Nepal - Possible H5N1 avian flu death reported after recent outbreaks in ducks, chickens, crows - Confirmed by WHO, May 2, 2019

[sharon sanders]

H5N1 and HPAI virus claims one in Nepal

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Kathmandu, Nepal May 02 2019[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Kathmandu, Nepal, May 2, 2019: First the time in Nepal?s history, a person succumb to the H5N1 and HPAI virus in Nepal.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]According to the Sukraraj Tropical Hospital source at Teku of Kathmandu, 21 year old was killed by bird flu.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]more....

http://reviewnepal.com/health/h5n1-a...-in-nepal.html[/FONT]




Also please see:

Nepal - 1 new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in commercial ducks in farm, Kathmandu, Bagmati (OIE, April 29, 2019)

Nepal - 1 new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in commercial layers in farm, Damaitar, Lalitpur, Bagmati (OIE, April 13, 2019)

Nepal - 1 new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in crows nested in a bamboo tree area, Kathmadnu, Bagmati (OIE, March 26, 2019)

Nepal - 1 new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in commercial layers in farm, Bagmati (OIE, April 4, 2019)

Nepal - 2 new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in birds in farms, Koshi (OIE, March 31, 2019)

Nepal - ​Outbreak of bird flu virus behind killing of chickens in Hetauda - HP H5N1 confirmed by OIE

Nepal - 3 new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in farms and backyard birds, Bagmati, Gandaki (OIE, March 24, 2019)

 

[sharon sanders]

First human casualty from bird flu reported in Nepal

Published: May 02, 2019 1:09 pm On: Nepal


snip

According to the health ministry, the 21-year-old patient whose identity has been kept under wraps, died on March 29 after having contracted the flu.

The results of the test on pathological sample extracted from the patient’s body, which was received on April 30, was found to be H5N1 influenza positive. The health officials who had diagnosed bird flu as the cause of the patient’s death had sent the patient’s sample to Japan for further tests.


more.....

https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/...rted-in-nepal/

 

[sharon sanders]

There is no report on the health ministry site.

 

[sharon sanders]

[TABLE="border: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]Nepal Confirms First Death From Avian Flu[/TD]
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[TR]
[TD]PTI / May 02, 2019[/TD]
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[FONT=&quot]Kathmandu, May 2 (IANS) Health officials of Nepal confirmed Thursday the first death of the avian flu in the country on Thursday.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Health Ministry spokesman Mahender Uttam told that a 21-year-old man was killed due to H5N1 Influenza in Kavera district, 75 kilometers east of Kathmandu.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]He told that a person admitted to hospital for Influenza's treatment died on March 29.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]After failing to confirm the type of influenza virus by doctors in Nepal, the samples were sent to a laboratory in Japan.

https://hindi.business-standard.com/...autono=1558281[/FONT]

 

[Pathfinder]

First bird flu death in the country exposes passive surveillance and poor preparedness

The 21-year-old?s case is the first H5N1 human infection in the world since February 2017

- ARJUN POUDEL & ARPAN SHRESTHA, Kathmandu

May 2, 2019-

The H5N1 bird flu virus that has been confirmed as the first cause of death in Nepal, 10 years after it was first detected in birds in 2009, is the world?s first H5N1 human infection since February 2017

...

?We are taking the help of the UN body to contain the disease,? Ministry of Health and Population spokesperson Mahendra Prasad Shrestha told the Post.

As experts from the World Health Organization headquarters and its Delhi office gather in the Capital to take stock of the situation, Shrestha says the government is taking the incident seriously and adhering to the standard protocols of international health regulations that Nepal is obligated to.

The deceased, a 21-year-old from Kavrepalanchok district, who had been residing in Bhaktapur and whose identity has not been revealed by the government, was first admitted to Nepal Medical College on March 24 after showing signs of fever and cough.

Doctors, who had then suspected influenza infection sent throat swab specimens to the National Public Health Laboratory on March 25. The same day, before the laboratory results were out, the patient was administered with Oseltamivir, an influenza antiviral medication taken from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. But the laboratory failed to identify the strain of the virus, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The patient, who worked as a driver, was then transferred to Om Hospital as his condition became critical, according to one official who wanted to remain anonymous. Four days later, on March 29, the patient died due to respiratory complications while undergoing treatment.

Throat swab specimens were then sent to the WHO Collaborating Center for Influenza in Japan, according to the ministry and laboratory results received on April 30 tested positive for Influenza A (H5N1).
...
Published: 02-05-2019 22:01

https://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com...ssive-surveillance-and-poor-preparedness.html

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/firs...es-passive-surveillance-and-poor-preparedness

First bird flu death in Nepal exposes passive surveillance and poor preparedness | #AsiaNewsNetwork
Published 3 May 2019
RJUN POUDEL & ARPAN SHRESTHA
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Kathmandu (The Kathmandu Post) - The H5N1 bird flu virus that has been confirmed as the first cause of death in Nepal, 10 years after it was first detected in birds in 2009, is the world?s first H5N1 human infection since February 2017 and has raised issues of public health emergency of international concern as government and WHO officials refuse further information on the case...

...But least measures were taken since the 21-year-old boy first got admitted to a hospital with influenza-like symptoms and little was done to isolate mourning family members and relatives or anyone the patient had come in close contact with after his death. Additionally, there was nothing done to contain the two hospitals in which the patient was admitted to. But five weeks since the boy?s death, EDCD director Dr Bibek Kumar Lal says epidemiological investigations have now started and that his office has stepped up surveillance to contain the disease.
?The good thing is no one has come in contact with the virus. The incubation period of the virus is one week but we do not have any cases of infection, five weeks on,? Lal told the Post. ?No other patients in the area or elsewhere have been diagnosed with the disease as our laboratory records show.?...

 

[Pathfinder]

Information on Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Identified in Human in Nepal

May 2 | Kathmandu

On March 24, 2019, a 21-year-old male was admitted in hospital with symptoms of fever and cough. Throat swab sample was sent to National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) – the National Influenza Center (NIC) of Nepal - to confirm suspected Influenza infection on March 25, 2019, and antiviral medication (Oseltamivir) was started from the same day, provided from Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD). The patient died in hospital following respiratory complications while undergoing treatment on March 29, 2019.

NPHL confirmed influenza A infection. For identification of the specific subtype, the sample had to be sent to the NIC of Japan which is a WHO Collaborating Center for Influenza. Information on the confirmation regarding Influenza A (H5N1) infection in the patient by the laboratory in Japan was received by EDCD – the national focal point for IHR in Nepal - on April 30, 2019. This is the first reported human case of Influenza A (H5N1) in Nepal. No additional case of infection with this virus has been reported by NPHL since then.

Influenza A (H5N1) virus usually infects birds leading to death. Very rarely this virus spreads from birds to humans. According to World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 860 human cases have been reported since 2003 with more than 50% mortality rate following infection with this virus. Human to human spread of this viral infection has not been substantiated till date.

Follow-up actions by the Ministry of Health & Population (MoHP), Government of Nepal:

1. Information on this event, in line with International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 needs to be shared by Nepal to other member states through WHO. Hence, the National Focal Point IHR for Nepal has formally reported this event to WHO.

2. MoHP, along with the WHE Teams of the WHO Country Office for Nepal and WHO South East Asia Regional Office, has initiated a detailed case investigation. In collaboration, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, WHO, concerned stakeholders (INGO/ NGO), and MoHP will strengthen surveillance, comprehensive epidemiological investigation, and risk assessment for containment of Influenza.

3. Risk communication messages on preventive measures are being disseminated.

Preventive measures

The following preventive measures would reduce the risk of Influenza A (H5N1) Infection:

• Wash hands frequently and properly,

• Take due care of personal hygiene,

• Maintain cleanliness of surroundings,

• Use gloves and masks while handling domestic poultry and other birds,

• Avoid preparing or eating raw or undercooked poultry products,

• Handle raw poultry hygienically and cook all poultry and poultry products (including eggs) thoroughly before eating,

• Keep children away from the dead or sick birds,

• Avoid contact with domestic birds (poultry) that appear ill or have died,

• Avoid contact with high-risk environments such as live/wet poultry/animal markets and poultry farms, and any free-ranging or caged poultry,

• Avoid contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds,

• Avoid close contact with people with respiratory symptoms (cough, sneezing & cold),

• Travelers returning from areas affected by avian flu outbreak in domestic/wild birds should report to local health services if respiratory symptoms (cough, sneezing & cold) suspecting Avian Influenza.

Do's & Don’ts for persons experiencing flu like symptoms (fever, cough, malaise, muscle pain, diarrhea):

• Wash hands regularly with proper drying of the hands,

• Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. If using tissues, dispose of them correctly,

• Self-isolate early if feeling unwell, feverish, and having other symptoms,

• Visit hospital or Contact to doctors immediately, if you experience any flu like symptoms,

• People with direct contact with sick poultry to be vigilant to notice the occurrence of the illness early and seek treatment early,

• Do not take medicines without doctor’s prescriptions,

• Always use masks, goggles, gloves, gown, and cap when near infected patients and always wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.

http://www.searo.who.int/nepal/docum...A_In_Human/en/

 

[sharon sanders]

H5N1 poultry infections still occurring a month later?......

The deceased, a 21-year-old from Kavrepalanchok district, who had been residing in Bhaktapur and whose identity has not been revealed by the government, was first admitted to Nepal Medical College on March 24 after showing signs of fever and cough.

Monday, 23 April 2019
Bhaktapur, 27th Chit. Birdflu has again been seen in the Sunnakakak of Bhaktapur. The bird flu was found in the sun-nucleus municipality-1 trunk. Birdflu's bacteria have been found in 2,200 chickens in the prescribed poultry firm conducted by Madhumur Neapane. All chickens have been destroyed after the birdflu confirmed. A team of 10 including including including Push Push Bijal Adhikari Narayan Shrestha of Lalitpur, was killed by a group of 10 persons.

https://www.dainiknepal.com/2019/04/387153.html

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OIE report on a Bhaktapur poultry outbreak:

https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum...rcial-layers-in-farm-bagmati-oie-april-4-2019

 

[Pathfinder]

First bird flu death raises concerns, but government response is too slow
...
- ARJUN POUDEL, Kathmandu
...
The Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital and the National Public Health Laboratory have sent six doctors and four lab technicians respectively at the request of the division for the orientation. These doctors and technicians will carry out surveillance for four days.
...
?The good thing is no one has come in contact with the virus. The incubation period of the virus is one week and there have been no cases of infection even after five weeks,? said Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, said. ?No other patients in the area where the person died?or elsewhere?have been diagnosed with the disease as per our laboratory records.?

According to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, doctors and technicians, selected for the epidemiological investigation, would now start collecting samples from the hospital where the man died, and from his house. The samples will be secured at the National Public health Laboratory, which will be examined in a WHO reference laboratory abroad to ascertain if the virus still exists or not, said officials at the division.
...
?Experts and officials from the World Health Organization headquarters and its Delhi office have arrived in Kathmandu who will assist Nepali doctors and technicians in the surveillance,?said Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry.
...

Published: 06-05-2019 06:30

The Kathmandu Post ?Health

https://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com...erns-but-government-response-is-too-slow.html

 

[Pathfinder]

Specimen from patients for bird flu virus sent for tests

- ARJUN POUDEL, Kathmandu
...
The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division has collected specimens of 179 people who came in contact with a man who died from bird flu virus (H5N1).

Of the 179 samples, 172 were taken from hospital staff?doctors, nurses, lab technicians, cleaning staff and others, who were involved in the treatment of the patient. The remaining seven samples are of the family members of the deceased, according to the division.

?We are preparing to send samples abroad for tests,? Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, director at the division told the Post, ?I can assure you that no other people have so far been infected with the deadly disease.? He said that the division would send samples to the laboratory, recommended by the World Health Organization.
...
Published: 20-05-2019 06:30

https://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com...tients-for-bird-flu-virus-sent-for-tests.html