Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

[pablomorgan]

The 2007 Romanian swine fever pandemic might have caused the swine flu, the New York Times reads in its Wednesday edition. The article, A US hog transforms Eastern Europe reads that the American company managed to own in a relatively short time, 40 farms in Romania, thanks to the American Ambassador at the time, Nicholas Taubman who lobbied for it.

Without offering too many arguments, the New York Times explains that the swine flu that hit the world might have been caused by a 2007 swine fever pandemic in Romania. The newspaper recalls its readers that at the time some 67,000 pigs died or were sacrificed to control the swine fever.

New York Times reads that Smithfield owns in Mexico a pig farm closely located to where UN specialists are currently investigating a possible connection between the pigs and the transmission of the swine flu to people.

Since the exact origins of the virus are unknown for the time being, Smithfield officially announced that no employee or pig in the Mexico farm was affected by the flu. Romanian Agriculture minister Ilie Sarbu declared for Romanian TV channel Realitatea TV that the theory is an injustice both to Romania and Smithfield.

http://english.hotnews.ro/stiri-top_news-5675477-amazing-theory-launched-new-york-times-the-2007-romanian-swine-fever-might-have-caused-the-swine-flu.htm

[sharon sanders]

Re: Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

CAUTION TO ALL READERS -

No one knows at this time where this current swine H1N1 started.

Any assertions to the opposite are not believable.

Please use more than one news source so that you can compare data.


Link to New York Times story - Interprete for yourself the information contained herein:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/business/global/06smithfield.html

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

From the article:

That particular strain affects only hogs, but scientists have found elements of swine viruses ? one from Europe or Asia, the other from North America ? in the genetic code of the new influenza A(H1N1) virus. (emphasis mine)

The underlined portion has no logical relation to the italics portion, and using 'but' doesn't make it so. Very misleading statement.

[Rocky]

Re: Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31790

Outbreak of swine fever kills 35,000 pigs in Romania

"So far, Romania had swine fever cases only in the households of the population, not in large farms. "

Swine fever outbreak
Web posted at: 8/11/2007 1:3:11
Source ::: AFP BUCHAREST • Eleven unauthorised pig farms belonging to US company Smithfield in Romania are to be shut down following an outbreak of swine fever

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100469

Swine-flu outbreak linked to Smithfield Foods - Mexico


Does anyone know what type of Vaccine Smithfield uses on pigs in Romania and Mexico?

"All of our pigs have been adequately vaccinated and they are all taken care of according to current sanitation rules," Ochoa said. "What happened in La Gloria was an unfortunate coincidence with a big and serious problem that is happening now with this new flu virus."

Ground Zero

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

Given that UK scientists have determined that the original version of this flu occured in about September 2008, how could that be the cause of a 2007 outbreak? I don't think it's correct to "blame" anyone at this point - influenza genes are global travelers. It's important to trace the source for what we can learn about the nature of this virus and how we can prevent it, but we can't expect producers to assume responsibility for identifying emerging pathogens - that should be part surveillance programs which are non-existant in many countries.

Read past FT threads where Dr. Niman posts travelogs for swine flu - see for yourself how these genetic groupings are global travelers.

If you read the tons of articles about swine flu written over the past several years, there are some common threads: the swine flus often carry genes from several countries, scientists are worried about the humanized version potential, there is not enough surveillance, and they all state there needs to be more studies. Hopefully, as a result of this outbreak, these concerns being expressed for years will be addressed.

.

[Rocky]

Re: Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

Swine influenza is an acute, highly contagious, respiratory disease that results from infection with type A influenza virus. Field isolates of variable virulence exist, and clinical manifestation may be determined by secondary organisms. Pigs are the principal hosts of classic swine influenza virus. (Human infections have been reported, but porcine strains of influenza A do not appear to easily spread in the human population. However, deaths have occurred in immunocompromised people.) The disease in swine occurs commonly in the midwestern USA (and occasionally in other states), Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe (including the UK, Sweden, and Italy), Kenya, China, Japan, Taiwan, and other parts of eastern Asia.

Etiology:
Swine influenza virus (SIV) is an orthomyxovirus of the influenza A group with hemagglutinating antigen H1 and neuraminidase antigen N1 (ie, H1N1). Recently, new subtypes of SIV have been reported (H3N2, H1N2). Influenza B and C viruses have been isolated from pigs but have not caused the classic disease. The classic type A infection with isolates of mild virulence may favor replication of pseudorabies virus ( Pseudorabies: Introduction), Haemophilus parasuis (see gl?sser?s disease, Gl?sser?s Disease: Introduction), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae ( Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia), and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae ( Mycoplasmal Pneumonia), any of which may complicate outbreaks. The mixing of carrier and nonimmune pigs is an important predisposing factor. The virus is unlikely to survive outside living cells for >2 wk except in cold conditions. It is readily inactivated by disinfectants.

Transmission and Epidemiology:
In North America, outbreaks are most common in fall or winter, often at the onset of particularly cold weather. In warmer areas of the world, infection may occur at any time. Usually, an outbreak is preceded by one or two individual cases and then spreads rapidly within a herd, mainly by aerosolization and pig-to-pig contact. The virus survives in carrier pigs for up to 3 mo and can be recovered from clinically normal animals between outbreaks. In antibody-positive herds, outbreaks of infection recur as immunity wanes. Up to 40% of herds may contain antibody-positive pigs. Carrier pigs are usually responsible for the introduction of SIV into previously uninfected herds and countries.

Pathogenesis:
The spectrum of infection ranges from subclinical to acute. In the classic acute form, the virus multiplies in bronchial epithelium within 16 hr of infection and causes focal necrosis of the bronchial epithelium, focal atelectasis, and gross hyperemia of the lungs. Bronchial exudates and widespread atelectasis, seen grossly as plum-colored lesions affecting individual lobules of apical and intermediate lobes occur after 24 hr. The lesions continue to develop until 72 hr after infection, after which the virus becomes more difficult to demonstrate. Losses in reproduction associated with primary outbreaks appear to be secondary because virus has been recovered only rarely from the fetus.

Clinical Findings:
A classic acute outbreak is characterized by sudden onset and rapid spread through the entire herd, often within 1-3 days. The main signs are depression, fever (to 108?F [42?C]), anorexia, coughing, dyspnea, weakness, prostration, and a mucous discharge from the eyes and nose. Mortality is generally 1-4%. The overt course of the disease is usually 3-7 days in uncomplicated infections, with clinical recovery of the herd almost as sudden as the onset. However, virus may continue to cycle among pigs when clinical signs are suppressed by immune responses. Some pigs may become chronically affected. In herds that are in good condition, the principal economic loss is from stunting and delay in reaching market weight. Some increase in piglet mortality has been reported, and effects on herd fertility, including abortions in late pregnancy, may follow outbreaks in nonimmune herds.

Lesions: In uncomplicated infections, the lesions usually are confined to the chest cavity. The pneumonic areas are clearly demarcated, collapsed, and purplish red. They may be distributed throughout the lungs but tend to be more extensive and confluent ventrally. Nonpneumonic areas are pale and emphysematous. The airways contain a copious mucopurulent exudate, and the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes are edematous but rarely congested. There may be severe pulmonary edema, especially of interlobular septae, or a serous or serofibrinous pleuritis. Histologically, the lesions, when fully developed, are primarily those of an exudative bronchiolitis with some interstitial pneumonia.

Diagnosis:
A presumptive diagnosis can be made on clinical and pathologic findings, but confirmation depends on isolation of the virus or demonstration of virus-specific antibody. Virus can be isolated from nasal secretions in the febrile phase or from affected lung tissue in the early acute stage. A retrospective diagnosis can be made by demonstrating a rise in virus-specific antibodies in acute and convalescent serum samples, using the hemagglutination inhibition test. Both H3 and H1 subtype antigens should be included. This test is also used for herd surveys. To diagnose uncomplicated influenza infection, conditions such as pasteurellosis, pseudorabies, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, and chlamydial and Haemophilus infections must be eliminated.

Treatment and Control:
There is no effective treatment, although antimicrobials may reduce secondary bacterial infections. Expectorants may help relieve signs in severely affected herds. Vaccination and strict import controls are the only specific preventive measures. Good management practices and freedom from stress, particularly due to crowding and dust, help reduce losses. Commercially available killed vaccines that contain both H1N2 and H3N2 subtypes appear to induce a strong protective immune response.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/121407.htm

[Rocky]

Re: Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

Custom Vaccines: Swine

Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) vaccines

A strain of swine influenza virus (SIV) called H3N2, first identified in the US in 1998, has brought exasperating production losses to swine producers. Abortion storms are a common sign. Sows go off feed for two or three days and run a fever up to 106? F. Mortality in a na?ve herd can run as high as 15%. In 1999, H1N2 was identified by the Novartis team from pigs with clinical respiratory disease.

Signs of SIV

Coughing (loud, barking cough)
Fever up to 106?
Lack of appetite
Nasal discharge
Weight loss
Reproductive losses (abortions, stillbirth, infertility, weak piglets)
Commercial vaccines may not provide adequate cross-protection against new strains of the virus. Custom vaccines from Novartis Animal Health can help producers guard against specific virus strains on their farm. These vaccines are produced in USDA-approved facilities and are tested for both safety and quality before being sent to the farm?s veterinarian.
[return to top of page]

Custom PRRS vaccines

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, or PRRS, is a mysterious viral disease. So far, attempts to find the specific causes and create an effective commercial vaccine have been unsuccessful. PRRS virus strains appear to be changing, growing more potent, and increasing in number.

The good news is that autogenous or custom PRRS vaccines, which are made from the exact virus strain found in the herd being treated, offer a solution to the frustrating PRRS problem. Custom PRRS vaccines, which are killed products, can work in nursery or grow/finish pigs, but their real benefit is in the sow herd. Coupled with strict pigflow protocols and biosecurity measures, a custom vaccine can be a safe, effective solution that does not pose the same risks to the sow herd as a modified live vaccine...



Custom swine vaccines are also available for these and other bacteria and viruses:

Multi-system disease (arthritis, pneumonia, central nervous system, septicemia, joints, skin, wasting syndrome)

Strep suis
Haemophilus parasuis
Actinobacillus suis
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
PRRS
Respiratory disease

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP)
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Pasteurella multocida
Swine influenza virus
PRRS
Gastrointestinal disease

E. coli
Clostridium perfringens
Salmonella species

Link

[Rocky]

Re: Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

link to The Pig Site

Swine Influenza Vaccine, H1N1 & H3N2, Killed Virus
For use in healthy pigs 5 weeks of age or older as an aid in the prevention of disease associated with swine influenza virus subtypes H1N1 and H3N2. The vaccine has been demonstrated to reduce pneumonia and lung infection following challenge.

MaxiVac Excell 3 is the pork industry's first trivalent vaccine for managing swine influenza virus (SIV). No SIV vaccine provides broader coverage. And because it contains Emunade?, you can use it with confidence in barn after barn.

All MaxiVac Excell 3 antigens are carefully screened and balanced for optimum performance.

Protects against all major strains of swine flu virus (SIV) circulating in the U.S. swine population.

Features a new variant or ?reassortant? strain of the H1N1 subtype in addition to the classical H1N1 subtype that has been circulating in U.S. hogs for decades.

Contains an H3N2 subtype that protects against the Cluster I Texas-like H3N2 subtype, as well as cross protects against the Cluster III variants of H3N2.

Proprietary, super smooth adjuvant

Vaccine safe in pregnant sows and gilts

[Rocky]

Re: Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

one of our members mentioned they flew from Romania to Mexico and then back, reporting where they had flown in from and was sent on her way without a thought.

are all the cases being reported?

[Rocky]

Re: Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

I'm not sure what the technology means, but the vaccine being used in pigs, are creating new strains that humans are fighting...

[gsgs]

Re: Amazing theory launched by New York Times: the 2007 Romanian swine fever might have caused the swine flu

thanks for the info on swine vaccine.

I wonder, if humans could take it.

it's killed virus vaccine, so it won't combine
with existing flu, but maybe they are also
using life virus vaccine ?