Hong Kong - Poultry/animals/wild birds H5N1 Dec. 18, 2008 +

[HenryN]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Why not just use a re-formulated vaccine?

.

Vaccine issue is not new. H5N2 vaccine was made 10 years ago

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/07070804/H5N1_HK_Vaccine.html

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Hong Kong chicken farms in the outbreak of avian flu in Hong Kong to suspend live chicken supply for 21 days

<HR>

2008年12月09日18:39 来源：中国新闻网​

At 6:39 p.m. on December 9, 2008 Source: China News Network

发表评论​

Comment

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Hong Kong, Dec 9 (Reporter Wen Qing) - Hong Kong, another outbreak of bird flu.

香港特区政府食物及卫生局长周一岳今天表示，元朗一个农场向当局汇报出现不寻常死鸡，昨有六十只鸡只死亡，经快速测试样本后，证实对H5反应阳性，香港将停止供应活鸡二十一天。​

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government Secretary of Health and Food York Chow said today that a farm in Yuen Long to the authorities to report unusual dead chickens, the last 60 chickens died there, the quick test samples confirmed positive for H5, will stop in Hong Kong 21 day supply of live chickens.

周一岳表示，当局和有关部门，包括渔护署、卫生署、食环署商讨对策后，鉴于农场发现有禽流感病毒，在渔护署署长建议下，启动原来的戒备应变级别，升为严重应变级别。​

York Chow said the authorities and relevant departments, including Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Department of Health, the department to discuss measures, in view of the farms found to have bird flu virus, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Director of the proposal, the original start of the alert response level, was promoted to Severe strain level.

渔护署署长宣布该鸡场为疫点，以及该鸡场三公里范围之内，列为疫区。​

Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation announced that the farms for the outbreak, as well as the chicken farms within 3 km range, as infected areas.

渔护署会随即销毁疫区内所有鸡只，涉及两个鸡场大约八万鸡只。​

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will immediately destroy all chickens in infected areas, involving about 80,000 chickens in two farms.

发现禽流感的鸡场场主黄宜全表示，场内昨日死了很多只鸡，他发现情况有异，因此通知渔护署，并即时停止出鸡至批发市场。​

The discovery of avian flu Dr farmer said that the site yesterday, many chickens died, he found the situation there, so to inform the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the immediate cessation of chickens to the wholesale market.

他形容，目前心情沉重，整个农场约有数万只鸡。​

He described the present with a heavy heart, the entire farm, about tens of thousands of chickens.

他未知鸡只死亡原因，但估计或与候鸟传播有关。​

He unknown cause of death of chickens, it is estimated that with or related to the spread of migratory birds. <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD><OBJECT class=inlineimg title="Big Grin" border=0 codeBase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=7,0,19,0" alt="" classid="clsid</OBJECT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

为了防止病毒散播，当局决定采取多项措施保障公众健康，包括暂时禁止所有农场的鸡只出场二十一天，其间渔护署会巡视所有农场，抽取样本以供化验，保证病毒无扩散至其他农场。​

In order to prevent the spread of the virus, it was decided to take a number of measures to protect public health, including a temporary ban on all chicken farms out of 21 days, during which the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will inspect all farms to take samples for testing to ensure that no virus has spread to other farms .

此外，暂停所有活家禽包括鸡苗以及观赏雀鸟的入口二十一天。​

In addition, the suspension of all live poultry, including ornamental birds, chicks, as well as the entrance to 21 days.

疫区内的鸡只曾经运往长沙湾家禽批发场，暂时留在鸡场的万多只活家禽，因应安全起见会销毁。​

Infected chickens had been sent to the Cheung Sha Wan wholesale poultry market, for the time being remain in the farms of more than 10,000 live poultry, in response to safety, will be destroyed.

食环署和渔护署会在各街市和长沙湾鸡禽批发市场进行大清洗，防止病毒滋生和积聚。​

FEHD and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in the chicken market and the Cheung Sha Wan poultry wholesale market for cleaning large, to prevent the virus from breeding and build up.

卫生防护中心会接触有关农场，跟进东主和从业员健康情况，但暂时未收到有任何病症报告。​

Center for Health Protection will approach the farm, proprietors and employees to follow up on health, but have not received any report of the disease.

医管局已通知香港公立医生，关注接触过家禽及家禽从业员，若有呼吸道病症，要加倍留意。​

The Hospital Authority has informed the public of Hong Kong doctors, concerned about exposure to poultry and poultry workers, and if so, respiratory disease, it is necessary to pay close attention.

周一岳表示，事件反映香港过去预防禽流感机制有效，恒常的监控和警觉令疫情刚开始便发觉，因而可以提早作出一系列措施。​

York Chow said Hong Kong's events in the past an effective mechanism to combat avian flu, the long-term monitoring and vigilance at the beginning of the epidemic to be found, which can be made ahead of a series of measures.

卫生防护中心会发信提醒全港医生，呈报怀疑个案，而且设立电话热线供查询，并会监测家禽从业员健康。​

Center for Health Protection is sending out letters to remind doctors in Hong Kong, reported suspected cases and setting up a telephone hotline for inquiries and will monitor the health of the poultry trade.

他呼吁市民时刻保持警觉，加强个人卫生，防范禽流感。​

He urged the public to stay alert to step up personal hygiene to prevent avian flu.

(完)​

(END):tiphat:http://74.125.93.104/translate_c?hl....shtml&usg=ALkJrhiMlJPt-hKi25ndvkFKUK18QaNG1w

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Vaccine issue is not new. H5N2 vaccine was made 10 years ago

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/07070804/H5N1_HK_Vaccine.html

I assumed that the poultry vaccine was constantly being reformulated to match the most current expected strain, just as is done for humans.

Couldn't they use an H5N3 or H5Nx?

Is there a finite end to the poultry vaccination strategy?
(my memory of 2+ years ago has a foggy memory of something different about poultry vaccines as compared to human)

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[HenryN]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12100801/H5N1_HK_Vaccine_Failure.html

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12100801/H5N1_HK_Vaccine_Failure.html

Commentary

Hong Kong H5N1 Outbreak Signals Vaccine Failure
Recombinomics Commentary 13:59
December 10, 2008

SAR's biggest chicken farms - Fung Kong Tsuen in Yuen Long - revealed that 200 of its birds had dropped dead.

A number of the dead chickens had been inoculated against the flu, sparking concerns over the efficacy of the vaccine and a possible mutation of the virus.

The above comments regarding the H5N1 outbreak on a large Hong Kong farm again raises concerns of a vaccine failure. These concerns were raised over the summer when H5N1 was detected in a number of live markets in Hong Kong (see updated map). The vaccine in use in Hong Kong is directed against low path H5N2 in circulation 10 years ago, and has been losing effectiveness as H5N1 evolves.

A large number of H5N1 sequences from the 2007/2008 outbreak in wild birds in Hong Kong have been released (see list here here here here here) and these sequences are two Fujian sub-clades (2.3.2 and 2.3.4) in HA although the other seven gene segments are largely 2.3.4. Human cases have been reported in Shenzhen and Guangdong and those sequences were 2.3.4. However, the HA 2.3.2 sequences migrated to the north last spring and were found in whooper swans in Japan as well as outbreaks in South Korea and Russia. A culler/soldier in South Korea was symptomatic and was H5 PCR confirmed, although South Korea denied that he was H5N1 infected (but he promptly recovered after treatment with Tamiflu).

The presence of H5N1 in vaccinated flocks on a farm in Hong Kong, as well as wet markets in Hong Kong during the summer, raises concerns that H5N1 is evading the outdated vaccine, and may be circulating at low levels due to partial immunity in vaccinated flocks.

Release of sequence data from the H5N1 outbreaks over the summer, as well as the current outbreak, would be useful.


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[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Caption: The chicken house worker is escorted to the hospital isolation.

More pictures

The medical bureau extant medicine 70% drug efficacies are worrisome
Against birds and beasts epidemic disease proliferates the chicken house six people to isolate

[Daily Sun special news]After the chicken house erupts the bird flu, health protection center greatly for anxious, in perhaps chicken house proprietor and the staff the move, yesterday summoned two ambulances, by wore the complete set to protect clothing's rescue patrol six people will send to hospital the examination. The hospital administrative bureau started the serious strain rank, cautious against presents the human exposure bird flu case.
The protection center yesterday evening summoned the ambulance to enter the chicken house, six rescue patrols did not dare to lower one's guard, before receiving for shipment four female two male staff, put on the complete set protection clothing, to wear the mouthpiece and the glove, made the scene atmosphere to be extremely anxious. After that puts on mouthpiece's six staff, an every three people of vehicle, gets on the ambulance separately, the rescue patrol searches hot and the preliminary health examination immediately for them, escorts to Margaret by the ambulance the fierce hospital infectious disease center.
The eruption bird flu's chicken house, including Master Mr. and Mrs. Huang Yiquan and the staff altogether nine people, six contacts the chicken staff only to send to hospital the isolation observation frequently, field main husbands and wives does not need to be hospitalized, but because the department of health to their prescription antivirotic medicine sensitive luck, another chicken house odd job past one month has not gone to work, does not need to accept the supervision.

Promotion to ?serious strain? rank
After the medical department central infectious disease and the emergency committee yesterday held the emergency meeting, decided that the promotion bird flu guarded against the rank to ?the serious strain?, and took the corresponding measures (to see table). The health protection center and the medical department stockpile 26,200,000 grain of antivirotic medicines now, the preparation momentarily prescription give the doubtful bird flu patient, but middle 70% are assumes the antibiotic to flu and the bird flu sensitive luck. Hong Kong Hospital Pharmacist Academic society educates inspector general Cui Junming to worry that the sensitive lucky antibiotic nature is getting more and more serious, appealed the government increases the musical sense clear margin.
The health protection center and the medical department stockpile 18,500,000 grain of sensitive lucks, 1,700,000 grain of musical sense to be clear now, and 6,000,000 grain of diamond amines. Cui Junming indicated that each large-scale Public hospital storage's sensitive Fuyue foot 夠 200 people take on fifth, ?uses for to prevent on the foot 夠, eruption certainly not 夠.?Cui pointed out that the sensitive luck increases day after day the antibiotic nature is anxious, the government should order the musical sense to be clear early. In order to exempt flu and the bird flu appears mixes the cards the effect, Cui Junming appealed that the high-risk public figure and the medical care personnel inject flu needle early.

Reminds doctor to submit a report the doubtful case
North area hospital acute disease room manager Zhong Zhanhong indicated that the hospital pharmacy has stockpiled the antivirotic medicine, for has when the need uses, the Hong Kong experience multiple bird flu kills the chicken event, the acute disease room front medical care personnel had quite the experience to deal with the doubtful infection bird flu to treat, including prepares to protect the clothing complete.
The health protection center will send a letter reminds Hong Kong doctor to submit a report suspected that the human exposure bird flu case, unites with the medical department strengthens to the domesticated fowl employee's health supervision, and sets up the hot line 2125 1122 to supply the domesticated fowl employee and the resident inquires.

The medical department and the department of health guard against the bird flu measure
The acute disease hospital ward visitation time limit to not be more than every day for four hours, and each time does not surpass two visitation public figures.
Convalesces and the duplicate Kang hospital ward visitation time to not surpass every day for six hours, and each time does not surpass two visitation public figures.
The reminder public public figures maintain both hands are clean and the health, has the respiratory infections symptom patient and the visitor in the hospital and in the clinic scope, must wear the surgical department mouthpiece.
The health protection center sets up the hot line 2125 1122, inquires for the domesticated fowl employee and the resident. :tiphat:

http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/tra...l/news/localNews/Detail.do?type=tsn&id=121728

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The bird flu raids the port the approximately 100,000 birds destructions


A Yuen Long chicken house is confirmed yesterday the eruption bird flu, the authority now already the bird flu strain rank by the alert promotion to seriously, 80,000 chickens which the related chicken house lists as in the epidemic disease 0.3 kilometer quarantine area scopes, as well as the cheung sha wan temporary domesticated fowl wholesale 巿 field's more than ten thousand birds destroy completely. The government announced that on 21st will refuse all farms in next to ship out chicken, as well as suspension entrance all live domesticated fowls, therefore the winter solstice will not have the live chicken to sell. Moreover, the medical department urges the Public hospital, the attention domesticated fowl employee and the contact birds public figure's healthy situation, but still closed in this chicken house nearby Yuen Long park hundred bird towers, until separate circular.

Read full post and comments

Posted by Treyfish at <A class=timestamp-link title="permanent link" href="http://pandemicinformationnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/bird-flu-raids-port-approximately.html" rel=bookmark><ABBR class=published title=2008-12-09T21:30:00-05:00>9:30 PM</ABBR> 0 comments




Not spits blood the mouth-watering sickness chicken to die serenely


The eruption bird flu's chicken house has may raise 100,000 chicken license plate, is one of Hong Kong biggest scale chicken houses, the field host is precisely enlivens in the field, leads the chicken farmer to resist the authority many times ?take the voluntary junction sign as, really strangle the field survival to? New Territory raises chickens same business meeting Director Huang Yiquan. He pointed out that this death chicken has not only presented the eyeball to explode the blood, to spit blood or mouth-watering and so on bird flu dead shapes, but dies the nature and clean. Yellow manages the chicken house more than 20 years on site, the chicken house existing big chicken only approximately 70,000, only unfortunately receives the bird flu virus infection regarding the chicken, yellow expressed that the mood is extremely heavy, loses is unable to estimate.

For twenty years never erupt
Huang Yiquan refers to, morning of the day before yesterday received in the field worker informs, to refer to the hen house to have more than ten 20 sentry chickens to die suddenly, about 10:00 Xu Ganfan the chicken house, after examined the viewpoint to calculate the discovery, besides sentry chicken, but also several hen death, had the feeling situation seriously then immediately to inform Yuhushu. This bureau dispatches an official to examine the dead chicken and to extract a over hundred chicken sample to return to bureau the chemical examination, in the evening then dispatches an official to enter and be stationed in the farm, forbids the chicken only to ship, yesterday confirmed the complete sample assumes the positive reaction to the bird flu. He said that involves the bird flu chicken only to altogether have three batch, is from 40 to 50th the big meat chicken, the total quantity approximately 13,000, have an accident the hen house to concentrate in the chicken house central location, to yesterday afternoon 4:00, the dead chicken number increases to more than 200. He said that the chicken house total area 150,000 squares feet, the hen house approximately 20, from suppose the hatching field, the partial chicken seedling confesses is self-sufficient, every day approximately some 1000 meat chicken supply market condition, but the matter sends the same day and does not have the chicken. The yellow emphasis, the chicken house had stipulated according to the authority that makes the full biological security and the anti-epidemic measures, including against que net, the disinfection tank, made the environment to spurt 灑 the disinfection and only makes the vaccine injection for the chicken regularly and so on, the past more than 20 years, the chicken house has never erupted the bird flu or the chicken collective death, although chicken house in migratory bird area, but periphery recently and did not have had discovered the dead bird corpse, did not understand why the chicken only still did receive the viral invasion. He said that this chicken loathsome appearance and the former bird flu chicken only presents the eyeball to explode the blood, to spit blood, symptoms and so on class saliva to be different, this chicken ?dies the suitable nature and clean?, but altogether chicken only, only then ten eight die, has not presented the big piece sickness to send the death, incomprehensible solution. Yuhushu wears the protection clothing personnel in large numbers, yesterday afternoon 4:00 enters in the chicken house, 焗 kills chicken by the gas, admits in again the black plastic bag, then transports to the junkyard. Health protection center group of doctors and nurse, yesterday about 4:00 pm the appearance, inspects the body for the chicken house staff, the decide finally sends to hospital six workers the isolation quarantine, as for field host Huang Yiquan, although does not need to enter in the cultivation area to work, must keep in the chicken house to observe for one week:tiphat:http://66.163.168.225/babelfish/tra...l/news/localNews/Detail.do?type=odn&id=121867

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

In an OIE-referenced writeup about vaccination, they say a vaccine is considered a success if it stamps out an outbreak, presumably on a permanent basis.

If the area is continually reinfected by resident and migratory birds, then maybe that is the vaccine failure they are referencing.

There is good information on OIE's report:
Avian influenza: methods for the disease control

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[Shiloh]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Source: http://www1.881903.com/apps/newsBoss/html/news/20081210/2008121010360215300.htm

Google translation:
If necessary, to fight chicken farm for a second vaccine
[10/12 Wednesday 10:36]

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department are still investigating the Yuen Long farm outbreak of avian influenza at its source, in addition to sample testing, gene sequencing tests are conducted to find out whether there is a variant of the virus. AFCD Assistant Director Dr Thomas Sit said the injection of live chickens for the vaccine is not 100 percent effective, and will grow up with the chickens, the effectiveness of the decline in farms there is a need for chickens to fight in the second needle would be more than from the direction of To find the source of the virus, but so far there were no cases of smuggling of chicken.

The outbreak of bird flu farms were responsible for the entire Dr, farm workers, as well as the current seven days isolation, Dr refers to the full, and yesterday the slow progress of the chickens, the farm still 4-50000 chicken, he did not understand why the vaccine to fight the chickens will Disease, worried that the virus variants.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Hong Kong on bird flu alert, 80,000 chickens killed: report




By V. Phani Kumar
Last update: 9:08 p.m. EST Dec. 9, 2008







HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- The Hong Kong government has shut down all poultry farms and markets, killed 80,000 chickens and halted chicken imports from mainland China after the dreaded bird flu virus was detected at a local poultry farm, according to reports. The H5 virus, which causes avian or bird flu, killed 200 chickens at the farm, including vaccinated as well as unvaccinated birds, the South China Morning Post reported. Secretary for Food and Healthy, York Chow Yat-ngok declared a "serious alert," which means a 21-day shutdown of the trade until Dec. 29, if the outbreak doesn't spread.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/sto...B5B375C727ED}&print=true&dist=printMidSection

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Another good writeup about the poultry AI vaccines is by Ilaria Capua1 & Stefano Marangon2,
See: http://www.oie.int/downld/71SG_2003/A_71%20SG_12_CS3E.pdf

(snipped)

7. DISCUSSION

[FONT=CCKOIM+TimesNewRoman,Times New Roman][FONT=CCKOIM+TimesNewRoman,Times New Roman]
From the data presented, it appears that emergency vaccination is a sensible option if there is evidence of the introduction of a highly transmissible AI virus into a densely populated poultry area, or whenever the epidemiological situation indicates that there could be massive and rapid spread of infection. Emergency vaccination should also be considered when birds of high economic value (e.g. pedigree flocks) or rare (endangered) birds are at risk of infection. It is clear that vaccination represents a tool to aid eradication, and will be a successful tool only if coupled with movement restrictions and increased biosecurity.

Considering the advantages and disadvantages of the products and diagnostic tools that are available currently, if no recombinant products are licensed in a country, heterologous vaccination rather than homologous vaccination should be practised in emergency situations. The main reason for this is that it would enable the differentiation of vaccinated from naturally exposed birds through the development/application of an appropriate test. At present only the anti-neuraminidase based test has been validated and is available. In our opinion however, this test represents a starting point on which future developments of the ‘DIVA’ strategy can be based. The development of novel candidate vaccines and of additional tests that enable the detection of field infection in vaccinated populations should be a priority for the pharmaceutical industry and for research institutions because, for all the reasons listed above, vaccination is already an option for the control of AI.

If a country has access to licensed recombinant products, the use of these vaccines is acceptable taking into consideration the immune status of the population against the vector because seropositivity impedes the replication of the vector virus and therefore the establishment of immunity.(???) The issue of the replicating capacity of the vector in different species must also be addressed.

In conclusion, recent events including devastating epizootics in densely populated poultry areas, public health concern on animal welfare issues and the introduction of novel technology to vaccinology have encouraged consideration of alternative control strategies for OIE List A diseases that were unthinkable only a few years ago. This has also been supported by the development of reliable, sensitive and specific diagnostic companion tests. Countries, areas and enterprises at risk of infection should imperatively implement surveillance programmes and have contingency plans in case of a disease outbreak, which may include vaccination. If the latter is considered as an option, the contingency plan must, among other issues, foresee the establishment of licensed vaccine banks that enable the ‘DIVA’ strategy to be enforced thus safeguarding animal health, animal welfare and international trade.
[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=CCKPFE+TimesNewRoman,Italic,Times New Roman][FONT=CCKPFE+TimesNewRoman,Italic,Times New Roman]
[/FONT][/FONT]

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Is Hong Kong's Bird Flu Vaccine Failing?

• <FORM action=http://buzz.yahoo.com/vote/;_ylt=A2KIKvt5mj9JHaYADEi9F4l4 method=post> </FORM>
• <CITE class=vcard>By PETER RITTER / HONG KONG Peter Ritter / Hong Kong </CITE><ABBR class=recenttimedate title=2008-12-10T02:10:00-0800></ABBR>

<!-- end .byline --><!-- end: .hd -->Since 1997, when six people in Hong Kong died of avian influenza - the first confirmed human victims of the deadly virus - this southern Chinese city has been the front line in the fight against a potential global pandemic that scientists warn could ultimately kill millions. Unfortunately, the bird flu virus has proven a canny, and adaptable, enemy.


On Dec. 9, the Hong Kong government reported yet another outbreak of the virus at one of the city's largest poultry farms after 60 chickens were found dead.

Putting the city on "serious alert" for further outbreaks, Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok announced a 21-day shutdown of the local poultry industry, suspending all live chicken imports from mainland China, which supplies about half its live wholesale markets, and culling 80,000 birds from farms near the outbreak's locus. York said Tuesday that there were no reports of humans sickened by the virus, and that the government had not yet determined whether the birds were infected with the potentially lethal H5N1 or a less virulent strain of influenza.


Although Hong Kong health authorities have periodically found evidence of the H5 virus among wild birds in the city, this week's incident is the first outbreak on a Hong Kong farm since 2002, when nearly a million birds were slaughtered after dozens died of the flu. No human cases were reported that year in Hong Kong, but two people died in mainland China from the virus in 2003. (Globally, 246 fatal cases have been reported to date, according to WHO.) Hong Kong has since taken aggressive measures to limit outbreaks by vaccinating birds against the virus and reducing the number of live-poultry sellers licensed to operated in the city.


Those measures may no longer be enough. This week's outbreak is particularly alarming because some of the chickens killed by the virus appear to have been vaccinated against it, according to the government.

Lo Wing-lok, president of the Hong Kong Medical Association and an expert on infectious disease, says that Hong Kong uses an older version of the H5 vaccine than mainland China, where there are more frequent outbreaks and farmers vaccinate poultry specifically against the H5N1 strain of the virus.


While the older, umbrella vaccine has proven effective in the past, Dr. Lo says it may be losing its potency as newer strains of the virus spread around the region. A new study by University of Hong Kong microbiologists of a virus outbreak earlier this year found that chickens that had been vaccinated against the H5 virus had only one-quarter as many antibodies as those vaccinated in 2001. Yuen Kwok-yung, head of the University's microbiology department and an expert on avian flu, warned recently that the vaccine may be approaching total failure.


That's a dire prediction given that further outbreaks are expected throughout Asia in the coming months, according to Peter Cordingley, a spokesman for the World Health Organization. Cordingley says he's not surprised that the virus, which spreads most readily via wild birds migrating during the winter months, has struck Hong Kong again. "I'm disappointed because Hong Kong has done so well since this outbreak started," Cordingley says. "But this is a very versatile virus. It's on tractor wheels and in wild birds. It may be found on a farmer's boots.

We've seen this virus embedded right across Asia." Dr. Lo, too, says the city's proximity to China's Guangdong province, the epicenter of many recent bird flu outbreaks, renders it vulnerable as the virus inevitably mutates and spreads. "In the last year, there have been two episodes among poultry in Guangdong," he says. "The virus has been very active."

Given that another flu outbreak among humans in densely populated Hong Kong could quickly turn into an epidemic, many health experts suggest that it is well past time to update the vaccine to meet the evolving threat. "When the time arrives that the old vaccine no longer works, I believe we should have another to put in its place," Dr. Lo says. "Apparently we do not."


But even effective vaccination may only forestall outbreaks of the tenacious virus. "Vaccination is recommended WHO policy, but it's not a panacea," Cordingley says. Farmers and local governments around the region still need to be vigilant about testing birds for the virus and keeping wild birds from infecting poultry farms. "The vaccine by itself doesn't work. You can't just vaccinate and walk away."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20081210/wl_time/08599186548700

 

[Commonground]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

HK: The effectiveness of the vaccine of avian flu have grown up with the chickens and drop

2008-12-10 (10:51)


AFCD Assistant Director Thomas Sit pointed out that the injection of live chickens for bird flu vaccine is not 100 percent effective. The effectiveness of the vaccine will also grow up with the chickens and the decline in farms there is a need for chickens to fight in the second needle.

He said that many are from the direction of the search for the origin of the virus, but so far there were no cases of smuggling of chicken.

Dr Sit said that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department are still investigating the Yuen Long farm outbreak of avian influenza at its source, in addition to a sample test, is also conducting gene sequencing tests to find out whether there is a variant of the virus.

 

[Commonground]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

HK: The port hears the abstract

: The chicken fence worker lines up accepts the protection center personnel to inquire.

The cheung sha wan 15,000 domesticated fowls destroy now

[Eastern daily paper special news]Because the quarantine area chicken house once had the chicken only to transport to the cheung sha wan temporary domesticated fowl wholesale market, in the field more than 15,000 domesticated fowls also receives implicates, today will be destroyed. The domesticated fowl field erupts the feeling helpless once more to the bird flu, described that is “a shell tear”, hoped that the government follows up this time eruption reason, the Du 絕 similar event occurs once more.

Commerce “a shell tear”
The cheung sha wan temporary domesticated fowl wholesale market yesterday had live chicken 15,550, middle 7000 were inland live chickens, 8550 were the local live chickens, the complete chicken will only destroy in today. Yesterday in the afternoon, in the field had the sanitation worker clean and 灑 on the decontaminating powder, also often moves and the clean chicken coop, one side still had live chicken's chicken coop to lay aside. Hong Kong Live Domesticated fowl Wholesale chairman of the chamber of commerce Xu Mingtuan kills the chicken event feeling helpless to this, described by “a shell tear”. He expressed that estimates difficultly temporarily loses, only hoped that the government follows up the chicken house to erupt bird flu's reason, inquired into earnestly is which one step has the problem, prevents the event to occur again. New Territory raises chickens same business meeting vice-Director Li Liangji also saying that not yet estimates loses, if the government take the residential safety as a reason, endures sells the live chicken on 21st, the field is unable to dispute, one side only energy “business buries”. He indicated that because many chicken houses have handed over the sign, other chicken houses are affected are unable the chicken, stores up live chicken quantity compares erupts time this year the bird flu few.

 

[Commonground]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak


Calls for better methods of social work against H5N1 avian influenza virus

时间: 2008-12-10 作者: 中国新闻网点击数： Time: 2008-12-10 Author: China News outlets hit: 65 评论: Comments: 0 进入论坛 Into the Forum 禽流感再度笼罩香江。 Avian influenza in Hong Kong over again. 香港特区政府十一日公布港九新界有四个街市的鸡档发现H5N1禽流感病毒，食环署人员随即到街市扑杀余下的三千五百只活家禽。 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced on the 11th of the territory in four of the chicken stalls in the market found H5N1 bird flu virus, the department then go to the market to the rest of the 3500 killing of live poultry. 当局还决定由昨天起暂停内地及本地农场活鸡供应，为期最长二十一天。 The authorities also decided yesterday to suspend the Mainland and the supply of live chickens at local farms for a maximum period of 21 days.

香 港渔护署署长张少卿表示，有关行动以市民健康为首要考虑；当局将继续测试，并与海关及其它部门追踪鸡只供应源头及病毒来源。 Director of the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, she said that the operation of public health to be a primary consideration; will continue to test and the Customs and Excise Department and other departments to track the source of supply of chickens and the source of the virus.

据了解，食环署十一日晚基本完成销毁全港四百多个零售点、包括街市及新鲜粮食店合共大约二千九百只活鸡的工作， 并将继续跟进无营业的零售点。 It is understood that the department on the 11th night of Hong Kong completed the destruction of more than 400 retail outlets, including markets and fresh provision shops a total of about 2900 chickens, and will continue to follow up with the retail business .

分 析指出，这次在多个街市发现禽流感病毒，显示人感染的风险增加。 Analysis pointed out that a number of markets found that the bird flu virus, indicating an increased risk of human infection. 这是一个值得高度重视的警号。 This is a high degree of attention to the alarm. 当局及时决定在街市层面杀鸡固然必要，但恢复活鸡供应后，街市的风险依然存在。 Authorities in a timely manner at the market level, the decision to kill a chicken, of course, necessary, but the resumption of live chicken supply, market risk still exists. 为了解决没完没了的杀鸡困扰，当局应该参考澳门和内地的做法，尽快实行?街市活鸡不过夜?，以有效避免病毒在街市交叉感染的可能性。 In order to solve the problem of endless slaughter of chickens, the authorities should refer to the Mainland and Macao, as soon as possible "but the night of live chickens in markets" in order to effectively prevent cross-infection of the virus in the market. 同时，香港应加快落实中央屠宰，真正实行?人鸡分离?，切断禽流感向人传染的途径。 At the same time, Hong Kong should speed up the implementation of central slaughtering, implement the rule of "separation of the chicken people," cut off the transmission of avian flu to people.

另一方面，加强对街市的监控，特别是防止街市出现禽流感 病毒，应该是今后防范禽流感的一个重点。 On the other hand, strengthen market surveillance, especially in markets to prevent avian flu virus should be in the future to guard against bird flu a priority.

香港是世界上首个爆发人类感染禽流感的 地区。 Hong Kong is the world's first outbreak of bird flu. 一九九七年香港爆发全球首宗禽流感个案，更导致六人死亡。 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong the world's first bird flu cases, six people were killed. 政府当年销毁了一百三十万只家禽。 The Government was destroyed 1,300,000 poultry. 较近一次致命禽流感病毒入侵香港街市，是在二零零一年。 Close to a deadly bird flu virus from entering Hong Kong market, in 2001. 当时街市和鸡场都有样本呈阳性反应，当局杀了全港一百多万只鸡，同时禁止开档卖活鸡。 At that time, farms and markets have positive results, the Hong Kong authorities slaughtered more than 1,000,000 chickens, at the same time prohibiting the opening of files to sell live chickens.

政府现时正在追寻这次病鸡源头，到目前为止，仍未验出农场鸡只有问 题。 Government is to trace the source of chickens so far not been found to have only a question of the chicken farms. 香港有评论认为，无论这次肆虐的病毒是否来自走私鸡，当局为保障市民健康和鸡农鸡贩的合法经营，都须严打走私鸡。 Hong Kong, there are comments that, regardless of whether or not the outbreak of the virus from poultry smuggling, protection of public health authorities for chicken farmers and chicken vendors in the operation of legitimate, must crack down hard on smuggling of chicken. ?走私鸡来源不明，规避了严格的饲养和检疫规条，对鸡档员工和市民健康构成风险，档主廉价入货捡了便宜，自己其实是在冒犯法之险，而且入了病鸡后，遇上杀 鸡，停业二十一天，可能得不偿失，更连累正当经营的同行和养鸡业。? "Smuggling of chicken of unknown origin, to avoid the strict breeding and quarantine rules on chicken stalls and staff members of the public health risk, low-cost stall into the seized goods cheaper, in fact, their risk of breaking the law, and to the chickens after , The case of chickens, closed down 21 days, could be counter-productive, but also result in the proper operation of the poultry industry and peers. "

香港特区食物及卫生局局长周一岳十二日表示，要研究加强香港对 禽流感的防控能力，包括考虑专家建议，禁止活鸡在街市存放过夜等。 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Secretary for Health and Food York Chow said on the 12th, it is necessary to strengthen the study on Hong Kong's avian flu prevention and control, including experts consider the proposal to ban live chickens kept in the markets overnight, and so on. 他说，四个街市验出禽流感病毒显示香港的防控能力要重新评估，他认为现时的运鸡方式可能未能有效防止禽流感散播，将同业界商讨改善方法。 He said that the four markets found to have bird flu prevention and control of Hong Kong's ability to re-evaluate his view that the existing transport chickens may not effectively prevent the spread of avian flu, with the industry to discuss ways to improve.

 

[Commonground]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

HK "This year's winter do not live to eat!"


"to do this winter without eating chicken!" When the Government announced days before the approach of winter as a result of an increase in the Mainland live chickens to Hong Kong twice yesterday suddenly announced a farm in Lau Fau Shan, Yuen Long, the outbreak of bird flu, two Unusual deaths of chickens per cent; 3 120 dead chickens and chicken samples test results showed that all samples containing H5 avian influenza virus. The Government immediately announced that sales  farms within 3 km range of 90,000 chickens and announced the sale of live chickens in Hong Kong three weeks, the public will not be able to buy live chickens to do section. An infectious disease specialist refers to the unusual events that vaccinated chickens also died, may be related to the vaccine has not changed for six years, relating to failure.
-snip-
Chicken farms as a result of the incident just last Friday through the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's serum test is indeed safe to the market after 3000 the supply of chicken and had to stay in Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Poultry Market for a period of time, it will be destroyed today by the The impact of the nearly 10,000 chickens. However, York Chow believes that low-risk retail outlets, the department will be in the market for big cleaning. Hong Kong has emerged as a result of the bird flu epidemic in Hong Kong's 21 days of the ban on chicken farms in Hong Kong and the Mainland chicken to be exported.
-snip-
In addition to the vaccine did not's "sentinel chickens", the dead hens lay eggs, there are also vaccines have been playing chicken deaths. The vaccine is ineffective, Hong Kong Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases and infections  what good means, the bird flu virus mutate constantly, but in Hong Kong since 2002 for the vaccination of chickens, six years is still with the use of a vaccine has not changed, I believe this The outbreak of bird flu, with the low effectiveness of the vaccine-related; added into the winter, will increase the risk of outbreak of bird flu
-snip-

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Bird flu

Hong Kong, or try out new bird flu vaccine

Food and Health Secretary York Chow said Hong Kong for the fight against bird flu vaccine for H5N2 virus, and has asked the University of Hong Kong and the Mainland, there is no need to switch to H5N1 vaccines.

He said experts believe that if the H5N1 vaccine for the virus found in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong's chickens are more protective effect, the individual will be chosen to pilot trial.

York Chow today (Dec. 10) told the media that Hong Kong has been using the current vaccine more than 6 years, during the bird flu virus has some changes.

In the chickens before the chickens have been taken from the blood samples, testing its vaccine did not produce any antibodies, in order to understand the use of the vaccine now will still apply.

He pointed out that the mainland has been the development of H5N1 vaccine, and the use of the country, but because the mainland has a different virus, it is carrying out improvement work.

York Chow expect to be completed by today, Cheung Sha Wan wholesale destruction of a total of 9700 chicken; today and tomorrow to complete the destruction of the epidemic is classified as Long's 60,000 chicken farms, and this week the destruction of the other areas within the farm About 20,000 chickens.


http://www.news.gov.hk/tc/category/healthandcommunity/081210/html/081210tc05005.htm

 

[HenryN]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market ( situated at 1 and 4 Cheung Sha Wan Hing Wah Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong)

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Hong Kong studies effectiveness of vaccine after bird flu outbreak


HONG KONG (AFP) ? Hong Kong's government said Wednesday it was looking at whether there was a need to change the vaccine used to protect chickens against avian flu after the latest outbreak at a local poultry farm.

Health secretary York Chow said the bird flu virus had mutated, a day after the government confirmed that some chickens from a farm in the New Territories area of Hong Kong, near the border with mainland China, had died of the H5 virus.

"This virus has mutated slightly over the last six years, although it has not turned into a human-to-human, or more serious type of virus," he told reporters.

"Because of the mutation of the virus, we have asked the University of Hong Kong and the mainland to conduct research to find out if there is a need to (replace the H5N2 vaccine) by the H5N1 vaccine."

The H5N2 vaccine currently used on chickens is manufactured in the Netherlands and was considered to be the most effective vaccine of its type during the last outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003, he said.

Chow added that about 90,000 chickens would have been slaughtered by the end of this week, including 60,000 on the farm at the centre of the outbreak.

Hong Kong was the scene of the world's first reported major bird flu outbreak among humans in 1997, when six people died.

Scientists fear the H5N1 strain of the virus could mutate into a form which is much more easily transmissible between humans, triggering a global pandemic.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iHAnjlhDR8U57GWnp0mOvvE_I-Rw

 

[Commonground]

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Re: Hong Kong reports bird flu outbreak

Hong Kong in Serious Response Level with Reference to Government's Preparedness Plan

9 December 2008

Dear Doctor,
Hong Kong in Serious Response Level
with Reference to Government's Preparedness Plan

I would like to alert you that the Government has activated the Serious
Response Level in response to the poultry outbreak caused by influenza A/H5 in a farm in Yuen Long on 9 December 2008 and has instituted a series of measures to control thespread of the outbreak. Among others, DH will enhance surveillance to detect any potential human cases. Poultry workers are considered as a higher risk group as they might have been exposed to H5 affected poultry. Although so far no human cases of avian influenza have been reported in Hong Kong in relation to this incident, you are reminded to stay vigilant and pay special attention to poultry workers who develop symptoms and signs compatible with avian influenza.

Please report any suspected cases to the Central Notification Office (CENO) of
CHP via fax (2477 2770), phone (2477 2772) or CENO On-line
(www.chp.gov.hk/ceno). I attach again the Reporting Criteria for Human
Influenza A(H5N1) for your easy reference (see Annex). For reporting outside office
hours, please contact Medical Control Officer (MCO) of DH at Pager: 7116 3300 call
9179. Please also refer patients fulfilling the reporting criteria to public hospitals for
further clinical management. Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
(Dr. SK CHUANG)
Consultant Community Medicine (Communicable Disease)
Centre for Health Protection
Department of Health

Annex:
Reporting criteria for Human Influenza A (H5N1) infection
An individual fulfilling both the Clinical Criteria AND Epidemiological Criteria
should be reported for further investigation.

Clinical Criteria
A person with acute respiratory illness, characterized by fever (temperature >38oC)
AND one or more of the following:
cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing; OR
person with severe pneumonia; OR
person died of unexplained acute respiratory illness.

Epidemiological Criteria
One or more of the following exposures in the 7 days prior to symptom onset:
contact with a human case of influenza A (H5N1); OR
contact with poultry or wild birds or their remains or to environments contaminated
by their faeces in countries/areas with documented avian influenza H5N1 infection
in birds and/or humans in the recent 6 months see List of affected areas ;OR
consumption of raw or undercooked poultry products in countries/areas with
documented avian influenza H5N1 infection in poultry and/or humans in the recent
6 months see List of affected areas ; OR
close contact with a confirmed H5N1 infected animal other than poultry or wild
birds; OR
worked in a laboratory that is processing samples from persons or animals that are
suspected from avian influenza infection
The list of affected areas is regularly uploaded to the Centre for Health Protection
(CHP) website (http://www.info.gov.hk/info/flu/eng/global.htm).