Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

[HenryN]

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Pupils offered bird flu treatment



The child who is believed to have the virus is said to be responding to treatment at home.

This is an unusual step for us to take because the risk of the infection being passed from the child to other pupils is so small.

Officials have said there is not a "significant risk" to public health. A helpline has been set up to offer information about bird flu. The number is 0845 600 3678, and it is open from 0700 - 2000 BST daily.


The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) wants to hear from anyone - who has not already been contacted - who purchased from or supplied to Chelford Market, Cheshire, on Monday, 7 May, or any poultry keeper who visited the market on that day whose birds have subsequently become ill.

They are asked to contact their local animal health office or the Defra helpline 08459 335577. Lines are open between 0900 - 1700 BST seven days a week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6698183.stm

The reporting on the H7N2, like the pronouncement by the health authorities, continues to be irresponsible. Transmission to humans is based on the H receptor binding domain. H7 is efficiently transmitted to humans, as happened for H7N7 in 2003, H7N3 in 2004, H7N3 in 2006, and H7N2 in 2007. Over 1000 people were infected by H7N7 in 2003. Most had mild symptoms, but a vet died.

The low risk of H2H is nonsense, especially if the pupil is the confirmed case without contact with poultry.

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Date: Sun 27 May 2007
From: John Morgan <davidjohnmorgan@gmail.com>


The latest BBC bulletin (Sun 27 May 2007) reports that 11 people out
of 26 possible contacts with H7N2 infected chickens have shown
flu-like symptoms, but none has become seriously ill.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6696035.stm>.

There have been no official updates to the Welsh Assembly Government,
DEFRA or Health Protection Agency Websites in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the restrictions at the 1st site are still in place, and a
map of the restriction zone and the regulations are available at
<http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/ahw/disease_surveillance_control/avianflu/avianfludeclaration/?lang=en>.

ProMED-mail's archived posting 20070526.1692 states: "From a
subscriber in the UK, we have received the following comment: 'The
infected birds which died were bought at Chelford Market from a
private dealer, and there is no traceable paperwork. I find it quite
incredible that after everything that has happened with regard to
avian notifiable diseases in the past few years, auctioneers allow
private sales out of the back of a van to go on at their premises on
a sale day without any formal identification or inspection.'"

My comment:
At this point, there has been no official statement as to whether the
sale was out of the back of a van or through the official livestock
auctions that occurred at Chelford Market on that day. A sobering
report from the Farmers Guardian of 9 Jun 2006 starts with the line:
"There is seemingly little in the world of agriculture that can't be
bought or sold at Chelford Market in Cheshire." [See "Chelford market
profile" by Nick Yates at
<http://www.farmersguardian.com/story.asp?sectioncode=49&storycode=2360>.].

As this article goes on to say: "It has made a success of diversity,"
no doubt this statement was in praise of the entrepreneurial spirit
of the operation but seems to have acquired a quite different meaning
in the light of recent events.

It is worth stating that it would not be in the interest of
auctioneers to "allow private sales out the back of a van," as they
would not be in receipt of any buyer or seller commission, and this
would be anti-entrepreneurial.

I suspect that it is impossible for them to police all areas, parking
areas and attendees and to prevent private deals being struck.

Chelford market is under the jurisdiction of Macclesfield Borough
Council, which has released the following statement:
<http://www.macclesfield.gov.uk/news_item.asp?id=1529>.

The auctioneers that run the market have not placed any notice on
their website [<http://www.frmauctions.co.uk/index.html>] which might
encourage anyone attending the market either as a seller or purchaser
to contact the authorities. There are 2 links under the poultry
section. One link leads to a report of the total livestock sales for
Mon 7 May 2007, which included 1400 head of poultry. The other is a
notice that poultry sales will be reconvened after a suspension of
sales following the Bernard Mathewes - Hungarian H5N1 outbreak, dated
16 Feb 2007. [It says: "We have been informed by DEFRA that sales can
recommence with immediate effect. We will therefore be open on Mon 19
Feb 2007, although numbers forward are likely to be minimal due to
lack of time to advertise re-opening. Full poultry sales service will
recommence on Mon 26 Feb 2007." - Mod.AS]

There is no statutory regulation for small keepers or breeders of
poultry to be registered with DEFRA; there is a voluntary
registration scheme. Prior to this outbreak, there was guidance
available to poultry keepers on the Welsh Assembly Government website:
<http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/ahw/disease_surveillance_control/avianflu/?lang=en>.

Readers of the website are reminded that there is a General license
on poultry and other bird livestock movements in force under European law.

We should not prejudge any official enquiry or further statements.
However, there seems to have been some unrecorded movement of
livestock that has created a great deal of additional work for DEFRA
and the police and at the same time caused delay in containing the
outbreak. This is very reminiscent of the 2001 FMD outbreak. Since
that time, movement restrictions and documenting animal movements
have become an extremely time consuming and bureaucratic exercise as
an UK farmer will confirm. Other than the price they are paid for
their produce, this is one thing I hear constantly bemoaned by local
farmer friends.

Over the last 30 years or so, many people have moved into the area to
live an alternative lifestyle. Keeping a few chickens and selling
them and their eggs has been a popular source of income in the area
for longer than anyone or any records can tell; the proceeds are not
always declared for taxation purposes (reference: My father, a
retired chartered accountant who practiced for 50 years in the region).

It is unlikely that "grey marketers" with their few chickens will
suffer any great financial consequences from the inability of the
authorities to rapidly shut down the outbreak, an inability that is
due to the grey marketers' lack of records and unwillingness to come
forward with information. It could not have come at a worse time for
the game farmers of the region who will be selling poults to the
commercial shoots of this region and further afield. Over the next
few weeks, both game farmers and the shoots will be wanting to move
hundreds of thousands of pheasant and partridge poults to woods and
game crops in preparation for the beginning of the shooting season in
September. This industry is one of the economic lynch pins of the
winter economy in Wales.

--
Communicated by:
Dr John Morgan MB BS DipGUM
Golden Grove
Trem Dyffryn
Red Bank
Welshpool
Powys SY21 7PT
<davidjohnmorgan@gmail.com>

[We are grateful to Dr Morgan for shedding local light, based upon
firsthand observations, on the Welsh feathered situation behind
curtains and official news.

ProMED-mail's Rapporteur Mary Marshall adds the following
complementary information: "Traded birds aren't only pet or hobby
birds. They can be small-scale commercial to be traded on or kept for
poultry, eggs or poultry products to be sold locally at farmers
markets, or they can be part of a much wider trade. I am told that
Chelmsford Market is huge and takes place every week and that it
draws people from at least 50 miles away."

Readers might be reminded of a rather similar situation which
unfolded during the HPAI H7N7 outbreak in the Netherlands in 2003,
when "Hobby birds" and commercial as well as non-commercial
small-holdings became a major factor, sometimes obstacle, in the
authorities' efforts to control the epizootic. - Mod.AS]:tiphat:

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/prome..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,37592

 

[HenryN]

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Audio on outbreak once again shows that reporters have no clue, and officials are sure to take advantage, especially with regard to H2H

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/...7911.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1

 

[HenryN]

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Mild bird flu found in Wales spreads to humans

Mon May 28, 2007 6:18PM BST
By Kate Kelland
LONDON (Reuters) - Pupils and staff at a school in Wales are being offered anti-flu drugs after being in contact with a child suspected of contracting bird flu in an outbreak of a mild strain of the virus, health authorities said on Monday.
Teachers and children at the school, which is close to a farm in Corwen, North Wales, where the H7N2 strain of bird flu was discovered last week, were being treated with antiviral medication as a precaution, the National Public Health Service (NPHS) said in a statement.
A total of 12 people have been identified as suffering from the flu, reporting "symptoms of a flu like illness or conjunctivitis" it said, but stressed no one was seriously ill.
It identified 142 people who may have had contact with the avian flu and said it could not rule out person-to-person contact.
"Person-to-person spread would be very unusual but limited spread of this type has been seen elsewhere in the past in some cases of bird flu," said Dr Marion Lyons of the NPHS.
"As a precautionary measure the NPHS is continuing to offer people who have had contact with individuals with this illness antiviral medication to minimize the risk of spread. "
Authorities confirmed an outbreak of bird flu last Thursday among chickens at a farm in North Wales.
NOT H5N1
But it was the low pathogenic H7N2 strain of bird flu, not the H5N1 strain, which is potentially deadly to humans and has caused scares elsewhere in the past.
Lyons said that investigations into the H7N2 strain had shown that when it spreads from person to person, the illness become milder.
But she added: "Experience of this particular bird flu virus in humans is limited so we are actively managing the public health response."
Britain has been on the watch for bird disease after Europe's biggest turkey producer Bernard Matthews was forced to destroy 160,000 turkeys because of an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in England earlier this year.
The World Health Organization says 186 people have died of bird flu since the H5N1 virus resurfaced in Southeast Asia in 2003. The virus has since spread throughout much of Asia, parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The presence of an H7 virus in poultry is treated seriously by animal health officials because scientists believe that, when allowed to circulate in poultry populations, a low pathogenic virus can mutate into the highly pathogenic form.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKL2834728920070528?rpc=401&

 

[vinny]

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Lyons said that investigations into the H7N2 strain had shown that when it spreads from person to person, the illness become milder.







is the above true or another one of there many lies......?

 

[HenryN]

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Lyons said that investigations into the H7N2 strain had shown that when it spreads from person to person, the illness become milder.







is the above true or another one of there many lies......?

Please. It may be milder if the initial dose is lower, but there is no genetic or rational basis for the above statement.

 

[gsgs]

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

maybe they just mean, that in humans it's milder than in chickens.

 

[gsgs]

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

Re: Human H7N2 infection in North Wales

I noticed this conjunctivitis thing. It was also in the Dutch H7N7 cases.
Seems to be specific to H7 infections.
So, does H7 usually enter through the eyes ?
And do other flus also show conjunctivitis , and when, is it a
sign that the victim rubbed his/her eyes and that's how the virus entered ?

Do birds also get conjunctivitis with any flu ?

 

[hawkeye]

Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

Bird flu symptom cases rise to 13

May 31 2007

by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail


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.


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.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 13

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 13

17 have bird flu symptoms

31/5/2007

By 3pm yesterday, Wednesday, 17 avian flu contacts had been identified who have or have had symptoms of a flu like illness or conjunctivitis.

No one is seriously ill.
It is eight days since a 1km restriction zone was placed around Tn Llwyn farm in Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, near Corwen, Denbighshire, after 15 chickens died from H7N2 avian flu.

The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) has identified 256 people who may have had contact with the avian flu:

* 39 in the household setting (up eight on the day before)
* 14 in school (unchanged)
* 203 in the workplace setting (28 up on the day before)

Of the 256 contacts, 79 have come out of the incubation period for avian flu.

The full list of contacts is constantly changing as possible contacts are added to or taken off the database. Contacts are added if contact was possible. They are taken off if detailed questioning shows that there was no contact.

The National Public Health Service (NPHS) is using the following definitions of cases and contacts:

* A case is an individual with influenza-like illness (fever above 38¢ª C, aches and pains, cough/head cold, sore throat or conjunctivitis) who has been in contact with affected premises or to known infected poultry (handling/within one metre) or close
contact with another human case.

* A contact is defined as an individual who has been in contact with affected premises or with known infected poultry (handling/within one meter) or has had close contact with another person with confirmed or presumptive avian influenza).

Investigations

The NPHS has received microbiological test results from 14 people in Wales so far. Two tests have been reported as positive for the H7 flu virus.

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.

For this reason, the NPHS is contacting every individual who has been in close contact with the people who are cases. People identified as contacts are being offered medication to reduce the severity of any impact from the infection if they are still within the incubation period.

The NPHS is continuing to investigate and identify potential contacts today.

Dr Marion Lyons, Lead Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for the National Public Health Service for Wales, said: "We are actively managing the outbreak. This involves taking every precaution in identifying possible contacts of the infected
poultry or people who have been ill after contact with the infected poultry.

"We have been contacting every close contact so people who are not contacted by us should not worry.

"We are looking for people who have had flu like symptoms or conjunctivitis. It is the symptoms which are important to identify. It is reassuring that so few of the large number of contacts have had symptoms.

"Local health boards and primary care services put in place a system which has helped identify potentially symptomatic patients after the bank holiday weekend. The return of people who were away over the weekend has led to the identification of
additional cases of conjunctivitis or flu-like symptoms. This explains the increase we are reporting for the day.

"However, the new cases have all reported symptoms starting a few days ago. We are not seeing any new spread of the flu in the community.

"We will remain vigilant. Most people fall ill within two or three days of coming into contact with the virus but this period can be as long as seven days. It will therefore be next week before we can be certain that the spread has been stopped.

"Of the cases we have identified so far it is clear that everyone who has had symptoms is directly connected with the infected poultry or the first few cases of illness. We have found no illness in people with more distant contacts."

People who had prolonged close contact with infected poultry and or ill people who had been in contact with the infected poultry have been offered a 10 day course of tamiflu. After completing this course, people cannot get the avian flu virus from the contact we identified.

Dr Lyons said,"All our action has been geared to place a virtual cordon around the virus so that it cannot be spread further. We have identified the potential pattern of spread and it does not appear to spread to distant contacts - people well down a chain of contacts.

"As time moves on, we can start to take people off the list of people we are monitoring. There are 79 people where there is now no risk at all of infection with this avian flu virus. This is very reassuring to them. It is also very reassuring to us because it demonstrates that the already low risk of spread is confirmed."

Control Measures

People with symptoms of conjunctivitis and flu and meet the definition of a case have been given treatment. They have been advised to stay at home until they are better.

All well contacts are being given medication to reduce the severity of any impact from the infection if their last contact with a case was only a week ago.

Public Health Messages

Dr Lyons said: "We believe the risk to the health of the general public is low. Avian flu is primarily a disease of birds. H7N2 is different
to and very mild compared with H5N1.

"Of the people with conjunctivitis or a flu-like illness, some did not have close contact with infected poultry.

"The illness people are experiencing is, for the most part, not serious. No one is seriously ill.

"Preliminary investigations indicate that we cannot exclude person to person spread having occurred in this outbreak. Person to person spread would be very unusual but limited spread of this type has been seen elsewhere in the past in some cases of bird flu. There is no laboratory confirmation.

"Investigations also show that, when it spreads from person to person, the illness experienced becomes milder.

"Experience of this particular bird flu virus (H7N2) in humans is limited so we are actively managing the public health response."

Communication

A special helpline available for general information about avian flu in people is open from 7am to 8pm daily. The number is 0845 600 3678.

Further information is available from the NPHS website: www.nphs.wales.nhs.uk


http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Health&F=1&id=11509

 

[Vibrant62]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

There are still no reports in the UK MSM channels including the BBC, in the main newpapers, or any other high profile media. Not a word, and this is very odd. What is more odd is that the outbreak and human case monitoring appears to have remained in the hands of DEFRA rather than passing to the NHS and Department of Health, although the HPA does appear to be involved.

Macclesfield is located in middle England and therefore the outbreak source is not limited to Wales. It would be helpful to know what kind of alert has been issued to health providers to let them identify potential human infections across the region, as if not specifically tested for, infections may not be identified.

Since public awareness of the channels that are reporting the outbreak is minimal, we can exect that very few people are aware of the potential problem.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

There are still no reports in the UK MSM channels including the BBC, in the main newpapers, or any other high profile media. Not a word, and this is very odd. What is more odd is that the outbreak and human case monitoring appears to have remained in the hands of DEFRA rather than passing to the NHS and Department of Health, although the HPA does appear to be involved.

Macclesfield is located in middle England and therefore the outbreak source is not limited to Wales. It would be helpful to know what kind of alert has been issued to health providers to let them identify potential human infections across the region, as if not specifically tested for, infections may not be identified.

Since public awareness of the channels that are reporting the outbreak is minimal, we can exect that very few people are aware of the potential problem.

Two of the confirmed cases are in St Helens. The latest report indicates test results have been received on 14 patients in Wales. It is not clear if the 3 missing test results are the two in St Helens plus a Wales patient, whose result is unknown, or if the missing result represents a third patient outside of Wales.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 13

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 13

If they were symptomatic a "few days ago" doesn't that put it into the realm of H-2-H?

17 have bird flu symptoms

31/5/2007


1. "However, the new cases have all reported symptoms starting a few days ago. We are not seeing any new spread of the flu in the community.

2. "We will remain vigilant. Most people fall ill within two or three days of coming into contact with the virus but this period can be as long as seven days. It will therefore be next week before we can be certain that the spread has been stopped.

3. People who had prolonged close contact with infected poultry and or ill people who had been in contact with the infected poultry have been offered a 10 day course of tamiflu. After completing this course, people cannot get the avian flu virus from the contact we identified.

http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Health&F=1&id=11509

 

[Vibrant62]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

It must be H2H2H unless they can link to infected birds in recent days. If there is no such linkage, for symptoms to have appeared only 'a few days ago' the incubation period would have to be unusually long, or there must be an unidentified intermediary/ies in the transmission chain.

If there are any UK HCWs at FT working in hospitals in either A&E or Respiratory/ General Medicine, can you tell us if have you received any kind of alert or request to report admissions with flu like symptoms? I dont think such data is readily accessible in 'real time' but I would hope the data is being monitored by the HPA in the Macclesfield and surrounding areas, as well as the area around the Welsh outbreak.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

All of these are non-family correct?

 

[HenryN]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

All of these are non-family correct?

I think it is very hard to tell who the new patients are. They are clearly contacts, but if they just developed symptoms, earlier tests would be negative, and they appear to have developed symtoms even though they were at least offered Tamiflu, if all contacts were offered Tamiflu.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

Thanks Dr. Niman.

 

[scottmcpherson]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

Gang,
This is amazing. We cannot get information on patients in WALES. This is not Indonesia now! I am beginning to think the press is more transparent in Indonesia than it is in the UK!

Of course, privacy regulations may hamper us here. But HIPAA did not stop us from learning the identity of the idiot from Atlanta with XDR-TB, so surely somebody in the UK can piece this stuff together! And I don't mean US. I mean a reporter-type.

Where's that Reuters lady????

 

[HenryN]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

Gang,
This is amazing. We cannot get information on patients in WALES. This is not Indonesia now! I am beginning to think the press is more transparent in Indonesia than it is in the UK!

Of course, privacy regulations may hamper us here. But HIPAA did not stop us from learning the identity of the idiot from Atlanta with XDR-TB, so surely somebody in the UK can piece this stuff together! And I don't mean US. I mean a reporter-type.

Where's that Reuters lady????

There is a major effort to downplay H2H. But with only 15 sick birds identified in Wales, and no hints that anyone except the farm owners having CLOSE contact, the H2H will be increasingly obvious.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Wales: Bird flu symptom cases rise to 17

That doesn't sound good.

There is a major effort to downplay H2H. But with only 15 sick birds identified in Wales, and no hints that anyone except the farm owners having CLOSE contact, the H2H will be increasingly obvious.