Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection in Wales

[HenryN]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

So why aren't the Egyptian cases spreading as quickly as the UK cases, since they both have M230I?

.

Egyptian cases are H5. Gharbiya is the largest cluster reported to date from Egypt.

 

[vinny]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Mild bird flu in Britain has pandemic potential, experts say
The Associated PressPublished: May 29, 2007



The four presumed human H7N2 bird flu cases identified in Britain last week are a reminder that the next flu pandemic could be sparked by a virus other than the feared H5N1 strain, experts say.

While the global health community's attention in recent years has targeted the H5N1 virus, which has killed at least 186 people worldwide since 2003, some experts worry that attention is being diverted from seemingly less dangerous bird flu subtypes like H7.

"There may be a bit of complacency when it comes to recognizing the pandemic potential of H7 viruses," World Health Organization bird flu expert Dr. Michael Perdue said Monday.

Last week, British authorities confirmed that four people apparently tested positive for H7N2, a mild strain of bird flu, after 15 chickens at a small farm in Wales died. Health officials are currently investigating 36 people who may also be infected, of whom 11 have symptoms of flu or conjunctivitis.

Having so many human cases at once is a potential concern. In Asia, where H5N1 has circulated most widely, millions of people have been exposed to millions of infected birds, resulting in about one new infection per week.



"Here, we're talking about a small number of birds and yet we still have four cases," Perdue said. "Unless there's something unusual about the contact with birds, that suggests the virus is finding new ways of getting into humans."

The H7 subtype has previously sparked human outbreaks. In a large outbreak in the Netherlands in 2003, 89 human cases were reported, mostly of conjunctivitis, as well as one death. There were also at least three likely instances of human-to-human transmission involving family members of poultry workers. In the case of the single fatality, officials noticed that particular virus had about 10 mutations.

British officials have been quick to reassure the public that the "low pathogenic" H7N2 virus ? in comparison to the "highly pathogenic" H5N1 virus ? poses little risk to the population. Indeed, H7N2 appears to cause only mild symptoms such as eye infections.

But low pathogenic viruses can quickly morph into highly pathogenic ones, sometimes within weeks. Too little is known about flu viruses to predict with any certainty which ones are most lethal for humans.

"The pandemic risk from low pathogenic avian viruses is almost as bad as that from highly pathogenic avian viruses," said Dr. Angus Nicoll, an influenza expert at the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control.

"When people say low pathogenic or highly pathogenic, that only refers to how unpleasant the disease is for birds," Nicoll explained. "That's almost irrelevant for humans."

Like all flu viruses, low pathogenic viruses mutate rapidly, and could theoretically transform into a pandemic strain without the warning signals of a more virulent strain, which would leave many dead chickens ? and perhaps humans ? in its wake. Experts also worry about the possibility of a bird flu virus mixing with a human flu virus to create a new pandemic strain.

"If you have an H7 virus causing mild symptoms, that might give the virus the chance to reassort into a more dangerous virus before anybody notices," Perdue said. And for health officials hoping to quash a pandemic in its emerging stages, it might be too late to contain a global outbreak without an early warning.

Most experts believe that the preoccupation with H5N1 as the most likely pandemic candidate is justified.

"The situation with H5N1 is very intense," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the United States. "We know that H7 can cause outbreaks in chickens and that it can occasionally jump the species barrier, but it has not done it nearly to the extent of the H5N1 virus."

Unlike many other bird flu subtypes, which disappear off the radar after a short period, H5N1 has remained entrenched in the environment, and continues to spread to new areas.

Still, while no bird flu virus can be ruled out when it comes to igniting the next pandemic, some clues may exist. Though H5N1 has several worrying characteristics, other flu subtypes are also in the running for the pandemic title.

"The last two flu pandemics were the result of a human flu virus recombining with low pathogenic avian viruses," said Perdue. The H7N2 recently detected in Britain would fall into that category. "Given that historical context, perhaps we should concentrate our efforts a little more in that direction."




http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/29/europe/EU-MED-Britain-Bird-flu.php

 

[Vibrant62]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

That is incorrect. Both H5 and H7 can convert by adding or changing amino acids at the cleavage site.

There is no evidence that an H5/H7 reassortant would be bad.

Comments on H5 vs H7 mechanism of transformation to HPAI are supported by the following paper. I wholly agree that there is no guarantee that an H7 virus would be bad, merely that it has the potential (like H5 viruses) to convert to HPAI variants, relatively readily. Therefore an H7 pandemic could be quite a serious matter, even if at present it only causes mild human disease; as human experience of H7 infections of a high path variant are (fortunately) very limited, no one can state with any certainty what the disease profile might be in humans. However, a high path human variant must be viewed as likely to be quite severe. This was a primary concern of WHO planners I worked with some years ago, when working on selection of annual vaccine strains. An H7 or an H5 human virus was often quoted as the 'nightmare scenario', and one we should hope would never happen as the world would be in deep trouble if it were to occur. It is the reason I have followed the H5N1 virus so closely for the last few years.

Lee CW, Lee YJ, Senne DA, Suarez DL. Pathogenic potential of North American H7N2 avian influenza virus: A mutagenesis study using reverse genetics. Virology. 2006 Jul 7; [Epub ahead of print]
submited by wanglh at Jul, 14, 2006 8:30 AM from Virology. 2006 Jul 7; [Epub ahead of print]

An H7N2 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) first appeared in the live bird marketing system (LBMS) in the Northeastern United States in 1994. Since then this lineage of virus has become the predominant subtype of AIV isolated from the LBMS and has been linked to several costly commercial poultry outbreaks. Concern for this low pathogenicity isolate mutating to the highly pathogenic form has remained high because of the increasing number of basic amino acids at the hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site, which is known to be associated with increased pathogenicity of AIV. To address the risk of low pathogenic LBMS-lineage H7N2 virus mutating to the highly pathogenic form of the virus, we generated a series of mutant viruses that have changes in the sequence at the HA cleavage site by using plasmid-based reverse genetics. We confirmed that a conserved proline at -5 position from the HA cleavage site could be changed to a basic amino acid, producing a virus with five basic amino acids in a row at the cleavage site, but with no increase in virulence. Increased virulence was only observed when additional basic amino acids were inserted. We also observed that the virus preferred the arginine instead of lysine at the -4 position from the cleavage site to manifest increased virulence both in vitro and in vivo. Using helper virus-based reverse genetics, where only one transcription plasmid expressing a mutated HA vRNA is used, we identified specific HA cleavage site sequences that were preferentially incorporated into the low pathogenic wild-type virus. The resultant reassortant viruses were highly pathogenic in chickens. This study provides additional evidence that H7 avian influenza viruses require an insertional event to become highly pathogenic, as compared to H5 viruses that can become highly pathogenic strictly by mutation or by insertions.

See Also:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ubmed_docsum***

The concerns for an H5/H7 reassortant are based on the supposition that the virulence genes are spread across three seperate RNA strands, and therefore the odds of a reassortant virus acquiring increased virulence are reasonably high but by no means certain. Much depends how accurate the findings of the following paper are with regard to virulence distribution; additionally, I had not meant to imply that an H7 pandemic virus would certainly be bad, merely possible and with a high degree of risk that an HP variant would emerge if such a virus became widespread. If that was not the way in which my comment was read, please do accept my apologies.

See: Why is the world so poorly prepared for a pandemic of hypervirulent avian influenza?
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a768149644~db=all~order=page
Authors: Olav Albert Christophersen; Anna Haug a

a Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Ås. Norway

DOI: 10.1080/08910600600866544

Publication Frequency: 3 issues per year

Published in: Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease, Volume 18, Issue 3 & 4 December 2006 , pages 113 - 132

Keywords: avian influenza; virulence factors; virulence evolution; risk estimates; emergency preparedness

 

[scottmcpherson]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Excellent AP story. Well-written. And of course, not carried hardly at all by the American media.

Maybe if Paris Hilton contracted bird flu, we could accomplish both media focus and a potential reduction in the gene pool.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

News: Avian Flu cases in North Wales

28 May 2007, National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS)


Cases of the H7 flu virus have been identified following the discovery of avian flu at a smallholding near Corwen in North Wales.

Key messages

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. As a precautionary measure the NPHS is continuing to offer people who have had contact with individuals with this illness antiviral medication to minimise the risk of spread.

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

The risk to the health of the general public is assessed to be low.

Avian flu cases and contacts in people
By 3pm yesterday, Sunday 27 May, 12 avian flu contacts had been identified who have or have had symptoms of a flu like illness or conjunctivitis. No one is seriously ill.

The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) has identified 142 people who may have had contact with the avian flu:

47 in the household setting

14 in school

81 in the workplace setting

The list 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? 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 National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) has received microbiological test results from nine people in Wales so far. These are from swabs taken from the nose and throat and eyes. They have been tested for the Influenza A viruses, including the H7 subtype that has been isolated from the affected poultry. Two tests have been reported as positive for H7 subtype.

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.

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 identified contacts of a child in a school setting and a number of possible contacts in workplaces. Each of these is being followed up to establish whether they had symptoms or not.

?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.?

?People who have had contact with someone who is well but who we have identified as a contact need not be worried.

?People can also be confident that, the more remote the contact with infected birds, the less likely that the symptoms that we have defined would really be H7 flu.?

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.

Public Health Messages
Dr Marion Lyons, Lead Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for the National Public Health Service for Wales, 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. As a precautionary measure the NPHS is continuing to offer people who have had contact with individuals with this illness antiviral medication to minimise the risk of spread.

?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 will be posted on this website as it becomes available.

An information sheet prepared by the NPHS for people who may have been exposed to Avian Flu is available from the link: Information for people who may have been exposed to avian flu

This information sheet is also available in Welsh from the link: Gwybodaeth i bobl a allai fod wedi cael eu hamlygu i ffliw adar

An updated Q&A information sheet for the public prepared by the NPHS is available to download from the link: Q&A Avian Influenza in North Wales (updated 26/05/2007)

This information sheet is also available in Welsh from the link: Gwybodaeth i?r Cyhoedd ar ffurf Cwestiynau ac Atebion am Ffliw Adar H7N2 yng Ngogledd Cymru

Situation updates are also available from the Welsh Assembly Government website at: http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/presreleasearchive/?lang=en

A map detailing the Avian Influenza Restricted Zone declared in accordance with Article 55 of the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Wales) (No.2) Order 2006 is also given on the Welsh Assembly website at: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/envi...control/avianflu/avianfludeclaration/?lang=en

More information about avian influenza is also available from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/index.htm

http://www.wales.nhs.uk/newsitem.cfm?contentid=6796

 

[HenryN]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Excellent AP story. Well-written. And of course, not carried hardly at all by the American media.

Maybe if Paris Hilton contracted bird flu, we could accomplish both media focus and a potential reduction in the gene pool.

Actually, H7N2 is more of an issue in the US than H5N1, at least based on acknowledged isolates. H7N2 was identified in upstate NY in 2005.

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/06140501/H7N2_Duck_NY.html

H7N2 Bird Flu on Duck Farm in Sullivan New York

Recombinomics Commentary
June 14, 2005

>> South Korea has halted the import of poultry products from New York state after the United States reported a suspicious case of bird flu in the region, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said on Tuesday.

The U.S. Agriculture Department informed the World Organization for Animal Health on June 10 of the outbreak of a low-pathogenic bird flu case on a duck farm in Sullivan, New York, the ministry said.

The virus is known as the H7N2 strain, but it can develop into a high-pathogenic one and infect humans, the ministry said, adding the U.S. farm authorities are conducting further tests. <<

Additional testing of H7N2 in New York will be of interest. The two avian sero-types that have produced reported fatalities in humans are H5N1 and H7N7. Highly pathogenic versions of both sero-types have been isolated with a polybasic cleavage site. H7 appears to be efficiently transmitted human-to-human, but disease is usually mild. The largest outbreak in humans was in 2003 in the Netherlands involving H7N7. H7N7 has also caused equine flu. This season H7 has been detected in North Korea and Indonesia.

Last season H7N2 bird flu was detected in the United States in the Delmarva peninsula. In addition, H7N2 antibodies were detected in a New York resident who was hospitalized for two weeks in November 2003 with fever and cough.

More information on the H7N2 in New York this year would be useful.

Media source

 

[Dark Horse]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Maybe if Paris Hilton contracted bird flu, we could accomplish both media focus and a potential reduction in the gene pool.

Well said and depressingly true. It would be enough if a major celeb like Paris Hilton or Angelina Jolie were to decide to publicize bird flu.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

I thought it was low-path? All 15 of the chickens died.

Further bird flu tests on chickens

May 29 2007

icWales


MORE test results are expected to confirm today the spread of the bird flu outbreak in north Wales.

A total of 12 people are so far thought to have contracted the avian flu virus since it was discovered at a farm in Corwen last week.

The disease is the “very mild” H7N2 strain rather than the more virulent H5N1 variety.

It is thought to have spread from infected chickens which were traded at the Chelford Market in Cheshire two weeks ago.

The 15 Rhode Island Red chickens were bought at the market by the farm’s owners but later all died.


A further 30 birds have now been slaughtered in a bid to stop the spread of the virus.

Restrictions were put on a second farm in the Llyn Peninsula, around 45 miles from the Corwen property, due to links with the Chelford Market.

A dozen schoolchildren and two members of staff at Ysgol Henllan primary school near the Corwen farm have been offered courses of anti-flu drug Tamiflu after one of the pupils is thought to have contracted the virus.

The child lives at a neighbouring property to the farm and the staff and pupils receiving treatment had all been in close proximity to the youngster.

Health Officials said the child was responding well to treatment and was being cared for at home.

None of those thought to be infected are seriously ill.

Health officials could not rule out the possibility that the disease had spread from person to person and stressed inquiries were ongoing.

A NPHS spokesman said: “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 birdflu.”

Chickens from the second farm in the Llyn Peninsula were being tested and results were expected to be received during the course of the day.

There are a total of 58 children at the school but only those 12 who have been in close contact with the infected child will receive treatment.

Health officials sent letters to parents of all the children at the school informing them of the situation and inviting them to a meeting to discuss any concerns.

The school is expected to reopen as normal after half-term.

Current estimates of people who may have come into contact with bird flu are 142.

The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) said the condition of the people was being monitored.

Of these, 47 may have been exposed through a household setting, 14 in school and 81 in the workplace.

Dr Marion Lyons, Lead Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for the NPHS, 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.

“There is no laboratory confirmation. As a precautionary measure the NPHS is continuing to offer people who have had contact with individuals with this illness antiviral medication to minimise the risk of spread.

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

Victims of the virus present typical flu symptoms such as aches, coughs, a fever and sore throat or conjunctivitis.

 

[canagica]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Well said and depressingly true. It would be enough if a major celeb like Paris Hilton or Angelina Jolie were to decide to publicize bird flu.

What about Jackie Chan? (mentioned about a year ago in FT here)

 

[vinny]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Bird flu checks reach hospitals

An outbreak was first confirmed at a smallholding in Conwy
Hospital patients and staff are being offered anti-viral treatment by health officials fighting a bird flu outbreak in north Wales.
Nearly 80 at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd at Bodelwyddan are being offered tamiflu because of contact with a health worker who is being treated for the H7 virus.

About another 70 patients and staff at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor are being contacted to see that they are well.

Twelve people with flu-like symptoms or conjunctivitis have been identified.

The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) stressed that no-one has been seriously ill and the risk to the health of the general public is low.

So far the service has found a total of 221 people who may have come into contact with the virus, which is not as serious as the H5NI strand of the disease.

NORTH WALES AVIAN FLU

24 May: First outbreak at Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Conwy; 45 chickens slaughtered but farms test negative for virus
26 May: Second possible outbreak at farm at Efailnewydd, near Pwllheli: no test results yet
29 May: 221 may have had contact with bird flu - 36 in "household setting," 14 in school, 171 in workplace
Helpline open from 0700 - 2000 BST: call 0845 6003678

The first confirmed case of the avian flu was confirmed last Thursday among chickens on a smallholding near Corwen in Denbighshire.

The Rhode Island chickens first affected were bought at a Chelford Market in Macclesfield, Cheshire on 7 May.

On Saturday a second possible case emerged at a farm on the outskirts of Pwllheli although results of tests on birds there have not been finalised.

Some year five children at Ysgol Henllan in Denbighshire are being offered anti-viral treatment after one pupil was linked to the first smallholding.

The NPHS said 79 patients and staff from ward six at Glan Clwyd Hospital were now being offered tamiflu as a precaution.

A further 69 patients and staff from the A&E unit, Tryfan and Gogarth wards at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor have been contacted because a patient, who has now been discharged, has also had treatment for the virus.


Teachers and pupils at Ysgol Henllan have been given treatment

Marion Lyons, NPHS's communicable disease control consultant, said: "We have assessed the risk to others and can confirm that the healthcare worker was working at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd during the time when she may have been infectious, between 21 and 23 May.

"The patient at Ysbyty Gwynedd may also have been infectious while at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

"However, as the patient was discharged on 18 May, and the incubation period is eight days, anyone would have had symptoms by 26 May."

The NPHS stressed that experience of this particular bird flu virus in humans was limited, so it was "actively managing" the response.

Person-to-person spread would be very unusual, it said, but limited spread has been seen elsewhere in the past.

Dr Lyons added: "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.

"People can also be confident that, the more remote the contact with infected birds, the less likely that symptoms that we have defined would really be H7 flu".






http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6701927.stm

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Thanks for the post Vinny, IMO this article reads a bit more firmly to the situation.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Human Cases Of Avian Influenza In UK

United Kingdom Health Protection Agency announced that influenza A/H7N2 virus infection had been laboratory confirmed in four individuals exposed to infected poultry in Corwen Farm, Conwy, Wales.

The poultry outbreak in Wales started on a smallholding, Corwen Farm, Conwy, on 8 May 2007, was laboratory confirmed on 24 May 2007, and notified to the World Organisation for Animal Health on 25 May 2007.

Influenza A/H7N2 virus infection was considered for five additional individuals whose laboratory results were negative. All nine individuals for whom influenza A/H7N2 virus infection was considered presented with mild symptoms including conjunctivitis and flu-like illness. Three individuals initially hospitalized have been discharged.

As a precautionary measure, the National Public Health Service for Wales and HPA North West are tracing and following up all close contacts of the individuals who have been ill.

Investigation to trace the source of the poultry outbreak at Corwen Farm, Conwy, is ongoing and the possibility that this could be epidemiologically linked to the purchase of poultry at Chelford Market, Cheshire, is being considered. Poultry keepers who visited Chelford Market on 7 May 2007 are being asked to contact animal health officials.

Influenza A/H7N2 virus, identified by laboratory tests performed so far on human and animal samples, is a low pathogenic strain of avian influenza. It is different to the highly pathogenic influenza A/H5N1 virus strain currently circulating in south east Asia and sporadically in the European Region. Influenza A/H7N2 virus infection in humans has generally been associated with a mild disease.

Other influenza A/H7 virus strains (H7N3 in the United Kingdom in 2006 and H7N7 in the Netherlands in 2003) have caused outbreaks in poultry characterized by both low and high pathogenicity. Human infections have also been reported in individuals exposed to the outbreak foci. These were asymptomatic or associated with mild illness, including conjunctivitis with flu-like symptoms. This was observed in the influenza A/H7N3 virus outbreak in the United Kingdom in 2006, when a poultry worker presented with conjunctivitis.

However, in the outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza A/H7N7 virus that affected poultry in the Netherlands in 2003, where influenza A/H7N7 virus infection was laboratory confirmed for 86 individuals with mild illness, predominantly conjunctivitis, a veterinarian with acute respiratory distress syndrome subsequently died.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Confirmation Of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection, UK
Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu News
Article Date: 29 May 2007 - 9:00 PDT

The Health Protection Agency is providing expert support and advice to the National Public Health Service for Wales after an H7N2 avian influenza infection was found in birds on a small farm in north Wales. The Agency has carried out tests on specimens from nine people associated with the incident; seven are from Wales and two were from north west England.

Four of the test results were positive - two of these were from Wales and two were from north west England.The remaining five test results came back as negative. However because these five cases were associated with the birds and had a compatible illness, they are being treated as a precaution.

H7N2 is a low pathogenic strain of avian flu. It is different to the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain currently circulating in South East Asia, and in Europe last year. In almost all human cases to date, H7N2 infection has generally been associated with a mild disease. The risk to the general public is considered to be very low.

Pat Troop, Chief Executive of the Health Protection Agency said:

"As a routine precaution, we have tested those who were associated with the infected or dead birds and reported flu-like symptoms. We tested samples from nine people in our laboratories and confirmed infection in four.

"These test results confirm that human infection with the avian flu virus has occurred. The cases so far have been associated with the infected birds. "It is important to remember that H7N2 avian flu remains largely a disease of birds.

The virus does not transmit easily to humans. Worldwide, almost all human H7N2 infections documented so far, including those associated with this most recent incident, have been associated with infected poultry.

Three of the nine individuals were initially hospitalised. They have all, however, now been discharged.

The National Public Health Service for Wales and HPA North West is tracing and following up all close contacts of the individuals who have been ill as a precautionary measure.

1. For further information about avian flu go to: hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/influenza/avian/default.htm

2. A Q&A information sheet prepared by The National Public Health Service for Wales and is available to download from the link: Q&A Avian Influenza in North Wales.

3. Situation updates are also available from the Welsh Assembly Government website at: new.wales.gov.uk/news/presreleasearchive/1469510/?lang=en.

A map detailing the Avian Influenza Restricted Zone declared in accordance with Article 55 of the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Wales) (No.2) Order 2006 is also given on the Welsh Assembly website at: Welsh Assembly Government Avian Influenza Restricted Zone

4. As part of the tracing exercise, and epidemiological investigation, Defra would like to hear from anyone, who has not already been contacted by Animal Health officials, who has:

-- Purchased from or supplied to Chelford Market in Cheshire on Monday 7 May 2007 or
-- Any poultry keeper who visited Chelford Market on this date whose birds have subsequently become ill.
-- These people should contact their local Animal Health Office (details to be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth) or from the Defra helpline 08459 33 55 77 (open between 9am - 5pm 7 days a week).

According to Defra all bird keepers throughout the UK should continue their efforts to maintain high levels of biosecurity and maintain vigilance by continuing to monitor their birds for signs of disease. If you are concerned about the health of your birds you should seek the advice of your veterinary surgeon, if you suspect that your birds have avian influenza you should report it to your Local Animal Health Office.

There is absolutely no reason for anyone to abandon their birds (or any other pet) because of any fears or worries of infection from avian influenza. This is an offence under the abandonment of Animals Act. The welfare of birds is seriously compromised when they are abandoned and they are at risk from starvation or accident and are more vulnerable to disease.

All those persons wishing to seek general information about animal health should not call the local Animal Health office, but should call the Defra Helpline on (UK) 08459 33 55 77, or visit the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk.

Further biosecurity guidance can be found on the Avian Influenza pages on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk

http://www.hpa.org.uk

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Conwy to Bernard Matthews ("Great Witchingham Hall, Great Witchingham, Norwich, Norfolk, NR9 5QD, UK)

 

[vinny]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

The virus does not transmit easily to humans.






i am confused it doesnt easily spread yet we are at a target of possibly over 200 people being suspect infected,i hate the way they cover up and say nothing to see here move along.there has obviously been some H2H,in wales,i just hope it doesnt get any worse and we start to hear of cases across the country,one thing thats worrying me,if someone has this virus and normal flu could the 2 viruses become one dangerous one..........?

 

[vinny]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

i found this information from the link below,so lp can change to hp.






Compared to several other viruses in poultry, the LBM-lineage H7N2 viruses have circulated for a relatively long period of time in chickens and turkeys without becoming HP. In some previous reports, low-pathogenic H5 or H7 AIV circulated in commercial poultry for at most 2 years after they were first detected before mutating into the HP form.






http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=296076

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

thanks for the info Vinny...check this out:

your quote...

Compared to several other viruses in poultry, the LBM-lineage H7N2 viruses have circulated for a relatively long period of time in chickens and turkeys without becoming HP. In some previous reports, low-pathogenic H5 or H7 AIV circulated in commercial poultry for at most 2 years after they were first detected before mutating into the HP form.

However, in the outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza A/H7N7 virus that affected poultry in the Netherlands in 2003 where influenza A/H7N7 virus infection was laboratory confirmed for 86 individuals with mild illness, predominantly conjunctivitis, a veterinarian with acute respiratory distress syndrome subsequently died.

UK to Netherlands

 

[vinny]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Patients and staff at two hospitals in North Wales are being offered anti-viral drugs after coming into contact with people who may be ill with bird flu.

At Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital, Bodelwyddan, near Rhyl, 79 patients and staff spent some time with a healthcare worker who is suspected to be ill with an H7 strain of the virus.

They are being offered the drug Tamiflu, which minimises the symptoms associated with flu.

At Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital, Bangor, 69 patients and staff associated with an A & E unit are being called because they may have been in contact with a patient carrying the virus.

The development came as health chiefs were trying to stamp out the spread of a virus which has been traced to chickens on a small farm near Corwen, North Wales.

Previously, some 12 children aged nine and ten and two teachers at a school in the area have been treated with Tamiflu.

The 14 had been in contact with a nine-year-old girl who is thought to have fallen ill with the virus after visiting the farm at the centre of the alert.





2 hospitals know have they lost the battle to contain this....?




http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...article_id=458551&in_page_id=1770&ito=newsnow

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Where did this patient come from?

At Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital, Bangor, 69 patients and staff associated with an A & E unit are being called because they may have been in contact with a patient carrying the virus.

The development came as health chiefs were trying to stamp out the spread of a virus which has been traced to chickens on a small farm near Corwen, North Wales.

Does this rule out H-2-H-2-H? (at least as long as none of the staff, patients and students don't come down with anything).

The 14 had been in contact with a nine-year-old girl who is thought to have fallen ill with the virus after visiting the farm at the centre of the alert

 

[Commonground]

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Re: Confirmation of Avian Influenza H7N2 Infection

Hawkeye, could it be this child in Post #48:

A dozen schoolchildren and two members of staff at Ysgol Henllan primary school near the Corwen farm have been offered courses of anti-flu drug Tamiflu after one of the pupils is thought to have contracted the virus.

The child lives at a neighbouring property to the farm and the staff and pupils receiving treatment had all been in close proximity to the youngster.