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Healthcare worker and hospital patient among those with bird flu symptoms <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=headerTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=* border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>May 31 2007
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</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
</TD></TR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3> </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3>THE number of people with symptoms of bird flu rose to 13 in Wales yesterday.
The National Public Health Service (NPHS) for Wales last night said these 13 have ? or have had ? flu-like symptoms or conjunctivitis.
They include a healthcare worker, who was working at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, a patient treated at Ysbyty Gwynedd and a child at Ysgol Henllan, near Denbigh.
Health officials have also identified 220 people who have had contacts with either poultry infected with H7N2 bird flu, the Ty?n Llwyn smallholding at the centre of the outbreak, or people who have experienced symptoms.
But none of the 69 patients who were in contact with the man treated at Ysbyty Gwynedd have shown any symptoms of the illness, officials said.
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A total of 79 people who were in contact with the healthcare worker have been given the anti-viral medicine Tamiflu.
Dr Marion Lyons, lead consultant in communicable disease control for the NPHS, said, ?North West Wales NHS Trust staff have contacted all 69 patients and staff who had been in contact with the patients at Ysbyty Gwynedd. No one reported symptoms of conjunctivitis or flu-like illness in the time period when the flu could have been incubating. So, I am pleased to conclude that there has been no spread of the flu in the hospital.?
Local health boards and other primary care services have introduced a system to help identify patients who may be suffering mild flu-like symptoms or conjunctivitis. Officials expect this to lead to a rise in the number or people suspected of contracting the disease. Dr Lyons said, ?We have been looking more closely at these and I expect to identify some new cases of people who could have avian flu.?
It also emerged last night that everyone who has become ill is directly connected either with the infected poultry or the first few cases of illness.
There have been no cases of illness in people with more distant contacts. Tests on 12 of the affected people in Wales have revealed that two have tested positive for the H7 subtype of the virus which was isolated from the affected poultry.
But the definition of a case of avian flu relies as much on clinical symptoms with a history of contact with infected birds or another human case.
Meanwhile, Wales? chief veterinary officer said there was no cause for complacency among poultry keepers, despite tests on a second farm on the Llyn Peninsula coming back negative for the H7N2 virus.
Birds on the farm were tested because of a connection with Chelford Market, in Cheshire, on May 7 ? the Corwen outbreak is believed to have been caused by infected chickens bought there.
Dr Christianne Glossop said, ?We are very pleased with the results but must not be complacent so early in our investigations into the source of this outbreak. Considerable efforts continue in this complicated tracings exercise.
?Anybody in Wales who either bought or sold poultry at Chelford on May 7 or any poultry keeper in Wales who visited the market on this date whose birds have subsequently become ill, to contact their local animal health office.
?All birdkeepers throughout Wales should be vigilant and maintain strict bio-security precautions, monitoring their birds for any signs of infectious disease.?
The T?n Llwyn farm, in Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, has been cleansed and disinfected.

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