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

Well it would appear that our friends in China know the risks and more importantly how to approprately respond to them when it comes to infectous diseases.

This article relates to how China is responding to the recent outbreak of H5N1 in Cambodia.

It demonstrates how a responsible authority should behave at the onset of any threatening disease.

WHO would do well to heed their responsible protocols.

Health authorities said Monday that China has strengthened preventive measures against the possible arrival of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) after five people from contracting the disease in Cambodia last month.

La Administración General de Supervisión de la Calidad, Inspección y Cuarentena (AQSIQ, por sus siglas en inglés) incrementará los controles de la temperatura corporal de todos los viajeros que entren en China vía Camboya, según un aviso publicado en la página web de dicho organismo. The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ, for its acronym in English) will increase the body temperature controls of all travelers entering China via Cambodia, according to a notice posted on the website of the agency .

Link here...

[link to spanish.china.org.cn]

Here we see a report of another outbreak and culling of H5N1 infected poultry again in Cambodia.

GENERAL INFO
Disease Event ID Reporting date Observation date
174843 22/02/2013 19/02/2013

LOCATION
Region Admin 1 (Country) Locality Lat/Long Quality of Coordinates
Asia Kampot (Cambodia) Sro Ngae 10.81/104.33 Unknown

DISEASE
Status DISEASE Serotype Source
Confirmed Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 OIE
OverlaysDisease Event
Admin 1 Level (GAUL)
Global Poultry Density
Production Systems
World Rivers
Base LayerCountries/Territories (GAUL)



SPECIES AFFECTED
An.Type An.Class Species At Risk Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Domestic Birds unspecified bird 1076 442 442 634 0

LABORATORIES
Disease Tested Species Test Result Result Date Reference Laboratory
Highly pathogenic avian influenza unspecified bird anatomo-pathological examination Positive 18/02/2013
Highly pathogenic avian influenza unspecified bird real-time PCR Positive 18/02/2013

Link here...

[link to empres-i.fao.org]

This next report is of another confirmation of H5N1 in another region of Cambodia where the infected birds were ducks.

It is quite distressing just to have to report this news, and one can only ponder at the real pain that must be felt by the poor people that all this culling must mean to them.

Cambodia is really suffering this year and we can only hope that this current outbreak of H5N1 comes to a rapid end and very soon.


GENERAL INFO
Disease Event ID Reporting date Observation date
174793 18/02/2013 18/02/2013

LOCATION
Region Admin 1 (Country) Locality Lat/Long Quality of Coordinates
Asia Kampong Cham (Cambodia) Talay 12.08/105.23 Unknown

DISEASE
Status DISEASE Serotype Source
Confirmed Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 OIE
OverlaysDisease Event
Admin 1 Level (GAUL)
Global Poultry Density
Production Systems
World Rivers
Base LayerCountries/Territories (GAUL)



SPECIES AFFECTED
An.Type An.Class Species At Risk Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Domestic Birds duck 1006 185 185 821 0

LABORATORIES
Disease Tested Species Test Result Result Date Reference Laboratory
Highly pathogenic avian influenza duck anatomo-pathological examination Positive 18/02/2013
Highly pathogenic avian influenza duck real-time PCR Positive 18/02/2013

Link here...

[link to empres-i.fao.org]

India continues to also post new cases of H1N1 swine flu, as reported in this article.

After a gap of almost ten days, the city reported a fresh case of swine flu on Saturday.

According to sources,a three-year-old baby boy from Dadu Majra has been tested positive for swine flu.

With this the total number of swine flu cases has reached 31 so far, with seven deaths in the tricity.

Link here...

[link to www.indianexpress.com]

This next article is poorly translated but it also gives an insight that Vietnam is also having to deal with fresh outbreaks of H5N1 in their poultry flocks.

It appears from the story that there may be difficulties for some farmers to obtain sufficient quantities to abequately vaccinate their flock, with the resultant outbreaks occuring.

Hau Giang: Destruction of 150 human H5N1 bird flu

Department of Veterinary Department Hau Giang Truong Ngoc Trung said relevant agencies has carried out the destruction of nearly 150 chickens Mr. Vo Van Buol, in My Thanh village, Tan Phuoc Hung Phung Hiep, after tested positive for H5N1.

These days, in chicken farms in this area, with a total of 4,000 children also found the chicken begins to die, but with less number of people self-destruction.

According to data from the chicken farmers this report, up to this point had about 600 chickens died.

Link here...

[link to www.nhandan.com.vn]

It is rare to find a story of H1N1 being present in the UK, but we see here where a Scottish lady has contracted this infection.

She was pregnant at the time of diagnosis, but a "C" section emergency delivery has seen the baby survive and remaining in good health.

Is so nice to have some good news.



(Flowers for mum and bubby)

Swine flu victim Jennifer Scott remains in critical condition

A woman from southern Scotland remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital in Leicester after contracting swine flu.

Jennifer Scott, who was pregnant, underwent an emergency caesarean before being transferred by helicopter from Dumfries Infirmary last week.

Her baby daughter is said to be doing well.

Link here...

[link to www.bbc.co.uk]

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has released its latest Communicable Disease Threats Report, for week 8 for the period from the 17th of Feb to the 23rd of Feb 2013.

Link here...

[link to www.ecdc.europa.eu]

Also buried within is this little gem...

WHO is now reporting H5N1 cases on a monthly basis. ECDC will continue monthly reporting in the CDTR to coincide with WHO reporting.

Monthly???

Are they (WHO) actively attempting to assist with the spread of this killer by retarding information sharing and rapid responses.

IDIOTS.

WHERE IS YOUR LOGIC FOR THIS?

arkay.

Egypt is reporting three new outbreaks of H5N1 in poultry there.

The article goes on to say that authorities are waiting for 20,000 doses of vaccinations to arrive for immediate use.

3 new sites for 'bird flu' in the New Valley .. And prevent the entry of conservative chicks
Ahmed Abdul Salam Sun, 24/02/2013 - 18:02

medical sources said in New Valley, Sunday, 3 new sites for bird flu infected poultry in 5 homes in the province, Major General Tariq al-Mahdi decided, Governor of New Valley , prevent the entry of «day-old chicks and one of the province, while allowing the transfer of other ages in the case of a laboratory analysis certificate stating free from the virus.

Said Dr. Mohammed Bashir, Director General of Veterinary Medicine, veterinary teams culled 57 birds infected in these houses, and it was in continuous tests on live birds villages and cities of the province. He attributed 'Bashir' cause of the sudden appearance of bird flu to the possibility of entry small carrier-old birds of the disease to the New Valley.

Link here...

[link to www.almasryalyoum.com]

google translated.

From what Ive read, it would be pretty likely that India would have to be the nation most highly impacted by H1N1 swine flu this season so far.

Here is another article oullining their latest cases.

New Delhi: A total of 45 more people tested positive for swine flu on Sunday, taking the number of people infected by the Influenza A (H1N1) virus in the city to 759, an official said. There were no new deaths.

"Forty-five more people tested positive for swine flu but there have been no deaths today (Sunday)," a doctor at the Delhi Health Service (DHS) told sources.

So far, six deaths have been reported this month till Sunday. In January, 39 cases were reported and one succumbed to the virus.

A spurt in cases of swine flu has been seen in the national capital this year. In 2012, only 78 swine flu cases and one death were reported in the capital.

Link here...

[link to www.ndtv.com]

Its been a while since we took a look at the Euroflu stats, so here is the snap-shot for week 7 of 2013.

Virological surveillance for influenza

During week 07/2013 a total of 7044 specimens tested positive for influenza, with 4761 (68%) being influenza A (Fig. 1).



In week 07/2013, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses remained the dominant A virus subtype: of 3568 subtyped, 2644 (74%) were A(H1N1)pdm09 while only 924 (26%) were A(H3N2) (Fig. 2a). These proportions of influenza A virus subtypes have remained stable for several weeks.

Since the beginning of the season (week 40/2012), 47 426 influenza viruses from sentinel and non-sentinel sources have been detected and typed. The relative proportion of influenza virus types has remained consistent since week 47/2012: cumulatively, 32 556 (69%) were influenza A and 14 870 (31%) influenza B (Fig. 2b). Of the 20 778 influenza A viruses that have been subtyped, 15 103 (73%) were A(H1N1)pdm09 and 5 675 (27%) were A(H3N2).

In addition, the lineages for 1905 influenza B viruses were determined: 1727 (91%) belonged to the B/Yamagata lineage and 178 (9%) to B/Victoria.


Circulation of influenza viruses in week 07/2013 remained diverse, with influenza A, mainly A(H1N1)pdm09, reported as the dominant virus in countries in northern, eastern and central Europe, Iceland, Portugal and Turkey, while influenza B was reported as the dominant virus in some countries in the southern part of the Region, as well as the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) (Map 1). Between these areas, more countries than in week 06/2013 reported co-circulation of A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and influenza B.

Link here...

[link to www.euroflu.org]

Well we have some good news and some, well itll be good in a while maybe.

This story speaks of research work being done here in Australia by our CSIRO scientists.

They are developing new ways to interfer with viral infection and spread, and the good news is that they might be on track with a new and promising treatment.

The "in a while" bit comes from the comment, "Researchers estimate it will take up to seven years before the drug is released.".

New Drug Developed to Combat Flu Pandemic
22 February 2013

AUSTRALIA - CSIRO scientists have helped to design a new drug to safeguard against epidemic and pandemic flu strains – as published in "Science".

The new drug has been proven to be effective in preventing the spread of different strains of influenza in laboratory models – including resistant strains of the virus.

Link here...

[link to www.thepoultrysite.com]

Cambodia reports 9th bird flu case, 8th death so far this year


Xinhua | 2013-2-26 13:07:46
Cambodia reported on Tuesday that a 35-year-old man died of Avian Influenza H5N1, bringing the death toll to eight and the number of cases to nine in 2013, health officials and victim's family said Tuesday.
The man, identified as Thoeun Doeun, lived in Trung Trang district of Eastern Kampong Cham province.
"He died of the bird flu virus last night after a four-day medical treatment at the Calmete Hospital in Phnom Penh," Suon Sokhy, younger sister of the victim, told Xinhua over telephone.
She said that her brother became sick after he took a dead duck to cook and ate.
"Doctor told me that he died of bird flu," she said.
Sonny Krishnan, communications offic [link to www.globaltimes.cn]

"We are really worried about the situation because in just two months we have nine cases of bird flu," Ly Sovann told AFP.
Eight of the nine people died, along with thousands of birds in the villages where the victims lived.
"There was a lot of dead poultry, but the people did not report to (officials). In the villages that I went to, almost all poultry had died," Ly Sovann said, adding it took up to a month for officials to be told of poultry deaths in some areas.
The health ministry has enhanced surveillance to try to detect and treat avian influenza cases in the early stages, he said.
"We are also worried about (possible) human-to-human transmission of bird flu, but it is not the case now," said Ly Sovann.
He urged villagers immediately to repo [link to www.rappler.com]

[link to www.channelnewsasia.com]

PHNOM PENH: A 35-year-old man has become Cambodia's eighth bird flu fatality this year, prompting concern about the spread of the virus in the country, a health official said Tuesday.

The latest victim, from the northeastern province of Kampong Cham, died on Monday night from the H5N1 virus in a Phnom Penh hospital, said Ly Sovann, deputy head of the health ministry's disease surveillance bureau.

[link to www.deccanherald.com]


bird flu outbreak china lake

China Alert for Bird Flu from Cambodia
26 February 2013
CHINA - China's quarantine authority has announced that it has ordered strengthened prevention against avian influenza H5N1 after the disease infected five people in Cambodia last month.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) will increase checks on the body temperatures of people traveling to China from Cambodia, according to a notice on the AQSIQ's website.
Travelers entering with fever, cough, headache or general malaise should report to the quarantine control department, said the AQSIQ.
People suspected of being infected will receive careful tests and be sent to medical institutions for further treatment, the administration added.
Local quarantine authorities will provide health services and education to international travelers to help them avoid being infected by the epidemic.
China will also strengthen sanitary measures against bird flu at customs. Vehicles, containers and goods from Cambodia will be put under strict quarantine upon entering China, according to the notice.
The preventive measures will be valid for three months, the AQSIQ said.
The Cambodian case of avian influenza has left four of the five infected patients dead, according to a report from the World Health Organization.

[link to www.flutrackers.com]

Suspected Exposure to H5N1, hundreds of ducks in Bantul Sudden Death

[link to www.gallowaygazette.co.uk]

ttp://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=486322

[link to www.thescottishsun.co.uk]

[link to www.nst.com.my]

8 out of 9 dead .....

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia reported on Tuesday that a 35-year-old man died of Avian Influenza H5N1, bringing the death toll to eight and the number of cases to nine in 2013, health officials and victim's family said Tuesday.

Read more: Cambodia reports 9th bird flu case - Latest - New Straits Times [link to www.nst.com.my]

2013 Guizhou H5N1 Sequences Match 2012 Fatal Case
Recombinomics Commentary 19:30
February 25, 2013

The WHO Chinese National Influenza Center has released H5N1 sequences (at GISAID) from two recent cases in Guizhou Province. The agency is to be commended for the rapid release of these important sequences (full sequences for all gene segments except PB2). One set was from a fatal case (21 years old), A/Guizhou/1/2013, with a collection date of February 8, which would match the recently described fatal case (21F). The second sequence (A/Guizhou/2/2013) was from a February 9 collection from a 31 year old, which would match the case (31M) who recently died. Initial reports cited an absence of contact with poultry.

Both of the 2013 sequences are closely related to each other as well as the 2012 fatal case (39M) from Guizhou, A/Guizhou/1/2012. The H5 sequence from the 2012 has been described. It had a number of receptor binding domain changes flanking position 190 (A188E, A189T, T199I, I202V), as well as a cluster of changes around S133L. All of these features, which were noted in the 2012 sequence, are also present in the two 2013 sequences. All three sequences also gained a glycosylation site due to T219N.

Although these features are found in the three human sequences from 2012 and 2013, these combinations of changes are not found in any recent poultry sequences. A BLAST analysis of the H5 sequence, as well as the other 6 segments, yields closest relationships with H5N1 sequences from isolates collected 5-7 years ago.

The absence of matching poultry sequences, and the close relationship between all three human sequences, which had a more than 1 year gap between the 2012 isolate and the two from 2013, raise serious concerns over surveillance or human to human transmission.

A clarification on poultry exposure and the H5 status and sequence of such exposures would be useful.

H5N1 Avian Influenza has been positively identified at a German duck farm.

At this time there is no information on the origins of this outbreak.

My personal suspician is that the virus has been carried in by wild ducks that have been attracted to the resident duck population and vectored the virus to the farmed birds.

Date: February 25, 2013 Source: MedlinePlus [link to www.nlm.nih.gov] [Edited by Jaime Torres and Jorge González]

The German authorities said that a case of H5N1 bird flu had been discovered during initial testing at a poultry farm in the state of Brandenburg.

The case was discovered in a specialized in ducks, which conducted its own tests, said on Friday the Ministry of Agriculture of the State of Brandenburg.

The H5N1 virus mainly affects birds but can occasionally reach humans.

Experts fear it could mutate into a form that could spread easily among people, which has no natural immunity to it.

The initial finding was confirmed by a state laboratory and is currently undergoing final testing, said the state ministry.

The farm was cordoned off and your birds will be killed, the statement said.

The cause is unknown and an investigation began.

Link here...

[link to www.promedmail.org]

Portugal is reporting 20 positive cases of H1N1 swine flu requiring hospitalization.

A total of 20 people are hospitalized in intensive care units in hospitals in Portugal influenza "A", however local authorities claim that numbers are normal for this time of year, so discard any alarm.

Break...

The virus that has caused the hospitalization of 20 Portuguese, is the same that caused a pandemic in 2009-2010, with more than 18,000 deaths worldwide.

Link here...

[link to spanish.people.com.cn]

Mexico is again feeling the severe effects of another extreme outbreak of H7N3 bird flu.

This outbreak has spread extensively throughout several poultry farming enterprises, requiring devestating culling in attempts to contain this destructive outbreak.

Mexico City, Feb 25 (EFE).- Mexican authorities so far have slaughtered 2.1 million chickens exposed to the bird flu, which has spread to 18 farms in the central state of Guanajuato, government officials said Monday.

Agriculture Secretary Enrique Martinez said at a press conference that since the outbreak was detected 519,000 egg-producing chickens have been slaughtered, along with 900,000 birds being fattened for their meat and 722,265 reproducing birds.

Link here...

[link to www.laprensasa.com]

The Public Health Agency of Canada has produced an up to date look at all things relevant to the H5N1 Avian Influenza situation, worldwide.

This is an excellent document which contains a snap shot look at the current situation with activity worldwide and also includes excellent information in relation to several practical aspects, for us all to have as a reference.

I would strongly recommend all readers to take the time to absorb this valuable and informed information.

Current Avian influenza (H5N1) affected areas
Human infection with avian influenza H5N1 viruses
Human infection with the H5N1 virus remains a rare event. Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their faeces, is presently considered the main route of human infection. Exposure is considered most likely during slaughter, defeathering, butchering, and preparation of poultry for cooking.

There is no evidence to suggest that the avian influenza virus can be transmitted through the consumption of poultry and poultry products as long as standard precautions regarding food storage, handling, preparation are followed. Consumers should ensure that poultry is thoroughly cooked (juice runs clear and no visible pink meat). Internal temperatures for whole chicken should reach 85°C, for chicken parts should reach 74°C and eggs should be cooked until the yolk is no longer runny.

For poultry preparation guidelines please visit: Avian Influenza & Poultry.

Table 1, below, provides an up-to-date list of countries experiencing human cases of H5N1 avian influenza.

The Asian strain of avian influenza H5N1 virus has been confirmed in poultry and wild birds in several countries in the following regions: Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. While this demonstrates the rapid and ongoing geographical spread of the virus, information to date has shown that the greatest risk to humans arises when the virus becomes established in small backyard poultry flocks, which allow continuing opportunities for close human contact, exposures, and infections to occur.

Table 2 and Table 3 below, provide an up-to-date list of countries experiencing H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks or activity in domestic poultry and wild birds. These tables include only those countries officially reporting avian influenza H5N1 activity to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and do not necessarily include all countries experiencing such activity in poultry and wild birds. When using these tables, please consider that some countries have not reported outbreaks in poultry or wild birds but have reported human cases, implying that there may be a risk of infection upon exposure to poultry or wild birds in some regions even if this country is not found in the tables below.

Tables 2 and 3 below contain information for the period September 1, 2010 to the present.

For detailed information on H5N1 activity in poultry and wild birds please refer to this website:

&#9632;World Organisation for Animal Health
Table 1: Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO 1 - Since 2003 (Updated 2013-02-15) 1.Cumulative number of confirmed human cases for avian influenza A(H5N1) reported to WHO, 2003-2012

Country Total Cumulative
Cases (deaths)
(2003 to present) Most Recent Cases (deaths)
(Sep. 1, 2012 - present) Most recent symptom onset date (or hospital admission)
Azerbaijan 8 (5) 0 (0) 2006-03-11
Bangladesh 6 (0) 0 (0) 2012-02-26
Cambodia 28 (25) 7 (6) 2013-02-03
China 45 (28) 2 (0) 2013-02-03
Djibouti 1 (0) 0 (0) 2006-04-23
Egypt 170 (61) 2 (1) 2013-01-16
Indonesia 192 (160) 1 (1) 2012-11-30
Iraq 3 (2) 0 (0) 2006-03-15
Lao PDR 2 (2) 0 (0) 2007-02-26
Myanmar 1 (0) 0 (0) 2007-11-21
Nigeria 1 (1) 0 (0) 2007-01-16
Pakistan 3 (1) 0 (0) 2007-11-21
Thailand 25 (17) 0 (0) 2006-07-24
Turkey 12 (4) 0 (0) 2006-01-05
Viet Nam 123 (61) 0 (0) 2012-03-04
Total 620 (367) 12 (8) 2013-02-15
Table 2: OIE 1 confirmed Avian Influenza H5N1 Activity in Poultry
Updated 2013-02-25 Country Date of Outbreaks Total number of Outbreaks
(1 Sept. 2012 - present) 2
Initial Most recent
1.OIE: Office International des Epizooties ( World Organisation for Animal Health)
2.Country grouping is based on United Nations Environment Programme mapping

Asia & the Pacific
Japan 2009-04-01 2011-03-16 0
Vietnam 2006-12-07 2012-09-03 4
Nepal 2010-10-25 2013-02-05 17
Hong Kong 2010-03-26 2012-06-25 0
Korea (Rep. of) 2010-11-29 2011-05-16 0
Bangladesh 2007-02-05 2012-12-17 2
Myanmar 2010-03-26 2012-03-05 0
Cambodia 2010-01-10 2013-02-19 5
India 2010-06-02 2012-10-12 1
China (People's Rep. of) 2010-05-25 2012-11-17 2
Indonesia 2007-06-01 2011-04-06 0
Bhutan 2010-03-25 2013-01-14 3
West Asia (Middle East)
Palestinian Auton. Territories 2006-04-19 2011-02-27 0
Israel 2010-02-01 2012-03-13 0
Iran 2008-08-03 2011-10-17 0
Europe
Germany 2012-12-18 2013-02-15 1
Africa
Egypt 2006-02-17 2010-12-30 0
South Africa 2006-07-01 2012-06-11 1
Americas
Mexico 1995-06-01 2013-02-12 16
Oceania
Australia 1997-11-01 2012-11-09 1

&#9632;Month-by-month OIE confirmed avian influenza H5N1 activity in poultry, by country
Table 3: OIE1 confirmed Avian Influenza H5N1 Activity in Wild Birds
Updated 2013-02-25 Country Date of Outbreaks Total number of Outbreaks
(1 Sept. 2012 - present)2
Initial Most recent

1.OIE: Office International des Epizooties (World Organisation for Animal Health)
2.Month-by-month OIE confirmed AI H5N1 outbreak activity by country

Asia & the Pacific
Korea (Rep. Of) 2010-11-29 2010-12-30 0
Japan 2009-04-01 2011-03-25 0
Hong Kong 2010-03-26 2013-01-25 1
Mongolia 2010-06-14 2011-04-05 0
India 2011-11-30 2012-01-10 0
Cambodia 2010-01-10 2011-07-13 0
West Asia (Middle East)
Israel 2010-02-01 2011-04-06 0
Africa
Europe
Denmark 2006-06-01 2012-12-14 1
Americas
Mexico 1995-06-01 2012-09-28 2

&#9632;Month-by-month OIE confirmed avian influenza H5N1 activity in poultry, by country
PHAC recommendations for public health professionals
Health professionals are reminded to refer to their provincial/territorial Ministry of Health for specific recommendations on surveillance and public health.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continues to monitor the global influenza situation and will continue to make recommendations as new official information becomes available, including providing ongoing updates to provinces and territories (P/Ts).

PHAC RECOMMENDATIONS:

i.Public Health authorities in Canada are advised to continue vigilance for the recognition, reporting and prompt investigation of patients with severe respiratory illness (SRI) (PDF, 80 Kb, 7 page) and/or severe influenza-like illness (ILI)* (for national case definitions refer to the SRI protocol (PDF, 80 Kb, 7 page)).
ii.Front line health care providers in hospitals should be advised of the following SRI and severe ILI patient encounters:
THINK – TELL – TEST appropriately:

&#9632;THINK
&#9632;query travel
&#9632;implement best practices for triage, infection control and patient management as indicated
&#9632;TELL
&#9632;Consult your local Public Health for assistance in SRI/severe ILI patients with the following:
&#9632;Recent travel or contact with travelers to an affected area with confirmed H5N1 activity in humans and/or domestic poultry
&#9632;TEST
&#9632;Consult your local Public Health for guidance on appropriate testing, recommended procedures and prioritization for H5N1 investigation IF significant exposure history has been established which may include:

&#9632;Close contact (within 1 metre, i.e. touching distance) with a confirmed human case of H5N1

OR

&#9632;Close contact with sick or dead domestic poultry or wild birds
For detailed background and recommendations on enhanced SRI surveillance in hospitals, please consult your local or provincial/territorial health authorities. Also see the Public Health Agency of Canada's Emerging Respiratory Illness website for health professionals


-------------------------------------------------------------​-------------------

* Influenza-like illness (ILI) in the general population (FluWatch national case definition): Acute onset of respiratory illness with fever and cough and with one or more of the following - sore throat, arthralgia, myalgia, or prostration which could be due to influenza virus. In children under 5, gastrointestinal symptoms may also be present. In patients under 5 or 65 and older, fever may not be prominent.

Severe ILI may include complications such as: pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), encephalitis and other severe and life threatening complications requiring hospitalization or resulting in death of otherwise healthy individuals.

Link here...

[link to www.phac-aspc.gc.ca]

Printed in full with permission.

Tunisia is reporting the tragic death of two pregnant hospital employees as a result of H1N1 swine flu infection.

Swine Flu Deaths of Pregnant Hospital Workers Spark Outrage
Amira Masrour | 26 February 2013

The deaths of two pregnant women working in Gabes Regional Hospital from the “swine flu” virus have prompted controversial reactions from family members, colleagues, and unionists.

Najwa Zammali, a nurse working in children’s section, died on February 16 from the H1N1 virus. Sourour Retal, a secretary in the radiology department, died two days later.

Sleh Bisheikh, the general manager of the hospital, confirmed to Tunisia Live that both women had contracted H1N1, more commonly known as swine flu.

Link here...

[link to www.tunisia-live.net]