Announcement

**Treyfish** · September 5, 2012, 02:08 AM

Re: Vietnam- H5N1 2.3.2.1 slight mutation

Avian influenza virus appears particularly dangerous "Appeared new bird flu virus is particularly dangerous, spread fast speed, highly lethal"

Mr. Diep Kinh Tan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, announced as the National Steering Committee meeting in bird flu prevention, is 4/9.

According to the Department of Animal Health (MARD), the new H5N1 virus appears different from the virus in 2011. This virus occurs between July and August spread wide from the North Central region. According to the original, this virus appears the same time as the outbreak of smuggled Chinese gas in water. At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Tung, deputy director of the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center, said the vaccine is use protection still capable of against new viruses appear. Center is currently using the latest vaccine Re-6 China to deal with this virus.

Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan request DLP check the smuggled birds from China. Veterinary science must quickly check, published earlier for possible protection of the vaccine is used to prevent translation. In addition, Mr. Tan also suggested units relating priority vaccine production by Vietnam to avoid dependency on foreign.

Redirect to https://alobacsi.com/

http://alobacsi.vn/20120905083024776p0c160/xua%CC%81t-hie%CC%A3n-virus-cu%CC%81m-gia-ca%CC%80m-da%CC%A3c-bie%CC%A3t-nguy-hieom.htm

**Treyfish** · September 5, 2012, 02:10 AM

Re: Vietnam- H5N1 2.3.2.1 slight mutation

Detects new bird flu virus
TT - At the meeting the National Steering Committee for Avian flu afternoon 4-9, Hoang Van Nam - the Director of the Department of Animal Health (MARD) said the Department has found differences in H5N1 virus is causing disease in seven localities.
According to him, the band new virus has the ability to penetrate into Vietnam, only in the last outbreak from July so far in seven Northern and North Central provinces of Hai Phong, Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Kan, Thanh Hoa and Quang Ngai. Currently the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center is urgently working to find strains, vaccination vaccine.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan, bird flu recurrence in some provinces are located on a stretch of road transport and consumption of smuggled poultry from China. Most likely outbreak of epidemics, spread from this source. From this, Qin proposed localities continue to strictly implement the prevention, strict control, strict handling the sale and transportation of poultry, poultry products smuggled ...

Launch and implement hygiene and disinfection month across the country in September.

http://tuoitre.vn/Chinh-tri-xa-hoi/S...a-cam-moi.html

**Treyfish** · September 5, 2012, 02:13 AM

Re: Vietnam- H5N1 2.3.2.1 slight mutation

H5N1 avian influenza viruses are highly toxic
Wednesday, 05/09/12 8:19 GMT +7
Through epidemiological surveillance, the Department of Animal Health (MARD) has identified a new type of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, avian influenza virus was named 2.3.2.1 C, high virulence.Group new virus has the ability to penetrate into Vietnam, the risk of continuing to appear very high in the current period.

According to the report of the Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the new virus was discovered in some northern and scattered in the North Central.

Avian influenza currently circulating in the provinces of Ha Tinh and Hai Phong, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh, Bac Kan, Thanh Hoa and Quang Ngai. There were more than 181 thousand infected birds die or be destroyed.

2 months ago, this dangerous new viruses have emerged in China, capable of highly lethal. So far, the virus has been present in Vietnam and is the major threat to the people. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked the scientists attached to the quick implementation of the experiment, testing to see if bird flu vaccines are being used effectively with this new virus group or not to treatment plan.

Although avian influenza occurs only small enclosure and timely, but the number of recurrent outbreaks is higher than in previous years, highly pathogenic influenza virus. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan, disease evolution in poultry increasingly complex. Status smuggled animals still occur as the risk of disease spread, large-scale outbreak. If disease continues to the end of the livestock sector extremely difficult.

http://news.zing.vn/xa-hoi/xuat-hien...c/a271520.html

**Treyfish** · September 5, 2012, 02:29 AM

Re: Vietnam- H5N1 2.3.2.1 slight mutation

In the meeting of the National Steering avian influenza prevention and control, height 4-9, in Hanoi, the Department of Animal Health said: In the past two weeks, avian influenza continue to occur in three provinces: Bac , Thanh Hoa Quang Ngai, bringing the total number of local avian seven provinces and cities across the country. Blue ear disease, there are two more Bac Can and Can Tho have PRRS less than 21 days. Worryingly, the current in the northern region appeared the H5N1 virus group, with the difference with viruses 2.3.2.1 (group A and group B) disease in 2012 ... the risk of spread is very high. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to direct the Department of Animal Health, Animal Health Diagnostic Center of Central continuously monitors the circulation of the virus first appeared in 2012, should be concluded early on vaccine effectiveness vaccine for the new virus to vaccination branch bird flu vaccine in the future, and launched May sanitary disinfection nationwide in September.

As of December 4-9, Nam Dinh province has 12 districts, the districts of Italy Yen, Ban and Communications Marine birds have bird flu. The total number of birds in the local destruction is far more than 12 thousand. In a new outbreak is Vinh Hao, Dai Thang Show Khanh (Ban), Yen Phong (Italy Yen), Life Skills (Xuan Truong) under the provincial Animal Health Department to direct cleaning, disinfecting stables and farms ; prohibits put poultry and poultry products from regions from areas ...

Afternoon 4-9, Quang Ngai province has an emergency meeting to discuss measures to deal with bird flu is complicated in the province. By day 3-9, outbreaks have occurred in 29 villages of 22 communes in six districts and 72,916 ducks were killed and destroyed. Provincial agriculture coordination Animal Health Agency Region IV sampling tests, determine causes and organizations control the outbreak and fully prepared ready epidemic conditions. Emergency sector has allocated one million doses of bird flu vaccine for seven districts to implement the vaccination measures, and control ... PPC requires relevant agencies need to continue to strengthen measures to prevent and combat the disease.

http://www.nhandan.com.vn/cmlink/nha...trung-1.365956

**Treyfish** · September 5, 2012, 02:37 AM

Re: Vietnam- H5N1 2.3.2.1 slight mutation

Avian influenza viruses are highly lethal
Last updated at: 09:20, 09.05.2012
(VOV) - Through epidemiological surveillance, authorities have identified a new type of avian influenza virus H5N1 highly pathogenic.

On 4/9, Hoang Van Nam, director of the Veterinary Department (MARD), said that the bird flu is endemic in Ha Tinh and Hai Phong, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh, Bac Kan and Quang Ngai and Thanh Hoa, more than 181,000 poultry disease, death or destruction.

Worryingly through epidemiological surveillance, have identified a new type of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, avian influenza virus was named 2.3.2.1 C, highly virulent. "2 months ago, we has information on the new virus group, appeared in China, highly virulent, deadly ability is also very high. This group of viruses has been present in Vietnam, "said Diep Kinh Tan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

Qin also said to have asked scientists directly under the Ministry of rapid implementation of experiments, testing whether the bird flu vaccine is being used in effect for this group of viruses or not.

http://vov.vn/Xa-hoi/Xuat-hien-virus...cao/223681.vov

**Shiloh** · September 5, 2012, 05:45 AM

Re: Vietnam- H5N1 2.3.2.1 slight mutation

Source: http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/New-h...129/141770.vov

Updated : 5:25 PM, 05/09/2012
New highly toxic avian flu virus spreads to Vietnam

A new strain of avian flu virus that was found in China two months ago has appeared in Vietnam, health experts have confirmed.

The new strain, 2.3.2.1 C, which has been detected through epidemic investigations, is highly toxic and therefore extremely deadly, Diep Kinh Tan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said at a meeting on September 4 to review the epidemic situation.

The 2.3.2.1 C strain has recently spread to Vietnam and is now present in affected areas in seven provinces and cities, namely Haiphong, Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Kan, Thanh Hoa and Quang Ngai, said Hoang Van Nam, head of the Department of Animal Health (DoAH).

As the new strain is different from the A/H5N1 virus, the ministry is to conduct experiments and tests to confirm if the vaccines that are being used to combat A/H5N1 are also effective against the new strain...

**sharon sanders** · September 5, 2012, 07:22 AM

Re: Vietnam- H5N1 2.3.2.1 slight mutation

hat tip Michael Coston

Vietnam Reports A Possible Change In The H5N1 Virus

Photo Credit ? FAO

# 6536

Overnight, the Vietnamese media has been carrying reports of a supposed recent change in the H5N1 virus, but before we get to that, a little background.

Just over a year ago (see FAO Warns On Bird Flu) concerns were raised in southeast Asia over the spread of a new clade of the H5N1 virus (2.3.2.1) that effectively evaded the poultry vaccine currently in use.

This 2.3.2.1 clade wasn?t really new, having been detected in China for several years. But in 2010-2011 it had begun to spread widely.

It was characterized last September (see WHO Report : Antigenic & Genetic Characteristics of H5N1 & H9N2 Viruses) as having appeared in wild birds and poultry in Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

While the press briefly had a field day over this new strain the CDC , the OIE, and the World Health Organization quickly reminded us that while the bird flu threat remains, there was no evidence at the time to suggest that this new strain is any more transmissible to ? and among ? humans than the earlier strains.

TheWorld Health Organization?s report from October of 2011, Updated unified nomenclature system for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses, identifies and updates the known clades of the H5N1 virus that have emerged since the detection of the A/goose/Guangdong/1996 H5N1 virus strain back in the mid 1990s.

As you can see, the virus has evolved from one strain into a complex family of similar, but genetically distinct clades of H5N1. Some less successful clades have died out along the way, but many co-circulate around the globe.

(click to load larger image)

All of which means we are not watching just one H5N1 virus strain, we are watching at least 20 genetically separate clades of the virus, with many minor variants of each clade thrown in the mix.

Or to put it another way, H5N1 ? like all flu strains ? is a constantly moving target, continually evolving, looking for an evolutionary advantage.

All of which serves as prelude to this morning?s report:

Overnight the Vietnamese media has carried numerous stories indicating some sort of change has been detected clade 2.3.2.1 of the H5N1 virus. My thanks go to Treyfish and Shiloh of FluTrackers for finding, and posting a number of these (English language & translated) reports in this thread.

Rather than deal with a kludgy machine translation, we?ll go with the Voice of Vietnam?s (VOV) English Language story.

Updated : 5:25 PM, 05/09/2012
New highly toxic avian flu virus spreads to Vietnam

A new strain of avian flu virus that was found in China two months ago has appeared in Vietnam, health experts have confirmed.

The new strain, 2.3.2.1 C, which has been detected through epidemic investigations, is highly toxic and therefore extremely deadly, Diep Kinh Tan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said at a meeting on September 4 to review the epidemic situation.

The 2.3.2.1 C strain has recently spread to Vietnam and is now present in affected areas in seven provinces and cities, namely Haiphong, Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Kan, Thanh Hoa and Quang Ngai, said Hoang Van Nam, head of the Department of Animal Health (DoAH).

As the new strain is different from the A/H5N1 virus, the ministry is to conduct experiments and tests to confirm if the vaccines that are being used to combat A/H5N1 are also effective against the new strain.

If the existing medication is ineffective, studies on new vaccines against the new strain should be conducted soon, Tan said, adding that he has asked the DoAH to isolate the virus for this purpose.

(Continue . . . )

Media reports such as this one are always a little dicey, since they contain very little in the way of hard scientific evidence. Hopefully we?ll get a clarification from the FAO, or an official statement from the Vietnamese government at some point.

What is apparent from this, and other reporting out of Vietnam, is that the H5N1 situation there continues to be fluid, and that concerns over the continual evolution and spread of the virus run high.

Although we continue to see isolated human infections around the world, and the virus continues to evolve (seeH5N1: An Increasingly Complex Family Tree), for now H5N1 is primarily a threat to poultry.

The concern, of course, is that over time that could change.

And so the world remains at Pre-pandemic Phase III on the H5N1 virus, and we continue to watch for signs that the virus is adapting better to humans.

Posted by Michael Coston at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2012/09/vietnam-reports-possible-change-in-h5n1.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2012-09-05T08:07:00-04:00">8:07 AM</abbr>

**Laidback Al** · September 10, 2012, 11:31 PM

Re: Vietnam Reports A Possible Change In The H5N1 Virus

Vietnam Map of novel H5N1 strain

The map below highlights in yellow the seven Vietnam provinces that are reported to have a new strain of H5N1 circulating among poultry (post #3). As dispersed as these outbreaks are, we should assume that this novel strain is also present in other provinces.

<object style="position:absolute;z-index:1000" type="application/x-dgnria" id="plugin0" height="0" width="0">

</object>

**Vibrant62** · September 11, 2012, 12:33 AM

Re: Vietnam Reports A Possible Change In The H5N1 Virus

As the border between Laos and Vietnam is quite porous, I think we should suspect spread to Laos also.

**tetano** · September 11, 2012, 02:16 AM

Re: Vietnam Reports A Possible Change In The H5N1 Virus

Published Date: 2012-09-10 22:29:04
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (53): Viet Nam, H5N1 virus evolution
Archive Number: 20120910.1288966

AVIAN INFLUENZA (53): VIET NAM, H5N1 VIRUS EVOLUTION
************************************************** **
A ProMED-mail post

Home - ProMED - ProMED-mail

http://www.promedmail.org

ProMED is the largest publicly-available surveillance system conducting global reporting of infectious diseases outbreaks. Subscribe today.

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases

The International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) - ISID

http://www.isid.org

The International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) brings together a network of individuals from around the world.

Date: Mon 10 Sep 2012

Source: Xinhua via Globaltimes [summarised, edited]

New bird flu strain develops unexpectedly in Vietnam - Global Times

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/732250.shtml

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.

MARD has instructed the department to strictly supervise the import of poultry, especially breeding chicks, which are believed to make the suspected new strain virus spread faster [Are imported breeding chicks (from where?) suspected of introducing infection or of being excessively susceptible to local infection? Clarification will help. - Mod.AS].

Meanwhile, according to the Central Epidemic Prevention Institute, since August last year [2011], the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned of the change of the virus A/H5N1. Clade 2.3.2 is in many Asian countries, including Viet Nam, and that change is usual during the natural evolution of the virus.

"This is a small change of the virus that creates a new strain, not yet a new virus. However, close supervision of the virus which is spreading among poultry should be taken so as to discover its change and set forth an appropriate strategy to fight the epidemic and protect human health," the Institute Director Nguyen Tran Hien told local media late last week.

"Through strict supervision on human flu infected cases, we found nothing unusual. The most concern is that the virus A/H5N1 is spreading among poultry, and it can continue to have small changes, re-arrange the gene, and reunite with virus circulated among animals and human beings to become a new, highly-toxic strain and transmissible to human beings," Hien said.

He also suggested the veterinary sector closely cooperate with the health service to enhance supervision on the avian flu among poultry and human beings as well as apply preventive measures so as to prevent the spreading of the disease among poultry and from poultry to human beings.

As of 6 Sep 2012 [since the beginning of 2012], 4 [human] cases of A/H5N1 infection have been recorded with 2 deaths in Viet Nam, but the new strain of bird flu virus has not yet been found in humans, reported MARD.

--

Communicated by:

Nati Elkin

[The above report, from Chinese sources, adds complementary information to posting 20120908.1286497.

We are indebted to Joseph P. Dudley, Ph.D. for the following comment, following the information included in posting 20120909.1287382:

"The cross-border smuggling trade in spent layers [hens] between China and Viet Nam is huge, highly sophisticated, and has been going on for at least a decade and probably longer.

The spent layer trade may have played a significant role in the H5N1 outbreaks in Turkey during 2006, and may potentially be [or] have been a major enabling factor in the establishment and proliferation of H5N1 in Egypt."

The statement included in the above Xinhua report, arguing that the new strain of bird flu virus "is suspected to have higher risk of causing human death than previously known ones" is not supported by evidence and is in need of substantiation.

According to WHO data, since 2003, Viet Nam has suffered 123 human cases of H5N1, of which 61 died. Most of the cases occurred during 2004/5. - Mod.AS

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/r/1jtz.]

http://www.promedmail.org/direct.php?id=20120910.1288966

**Laidback Al** · September 16, 2012, 12:02 AM

Re: Vietnam Reports A Possible Change In The H5N1 Virus

An alternative viewpoint . . .

Influenza viruses change A/H5N1
Friday, 07/09/2012 07:10

ANTD - Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development warned of the new H5N1 virus appears no difference with the virus 2.3.2.1 (group A, B) disease in our country in 2011. This group of viruses capable of causing bird flu continues to spread in the future is very high. However, talk to the press, Dr. Nguyen Tran Hien, Director of the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said that this is a normal variation.

Reporter: Can you tell us this new viruses are dangerous to human health?

- Dr. Nguyen Tran Hien: From 8-2011 International Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned the rebound of A/H5N1 flu in birds and poultry due to the transformation, transmission and common circulating influenza A/H5N1 virus subgroup 2.3.2.1 in many Asian countries, including Vietnam. This modified virus genetic characteristics 2.3.2 viruses isolated earlier (in 2004). However, this small variation of avian influenza viruses are not uncommon in the natural evolution of the virus. Moreover, this is a small variation of the virus to create a new branch, not major changes to create a new virus strain. So far, Vietnam has not detected the virus the new subheading currently circulating H5N1 in poultry.

- This means that although influenza A/H5N1 virus has made small changes but not to the extent of worry?

- Immediately after the appearance of this new subgroup of the A/H5N1 flu virus in many countries, the World Health Organization announced that based on the available information, this change does not increase the risk of public health for humans. Picture of bird flu in humans have not changed and there is no transmission from person to person.

Through monitoring of cases of influenza A/H5N1 infection in our country, in general, for the moment I do not see anything unusual. But still need to strengthen supervision virus circulating in poultry to detect larger changes of the virus and provide appropriate control strategies for outbreaks in poultry and human health protection .

- So he has a warning for the people?

- The most worrisome risk is the A/H5N1 flu virus continues to circulate and cause outbreaks in poultry. It can keep small change in natural evolution, rearrangement of genes in human growth and development, recombinant influenza viruses circulating in animals and humans to form a strain new influenza highly pathogenic and potentially be transmitted from person to person. Therefore, the veterinary industry to work closely with the health sector, should take the initiative to strengthen the monitoring of avian influenza virus and in the early to apply appropriate preventive measures, to prevent the spread of infusion in poultry and from poultry to humans, early detection of new viral subtypes in poultry and abnormal clusters of severe pneumonia cases in humans.

To prevent this disease, people need to make better recommendations on safety in breeding, slaughter, slaughter is not and use poultry diseases. When there is high fever related to ill poultry immediately to health authorities for examination detected and treated promptly.

Virus cúm A/H5N1đã biến đổi

http://www.anninhthudo.vn/Xa-hoi/Virus-cum-AH5N1da-bien-doi/463701.antd

ANTĐ - Mới đây, Bộ NN&PTNT cảnh báo về loại virus H5N1 mới xuất hiện có sự khác biệt với những virus 2.3.2.1 (cả nhóm A, B) gây bệnh ở nước ta năm 2011. Nhóm virus này có khả năng khiến dịch cúm gia cầm tiếp tục lan rộng trong thời gian tới là rất cao. Tuy nhiên, trao đổi với báo chí, PGS.TS Nguyễn Trần Hiển, Viện trưởng Viện Vệ sinh dịch tễ Trung ương cho rằng đây chỉ là sự biến đổi bình thường.

Announcement

Vietnam Reports A Possible Change In The H5N1 Virus

Vietnam Reports A Possible Change In The H5N1 Virus

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment