Iraqi Woman Dies of Suspected Bird Flu - February 2006

[DB]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/news...19760f098a.htm

IRAQ: Suspected bird flu case appears in south
08 Feb 2006 16:11:50 GMT

BAGHDAD, 8 February (IRIN) - Laboratory tests are to be carried out on blood samples from a 13-year-old boy from the southern city of Ammarah, who died from bird flu-like symptoms on 5 February.

"Our team has already reached Kurdistan [in northern Iraq] to help with prevention programmes and evaluate the situation in the area," said Maria Cheng, a spokeswoman for the WHO in Geneva. "This new case in the south of Iraq is going to be analysed in UK laboratories."

Ammarah is some 360 km southeast of the capital, Baghdad.

The boy developed symptoms on 1 February and died four days later after being hospitalised for severe pneumonia.

Although no poultry deaths had been reported in the area, pet birds kept by the family reportedly died when the symptoms first emerged, the WHO reported.
"After unofficial laboratory tests, we confirmed the case and requested urgent help from the Ministry of Health and the WHO," said Dr Ali Abdullah of Ammarah's main hospital.

In northern Iraq, a 15-year-old girl died of bird flu on 17 January in the town of Raniya, along with two other suspected cases of the H5N1 virus, including the girl's uncle, according to a statement from the WHO.

Samples from the girl's uncle are currently being tested at WHO facilities in the UK, although the specimens already tested positive for H5N1 infection in a local laboratory.

The WHO has confirmed that seven patients are now being treated for similar symptoms in hospitals in Sulaimaniyah, in northern Iraq. Most of the patients reported a history of direct contact with poultry, the health organisation stated.

Local medical workers say that many more cases are suspected in the north.

Dr Ahmed Talbiti, an infections specialist in Sulaimaniyah, said there had been concern about a total of 26 suspected cases in the north, but that 15 had already been confirmed as negative. The rest, he added, are currently being tested in local laboratories.

Prevention procedures, meanwhile, have been ongoing. About one million birds and chickens have been culled so far, according to local officials, which have led to requests by local farmers for compensation.

"We're taking all the required procedures to protect ourselves, using masks, gloves and special clothes when culling birds," said Avan Awaz, a senior official in northern Iraq's prevention programme.

Additional supplies were sent by the US government to aid prevention programmes and are expected to reach the north by the end of the week, Awaz added.

A team from the WHO is also analysing samples to investigate the possibility of a virus mutation, which could lead to human-to-human transmission of the disease.

Direct contact with infected poultry, or objects contaminated by their faeces, is presently considered the primary route of human infection, according to the WHO. To date, most human cases have occurred in rural areas where many households keep poultry.

[Cautel]

Iraq: Suspected bird flu case appears in south

IRAQ: Suspected bird flu case appears in south

http://web.krg.org/articles/article_...NNr=28&RNNr=70

BAGHDAD, 8 February (IRIN) - Laboratory tests are to be carried out on blood samples from a 13-year-old boy from the southern city of Ammarah, who died from bird flu-like symptoms on 5 February.

"Our team has already reached Kurdistan [in northern Iraq] to help with prevention programmes and evaluate the situation in the area," said Maria Cheng, a spokeswoman for the WHO in Geneva. "This new case in the south of Iraq is going to be analysed in UK laboratories."

Ammarah is some 360 km southeast of the capital, Baghdad,

The boy developed symptoms on 1 February and died four days later after being hospitalised for severe pneumonia.

Although no poultry deaths had been reported in the area, pet birds kept by the family reportedly died when the symptoms first emerged, the WHO reported.

"After unofficial laboratory tests, we confirmed the case and requested urgent help from the Ministry of Health and the WHO," said Dr Ali Abdullah of Ammarah's main hospital.

In northern Iraq, a 15-year-old girl died of bird flu on 17 January in the town of Raniya, along with two other suspected cases of the H5N1 virus, including the girl's uncle, according to a statement from the WHO.

Samples from the girl's uncle are currently being tested at WHO facilities in the UK, although the specimens already tested positive for H5N1 infection in a local laboratory.

The WHO has confirmed that seven patients are now being treated for similar symptoms in hospitals in Sulaimaniyah, in northern Iraq. Most of the patients reported a history of direct contact with poultry, the health organisation stated.

Local medical workers say that many more cases are suspected in the north.


Dr Ahmed Talbiti, an infections specialist in Sulaimaniyah, said there had been concern about a total of 26 suspected cases in the north, but that 15 had already been confirmed as negative. The rest, he added, are currently being tested in local laboratories.

Prevention procedures, meanwhile, have been ongoing. About one million birds and chickens have been culled so far, according to local officials, which have led to requests by local farmers for compensation.

"We're taking all the required procedures to protect ourselves, using masks, gloves and special clothes when culling birds," said Avan Awaz, a senior official in northern Iraq's prevention programme.

Additional supplies were sent by the US government to aid prevention programmes and are expected to reach the north by the end of the week, Awaz added.

A team from the WHO is also analysing samples to investigate the possibility of a virus mutation, which could lead to human-to-human transmission of the disease.

Direct contact with infected poultry, or objects contaminated by their faeces, is presently considered the primary route of human infection, according to the WHO. To date, most human cases have occurred in rural areas where many households keep poultry.

[Theresa42]

8 new suspected cases in Iraq - incld. 3 children related to the pigeon breeder

babelfished from Italian (orig. article below):

Avian: Iraq, eight new cases suspiciones
09/02/2006 - 15:40

http://www.tio.ch/common_includes/pa...57425&idtipo=2

SOULAIMANIYAH (IRAQ) - Others eight persons suspected of having the avian one have been ricoverate in the north and the south of the Iraq. For the moment it is not possible to confirm if they are carriers of virus the H5N1. They have indicated today of the sources hospitals worker.

Five persons have been ricoverate in the hospital of Soulaimaniyah, main city of the Kurdistan iracheno. "We have received a case from Tass Louja (15 kilometers more to the west, ndr) and four from Karadakh (50 kilometers more to south, ndr)", has indicated a turn doctor, that she has asked the anonymity.

In the south of the Iraq, to Amara, 365 kilometers to south of Baghdad, they have been ricoverati three children, cousinses of the breeder of pigeons of the dead city slid Sunday after to have introduced the symptoms of the avian one.

The three siblings of the family Salam, Karim, 3 years, Karar, 6 years and Mehdi, 7, inhabited in the same house of Mohanad Radii, 30 years, have asserted Mohammad Rikab, director of the department of infectious diseases.

Aviaria: Iraq, otto nuovi casi sospetti

SOULAIMANIYAH (IRAQ) - Altre otto persone sospettate di avere l'aviaria sono state ricoverate nel nord e nel sud dell'Iraq. Per il momento non ? possibile confermare se sono portatrici del virus H5N1. Lo hanno indicato oggi delle fonti ospedaliere.

Cinque persone sono state ricoverate nell'ospedale di Soulaimaniyah, principale citt? del Kurdistan iracheno. "Abbiamo ricevuto un caso da Tass Louja ( 15 chilometri pi? a ovest, ndr) e quattro da Karadakh (50 chilometri pi? a sud, ndr)", ha indicato un medico di turno, che ha chiesto l'anonimato.

Nel sud dell'Iraq, ad Amara, a 365 chilometri a sud di Baghdad, sono stati ricoverati tre bambini, cugini dell'allevatore di piccioni della citt? morto domenica scorsa dopo aver presentato i sintomi dell'aviaria.

I tre fratelli della famiglia Salam, Karim, 3 anni, Karar, 6 anni e Mehdi, 7, abitavano nella stessa casa di Mohanad Radi, 30 anni, ha affermato Mohammad Rikab, direttore del dipartimento di malattie infettive.

[Theresa42]

Infant & 3 year-old (siblings) die - bf suspected

babelfished from French (orig. article below) >>

Aviary influenza: hunting for the poultries in the neighbourhoods of Soulaimaniyah
AWAL (Irak), 7 fév 2006 (AFP) - 16h27

http://hosting.afp.com/clients/ikp/f....5ix5xdnq.html

Hunting for the poultries to contain a risk of aviary pandemia of influenza extended to the neighbourhoods from the Kurdish city from Soulaimaniyah, whereas a second death due to virus H5N1 was confirmed in this province.

"Since the February beginning, we began a demolition campaign of the domestic poultries to protect Soulaimaniyah", indicates Sirwane Mohammad Saleh, agricultural engineer who worked within a team at the village of Awal, located to 6 km more in south-west.

"The authorities are worry about the migratory birds which cross the province in this season and which appreciates this valley abounding in lakes", specifies it.

Fearing a contamination by this migratory wave, the authorities launched a campaign to get rid of the domestic poultry of the villages located at about fifteen km the city, it added.

Until the beginning of the month, only the mountainous area of Rania, which is to 180 km in the north of Soulaimaniyeh and where the majority of the cases were suspectés, was the subject of a campaign.

This countryside does not relate to the few 300 centers of breeding of the poultries established in the area of Soulaimaniyah, which generate largest of the incomes of the province, indicated one of the members of the team of eradication concerned with the local ministry of Agriculture.

"If these centers had been suddenly closed, it would be a considerable economic loss", explains this veterinary surgeon of the team by specifying that these centers of breeding are often inspected by its services and regularly désinfestés.

In the locality of Tiqia, near to Chamchamal, to 60 km in the south of Soulaimiyah, where two deaths were announced, the population did not worry in addition to measurement about this risk.

An infant of four months and half died after a strong fever which lasted three days then his/her three year old sister, Chadia Adnane Mohammad, developed the same symptoms.

"It had, one week ago, a strong fever and blood ran of its nose but does not have vomit", told his/her uncle Rostom Hamma Amine. The child was initially transferred to the hospital from Chamchamal which kept it one day before returning it to it.

"Its state worsened then we alerted the Minister for the Health Mohammad Khouchnou which came in person last Friday to lead it to Soulaimaniyah", his/her uncle said, before adding that analyses are in hand to determine if it is infected.

"We do not have poultries but our neighbors have some", says it. The aunt tells that poultries and pigeons were carried by the team accompanying the minister for analysis.

In this part of the village, where the houses in cob are stuck the ones to the others and where the égoûts run with sky open in muddy lanes, the inhabitants say being accustomed to the seasonal influenzas accompanied by evils of throat.

"As lately as yesterday, I transported to the hospital three kids suffering from fever", said one of them. "For lack of drinking water, we test as much as possible to boil water before drinking it", specifies it.
In Awal, the veterinary surgeons teams played the cat and the mouse with the villagers.

Prevented of a searching, some hid their poultries in their bathroom, others released them in the fields, others finally them straightforwardly ate the day before or the two days before.

Hunting mobilized all the kids of the village, some fascinating made and causes for the "exterminators", helping them to catch recalcitrant chickens, others on the contrary trying to withdraw them.

Old a 77 years peshmerga, Jala Hussein Fares, took the initiave to lock up its poultries in the hen house as soon as it intended to speak about a risk of epizooty. With the arrival of the teams, it delivered "its prisoners" with the feeling of the accomplished duty.

Grippe aviaire: la chasse aux volailles dans les alentours de Soulaimaniyah

AWAL (Irak), 7 fév 2006 (AFP) - 16h27 - La chasse aux volailles pour contenir un risque de pandémie de grippe aviaire s'est étendue aux alentours de la ville kurde de Soulaimaniyah, alors qu'un deuxième décès dû au virus H5N1 a été confirmé dans cette province.
"Depuis le début février, nous avons commencé une campagne d'abattage des volailles domestiques pour protéger Soulaimaniyah", indique Sirwane Mohammad Saleh, ingénieur agricole qui travaillait au sein d'une équipe au village d'Awal, situé à 6 km plus au sud-ouest.
"Les autorités sont inquiètes des oiseaux migrateurs qui traversent la province en cette saison et qui apprécient cette vallée regorgeant de lacs", précise-t-il.
Craignant une contamination par cette vague migratoire, les autorités ont lancé une campagne pour se débarrasser de la volaille domestique des villages situés à une quinzaine km de la ville, a-t-il ajouté.
Jusqu'au début du mois, seule la région montagneuse de Rania, qui se trouve à 180 km au nord de Soulaimaniyeh et où la plupart des cas ont été suspectés, faisait l'objet d'une campagne.
Cette campagne ne concerne pas les quelque 300 centres d'élevage des volailles implantés dans la région de Soulaimaniyah, qui génèrent le plus gros des revenus de la province, a indiqué un des membres de l'équipe d'éradication relevant du ministère local de l'Agriculture.
"Si ces centres venaient à être fermés, ce serait une perte économique considérable", explique ce vétérinaire de l'équipe en précisant que ces centres d'élevage sont souvent inspectés par ses services et régulièrement désinfestés.
Dans la localité de Tiqia, proche de Chamchamal, à 60 km au sud de Soulaimiyah, où deux décès ont été signalés, la population ne se souciait pas outre mesure de ce risque.
Un nourrisson de quatre mois et demi est mort après une forte fièvre qui a duré trois jours puis sa soeur de trois ans, Chadia Adnane Mohammad, a développé les mêmes symptômes.
"Elle a eu, il y a une semaine, une forte fièvre et du sang a coulé de son nez mais n'a pas vomi", a raconté son oncle Rostom Hamma Amine. L'enfant a d'abord été transférée à l'hôpital de Chamchamal qui l'a gardée une journée avant de la renvoyer chez elle.
"Son état a empiré alors nous avons alerté le ministre de la Santé Mohammad Khouchnou qui est venu en personne vendredi dernier pour la conduire à Soulaimaniyah", a dit son oncle, avant d'ajouter que des analyses sont en cours pour déterminer si elle est infectée.
"Nous n'avons pas de volailles mais nos voisins en possèdent", dit-il. La tante raconte que des volailles et des pigeons ont été emportés par l'équipe accompagnant le ministre pour analyse.
Dans cette partie du village, où les maisons en torchis sont collées les unes aux autres et où les égoûts coulent à ciel ouvert dans des ruelles boueuses, les habitants disent être habitués aux grippes saisonnières accompagnée de maux de gorge.
"Hier encore, j'ai transporté à l'hôpital trois gamins souffrant de fièvre", dit l'un d'eux. "Faute d'eau potable, nous essayons autant que possible de bouillir l'eau avant de la boire", précise-t-il.
A Awal, les équipes vétérinaires ont joué au chat et à la souris avec les villageois.
Prévenus d'une perquisition, certains ont caché leurs volailles dans leur salle de bains, d'autres les ont lâchées dans les champs, d'autres enfin les ont carrément mangées la veille ou l'avant-veille.
La chasse a mobilisé tous les gamins du village, certains prenant fait et cause pour les "exterminateurs", les aidant à attraper des coqs récalcitrants, d'autres au contraire tentant de les soustraire.
Un ancien peshmerga de 77 ans, Jala Hussein Fares, a pris l'initiave d'enfermer ses volailles dans le poulailler dès qu'il a entendu parler d'un risque d'épizootie. A l'arrivée des équipes, il a livré "ses prisonniers" avec le sentiment du devoir accompli.

[sharon sanders]

Re: 8 new suspected cases in Iraq - incld. 3 children related to the pigeon breeder

Does anyone know:

Total suspected ill:

Total confirmed ill:

Total dead suspected:

Total dead confirmed:

Who numbers:


For Iraq. I have lost count.

[Theresa42]

Re: 8 new suspected cases in Iraq - incld. 3 children related to the pigeon breeder

Frankly, I've lost track, too. Hopefully I will get a chance later today to review the reports from the last few days. That is the plan anyway....

[Theresa42]

3 cousins (children) of pigeon breeder w/same symptoms

babelfished from French (orig. article below):

Three hospitalized children with Amara where an inhabitant had died Sunday
Le jeudi 09 f?vrier 2006
Agence France-Presse

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20060209/CPACTUALITES/602090784/5024/CPDMINUTE

AMARA (Irak) - Three cousins of a stockbreeder of pigeons of Amara, in the south of Iraq, dead Sunday after having presented the symptoms of the aviary influenza, were hospitalized, one indicated Thursday of medical sources.

Three brothers of the Salam family, Karim (three years), Karar (six years) and Mehdi (seven years), who lived in the same house that Mohanad Radi 30 years, were allowed Wednesday in a hospital of Amara, to 365 km in the south of Baghdad, affirmed Mohammad Rikab, director of the department of the infectious disease.

For its part, Sabah Mehdi, which forms part of a delegation of five doctors from Baghdad, to inform itself on the spot of the medical situation, confirmed that the three brothers had the same symptoms as those having preceded death by their cousin.

Le jeudi 09 f?vrier 2006
Trois enfants hospitalis?s ? Amara o? un habitant ?tait mort dimanche
Agence France-Presse
AMARA (Irak)
Trois cousins d'un ?leveur de pigeons d'Amara, dans le sud de l'Irak, mort dimanche apr?s avoir pr?sent? les sympt?mes de la grippe aviaire, ont ?t? hospitalis?s, a-t-on indiqu? jeudi de sources m?dicales.
Les trois fr?res de la famille Salam, Karim (trois ans), Karar (six ans) et Mehdi (sept ans), qui habitaient dans la m?me maison que Mohanad Radi 30 ans, ont ?t? admis mercredi dans un h?pital d'Amara, ? 365 km au sud de Bagdad, a affirm? Mohammad Rikab, directeur du d?partement des maladie infectieuses.
Pour sa part, Sabah Mehdi, qui fait partie d'une d?l?gation de cinq m?decins venue de Bagdad, pour s'informer sur place de la situation sanitaire, a confirm? que les trois fr?res avaient les m?mes sympt?mes que ceux ayant pr?c?d? la mort de leur cousin.

[Theresa42]

Human injuries and a new animalism by the bird flu in four countries

Machine translated from Arabic:

Human injuries and a new animalism by the bird flu in four countries
9/2/2006

The pace of the spread of the bird flu disease increased around the world with recording new injuries in Iraq and Indonesia and Greece and Nigeria.
Iraqi medical sources have declared that eight injuries recorded in the As-Sulaymaniyah cities north and the building south. And he is inserted five patients suspected in their injury with the bird flu Wednesday at night to the As-Sulaymaniyah hospital, what raised the total number of the injuries in Iraq to ten.

And the new injuries recorded in As-Sulaymaniyah in the regions of Taslouga and Qara Dagh Wtngiroua and Al Kadissisya and Bazyan. And the sources clarified that 17 patient suspected in their injury with the disease inserted the hospital since the emergence of the disease in Iraq.

And the World Health Organization team has come to As-Sulaymaniyah today for the visit of the first village that recorded in it the first injury by the bird flu disease last month. And the visit comes response to the request of the Kurdish Ministry of Health for the study of the ways guaranteeing for the reduction of this epidemic dangers.

In Al-Imarah city three children suspected in their injury with the disease symptoms inserted to the Fever Hospital related to the diseases with severe seriousness. And the manager of the headquarters of the health protection said in the city the three children are the one cousins that were dead last Sunday.

And in Greece the Greek Ministry of Agriculture declared finding three Ozat an emigrating it is suspected that she carries a virus "H5N1" the causing the bird flu. And the ministry spokesman said that samples about the injured birds were sent to a specialized British laboratory . And the results will show through eight days.

From its side the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries advised the farmers on keeping the poultry in barns since the beginning of next March for the prevention of the move of the bird flu disease to it from the migrating birds.

And considers this measure is precautionary because of the continuation of the progress of the destructive virus in Europe continent specially and that The Netherlands suffered from its spread in year 2003 but the disease was from an offspring different from an offspring the H5N1 and her time caused the death of about 30 million birds and he is more than two thirds of the poultry in The Netherlands and the death of a person.

And in Nigeria the Ministry of Agriculture declared that a virus is the H5N1 spread in at least four farms in the north of the country. And the ministry said that the examinations that the research institute of the national veterinary medicine held on the chickens showed the presence of the virus in farms near the cities of Kano and the northern Kadouna in the Nigerian main heights.

And four farms closed and they were put under the quarantine . That came after she scored in Nigeria Wednesday the first injury by the killing virus that can kill thousands of human being in Africa. And the police closed today the farm that appeared in it the first injury after the death of 40 thousand chickens because of the virus.

And the World Health Organization has declared that it holds talks with the Nigerian authorities for sending a team to the country assistant in the treatment of the bird flu. And the organization said that Nigeria may need a program for the fortification of the poultry for the limitation of the spread of the offspring of the killing virus.

http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8...26168F0D78.htm

[sharon sanders]

Iraq getting huge shipment of Tamiflu

Iraq set to receive 70,000 Tamiflu doses - World Health Organisation

GENEVA (AFX) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) said tens of thousands ofdoses of Tamiflu were set to arrive in Iraq to help fight bird flu in thecountry's Kurdistan region. Fadela Chaib, spokeswoman for the UN health agency, said the shipment wasscheduled to arrive in Baghdad later today and would then be sent north to theaffected area. The antiviral drug Tamiflu is considered a first line of defence againstavian influenza. The highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu strain has claimed 88 lives out of 166cases since resurfacing in Asia in 2003 and spreading to the Middle East,Balkans and Africa. A WHO team is already in Kurdistan to help local authorities fight theoutbreak. After the disease struck poultry there, Iraq's first case of avian influenzawas detected in a teenage girl who died last month. Although the WHO's global toll only includes cases confirmed by its ownspecialists, Iraqi authorities have said the disease has also claimed anotherlife. Overall, 17 people have been suspected of contracting the disease since itsoutbreak in Kurdistan in January. Chaib said samples from patients had been taken to Baghdad and were set tobe sent for analysis at WHO laboratories in Cairo and London.newsdesk@afxnews.comafp/joyCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content,inculding byframing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior writtenconsent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX NewsLimited

[DB]

Iraq town seems helpless against deadly bird flu

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL053212.htm
Iraq town seems helpless against deadly bird flu

By Abdul-Razzak Hameed

AMARA, Iraq, Feb 10 (Reuters) - If international experts wonder how difficult it will be to educate Iraqis about bird flu, they should visit the wastelands of Amara, where children play among the dead fowl.


Iraqi health officials are investigating four suspected human cases of the avian virus in the southeastern city and have ordered mass culling of birds to contain a possible outbreak.


In waste ground where thousands of the culled birds have been dumped, about 15 children jumped up and down, tied fowl to sticks and waved them in the air, oblivious to the risks.


The avian virus, which has already claimed the life of an Iraqi teenager, was previously thought to have been confined to the girl's village in the country's largely autonomous northern region of Kurdistan.


But the World Health Organisation (WHO), said on Tuesday the Iraqi Health Ministry had reported a suspected case in Amara, 365 km (230 miles) southeast of Baghdad.


The governor of Maysan province told Reuters the suspected bird flu victim was a 24-year-old pigeon seller from Amara who died on Sunday. WHO said earlier that Iraqi officials had identified the victim as a 13-year-old boy.


Bird flu took the victim's family by surprise.


"He was suffering from constant flu. In hospital he turned worse and began bleeding from both his mouth and nose, and then he died," said Jabbar Zahuri, 38, the dead man's uncle.


The pigeon seller, whom officials identified as Muhaned Radhi, lived in a house with five brothers and eight sisters. Health officials have taken samples from them to test for the virus.


WRACKED BY VIOLENCE
The country's only confirmed case is the teenaged girl. Her uncle, who lived in the same area, also died and tests are being carried out to establish if the virus killed him.


If the death of the pigeon seller is confirmed as bird flu, it would dash hopes that the deadly H5N1 virus was confined to a small area in the north of Iraq, which is already overwhelmed by a bloody insurgency.


Wild birds have been blamed for spreading the disease westwards from Asia. Iraq's health minister said earlier this week that while he was confident the war-ravaged country was taking the necessary steps to combat any outbreak of bird flu, it had no defences against migrating birds.


People contract avian flu through direct contact with infected or sick poultry.


Zamil Shiya'a, head of the Amara health department, told Reuters on Friday there were three suspected bird flu cases in Amara hospital, all relatives of Radhi -- a 3-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy and a boy, 7.


WHO has a team of experts in the country trying to help local officials combat the virus, but there are fears that violence and a ruined infrastructure will make it much harder to halt the spread of bird flu than in countries like neighbouring Turkey.


Bird flu has killed at least 88 people around the world since it re-emerged in late 2003. There are fears the virus could mutate into a form that passes easily from person to person, sparking a pandemic in which millions could die.


Mosques are being used, alongside the police cars and ambulances, to broadcast warnings to residents of Amara to destroy their poultry.


People like truck driver Aziz Taha say they fear an outbreak of bird flu and would like to leave the rundown town, where sewage runs through the streets.


"We are very scared and want to leave this doomed place. But I can't afford the costs of moving. People have started calling us bird flu carriers. We became the unwanted. People run away when they see us."

[Theresa42]

Iraq H5N1 Case Count - Feb 10, 2006

The following is a list of confirmed and suspected H5N1 cases in Iraq. The information has been compiled from various news reports.

If anyone has any further information or corrections on any of these cases -- or any additional cases -- feel free to pm me the info.

Iraq H5N1 Case Count - Feb 10, 2006

#1
Name: Shangen Abdul Qader (15F) [aka Shengeen Abdul Qadr, Shanjin Abdel Qader, Chanjin Abdelkader, Tijan Abdel-Qader]
d. Jan 17, 2006
Home Town/Province: Sarkapkan Village, Raniya district (100 km S of Turkish border, 15 km W of Iran)
Date of Onset of Symptoms: Jan 10, 2006? Jan 03, 2006? 3 days before hospitalization?
Date Hospitalized: Jan 14, 2006 - treated in Rania hospital, transfered to Sulaimaniyah Hospital, where she "died within ten minutes of being transfered to Sulaimaniya for medical treatment."
Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms. Severe lung infection. Severe pneumonia. Authorities claimed she had an aortic aneurysm and a history of cardiac problems.
Confirmed H5N1: Jan 31, 2006.
Others in Cluster & Relationship: #2 Uncle, deceased, lived in same household. #7? - cousin.

#2
Name: Hamma Sour Abdullah (39/40M) [aka Hamasour Mustapha]
d. Jan 27, 2006
Home Town/Province: Sarkapkan Village, Raniya district (100 km S of Turkish border, 15 km W of Iran)
Date of Onset of Symptoms: Jan 24, 2006?
Date Hospitalized: Jan 24, 2006 - Sulaimaniyah Hospital
Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms. Claimed to be suffering from pulmonary infection at first, Maria Cheng (WHO) claimed he sufferend "breathing difficulties" and "severe respiratory problems." Symptoms similar to bird flu also noted.
Confirmed H5N1: Feb 06, 2006.
Others in Cluster & Relationship: Uncle of #1 Shangen Abdel-Qader (15F), lived in same household, said to have cared for her while she was ill (? culturally) and was girl's mother's brother. Died 10 days after his neice's death. Also, #7?
Contact with Poultry: Sick chickens in household.

#3
Name: Miriam Qadar (54F)
Home Town/Province: Raniya
Date of Onset of Symptoms: ?
Date Hospitalized: Jan 18, 2006 - Sulaimaniyah Hospital
Symptoms: Respiratory problems. Said to be severe bird flu symptoms.
Status: Hospitalized being treated?
Others in Cluster & Relationship: "Believed to be a distant relative of #1 & #2"

#4
Name: Sabiha Ali (F)
Home Town/Province: ?
Date of Onset of Symptoms: ?
Date Hospitalized: ? - Sulaimaniyah Hospital
Symptoms: ?
Status: Hospitalized being treated?
#4?
Name: Sabria Mohammed (40F)
Notes: In the city of Sulaimaniyah five people earlier suspected of suffering from bird flu were released Tuesday after their health improved following treatment, senior health official Mohammed Khushnow said. Of the five, Sabria Mohammed, a 40-year-old woman, was a carrier of H5N1 but her health improved after she was treated with the anti-avian influenza drug Tamiflu, he said.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=15680

#5
Name: Sariya Mirza (35F)
Home Town/Province: ?
Date of Onset of Symptoms: ?
Date Hospitalized: ? - Hospital in city of Erbil.
Symptoms: ?
Status: Hospitalized?
Notes: Noted as being positive for H5N1 - no other details given.

#6
Name: Hussein Saleh (38M) - poultry butcher
Home Town/Province: Bazyane, 40km south of Sulaimaniyah
Date of Onset of Symptoms: ?
Date Hospitalized: ? (appears in news Feb 02, 2006) - Sulaimaniyah
Symptoms: ?
Status: ?
Notes: Suspected to be infect by aviary influenza.

#7
Name: unknown - cousin to Shangen Abdul Qader (#1)
d. date?
Reported: Feb 05, 2006
Others in Cluster & Relationship: #1? - cousin. #2?
Notes: The responsible Iraqi also announced that one of the cousins of the girl deceased for the virus she died in the same city, but the results of the analyses had not confirmed, for the time being, that it was about a case of avi?ria grippe.
http://noticias.terra.com.br/ciencia...-EI298,00.html
Dr. Ibtisam Aziz, the official spokeswoman of the committee, said in a statement that ?a second case of one of the dead girl?s relatives, living in the same village also died.? The results of the lab examinations did not appear yet and ?they will immediately be announced as soon as being approved,? she said.
http://thekurdistani.com/news/content/view/1755/2/

#8
Name: unknown (7M)
Home Town/Province: ?
Date of Onset of Symptoms: ?
Date Hospitalized: Feb 05, 2006 - Erbil (Arbil)
Symptoms: ?
Status: ?
Others in Cluster & Relationship: Related to #9
Notes: Suspected infection of bird influenza virus - The two patients from Arbil, were breeding poultry in their homes and the birds died before the symptoms appeared on the woman and the boy. Now the two are tested for the disease,? the source added.
http://thekurdistani.com/news/content/view/1755/2/

#9
Name: unknown (24F)
Home Town/Province: ?
Date of Onset of Symptoms: ?
Date Hospitalized: Feb 05, 2006 - Erbil (Arbil)
Symptoms: ?
Status: ?
Others in Cluster & Relationship: Related to #8
Notes: Suspected infection of bird influenza virus - The two patients from Arbil, were breeding poultry in their homes and the birds died before the symptoms appeared on the woman and the boy. Now the two are tested for the disease,? the source added.
http://thekurdistani.com/news/content/view/1755/2/

#10? (may be confused with #11)
Name: ? (13/14M) 14-year-old died Sunday at Sadr General Hospital
d. Feb 05, 2006
Home Town/Province: Amarah (Omarah), 180 miles southeast of Baghdad
Date of Onset of Symptoms: Feb 01, 2006 (WHO report)
Date Hospitalized: Feb 05, 2006
Symptoms: Severe pneumonia
Notes: Pet birds kept by the family are said to have died near the time of symptom onset.

#11
Name: Mohanad Radi (30M) - pigeon breeder
d. Feb 05, 2006
Home Town/Province: Amarah (Omarah)
Date of Onset of Symptoms: ?
Date Hospitalized: Jan 29, 2006? Discharged: Feb 03, 2006?
Symptoms: bird flu-like symptoms (Pro-Med email)
Others in Cluster & Relationship: cousins - #14, #15, #16 - lived in same house.0
Notes: The man was admitted to a city hospital suffering from the flu but was discharged after five days and subsequently died at home on Sunday. "We suspect he died of bird flu as our investigations revealed that he had birds at home and one of the pigeons was infected by H5N1," Maliki told AFP on Tuesday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060207...4yBHNlYwNmYw--
"Mohanad Radi, 30 years, which raises pigeons, was hospitalized during five days. It [he] died Sunday two days after having returned at his place," affirmed with AFP Adel Mohajar Al-Maliki, governor of the town of Amara, to 365 km in the south of Baghdad.
http://hosting.afp.com/clients/ikp/f....3h6f1f8m.html

#12
Name: ? (infant - 4 months)
d. date? died after 3 days of symptoms
Reported: Feb 05, 2006
Home Town/Province: Tiqia, near Chamchamal, 60 km south of Soulaimiyah
Date of Onset of Symptoms: Jan 29, 2006?
Date Hospitalized: ?
Symptoms: strong fever, bleeding from nose
Others in Cluster & Relationship: Chadia Adnane, #13 - sister.
Notes: An infant of four months and half died after a strong fever which lasted three days then his/her three year old sister, Chadia Adnane Mohammad, developed the same symptoms. "It had, one week ago [Jan 29, 2006], a strong fever and blood ran of its nose but does not have vomit", told his/her uncle Rostom Hamma Amine. The child was initially transferred to the hospital from Chamchamal which kept it one day before returning it to it. "Its state worsened then we alerted the Minister for the Health Mohammad Khouchnou which came in person last Friday [Feb 03, 2006] to lead it to Soulaimaniyah", his/her uncle said, before adding that analyses are in hand to determine if it is infected.
http://www.institutkurde.org/afp/?sr...6.5ix5xdnq.xml

#13
Name: Chadia Adnane (3F)
d. date?
Reported: Feb 05, 2006
Home Town/Province: Tiqia, near Chamchamal, 60 km south of Soulaimiyah
Date of Onset of Symptoms: after infant sibling developed symptoms
Date Hospitalized: ?
Symptoms: strong fever, bleeding from nose
Others in Cluster & Relationship: infant, #12 - sibling
Notes: See #12.

#14
Name: Karim Salam (3M)
Home Town/Province: Amara
Date of Onset of Symptoms: ?
Date Hospitalized: (reported Feb 09, 2006)
Symptoms: "same symptoms as those having preceded death by their cousin"
Others in Cluster & Relationship: #11 - cousin, deceased; #15 & #16 - siblings
Notes: Inhabited in the same house of Mohanad Radii (#11).

#15
Name: Karar Salam (6M)
Home Town/Province: Amara
Date of Onset of Symptoms: ?
Date Hospitalized: (reported Feb 09, 2006)
Symptoms: "same symptoms as those having preceded death by their cousin"
Others in Cluster & Relationship: #11 - cousin, deceased; #14 & #16 - siblings
Notes: Inhabited in the same house of Mohanad Radii (#11).

#16
Name: Mehdi Salam (7F?)
Home Town/Province: Amara
Date of Onset of Symptoms: ?
Date Hospitalized: (reported Feb 09, 2006)
Symptoms: "same symptoms as those having preceded death by their cousin"
Others in Cluster & Relationship: #11 - cousin, deceased; #14 & #15 - siblings
Notes: Inhabited in the same house of Mohanad Radii (#11).

Rumors - Additional Patients/Clusters/Activity:

1/29 Kurdistan Health Minister Mohammed Khoshnow said that 30 other samples from northern Iraq were being tested. (AP) The U.N. official in Egypt who refused to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue also said that 30 other samples from northern Iraq were being tested.

1/29 Reports of 5 or 8 being tested in Basra on 1/29. Reports pulled swiftly from wires. Mushtaq Al Halafi, Director of the Iraqi Committee on Bird Flu Follow Up said on 1/28 that more than 100 cases were examined in Basra and none of them was infected with the virus.

1/29: Kurdistan Health Ministry official Najimuldin Hassan: 14 people have recently been admitted to hospitals exhibiting bird flu symptoms but just 2 remain in Sulaimaniyah Teaching Hospital suspected of having the disease.

1/29: Maria Cheng (WHO) says this is a case of limited human-to-human spread of the virus. "Based on the evidence we have right now, I don't think we can rule it out." (Helen Branswell article)

1/29: 12 people reported quarantined near Suliamaniyah after they fell ill with pneumonia according to Imad Ahmed, Deputy Prime Minister of Sulaimaniyah in Northern Iraq.

1/31 "We have 12 patients in Sulaimaniya that have lung infections that we suspect may be the bird flu virus" Kurdistan's deputy prime minister, Imad Ahmed, told Reuters, referring to one of the regions largest cities."

1/31 "Kurdistan Minister of Health Mohammed Khashnow said that 15 people had been admitted to the main hospital in Sulaimaniyah within the past week with suspected bird flu infection. He added that all suspected cases were being kept in quarantine."

1/31 "A local health official in Kurdistan, who asked to remain anonymous, said that a total of 35 samples had been sent for analysis outside Iraq. All of them, he added, had displayed symptoms similar to those of the girl who died."

1/31 "5 Mobile hospitals were due to arrive in northern Iraq later today, according to Health Minister Abdel Mutalib Mohammed."

2/1 "Twelve more peole in the Kurdistan region are being treated for suspected infection, said Iraqi officials on Monday (30 January).

2/1 "According to the Ministry (Kurdish Ministry of Health), 13 other patients are now showing similar symptoms to a 15-year-old girl who died of the bird flu on 17 January in the northern town of Raniya. Most of these are being kept in the main hospital of nearby Sulaimaniyah."

2/2 "Two other citizens have died of the infectious virus while two other cases are in intensive care, in addition to four other cases," Mohammed added (Mohammed quoted here is Nagmuddin Mohamed, the Manager of the Committee of the Health Protection of Kurdisan Region).

2/2 Report that "two children who died last week" but this may be confusion about victim #1, a girl (15) and her uncle, #2 (39/40) who were confirmed to have died from H5N1 last week. http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=11064

2/2 From the Kurdish press, again a statement that "The number of suspected bird flu cases in humans rose to at least 32 in Kurdistan yesterday." It is not clear if they consider the area they are speaking of to be Iraqui Kurdistan or greater Kurdistan. http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=11064

2/2 Mohammed (Kurdish Health Committee) said that in addition to the first victim, "Two other citizens have died of the infectious virus while two other cases are in intensive care, in addition to four other cases."

2/2 Al-Sulaimaniya, Iraq/Cairo (dpa) - A fresh bird flu scare has erupted in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq with reports of 162 suspected cases almost two weeks after a 15-year-old girl died of the deadly strain.

2/2 "In the Thursday issue of pan-Arab daily al-Hayat, the head of the pre-emption committee in the Kurdistan Province Najm Eddin Mohammed announced that 162 people have been admitted to the diagnosis center on suspicion of contracting the virus."

2/2 Many rumors have been circulating throughout northern Iraq about other possible cases of bird flu, and the reports will be investigated by WHO experts expected to arrive in the country by the end of this week, (WHO's Dick) Thompson said. "But people must remember that avian influenza is an extremely rare disease and is very difficult to catch," he said. http://cbs4.com/health/health_story_033005559.html

2/3 From Shannon: I just got word from my source inside Iraq. The number of dead in Iraq are strongly suspected at least at 8 and the "rumours" of the quarantine area and suspected cases are in fact, conservative. The source further says there are more than 300 suspected cases, and chaos is apparently reigning.

2/3 7,000 - 10,000 courses of Tamiflu being sent to Iraq.

2/5 The tests carried out by a London laboratory on samples coming from two other people having been in liaison with this teenager [Shangen - #1] appeared negative.... In addition to the died teenager, fourteen suspect cases were announced in Iraq, including two - a man and a woman - strongly suspected of being contaminated by mortal virus H5N1. http://hosting.afp.com/clients/ikp/f....5xu38rfk.html

2/6 "Apart from the girl who died there are seven suspected cases of bird flu and we have taken their blood samples and sent them to Cairo for further investigation," Naeema al-Gasseer, the WHO representative in Iraq, told reporters. http://www.africasia.com/services/ne...5.pha2bj19.php

2/7 In the city of Sulaimaniyah five people earlier suspected of suffering from bird flu were released Tuesday after their health improved following treatment, senior health official Mohammed Khushnow said. http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=15680

2/9 8 new suspected cases in Iraq - incld. 3 children (siblings) related to (cousins of) the pigeon breeder. Five persons have been ricoverate in the hospital of Soulaimaniyah, main city of the Kurdistan iracheno. "We have received a case from Tass Louja (15 kilometers more to the west, ndr) and four from Karadakh (50 kilometers more to south, ndr)", has indicated a turn doctor, that she has asked the anonymity. http://www.tio.ch/common_includes/pa...57425&idtipo=2

2/9 The WHO has confirmed that seven patients are now being treated for similar symptoms in hospitals in Sulaimaniyah, in northern Iraq. Most of the patients reported a history of direct contact with poultry, the health organisation stated. Local medical workers say that many more cases are suspected in the north. Dr Ahmed Talbiti, an infections specialist in Sulaimaniyah, said there had been concern about a total of 26 suspected cases in the north, but that 15 had already been confirmed as negative. The rest, he added, are currently being tested in local laboratories. http://web.krg.org/articles/article_...NNr=28&RNNr=70

[Mellie]

Re: Iraq H5N1 Case Count - Feb 10, 2006

Good effort both of you. Should we pop the champaign (or the Pinot Noir) on the first big summary research effort to emerge here?

Maybe later today. I still have lots to do before "quitting time"...

[Susan]

Re: Iraq H5N1 Case Count - Feb 10, 2006

Thank you Theresa.

[DB]

Re: Iraq H5N1 Case Count - Feb 10, 2006

Fantasic work Theresa!

I will provide a map of these locations later today.

[DB]

Re: Iraq H5N1 Case Count - Feb 10, 2006

Here is a first draft of the Map. The case numbers are matched with Theresa's summary above.

Notice how the cases are all on the eastern side of Iraq and not the western side.