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Re: Respiratory illness hits remote Alaska island
Ketchikan Hospital info:
Ketchikan Hospital info:
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"The only security we have is our ability to adapt." -
Re: Respiratory illness hits remote Alaska island
CDC has a special relationship with health issues for native alaskans. They have a campus at the native hospital in Anchorage. They supply support for infectious disease and control. Read about their surveillance projects.Originally posted by niman View Post
See: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/aip/index.html
Mission :.....is prevention of infectious diseases in peoples of the Arctic and Subarctic with special emphasis on diseases of high incidence and concern among Alaska Natives and American Indians...."The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller FoundationComment
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Re: Respiratory illness hits remote Alaska island
Respiratory illness kills woman in Southeastern
VIRUS: One other victim on ventilator in an Anchorage hospital.
By JAMES HALPIN
jhalpin@adn.com
Published: October 6th, 2008 09:20 PM
A respiratory illness likely caused by a virus circulating on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska has killed one person and put another on a ventilator in an Anchorage hospital, the state Division of Public Health said Monday.
Genetic testing on samples taken from patients indicates the cause of the outbreak is adenovirus 14, a particularly virulent version of a common bug best known for causing "that respiratory crud in the winter," said division epidemiologist Beth Funk.
"It's a fairly common virus, but this particular type, adenovirus 14, hasn't been seen commonly up until lately," Funk said. "In the last year it's been the main player in a couple of outbreaks that looked somewhat like the one that they're having on Prince of Wales Island."
Indications are that the virus is responsible for causing pneumonia in at least 32 people on the island and sickening an untold number of others who did not go to a clinic seeking medical treatment, she said.
Seven of the 32 cases were severe enough to warrant medevacs to hospitals in surrounding communities, including one patient who was taken to Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage to be put on a ventilator. One woman died, she said.
"That individual also had fairly significant underlying lung disease -- chronic obstructive lung disease -- and it would have put that person at a higher risk for bad outcome with any other infection on top of that," Funk said.
After a physician reported Sept. 22 that an unusual number of people were falling ill, the division sent a team to the island to pore over medical records, Funk said. Scientists at the state virology laboratory in Fairbanks and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta collected specimens and conducted tests to determine the cause of the outbreak, Funk said. The CDC identified adenovirus in six of 13 samples sent to it.
"If you can get a predominant germ on a fairly good proportion of those tests, then you go with that," Funk said. "You don't have to have every single test be positive, because no test is perfect."
While some infected people might not show any symptoms, others develop a sore throat, cough, fever or pneumonia. Severe pneumonia and death are rare in otherwise healthy people, but the infirm are at increased risk for such complications, according to the CDC.
The virus spreads similarly to the common cold. It is transferred from person to person by coughing and sneezing, and it can also be contracted by touching an object, like a doorknob, that has the virus on it and then touching one's mouth, nose or eyes, according to the CDC.
As with other viruses, there's no cure for adenovirus; it moves through a community and will eventually cycle itself out, Funk said.
Because there is a fair amount of travel to and from the island, particularly to Ketchikan, there was some concern the illness could spread to other communities, she said. But there have been no reports of widespread illness off the island and, even before the likely cause of the illness was known, there were no plans to quarantine people there or otherwise restrict travel, she said.
Health officials were recommending people wash their hands often and cover their mouths when they cough to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.
EDIT: More on Adenovirus 14 here:
?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet
~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~Comment
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Re: Respiratory illness hits remote Alaska island
Sounds like the "confirmed" cases last week were confirmed Ad14.Comment
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Re: Respiratory illness hits remote Alaska island
The above confirms the fact that by the time the Oct 1 media piece was written, the outbreak had been identified for over a week, strongly suggesting that "confirmed" cases were confirmed adenovirus cases and were likely confirmed Ad14 cases.Originally posted by Dutchy View PostRespiratory illness kills woman in Southeastern
VIRUS: One other victim on ventilator in an Anchorage hospital.
By JAMES HALPIN
jhalpin@adn.com
Published: October 6th, 2008 09:20 PM
After a physician reported Sept. 22 that an unusual number of people were falling ill, the division sent a team to the island to pore over medical records, Funk said. Scientists at the state virology laboratory in Fairbanks and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta collected specimens and conducted tests to determine the cause of the outbreak, Funk said. The CDC identified adenovirus in six of 13 samples sent to it.
EDIT: More on Adenovirus 14 here:
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/for...lay.php?f=1249
Background on Ad14
Comment
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Re: Respiratory illness - adenovirus 14 -hits remote Alaska island - FluTrackers
Commentary
Comment
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Re: Respiratory illness - adenovirus 14 -hits remote Alaska island - FluTrackers
Dr Niman, at the end your endurance has proven effective in final disclosing of the causal agent of this outbreaks.
Thank you!
We are all indebt with Dr Niman and all other FT members' that followed this incidents, until now and perhaps this interest was decisive in prompt openess of all actors involved in this incident management in Alaska and elsewhere.Comment
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Re: Respiratory illness - adenovirus 14 -hits remote Alaska island - FluTrackers
Update on the same report from post # 93, announcing the diagnosis "Ad 14".
Health officials investigate respiratory illnesses
The Associated Press
Published: October 7th, 2008 09:52 AM
Last Modified: October 7th, 2008 09:58 AM
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A respiratory illness that health officials say likely was caused by a virus circulating on Prince of Wales Island has killed one person and put another on a ventilator in an Anchorage hospital.
Genetic testing on samples taken from patients indicated the cause was adenovirus 14.
Epidemiologist Beth Funk called it a virulent version of a common bug best known for causing "respiratory crud in the winter."
"It's a fairly common virus, but this particular type, adenovirus 14, hasn't been seen commonly up until lately," Funk said. "In the last year it's been the main player in a couple of outbreaks that looked somewhat like the one that they're having on Prince of Wales Island."
The virus may be responsible for causing pneumonia in at least 32 people on the island west of Ketchikan in southeast Alaska.
Seven of the 32 cases were severe enough to send patients on medical evacuation flights to hospitals in surrounding communities.
One patient was flown to Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage and put on a ventilator and another woman died, Funk said.
"That individual also had fairly significant underlying lung disease - chronic obstructive lung disease - and it would have put that person at a higher risk for bad outcome with any other infection on top of that," Funk said.
The division sent a team to the island last month to review medical records.
Scientists at the state virology laboratory in Fairbanks and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta collected specimens and conducted tests to determine the cause of the outbreak. The CDC identified adenovirus in six of 13 samples.
"If you can get a predominant germ on a fairly good proportion of those tests, then you go with that," Funk said. "You don't have to have every single test be positive, because no test is perfect."
While some infected people might not show symptoms, others develop a sore throat, cough, fever or pneumonia. Severe pneumonia and death are rare in otherwise healthy people, but the infirm are at increased risk for such complications, according to the CDC.
The virus is transferred by coughing and sneezing. It can also be contracted by touching an object, such as a doorknob, that has the virus on it and then touching one's mouth, nose or eyes, according to the CDC.
There's no cure for adenovirus but it will eventually cycle itself out, Funk said.
There was some concern the illness could spread to other communities, she said, but there have been no reports of widespread illness off the island.
Health officials recommended people wash their hands often and cover their mouths when they cough to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.
?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet
~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~Comment
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Re: Respiratory illness - adenovirus 14 -hits remote Alaska island - FluTrackers
CommentaryOriginally posted by niman View Post
Fatal Adenovirus 14 On Prince of Wales Island Alaska
Recombinomics Commentary 13:37
October 7, 2008
Indications are that the virus is responsible for causing pneumonia in at least 32 people on the island and sickening an untold number of others who did not go to a clinic seeking medical treatment, she said.
Seven of the 32 cases were severe enough to warrant medevacs to hospitals in surrounding communities, including one patient who was taken to Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage to be put on a ventilator. One woman died, she said.
After a physician reported Sept. 22 that an unusual number of people were falling ill, the division sent a team to the island to pore over medical records, Funk said. Scientists at the state virology laboratory in Fairbanks and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta collected specimens and conducted tests to determine the cause of the outbreak, Funk said. The CDC identified adenovirus in six of 13 samples sent to it.
The above comments indicate the respiratory illness on Prince of Wales Island is due to an outbreak of Adenovirus 14 (Ad14). This virus has caused recent fatal outbreaks and has been a cause for concern.
On Prince of Wales Island, the number of pneumonia cases is cause for concern, as is an unconfirmed report of cases in Wrangell, located on another island which is northeast of Prince of Wales.
More information on these cases would be useful.
."The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller FoundationComment
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Re: Respiratory illness - adenovirus 14 -hits remote Alaska island - FluTrackers
Just last year there were cases in Washington (Tacoma - near Seattle) and Oregon.
Is it possible for these pathogens to survive and resurface after 1 year? Can people be carriers?
."The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller FoundationComment
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Re: Respiratory illness - adenovirus 14 -hits remote Alaska island - FluTrackers
Perhaps some mild or non-symptomatic but infectious patients move around as happens for all other adenoviruses strains.Originally posted by AlaskaDenise View PostComment
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Re: Respiratory illness - adenovirus 14 -hits remote Alaska island - FluTrackers
Imugene has a "Porcine and Fowl Adenoviral Vector Delivery System" for vaccines. Also there is an Adenovirus-based SARS vaccine (maybe still in development).
The Porcine vaccine for PRRS is being tested in the US this year (http://www.ausbiotech.org/data/downl...uly%202008.pdf).
Given Washington state's large poultry and swine industries, could these vaccines be connected to the spread/mutation of adenovirus-14?
."The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller FoundationComment
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Re: Respiratory illness - adenovirus 14 -hits remote Alaska island - FluTrackers
Originally posted by AlaskaDenise View Post
Recently Dutch Biotech Crucell received NIAID/NIH contract for development of Ebola and Marburg vaccines , also based on Adenovirus, however: Ad 35.
Crucell is developing more vaccines, like malaria.
Earlier this year there was a serious problem with the HIV-vaccine in relation with Ad 35; do not know what happened next, I think the problem was solved.
For scientific background on the use of Ad 35:
Imugene also uses adenovirus, being no expert, can't see a relation with human Ad 14 outbreaks, like now in Alaska or reported in other countries like Mexico.
The Imugene vaccine has yet to be approved by international regulatory agencies such as the US Department of Agriculture, and special regulatory provisions will apply because the modified adenovirus, like others developed with Imugene's patented technology, is classified as a genetically modified organism (GMO).
However, the vaccine is inherently safe because it does not employ the intact virus -- only a single, isolated gene from the pathogen. The Australian company has stolen a march on rivals in the world's major pig-producing nations to develop a fully protective vaccine against PRSS.
?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet
~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~Comment
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Re: Respiratory illness - adenovirus 14 -hits remote Alaska island - FluTrackers
If authorities knew shortly after the 22nd that they were dealing with an Adenovirus why didn't they confirm it and stop all the speculation? I can understand why the ph wouldn't work (overwhelmed) but why was there trouble with the internet at the same time? GCI, the internet provider, did not notify of any maintenance."The only security we have is our ability to adapt."Comment
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Re: Respiratory illness - adenovirus 14 -hits remote Alaska island - FluTrackers
Probably because they had no idea there was so much interest....why didn't they confirm it and stop all the speculation?
If the story hadn't appeared on an online source, it would have gone the way of many similar incidents - totally unnoticed by national MSM.
."The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller FoundationComment
Comment