Niko
Editor, Senior Moderator
Latest News and Updates:
H5N1 (Active Known/Highly Suspected Infections):
News Reports:
H5N1 (Active Known/Highly Suspected Infections):
Humans:
- Egypt - Two children have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus. Note: the number of cases of avian flu since the disease appeared in Egypt totals 31 cases, of which 13 died and 13 recovered; five cases are currently hospitalized, including three children at Manshiet Bakry Hospital in Cairo
- Turkey - Five children hospitalized for possible bird flu
- Indonesia - Doctor who treated confirmed/deceased patient is hospitalized for suspected bird flu. Tests are pending. Officials cautioned against speculation about human-to-human tranmission
- Vietnam’s southernmost province, has reported an outbreak of bird flu. More than 100 ducks had died of the disease. All poultry in the infected area have been killed.
- Kuwait said on Saturday that it has confirmed 39 new cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of birdflu, raising the total number to 96. The infected birds mainly came from three farms in the southern region of Wafra near the Saudi border.
- Indonesia's Minister of Health comments about the sensitive issue of autopsies and denies H5N1 is currently spreading human-to-human.
- The Indonesian government supports the formation of the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influennza Database (GISAID) which aims to facilitate the exchange of data on avian influenza. "The initiative will help researchers across the world analyse the influenza spread to human beings and animals, and improve the national and international capabilities in quickly anticipating the virus threat," the Health Minister said.
- Bangladesh: The avian flu has now spread to 16 farms in five districts so far. But no humans have been confirmed infected. Food prices have been effected.
- Tripura (India) Government stops import of poultry from Bangladesh. Prices in local markets drop following news of outbreaks of bird flu in Bangladesh.
- Bird flu pandemic inevitable (opinion)
- Japanese court fines poultry farm, execs over bird flu cover up in 2005
- Emergence of Influenza A Virus Variants after Prolonged Shedding from Pheasants. Researchers confirmed<sup> </sup>that 20% of pheasants shed low-pathogenic influenza viruses<sup> </sup>for prolonged periods. The virus isolated 41 days postinfection was<sup> </sup>antigenically distinct from the parental H10 virus, with corresponding<sup> </sup>changes in the HA and neuraminidase.
- Rainwater Harvesting - A rainwater collection and storage system is investigated. A prototype sand filtration system (designed to improve water quality) is built and then tested.