Thailand 7/27 - 7/29

[Theresa42]

Re: Thailand 7/27

Re: Thailand 7/27

7 areas on red alert
July 28, 2006

Seven provinces have been labelled as bird-flu red zones where surveillance is being increased for the highly contagious disease.

They are Phichit, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Uttaradit, Nakhon Sawan and Nakhon Pathom.

Currently, 44 patients are under close supervision after developing symptoms similar to avian flu. Laboratory tests are ongoing to determine whether they have the lethal H5N1 virus, which killed a 17-year-old boy in Phichit on Monday.

The boy was first diagnosed with dengue fever and initial tests for bird flu were negative. After he died, a further test showed he was infected with the bird-flu virus.

Caretaker Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat yesterday called on doctors across the country to carefully check patients with fever, especially those who had come into close contact with fowls.

The bird-flu victim's father said yesterday he doubted whether his son died from the virus, given the fact that the teenager's contact with a dead chicken took place last month.

Medical Sciences Department director-general Paijit Warachit said the victim's blood sample was undergoing another test to double-check whether he had dengue fever. The result should be available next week.

According to caretaker Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, the government paid out several billion baht last week as compensation for fowls exterminated last year as the country tried to curtail the spread of avian flu.

"If we take preventative measures at the beginning, we will be able to prevent outbreaks," she said.

She told authorities to immediately cull fowl suspected of having bird flu and to disinfect their areas.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/28/national/national_30009756.php

 

[Theresa42]

Re: Eleven more suspected bird flu cases in Phichit

Re: Eleven more suspected bird flu cases in Phichit

http://dpc8.ddc.moph.go.th/db8/disease/04_bird_day/up/group4_HapQVgJ27072006.pdf

Today's table at 15.00 lists 16 under investigation. 33 of yesterdays 40 have tested negative. I do not see where the 11 fit in, maybe these were reported after 15.00 ?

BTW there are now multiple Thailand threads - can they be merged ?

That 16 "on investigation" as of today are from the whole of the area covered by the Nakhon Sawan DPC, not just Phichit province.

The Nakhon Sawan DPC covers (as far as I can tell) 4 provinces (listed in this order in the left-most column of the daily update spreadsheet):
Nakhon Sawan
Uthani Thani
Kamphaeng Phet
Phichit

So, according to their update -- as of 15.00 -- 9 new cases were reported today (second column is cases reported today) -- 1 from Nakhon Sawan and 8 from Phichit, with 15 totally "on investigation" from Phichit.

Still doesn't fit the 11 from this latest news report -- but then the news reports and the daily updates haven't been matching in the last week or so anyway.

 

[Theresa42]

Unusual poultry deaths in Nakhon Phanom province

Unusual poultry deaths in Nakhon Phanom province

Chaiyaphum province goes on bf alert because of death of 17 year-old from bf and because of increasing reports of unusual poultry deaths in Nakhon Phanom province (borders Laos).

Machine-translated from Thai:

[Name?] order guard [?] bird Chaiyaphum - lately find chicken die unusual increase place Nakhon Phanom
โดย ผู้จัดการออนไลน์ 27 กรกฎาคม 2549 20:41 น.

News agency Nakhon Ratchasima - [Name?] people order "south" campaign that Chaiyaphum be ready instruct guard deep protect spread out bird flu specially Chaiyaphum basically that children sick bird flu lose life is case first of country reveal lately receive report find chicken die unusual increase again place Nakhon Phanom.

Period afternoon today (27 July) field [name] be in charge minister delegate Ministry of Agriculture can travel come go on an inspection tour place school community house Jok district Kon Wan district Kon [?] province Chaiyaphum for give amount 433 bodies permit with farmer in project permit cattle million family according to policy people order of government undefined.

At the same time can is president to release procession authority unit disinfect in place poultry go out patrol spray disinfectant protect bird flu in area district Kon Wan province Chaiyaphum because there is chief [name] provincial governor Chaiyaphum bring government officer and people give evidence receive.

Field [name] be in charge minister delegate Ministry of Agriculture disclose that lately there is report that there is area find chicken lose life unusual increase again place province Nakhon Phanom which can order authority enter check and keep out are aforementioned absolutely already in order that will can eradicate chicken that sick die unusual due to rush urgent at the same time control not there is task move poultry.

In part of province Chaiyaphum as before is again floor first place there is task spread out of bird flu entire in poultry and in person that there is children lose life is case first of country then request every insitute be careful about prevention specially because if there is chicken die unusual also allow quickly report against domestic animal province Chaiyaphum urgently for defensive measure allow mobilize forces authority hasten go out spray disinfectant increase in every area specially area as before there is task spread come before.

http://www.manager.co.th/Local/View...000096309&Keyword=%e4%a2%e9%cb%c7%d1%b4%b9%a1

Nakhon Phanom Province:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakhon_Phanom_Province

Chaiyaphum province:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaiyaphum_province

 

[Theresa42]

Report on Nakhon Sawan

Report on Nakhon Sawan

Report on disinfecting efforts and chicken carcass collection in Nakhon Sawan province (see above post about reports of unusual chicken deaths in Nakhon Sawan).

Machine-translated from Thai:

Province Nakhon Sawan shocked bird flu order spray disinfectant 3 day against time
โดย ผู้จัดการออนไลน์ 27 กรกฎาคม 2549 12:45 น.

Chief [name] livestock province Nakhon Sawan talk about situation bird flu at present that province Nakhon Sawan there is measure deep after find that beginning of month July there is chicken die amount one [?] district Roi Dtor province Phichit and Kamphaeng Phet area district Choom Saeng Nong [?] Taa Dta Goh and Laat Yaao provincial governort Nakhon Sawan receive order allow guard be careful disease specially for area Roi Dtor province Phichi and Kaphaeng Phet from as before spray disinfectant month each 2 time and 4 time change come spray disinfectant 3 day against time for not spread enter and forbid move poultry enter in area strictly at the same time can collect carcass chicken die send go examine search for virus bird flu and result come out confirm that not bird flu.

As for situation bird/fowl water kind all inside marsh Bor Ra Pet that at present there is only bird/fowl regularly area place habitat build nest to be at only also to not possess bird/fowl move enter anyhow then not be worried but for information not negligent bureau livestock province Nakhon Sawan and park bird/fowl water marsh Bor Ra Pet bring water disinfectant go spray according to nest of bird/fowl continuously already.

http://www.manager.co.th/Home/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000095973&Keyword=%e4%a2%e9%cb%c7%d1%b4%b9%a1

 

[Theresa42]

44 suspected cases - Phichit, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Phitsanulok, Yasothon

44 suspected cases - Phichit, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Phitsanulok, Yasothon

At the end, sounds like maybe an order is going out not to prescribe Tamiflu without positive test results...?

Machine-translated from Thai:

"Carefully" admit there is patient suspected bird flu 44 cases

โดย ผู้จัดการออนไลน์ 28 กรกฎาคม 2549 10:43 น.

Chief [name] be in charge minister Ministry of Public Health offer interview during task open campaign project survey Kat Gong [<< place?] patient cancer honor His majesty supreme [?] king Siam crown prince [name] in opening day resemble Buddhist holy day king birth 28 July that center cancer province Udon Thani concern situation patient bird flu that today there is patient lung inflame influenza which suspect bird flu to be at among task investigate disease and wait for result task confirm examine by laboratory amount 44 cases divide is Phichit 11 cases, Sukhothai 10, Suphan Buri 7, place remain province another like Phitsanulok and Yasothon because today can sign in command start faculty doctor diagnose in order that inquire that cases any will give a prescription Tamiflu [ทามิฟลู*] because if again and again will cause task resist drug action.

http://www.manager.co.th/Home/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000096434&Keyword=%e4%a2%e9%cb%c7%d1%b4%b9%a1

* http://tinyurl.com/jdo3z

 

[Theresa42]

Special medical team to treat bird flu cases

Special medical team to treat bird flu cases

Special medical team to treat bird flu cases
July 28, 2006

UDON THANI, July 28 (TNA) - Thailand's Public Health Ministry Friday set up a special medical team to diagnose and prescribe treatment for new patients suspected of having caught the deadly bird flu virus, of which the number has been pushed to 44 nationwide.

Public Health Minister Pinij Jarusombat, visiting the northeastern Udon Thani Province on Friday, said the 44 bird flu suspects awaiting laboratory test results include 11 in Phichit and 10 in Sukhothai Province--both in the North--seven in the central Suphanburi Province and the rest are in other provinces in the North and Northeast.

The minister said he had signed the order to set up a special team of doctors to evaluate each patient and consider specialised medical treatments, including deciding which patient will be prescribed tamilflu -- in the circumstance that some patients may have a resistance to that drug.

Avian influenza control measures have been strengthened nationwide after new suspected bird flu cases were reported in many provinces, mostly in the lower North.

The latest bird flu victim was confirmed on Wednesday, the first human bird flu patient in the kingdom during the past one and a half years--since February 2005.

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=23663

 

[Theresa42]

Thailand for faster Tamiflu use to fight bird flu

Thailand for faster Tamiflu use to fight bird flu

Thailand for faster Tamiflu use to fight bird flu
28 Jul 2006 12:07:26 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Kamil Zaheer

NEW DELHI, July 28 (Reuters) - Thailand, which saw its first human death from bird flu after an eight-month lull, will push for the use of the drug Tamiflu in suspected cases rather than wait for lab results, a Thai official said on Friday.

The proposal, which follows the death of a 17-year-old boy this week, would apply to seven provinces where the H5N1 virus is endemic, said Thawat Suntrajarn, Director-General of Thailand's Department of Disease Control.

"We have to revise our clinical practice guidelines and the criteria to start Tamiflu," he told Reuters on the sidelines of an Asian bird flu conference in New Delhi.

"If we have unusual deaths of chickens, even in the backyard, and a patient gets fever, even if not severe as in pneumonia, doctors have to start Tamiflu without any results of the laboratory," he said.

Tamiflu, produced by Roche Holding AG, is the most commonly used anti-bird flu drug.

Doctors initially suspected the teenager in the northern province of Pichit was suffering from dengue haemorrhagic fever and was not given Tamiflu, despite his known close contact with poultry, Thawat said.

The teenager could have had both dengue fever and bird flu, he said.

Thousands of Thais get dengue fever every year and it has killed 22 people in the past seven months, he said.

The latest bird flu death, the 15th in Thailand since 2003, occurred after the boy helped his father bury dead chickens in a remote village in Pichit, 340 km (210 miles) north of Bangkok.

Around 20 people, including the dead boy's father, two other relatives, at least 13 neighbours as well as doctors and a nurse who treated him were under surveillance for bird flu.

Their first round of blood and sputum tests had shown them negative for the H5N1 strain.

But they would be kept under watch until a second round of tests were completed within two weeks, although none was showing any symptoms of avian influenza, Thawat said.

Thailand was slow to respond to bird flu when it first started devastating poultry flocks in late 2003, badly hurting what was the world's fourth largest chicken export industry.

Thawat defended Thailand's bird flu awareness campaign but said more needed to be done after the latest human death, especially among minority groups and people living in rural and hilly areas.

"Maybe all over the country there are some minority groups who have no awareness of the risk communication. That we have learnt," he said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL90053.htm

 

[Theresa42]

Thai authorities on alert against bird flu

Thai authorities on alert against bird flu

Thai authorities on alert against bird flu
July 28, 2006

BANGKOK, July 28 (TNA) - Thai authorities in provinces formerly infected with bird flu virus are on high alert for a possible re-emergence of the disease after the nation confirmed the first death from avian flu in one and a half years earlier this week.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said as a new outbreak of bid flu which killed a 17-year-old teenage boy -- the first human bird flu death in the kingdom since February 2005 -- was reported in the northern Phichit Province earlier this week, he had ordered officials across the metropolis to monitor all signs of a re-emergence of the disease.

The governor visited a chicken farm in the East of the capital, saying it was not widely known that Bangkok has 24 modern poultry farms with some 1.1 million birds altogether.

However, he said surveillance measures against the threat of a possible re-emergence of bird flu imposed during the last outbreaks are still in place at these chicken farms.

Mr. Apirak directed city officials to continue to educate poultry farmers, especially those small-scale producers who keep chickens at their homes, about the new outbreak and how to prevent themselves from contracting the disease.

"Poultry farmers must inform officials at once if their chickens die mysteriously and they must not move the animals,'' the Bangkok governor said.

He said city officials would coordinate closely with the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to prevent a new outbreak in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, in Kanchanaburi on the Myanmar border, West of Bangkok, livestock officials met Friday to discuss measures to prevent the disease from returning in areas infected by the virus during previous outbreaks.

Viriya Kaewthong, provincial livestock chief, said checkpoints would be set up in areas at risk, especially in Phanomtuan District, to prevent the illegal movement of poultry.

Local officials have been on high alert to monitor for a bird flu outbreak and indicated that they would spray chemical disinfectant to kill the virus.

''Some chickens have died in the province but our tests confirmed they were free of bird flu,'' Mr. Viriya said.

Boonnam Chaiwisuth, head of the provincial health service, said he directed health officials and volunteers to visit villagers to educate them on bird flu virus and prevention as the current changeable weather from rainy season to winter could help the virus spread more quickly.

''Hospitals across the province would also monitor for patients with bird flu-like symptoms," he said.

Similar measures have been imposed by livestock officials in the southern Phang-nga Province, according to local sources.

Teams of officials were sent into several villages in Ta Kua Pa District, hard hit by the bird flu outbreaks two years ago, to conduct a thorough check for sick fowls and humans.

They also sprayed the areas to prevent the virus from returning.

During the past outbreaks, Phang-nga had culled hundreds of thousands of chickens to contain the virus.

Bird flu virus has claimed 15 lives in Thailand so far.

The country reported the first outbreak in early 2004 and since then has devastated the country's poultry business.

It has also spread in many countries in Asia, Africa and Europe and killed more than 130 people around the globe.

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=23677

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: Thailand 7/27

Re: Thailand 7/27

All thanks to Lashkar for access to this map

at zhttp://perso.orange.fr/tom07/Thailande.htm

Thailand - Provinces

<center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="706"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="300">

</td> <td valign="top" width="402">

<table bgcolor="#fceeb6" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="360"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="4" bgcolor="#ffffcc" valign="top" width="352"> North</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="12">44
42
49
43
46
45
51
39
41</td> <td valign="top" width="140"> Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Kamphaeng Phet
Lampang
Lamphun
Mae Hong Son
Nakhon Sawan
Nan
Phayao</td> <td valign="top" width="12">40
30
50
37
48
47
53
38</td> <td valign="top" width="170"> Phrae
Phetchabun
Phichit
Phitsanulok
Sukhothai
Tak
Uthai Thani
Uttaradit
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>​

<center> <table bgcolor="#fceeb6" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="360"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="4" bgcolor="#ffffcc" valign="top" width="352"> North-East</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="13">21
29
31
28
36
27
32
20
54</td> <td valign="top" width="139"> Buriram
Chaiyaphum
Kalasin
Khon Kaen
Loei
Maha Sarakham
Mukdahan
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Phanom</td> <td valign="top" width="13">34
26
33
23
22
24
35
25</td> <td valign="top" width="169"> Nong Khai
Roi-Et
Sakhon Nakhon
Si Sa Ket
Surin
Ubon Ratchathani
Udon Thani
Yasothon
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </center>​

<center> <table bgcolor="#fceeb6" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="360"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="4" bgcolor="#ffffcc" valign="top" width="352"> Central</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="13"> 8
10
1
13
52
16
14
55
19
12
6
3
14
9</td> <td valign="top" width="140"> Ang Thong
Ayutthaya
Bangkok
Chachoengsao
Chainat
Chantaburi
Chonburi (Pattaya)
Kanchanaburi
Lopburi
Nakhon Nayok
Nakhon Pathom
Nonthaburi
Pattaya (Chonburi)
Pathumthani</td> <td valign="top" width="12">10
18
59
57
58
15

2
4
5
11
7
56
17</td> <td valign="top" width="169"> Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
Prachinburi
Prachuap Khiri Khan
Rachaburi
Phetchaburi (Hua Hin/Cha Am)
Rayong
Sakaeo
Samut Prakan
Samut Sakhon
Samut Songkhram
Saraburi
Singburi
Suphanburi
Trat / Koh Chang</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </center>​

<table bgcolor="#fceeb6" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="360"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="4" bgcolor="#ffffcc" valign="top" width="352"> South</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="13">60
64
65
72
67
70
62</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top" width="139"> Chumpon
Krabi (Phi Phi / Lanta)
Nakorn Si Thamarat
Narathiwat
Phattalung
Pattani
Phagnga</td> <td valign="top" width="13">73
61
68
69
63
66
71</td> <td valign="top" width="169"> Phuket
Ranong Koh Phayam
Satun
Songkhla
Surat Thani Koh Samui Koh Tao
Trang
Yala
</td></tr></tbody></table>​

</td></tr></tbody></table></center>​

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Thailand 7/27

Re: Thailand 7/27

Thanks Lashkar.

 

[Theresa42]

BF suspect from Korat [Nakhon Ratchasima] / 56M

BF suspect from Korat [Nakhon Ratchasima] / 56M

Machine-translated from Thai:

Discover patient suspected bird flu Korat [Nakhon Ratchasima] 1 case - push forward result [?] tomorrow
โดย ผู้จัดการออนไลน์ 28 กรกฎาคม 2549 19:28 น.

News agency - Nakhon Ratchasima - Korat order authority watch/guard be careful follow relatives patient suspected bird flu after discover patient suspected bird flu 1 case is man age 56 year that district [? - พิมาย หลัง] enter be treated to be at place hospital [?] morning today reveal there is history contact chicken die unusual symptom also not believable and wait for push forward result have blood test clearly from room tomorrow.

Today (28 July) [name] doctor public health province Nakhon Ratchasima disclose that when morning today (28 July) by hospital [?] district [?] province Nakhon Ratchasima receive patient address in scope suspect is bird flu enter treatment amount 1 case is man age about 56 year [?] house Noh-? [โน นสำ] house group 12 district Gra Chon district [? - พิมาย] province Nakhon Ratchasima which there is symptom fever cough there is nasal discharge gasp for breath a little from task examine lung also to be at in state normal.

In order that from task test history patient case this find that there is history contact chicken die because place home can [?] chicken keep amount 50 bodies and chicken happen die due to not known cause amount 30 bodies patient therefore bring carcass chicken die go bury only/alone because cannot inform authority understand afterwards then sick fever and enter agree to treatment that hospital district [?] in today (28 July) which by hospital can separate patient depart patient case another already.

Lately at present still sleep for a while be treated to be at that room patient inside hospital [?] symptom generally also believable and to be at in care of doctor closely at the same time can send sample blood of patient go work examine judge in laboratory in order that diagnose search for virus bird flu and then estimate that result task examine will know result clearly not too much tomorrow (28 July).

As for relatives of patient can permit authority follow watch symptom closely if find there is [?] house of patient happen there is symptom fever suspected to quickly enter find doctor immediately.

Dr. [name] say complain at present division move suddenly of public health province Nakhon Ratchasima can down area/district in village aforementioned and then in order that try to understand and advise prevention task contagious with inhabitants together with inform livestock province send authority down go destroy chicken poultry and spray chemicals around aforementioned and then also.

For situation task spread of bird flu in area province Nakhon Ratchasima from report since month January(?) until now find patient location in scope watch/guard be careful bird flu amount 44 cases result task examine sample blood amount 43 cases is negative total is not find virus bird flu remain only 1 case only that just now enter be treated in hospital [?] today (28 July) and to be at among wait result task examine as stated.

However bureau public health province not at ease order authority prepare be ready field personnel, medical appliance instruments in treatment and arrange waiting room for patient bird flu keep and then every hospital at the same time command volunteer public health regularly village survey and report situation poultry die due to not known cause in area public health province can know every in the time of specially that habitation [โน นสำ] house watch/guard carefully follow look after closely is special case also.

http://www.manager.co.th/Local/View...000096776&Keyword=%e4%a2%e9%cb%c7%d1%b4%b9%a1

 

[Sharpe]

25 (formerly) suspected human cases in Buri Ram

25 (formerly) suspected human cases in Buri Ram

First mention of Buri Ram. They tested 25 people from 6 districts with flu symptoms after contacting dying poultry.

It is a southeastern Cambodia-bordering province between Surin (which is experiencing widescale poultry deaths and the worst dengue season in it's history with two girls dying a couple days ago) and Nakhon Ratchasima (with it's 21 locations in 12 districts, 34 people in quarantine recently, and one suspected case announced yesterday), as well as bordering three other provinces with human or bird suspicions (Sa Kaeo = 1 human suspected 2 days ago, Khon Kaen=bird flu warning area announced 1 week ago, Maha Sarakham = dying ducks 1 week ago).

Just to give an idea on the regional dynamics that are developing.

3 out of the 5 Thailand-bordering provinces of Myanmar now border a known suspected bf-infected province.

4 out of the 7 Thailand-bordering provinces of Cambodia now border a known suspected bf-infected province.

5 out of the 9 Thailand-bordering provinces of Laos now border a known suspected bf-infected province.

Mystery bird deaths spur cull [SIZE=-1]POST REPORTERS[/SIZE]
<!--img--> <!--/img--> Up to 12,000 chickens were culled yesterday in tambon Ban Klang of Nakhon Phanom's Muang district after thousands of poultry mysteriously died there. Provincial governor Nikhom Kerdkanmak said about 3,000 chickens had died from unknown causes on seven farms in the area on Wednesday. The cull was a preventive measure because Nakhon Phanom neighboured Laos where there had been recent bird flu outbreaks.

Samples of the carcasses have been sent for laboratory tests at the Centre for Veterinary Research and Development in Khon Kaen, he said.

Meanwhile, in Buri Ram, tests showed 25 people from six districts who were suspected of having bird flu did not have the deadly H5N1 virus.

Buri Ram health officer Vichai Kattiyavittayakul said the 25 patients who had developed bird flu-like symptoms after coming into contacts with chicken carcasses were from Muang, Phlapphlachai, Huai Rat, Prakhon Chai, Krasang and Ban Mai Chai Pot districts.

Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat said yesterday he would set up a special medical team to administer the anti-viral drug Tamiflu to suspected cases to prevent people from developing resistance to the drug.

The drug would be selectively given to only those who needed it, the minister said.

He made the remarks following reports that 44 patients in several provinces were suspected of being infected with bird flu.

Elsewhere, the Food and Agriculture Organisation's regional coordinator for avian influenza, Wantanee Kalpravidh, said samples of chicken carcasses sent by the Lao government had the deadly H5N1 strain. This was confirmed by tests at the Thai National Institute of Animal Health.

 

[Theresa42]

112 people from 14 provinces under watch for bird flu

112 people from 14 provinces under watch for bird flu

112 people from 14 provinces under watch for bird flu
July 29, 2006

The Public Health Ministry has placed 112 people from 14 provinces under close medical supervision while it waits for tests to determine whether they have contracted the birdflu virus.

The ministry is waiting for the results of blood tests to confirm whether the patients have been infected with the H5N1 virus, the ministry's permanent secretary, Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot, said on Saturday.

Most of the patients, 75, are from Pichit, while 14 are from Sukhothai and five are from Kanchanaburi. There are three patients from Nakhon Sawan and three from Suphan Buri, while Bangkok and Phetchabun are both home to two patients. Kampang Phet, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Maha Sarakam and Uthai Thani all have one suspected case.

"Blood test on other patients showed that they just had the flu, not bird flu," Prat said.

The country is once again on high alert for bird flue after a teenage boy in Pichit province died from the disease. He was the first fatality in seven months.

Now 37 people in his [the young man that died] village, including three members of his family, are being monitored. None, however, have shown any birdflu symptoms.

The Nation

http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/29/headlines/headlines_30009899.php

 

[Theresa42]

Bird flu surveillance strictly enforced in Nakhon Sri Thammarat

Bird flu surveillance strictly enforced in Nakhon Sri Thammarat

Bird flu surveillance strictly enforced in Nakhon Sri Thammarat
29 July 2549

The Live Stock Development Office in Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province is putting surveillance on bird flu, especially on free-range ducks.

Mr. Chawalit Thaneeto (ชวลิต ธานีโต), Head of the Office, stated that the current bird flu outbreak in the upper central region is prompting the province on the alert of strengthening preventive measures against the deadly disease.

He, however, added that people in the province have fully cooperated with officials in preventing and monitoring such a situation. Meanwhile, 3,000 sets of H5N1 tester, supported by the CEO governor and provincial administration organization, have been utilized as part of an attempt to prevent the outbreaks.

The province will closely monitor the situation and go on putting surveillance on the deadly disease, particularly free-range ducks, he said.

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=181470

Nakhon Si Thammarat Province:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakhon_Si_Thammarat_Province

 

[Sharpe]

Re: Thailand 7/27 & 7/28

Re: Thailand 7/27 & 7/28

Two articles--one from the Ministry and one from the newspaper "Nation".

The official number is now 112 people from 14 provinces. I looked at the Central States list (that Theresa posts), and it appears that they are now officially testing 59 people in Phichit (up from 22 yesterday) (though the Nation reports 75 being tested), and 2 each in the other three provinces. We watch and wait.
The 14 provinces are as follows, with the ones we have never heard of any suspected human cases for in bold.
Phichit, Sukhothai, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Sawan, Suphan Buri, Bangkok, Phetchabun, Kampang Phet, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Maha Sarakam and Uthai Thani.

http://dpc8.ddc.moph.go.th/db8/disease/04_bird_day/up/group4_tyLincB29072006.pdf

Provinces that are very prominently not on the list considering the number of patients being quarantined right now are: Phitsanoluk, Uttaradit, Lampang, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sa Kaeo, and Buri Ram.



112 patients admitted for bird flu tests in North

PHICHIT, July 29 (TNA) - Thai public health authorities have admitted that over one hundred patients from 14 provinces suspected of having contracted avian influenza and are being monitored and tested for bird flu, but no new cases have been reported following a flurry of new reports during the past week.

No new cases of avian influenza have been confirmed, a senior Public Health Ministry official said Saturday.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Prat Boonyawongvirot said a total of 112 patients from 14 provinces, including two from Bangkok, had been admitted for further laboratory tests after earlier tests showed that most suffered from human influenza, but not avian influenza.

Dr. Prat said health officers were also closely monitoring about three dozen medical personnel and three other persons who looked after a 17-year-old youth who died of confirmed avian influenza in the northern province of Phichit last Monday.

Although no further cases of bird flu have been confirmed, public health authorities met Saturday in both Phichit and the neighbouring Phitsanulok Province to assess the situation and work out stricter bird flu control measures. So far no H5N1 virus has been found.

Nonetheless, physicians, nurses and public health officials were told to be more alert for people suspected to have contracted the disease.

Hospitals across Thailand had admitted more patients suspected of contracting avian influenza, Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat indicated Friday, most with cough and standard influenza symptoms.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/29/headlines/headlines_30009899.php
112 people from 14 provinces under watch for bird flu

The Public Health Ministry has placed 112 people from 14 provinces under close medical supervision while it waits for tests to determine whether they have contracted the birdflu virus.

The ministry is waiting for the results of blood tests to confirm whether the patients have been infected with the H5N1 virus, the ministry's permanent secretary, Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot, said on Saturday.

Most of the patients, 75, are from Pichit, while 14 are from Sukhothai and five are from Kanchanaburi. There are three patients from Nakhon Sawan and three from Suphan Buri, while Bangkok and Phetchabun are both home to two patients. Kampang Phet, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Maha Sarakam and Uthai Thani all have one suspected case.

"Blood test on other patients showed that they just had the flu, not bird flu," Prat said.

The country is once again on high alert for bird flue after a teenage boy in Pichit province died from the disease. He was the first fatality in seven months.

Now 37 people in his village, including three members of his family, are being monitored. None, however, have shown any birdflu symptoms.

The Nation

 

[Christian Rivers]

Re: Thailand 7/27 - 7/29

I hope the health spokes person and news media improve the precision of their language. Blood testing is cited above, but is not the means to manage an outbreak. Direct detection of virus in pulmonary secretions is preferred. I reviewed some background on testing for H5N1 in humans.

Details on testing for H5N1 in the US.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060203.html
Highlights:
The test was approved in Feb 2006. It is called a real time virus PCR test. Oropharyngeal swab specimens and lower respiratory tract specimens (e.g., bronchoalveolar lavage or tracheal aspirates) are obtained from a patient on a Dacron swab tip with aluminum shaft. The specimen is placed in nucleic acid extraction lysis buffer (for virus inactivation and RNA stabilization). The specimen is then stored and shipped at 4?C to a CDC Laboratory Response Network (LRN) lab. There are 140 LRN labs in the US with at least one lab in every one of the 50 states. The test is performed in a BSL level 2 facility. Results are available within 4 hours of receipt of the specimen.

Indications for testing were disseminated in a CDC Health Alert Bulletin on June 7, 2006.
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/han/archivesys/ViewMsgV.asp?AlertNum=00246

One real life exercise with this procedure has been recently reported from Texas.
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/jstjames/stories/wfaa060725_mo_birdflu.3183e43.html

WHO has provided guidelines for the rapid detection of H5N1.
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/guidelines/RapidTestInfluenza_web.pdf
Direct testing is done on specimens from pulmonary secretions and is preferred for the management of an acute outbreak.

Other types of tests are possible, see -
Recommended laboratory Tests (WHO) July 2005
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/guidelines/avian_labtests2.pdf
Serological (blood) testing is possible. The microneutraliization assay for detection of H5N1 antibody is recommended. It requires live virus (as the reagent) and must be done in a BSL level 3 facility.

Comment
Serological testing is done to confirm an infection. It requires paired serum samples. The first sample is taken at the first signs of infection and the second approximately two weeks after onset of symptoms. Serological testing is not helpful in the management of an acute outbreak.
- CR -

 

[Theresa42]

Phichit increasing number of isolation rooms / also watching 37 medical personnel

Phichit increasing number of isolation rooms / also watching 37 medical personnel

Machine-translated from Thai:

112 cases from 14 provinces to be at in scope watch/guard carefully test bird
โดย ผู้จัดการออนไลน์ 29 กรกฎาคม 2549 15:18 น.

Ministry of Public Health admit patient to be at in scope watch/guard carefully bird flu and wait for result task examine confirm by laboratory reach look after 112 cases from 14 provinces but also not find patient case again as for place Phichit must increase room separate tend patient in scope watch/guard carefully again more than 20 rooms restate alarm/warn people do not hide history oneself because there is danger even to life.

[Name] deputy chief Ministry of Public Health say that in today there is patient having symptoms to be at in scope watch/guard carefully bird flu 112 cases from 14 provinces feature Phichit 75 cases, Sukhothai 14 cases, Kanchanaburi 5 cases, Nakhon Sawan and Suphan Buri province each 3 cases Bangkok, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun province each 2 cases Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nothanburi, Maha Sarakham and Uthai Thani province each 1 case to be at among wait result task examine assure by laboratory of Department of Medical Sciences because result task examine by laboratory preceding find that majority is influenza also not find patient confirm bird flu case again increase.

As for task follow watch/guard carefully symptoms of personnel medical 37 persons and persons to be at near in house again 3 persons which is person that look after near boy 17 year that lose life from bird flu pass closely first in task spread time again that group 10 districts [?] district [?] province Phichit when date 24 July preceding result task follow at present to be no person which have symptom fever at the same time can survey search for patient cases again in village aforementioned every family/household also result task check/examine virus confirm not find heredity(?) of virus bird flu anyway.

[Name] go on a tour of inspection Ministry of Public Health area 3 say that in today can meet doctor head top nurse from hospital in all places and public health district all in province Phichit in order that adjust/improve measure control/limit watch/guard carefully bird flu in persons to be cautious increase because patients all places have a temperature be lost/recover(?) impatient more usually will accept body enter look after succees special there is symptoms fever and there is history contact poultry in village for bring come examine/survey symptoms everyone cause at present people in province Phichit be alert in regarding this very much persons that have a temperature cough follow one after another enter examine/survey that hospital average day each about 30 cases make bed for observe symptoms not enough/sufficiently then can increase bed and room separate look after succeed specifically more 20 rooms.

In order that patients that there is symptoms in scope watch/guard carefully everyone to be at in stage/grade safety nobody there is be in a severe condition anyway people origin find doctor majority mature more than child and about 1 in 5 also be not brave enough say history contact poultry or eat poultry that power sick or die actually because fear be correct doctor - nurse reprimand request people tell truth openly because task conceal data information will be bad/harmful to life because will cause receive treatment not in time.

http://www.manager.co.th/QOL/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000096929&Keyword=%e4%a2%e9%cb%c7%d1%b4%b9%a1

 

[Reeves]

Re: Thailand 7/27 - 7/29 Bird-flu patient numbers soar

Re: Thailand 7/27 - 7/29 Bird-flu patient numbers soar

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=spacer_5px><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Bird-flu patient numbers soar

</TD></TR><TR><TD>By News Desk
The Nation
Publication Date: 29-07-2006 </TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer_ver10px></TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- #BeginLibraryItem "/Library/article_funct.lbi" --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Print Article

</TD><TD class=spacer_hor3px></TD><TD>Email Article

</TD><!--<td class="spacer_hor3px"></td> <td>Font Size </td>--></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- #EndLibraryItem --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=bg_dotted01></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer_5px>Thailand's health minister is demanding definitive answers on the general prescription of anti-viral drugs to fight bird flu.
Pinij Charusombat asked a special medical committee to report on the prescription of anti-viral oseltamivir, after an escalation in the number of people exhibiting symptoms similar to those caused by bird flu.
He is worried the uncontrolled use of the drug could lead to resistant strains of the killer virus.
The anti-viral oseltamivir is commonly known by one of its trade names, Tamiflu. It is the only drug that successfully treats people infected with the virus.
A 17-year-old in Phichit on Wednesday (July 26) became the country's first victim of the virus this year. Since then, the number of people in hospital with suspected bird flu has increased.
In Phichit, there were 11 cases on Thursday (July 27) but that had doubled to 22 on Friday (July 28) .
Nationwide there are 55 suspected sufferers waiting on test results. There are 10 cases in Sukhothai and seven in Suphan Buri, with the rest scattered elsewhere.
Hospitals in bird-flu red zones are receiving doses of Tamiflu and influenza test kits.
Medical Science Department director-general Dr Paijit Warachit said there were now more suspected cases because awareness was higher.
Pinij said his committee comprised infectious-disease experts from leading hospitals. They will standardise flu treatment.
Public Health permanent secretary Dr Pratch Boonya-wongsaviroj said the committee started work Friday.
It had visited hospitals in Phitsanulok and was advising doctors on treatment.
Today the team will go to Phichit, Sukhothai, Phetchabun and Kamphaeng Phet.
Fears of new outbreaks have seen reports of unexplained bird deaths flooding in from many provinces. In Nakhon Panom, more than 12,000 chicken were culled Friday after the death of chickens on several farms. Specimens have been sent for lab tests.
The Livestock Development Department of the Agriculture Ministry confirmed chickens from a Phichit farm had died of the H5N1 virus.
Director-general Yukol Limlaemthong visited the farm Friday.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Sharpe]

Re: Thailand 7/27 - 7/29

Ang Thong now reporting dying poultry. Symptoms very dramatic, and very classic. Map showing Ang Thong. Note red circle for the Bangkok area--with patients already being tested there and in the environs, cannot be good news. Bangkok is one of those last frontiers, so to speak, for the rest of us, with it's population of 9 million, connections by plane, road, and boat to the rest of the world, and it's 1.1 million chickens in city limits. No reports from south of 13 N in the region yet.

http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/30/national/national_30009916.php
Bt2,000 fine for not reporting dead birds

<!---- Photo ----><!---- Photo ----> Anyone who fails to report a case of sick or dead poultry in 21 provinces at risk of bird flu will be fined Bt2,000.

Caretaker Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said yesterday that the Animal Epidemic Act would be enforced to punish those who were uncooperative with the authorities.
Livestock Development and Health Department officials have been instructed to go from door to door in Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Pathom to spread the word on how to prevent avian flu, she said. Those provinces are considered most at risk and have witnessed repeated poultry epidemics during August, when the annual rainy season is at its height.
The northern provinces will be visited next in October.
No new bird-flu case has been reported since the country's first bird-flu fatality in seven months was recorded on Wednesday when a teenage boy in Phichit lost his battle against the virus, Sudarat said.
As a preventive measure, Phichit and its adjoining provinces of Phitsanulok, Sukhothai and Uttaradit have been ordered to cull all poultry, beef up surveillance and register all fighting cocks.
Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said state hospitals had put 112 suspected bird-flu patients from 14 provinces under close medical supervision while waiting for the results of laboratory blood tests.
Phichit had the most patients, with 75, followed by Sukhothai with 14 and Kanchanaburi with five.
Nakhon Sawan and Suphan Buri each had three patients, while Bangkok and Phetchabun were each home to two patients. Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Maha Sarakham and Uthai Thani each had one suspected case.
"Blood tests on other patients showed that they just had the flu, not bird flu," Prat said. Following the confirmed bird-flu fatality, 37 people in the teenage boy's village, including three members of his family, are being monitored, but none has shown any bird-flu symptoms.
In Angthong's Wiset Chai Chan district, fowl in a village in Tambon Sao Rong Hai have perished mysteriously, former village headman Samnao Pinwiset said. The carcasses were promptly burned or buried, he said.
They reportedly had swollen faces, stood around drowsily, developed seizures and finally expired. Each household has lost 40 to 100 chickens. Residents also noticed birds dropping dead daily.
Officials have sprayed disinfectant around the area and are keeping a strict watch for the virus, livestock-development official Surachon Tangwiwat said, adding that bird-flu cases had yet to be reported.

 

[Nancy]

Re: Thailand 7/27 - 7/29

The following article from the Bangkok Post was apparently released about noon (EDT) today. Five times it repeats the assertion that there have been no new confirmed cases of avian flu, as if to calm rising fears.

112 admitted for bird flu tests in North
Saturday, July 29, 2006

PHICHIT - Thai public health authorities have admitted that over one hundred patients from 14 provinces suspected of having contracted avian influenza and are being monitored and tested for bird flu, but no new cases have been reported following a flurry of new reports during the past week.

No new cases of avian influenza have been confirmed, a senior Public Health Ministry official said Saturday.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Prat Boonyawongvirot said a total of 112 patients from 14 provinces, including two from Bangkok, had been admitted for further laboratory tests after earlier tests showed that most suffered from human influenza, but not avian influenza.

Dr. Prat said health officers were also closely monitoring about three dozen medical personnel and three other persons who looked after a 17-year-old youth who died of confirmed avian influenza in the northern province of Phichit last Monday.

Although no further cases of bird flu have been confirmed, public health authorities met Saturday in both Phichit and the neighbouring Phitsanulok Province to assess the situation and work out stricter bird flu control measures. So far no H5N1 virus has been found.

Nonetheless, physicians, nurses and public health officials were told to be more alert for people suspected to have contracted the disease.

Hospitals across Thailand had admitted more patients suspected of contracting avian influenza, Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat indicated Friday, most with cough and standard influenza symptoms.

He said he would establish a special medical team to administer the anti-viral drug Tamiflu to suspected cases. (TNA)

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=111878