are the latest piece of the puzzle for European health officials who have been investigating a link between narcolepsy and vaccination with Pandemrix, a monovalent vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) that contains the AS03 adjuvant.

The increase in vaccine-related narcolepsy cases surfaced in August 2010 and appeared to be limited to children and adolescents, but over the course of the investigations in Europe, French and Irish researchers found a significant link between Pandemrix and narcolepsy in adults who receive the vaccine, as well.

link here...

[link to www.cidrap.umn.edu]

With the following news we become aware that the Pandemic H1N1 swine flu virus is capable of infecting an even wider species range, having been found in Elephant Seal populations.

Pandemic H1N1 In California Elephant Seals
Recombinomics Commentary 12:15
January 31, 2013


University of California Davis vet school has released two set of nearly full H1N1pdm09 sequences (A/Elephant seal/California/1/2010 and A/elephant seal/California/2/2010) for all 8 gene segments from Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) collected in April and May 2010 off the coast of central California. The sequences were virtually identical to each other and closely related to H1N1pdm09 in humans in 2009 and 2010.

Link here...

[link to www.recombinomics.com]

Hong Kong Reports HPAI H5N1 Outbreak
30 January 2013

HONG KONG - The Chinese veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a black-headed gull or Larus ridibundus(Laridae).
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received an immediate notification on 29 January.

According to the report, a black-headed gull was collected on 25 January 2013 at Mouse Island children’s playground, Hoi Wing Road, Tuen Mun. The black-headed gull is a common winter visitor in Hong Kong.

The source of the outbreak has not yet been determined.

An intensive surveillance system is in place for all poultry farms, poultry markets and pet bird shops in Hong Kong.

The H5N1 infected wild bird was detected in our ongoing surveillance program on wild birds.

No spread of disease was evident.

The date of closure of the event is the date of end of the outbreak which is the date the bird was found (i.e. 25 January 2013).

[link to www.npr.org]
nipah virus is a result of eating fruit infected by fruit at urine bats
remember we spoke about this previously .......