Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/011008_Ne...008_news03.php

Suspected bird flu victim dies

SITTHIPOJ KEBUI and APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL

PHICHIT : A worker on a free-range duck farm died from bird flu-like symptoms in Pho Prathap Chang district yesterday, and health authorities put his 12-year-old son under close observation for signs of infection with the virus. Manee Mankhetkit, 48, was taken to the provincial hospital on Monday after he developed a high fever, suffered from a cough, sore throat, chest pains and breathing difficulties.

The man was treated in an isolated intensive care ward because he had come into contact with fowls. He was a hired hand at a duck farm which has more than 1,600 birds. Doctors pronounced him dead due to kidney and heart failure.

His 12-year-old son Sakda, who worked alongside his father, was taken to Phichit hospital yesterday. He too was put in an isolation ward for observation, and no visitors were allowed to see him.

Livestock officials have collected samples from the free-range ducks, which have being dying in big numbers over the past week, for testing for the bird flu virus.

Public health permanent-secretary Prat Boonyawongwirot said lab tests were being made on samples collected from the dead man's body to see whether he was infected with the deadly H5N1 virus as believed.

The results were expected to be released today.

Dr Prat said leptospirosis could also not be ruled out as a possible cause of death as the area was affected by floods.

There were reports of poultry, particularly free-range ducks, dying en masse in the district during the past week.

Although an avian flu outbreak has never occurred in the district, Phichit was listed as an avian influenza epidemic zone, he said.

Kamnuan Ungchusak, director of the epidemiology bureau, said a team of epidemiologists had been dispatched to the district for bird flu surveillance.

Disinfectant would be sprayed at all poultry farms, slaughterhouses and at-risk areas.

Thailand faced its fifth bird flu outbreak in early February when the disease re-emerged in Nakhon Sawan and Phichit.

The first outbreak struck the country in January 2004 when more than 60 million fowls were culled. A total of 25 people have been infected by the virus since then, with 17 of them dying of the disease.

[Treyfish]

Re: Thailand: Suspected bird flu victim dies

Phichit again. Always negative and inconclusive. Birds dying also. Recent previous human suspects on this thread. http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75432

[Laidback Al]

Re: Thailand: Suspected bird flu victim dies

A worker on a free-range duck farm died from bird flu-like symptoms in Pho Prathap Chang district yesterday, and health authorities put his 12-year-old son under close observation for signs of infection with the virus. Manee Mankhetkit, 48, was taken to the provincial hospital on Monday after he developed a high fever, suffered from a cough, sore throat, chest pains and breathing difficulties.

Map of the general location where the worker, Manee Mankhetkit, died as a suspected bird flu case in Pho Prathap Chang district near Phichit.

Map link: http://www.clickthai.de/Map/

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Thailand: Suspected bird flu victim dies

Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

UPDATE : 1 October 2008

The Public Health Ministry has confirmed that leptospirosis was the cause of a Phichit local's death this morning, not the dreaded bird flu. The deceased's 12-year-old son, who also has leptospirosis, remains under doctor's care.

Public health officials have begun an investigation after a 54-year old man reportedly died from the bird flu in Phichit Province, while his son remains under the doctor's close watch.

Police found that the deceased was feeding ducks and he and his son became sick after the ducks began to die.

Both patients were sent to Nakhon Sawan to recuperate and have doctors figure out the cause of their illness. However, blood tests on both the father and son found that the two contracted leptospirosis, not the H5N1 virus which causes the bird flu.

Thailand has been hit by flooding in all parts of the country and leptospirosis is commonly contracted through wading barefoot in floodwaters.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/toc/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1009720

[Treyfish]

Re: Thailand: Suspected bird flu victim dies

I voted on the bail out bill and then Mccaine and Obama came over for tea and biscuits. They want to come over for Thanksgiving, too. I told them only if they brought Sarah.

[Laidback Al]

Re: Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis (also known as Weil's disease, canicola fever, canefield fever, nanukayami fever, 7-day fever and many more[1]) is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira that affects humans and a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. It was first described by Adolf Weil in 1886 when he reported an "acute infectious disease with enlargement of spleen, jaundice and nephritis". Leptospira was first observed in 1907 from a post mortem renal tissue slice.[2]<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Though being recognised among the world's most common zoonoses, leptospirosis is a relatively rare bacterial infection in humans. The infection is commonly transmitted to humans by allowing fresh water that has been contaminated by animal urine to come in contact with unhealed breaks in the skin, eyes or with the mucous membranes. Outside of tropical areas, leptospirosis cases have a relatively distinct seasonality with most of them occurring August-September/February-March. . . . .
<o:p></o:p>
In humans, leptospiral infection causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Leptospirosis is a biphasic disease that begins with flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, myalgias, intense headache). The first phase resolves and the patient is asymptomatic briefly before the second phase begins that is characterized by meningitis, liver damage (causing jaundice), and renal failure. Because of the wide range of symptoms the infection is often wrongly diagnosed. This leads to a lower registered number of cases than there really are. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or a rash. The symptoms in humans appear after a 4-14 day incubation period.

<o:p></o:p>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospirosis

<o:p></o:p>

[Giuseppe]

Re: Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

THAILAND: Disease concerns rising as floods toll reaches 23 [IRIN]

THAILAND: Disease concerns rising as floods toll reaches 23

01 Oct 2008 15:40:57 GMT
Source: IRIN

(Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.)

BANGKOK, 1 October 2008 (IRIN) -

More than 200,000 people have fallen ill from waterborne diseases and 23 have died in the past 19 days of heavy flooding in north and north-east Thailand, government health authorities said.


Twenty-three people drowned, more than half children or the elderly, and a total of 230,588 were treated for trench foot, skin rashes and diarrhoea, Siriporn Kanchana, the Thai Public Health Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary, told IRIN.

The disease outbreaks and deaths were reported in 24 of 76 northern, north-eastern and central provinces experiencing heavy floods since early September.

An increase in the number of patients and death toll has challenged health authorities to work against time in a bid to curb disease outbreaks.

They are increasingly concerned because of reports of more monsoon rains expected as tropical storm Mekkhala heads towards northern Thailand, having already hit Vietnam.

Villagers living near foothills and waterways in 25 provinces, mostly in the north-east, have been warned of severe flooding, said the Meteorological Department.

The heavy monsoon rains could worsen the flood situation in several provinces already suffering for more than two weeks now.

"The [medical] situation is very concerning and epidemiologists are studying measures to prevent the death toll caused by waterborne diseases, particularly Leptospirosis," Siriporn told IRIN.

Outbreaks of Leptospirosis, also know as Rat's Disease, are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals or direct contact with the animals.

So far there have been no reports of Leptospirosis in flooded provinces; however, conditions are ripe for such a deadly outbreak.

In a bid to prevent deaths from Leptospirosis or other waterborne diseases, as well as from snake bites, more than 100 mobile medical units and surveillance teams are monitoring the situation in five northern and north-eastern provinces experiencing heavy flooding, according to Siriporn.

These include Lopburi, Phitsanulok, Ayutthaya, Prachinburi and Khon Kaen Provinces.

Leptospirosis can be fatal if not treated.

Common symptoms include listlessness, loss of appetite, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, weight loss, diarrhoea and muscle pain. It can develop into more severe illnesses through infections of the kidney and red blood cells, which then lead to anaemia, Siriporn said.

at/bj/mw
? IRIN. All rights reserved.
More humanitarian news and analysis: http://www.IRINnews.org
--

<cite cite="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/359a0dc7cb41f1cb36c88e1872820d07.htm">Reuters AlertNet - THAILAND: Disease concerns rising as floods toll reaches 23</cite>

[Treyfish]

Re: Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

Nine provinces warned of flash floods









The Meteorological Department Wednesday warned residents of nine provinces to brace themselves for heavy downpours and possible flash floods.

The department said the depression storm Mekhala had weakened into a powerful low pressure mass over Uttaradit, which would unleash heavy downpours in several northern and central provinces.

The department said Chiang Mai, Tak, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Lop Buri, and Saraburi would be hit by heavy rains.http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30084835

I guess we will just see a HUGE outbreak of leptosrirosis, and it will include birds dying everywhere !! That could keep everyone confused on what the actual cause of the deaths of the birds and humans in these areas.


a couple of snips I saw....Since birds seem unable to carry leptospirosis the speed of spread is far smaller than with other infections (such as avian infuenza) and for isolated places such as islands the leptospiral diversity can be fixed, or on occasion the bacteria can be completely absent...http://www.leptospirosis.org/topic.php?t=27

Leptospirosis in animals - species at risk

Leptospirosis can occur in all mammals, including domestic pets, livestock, wild animals and humans, although in some species it's rare. Fish and crustaceans seem rarely, if ever, to be infected, and birds appear unable to contract the infection in the wild except when very young. Reptiles and amphibians can also be infected but not as commonly as mammals. Insects are not considered to be involved except where they transfer blood between other animals... http://www.leptospirosis.org/topic.php?t=47&f=0

Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 17, No. 4, October, 1981 489

a

A.J. Seward and Co. Ltd., London, England.

LEPTOSPIROSIS IN FREE-LIVING SPECIES IN NEW
ZEALAND

S.C. HATHAWAY,W D

...Only one titre to

pomona was found in
sera from 58 ducks, all of which were
trapped in and around a piggery where

pomona

is endemic in pigs. No isolations
were made, despite the fact that ducks
were observed to feed in effluent drains
from which pomona was isolated.
Pukeko?s (Porphyrio melanotus) one of
the most common wading birds inhabiting
farmland in New Zealand, also
were serologically negative. These
results provide further evidence of the

general insusceptibility
of birds to leptospiral
infection...http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/reprint/17/4/489.pdf

These may be older reports but they seem to suggest birds do not readily get leptospirosis.. perhaps others may be able to explain how dying birds are always around the suspected cases, yet I see no other reports of other animal or humans being infected. If flooding is so prevalient in Thailand and Bangladesh and India,wouldn't there also be more reports of dying birds or more human cases of it?

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

Some more details.

Worker died from leptospirosis

APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL

Leptospirosis caused the death of a worker on a free-range duck farm in Phichit on Tuesday, not bird flu as feared, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday.

Public health permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongvirote said blood and saliva samples from Manee Mankhetkit, 48, and his son Sakda, 12, had tested negative for the H5N1 bird flu virus.

The Nakhon Sawan medical sciences centre ran the tests.

Dr Prat travelled to Phichit yesterday after hearing about possible fresh bird flu cases. The last confirmed case was reported in August 2006.

Manee was sent to the provincial hospital on Monday when he developed some bird flu-like symptoms _ high fever, a sore throat, chest pains and breathing difficulties.

Since Sept 10, 15 ducks under Manee's care had died and he touched the carcasses with his bare hands when he buried them. On Sunday, he suffered severe leg pains and the next day he felt exhausted, vomited, and had stomach pains and low blood pressure.

An X-ray showed his lungs were flooded. He died of acute lung failure.

Sakda, who worked alongside Manee at a duck farm which has more than 1,600 ducks, was sent to hospital a day later. He remained in an isolation ward for observation yesterday.

Dr Prat said Sakda was well. He had no fever and his lungs were functioning normally.

As a precaution, a mobile disease control unit had been sent to check 12 people in tambon Thung Yai who came into contact with the dead man. Eleven others would be monitored by public health staff for a 10-day period.


Last year, 1,900 people contracted leptospirosis, also known as rat disease, and 40 of them died.

Common symptoms of this flood-related disease include listlessness, loss of appetite, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, weight loss, diarrhoea and muscle pain.

Meanwhile, Sai Ngam district of Kamphaeng Phet province, adjacent to Phichit, was yesterday declared a bird-flu observation zone after 30 chickens on a farm belonging to Thongkham Iamklai, 63, died on Monday and Tuesday.

Disinfectant was sprayed at all poultry farms and movements of poultry were banned in the village of Ban Boh Kaew. The chicken carcasses were sent for laboratory tests.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/021008_News/02Oct2008_news25.php

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

Could Tamiflu help to cure Leptospirosis (= bacterial infection)? Twelve villagers under observation?


Edit, title: xxxxxxxxx


The Laboratory test revealed that the death of a 48-year-old free range duck worker in Pichit province suspicious died from bird like symptoms caused by leptospirosis while his 12-year old son is being treated at hospital, said top health official.


The Public Health Ministry's permanent secretary, Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot said the laboratory result has confirmed that a resident of Pichit province's Phopratabchang district, Manee Mankhetkit,48, died from leptospirosis disease not avian flu infection.

While his 12 year old son was positive to lepotosipirosis disease and now is being treat and taking antiviral oseltamivir drug at the hospital

Manee had bough 1,600 free range duck two weeks ago. A week later 15 of his duck were suspicious died from unknown symptom then he took the dead ducks by his own hand without wearing glove to put it into the cavity.

Later he was taken to the provincial hospital on Monday after he developed a high fever, suffered from a cough, sore throat, chest pains and breathing difficulties.

Prat said the health ministry has sent rapid medical mobile unit to investigate the virus infection at Phopratabchang district's Tung Yai village. The mobile team found about 12 villagers contact closely with the suspicious virus.

The team has collected the sample of virus strain and sent it to study at Department of Medical Science's laboratory. He said 12 villager are under the observation for ten days period.

At the present, in Thailand, there are 25 people have been infected by the avian influenza virus and seventeen had died since January 2004.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/read.php?newsid=30084911&keyword=bird+flu

[Treyfish]

Re: Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

From the first story on this thread...Livestock officials have collected samples from the free-range ducks, which have being dying in big numbers over the past week, for testing for the bird flu virus.
From Dutchy's last post
....Manee had bought 1,600 free range duck two weeks ago. A week later 15 of his duck were suspicious died from unknown symptoms then he took the dead ducks by his own hand without wearing glove to put it into the cavity...

From big numbers to 15Now... reports in a neighboring province ,Bettin that guy is gettin tamiflu also .. cuz it cures just about anything!

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

Some snips from CDC on Leptospirosis:

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash.

If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs

The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.

Illness usually begins abruptly with fever and other symptoms. Leptospirosis may occur in two phases; after the first phase, with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea, the patient may recover for a time but become ill again.

If a second phase occurs, it is more severe; the person may have kidney or liver failure or meningitis.

Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/leptospirosis_g.htm

[Giuseppe]

Re: Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

Tamiflu: the magic bullet!

Bacterial infections may be cured with the use of antibiotic.

Since leptospirosis in caused by bacteria no benefit likely achieved with antiviral drugs use.

Further, this condition sometimes requires intensive care with other medical interventions and no single drugs is perhaps enough to keep at safe a patient.

If the Tamiflu is cited in a news article it may be the case of a bad translation at source or misinterpretation by reporter.

It may be...

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Thailand: Bird Flu Suspected Death Is Actually Leptospirosis

Anyone who was part of an event and is reading about that event later in the newspapers, knows that very often the event was described different from what you thought had happened.

We have to be carefull about taking newsreports as facts, misreporting is widespread.

Having said that, I have some questions too about what happened in Thailand, but no answers.....