Announcement

**Commonground** · March 19, 2010, 04:32 AM

Re: Antigens of influenza virus H5N1co small changes

Distribution of the 15 tips influenza A/H5N1 virus has calculated the variation quickly, containing the genes of viruses from different animals. However, the antigenic variation that we track so far is small changes, no evidence that it has changed the toxic forces as well as from person to person spread of the virus. Cases occurred in the sink and no play related to each other.

This is reassuring. So, when they say "containing the genes of viruses from different animals"....that would be, pigs, dogs, etc.?

**Twall** · March 19, 2010, 05:42 AM

Re: Antigens of influenza virus H5N1co small changes

yes don't worry other animal virus are mixing at random with this type flu

oh but it means nothing

trust me.

could even be the human animal, I

**Treyfish** · March 20, 2010, 03:52 PM

Re: Antigens of influenza virus H5N1co small changes

Stronger but still not easily spread.. he says..

Influenza A/H5N1 antigenic variation
Sunday, March 21, 2010, 2:36 (GMT +7)
(VNA) .- It is the result of new research institute of the Central Hygiene and Epidemiology (VSDTTU) of influenza A/H5N1 virus, before the status of morbidity and mortality due to the flu vaccine is to be noted that in the country early this year.

PGS-Dr Nguyen Tran Hien, Director of the Institute for VSDTTU, the antigenic variation and genetic characteristics of strains of the virus. For influenza A/H5N1 virus in Vietnam through the research shows, there were replacement influenza A/H5N1 virus subgroups in a subgroup 2, 3, 4. Also among the 15 distribution tube influenza A/H5N1 virus variation is calculated quickly, containing the genes of viruses from different animals.

However, the antigenic variation is far smaller changes, no evidence of the ability to spread from human to human transmission of the virus, but the vaccine virus is highly pathogenic, causing great risk of death. World Health Organization also said that during the period from May to October 9-2009 to 2-2010, the H5N1 virus had changed little about the genetic and antigenic. H5N1 virus continued discovered in Africa, Asia, the Near and Middle East.

Forecast of the Department of Health and Environment backup, before the status of avian influenza outbreak continues in some localities in the coming time, the risk of morbidity and mortality due to influenza A/H5N1 Strengthens is unavoidable.

Prof.-Dr. Nguyen Tran Hien, said that in addition to regular monitoring closely the variations of the virus, the people itself should raise awareness for Disease Control. In particular, the failure to make serious trade, transport, slaughter and use of poultry and aquatic birds sick death, unknown origin.

Statistics show that in three months in 2010, the country had influenza A/H5N1 infected five people, including two deaths. Also from January 12-2003 to date, Vietnam has 60 people died of influenza A/H5N1

http://www.sggp.org.vn/ytesuckhoe/2010/3/221382/

**Shiloh** · March 21, 2010, 07:19 AM

Re: Antigens of influenza virus H5N1co small changes

Source: http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Health/2010/3/80403/

Sunday ,Mar 21,2010, Posted at: 12:36(GMT+7)
Research shows bird flu could become more deadly

Recent research shows rapid changes have occurred to the bird flu virus (A/H5N1), which could lead to a more deadly, drug-resistant strain of the disease, the Virus Department of the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology has reported.

Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga, head of the Preventive Health and Environment Department, said that at least seven antigen groups have appeared in the bird flu virus since it was first detected in Vietnam, and that the virus?s future development would be hard to predict.

She made the announcement on March 12 during a national conference in Hanoi on avian influenza.

However, the ability to transmit the virus from human to human remains low, Dr. Nga said.

She also warned that a bird flu (A/H5N1) epidemic is at high risk of recurrence due to poor pubic awareness of the disease.

Dr. Nguyen Tran Hien, director of the Virus Department of the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology, said that in addition to raising awareness about genetic mutations related to the bird flu virus, people must be educated about how to prevent the disease.

Dr. Nga said that in remote areas, local people still slaughter and eat meat from sick chickens. This may cause the disease to spread further, she added.

The Environment and Preventative Medicine Department has asked people to take strict measures to prevent another outbreak of A/H5N1. The department also stressed the need to tighten control of poultry transport, trading and slaughtering activities.

Anyone who suspects they may have contracted bird flu is advised to seek immediate medical treatment, the department added.

According to experts, the most effective measure to prevent an outbreak of the deadly disease is to promote information dissemination. Public awareness of the virus has remained relatively low since bird flu first broke out in Vietnam seven years ago.

Since the beginning of this year, five people in Vietnam have contracted the A/H5N1 virus, of whom two died.

Bird flu has claimed the lives of 60 people in Vietnam since December 2003.
Source:SGGP, Lao Dong_Translated by Thu Minh

**Commonground** · March 22, 2010, 06:38 PM

Re: Vietnam - Research shows bird flu could become more deadly - H5N1

Virus transformation: Can not usually considered
March 23, 2010,
-snip-
Meanwhile, Prof., Dr. Nguyen Tran Hien, Director of Institute of the Central Hygiene and Epidemiology, also confirmed antigenic variation and genetic characteristics of strains of the virus. For influenza A/H5N1 virus in humans in Vietnam, has replaced the influenza A/H5N1 virus subgroups in a first phase in 2007 with subheadings 2.3.4 from 2007 to present.
-snip-

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http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian.../en/index.html (Page 6 of 10)

**Commonground** · March 28, 2010, 04:12 AM

Re: Vietnam - Research shows bird flu could become more deadly - H5N1

Post #1:

The results of research cooperation between the Department of Animal Health Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Center for Preventive and control disease in the United States strains of influenza A/H5N1 virus in poultry in the period from 2001 -- 2007 showed, there were 9 genotypes of virus circulating in Vietnam in which four new genotypes detected in 2007 in Vietnam but appear not find elsewhere. This may be due to the exchange and rearrangement of genetic material between the new grouping into Vietnam in 2007 are grouped subheadings 2.3.4 and has a circulation earlier.

excerpt:

H5N1 isolates with reduced sensitivity to adamantanes and NAIs
Adamantane-resistant H5N1 strains are widespread throughout Asia, and the S31N mutation in the M2 protein is most prevalent in these strains (Hill et al., 2009), predominantly found in clade 1 viruses (Cheung et al., 2006). We identified six H5N1 isolates (one isolated in 2007 and five in 2008) with the S31N mutation, which has not been reported previously in clade 2.3.4 viruses. Of the six isolates, three had reduced sensitivity to oseltamivir and zanamivir in an NA enzyme inhibition assay (Table 2). Each isolate with reduced sensitivity to oseltamivir had different mutations in NA: one had an NA mutation at position 116 (V116A), one had three mutations at positions 222, 150 and 246 (I222L, K150N and S246N) and one had a mutation at position 246 (S246N). The NA mutation V116A reduced sensitivity to both oseltamivir (18-fold) and zanamivir (10-fold). The NA mutation I222L, a framework residue that is highly conserved among all influenza A and B viruses (Colman et al., 1993), contributed to the 77-fold reduction in susceptibility to oseltamivir of isolate A/chicken/Laos/P0020/07. It is not known whether the NA mutation K150N located in the 150 loop (residues 147–152) of the N1 NA alters sensitivity by changing the conformation of the 150 loop. A unique, previously unreported mutation, S246N, identified in two isolates, reduced the sensitivity of isolate A/chicken/Laos/13/08 to oseltamivir by 24-fold as a single mutation. The residue at position 246 is reported to mediate hydrogen-bonded ligand contacts with sialic acids (Landon et al., 2008).
-snip-
Because amantadine-resistant H5N1 strains are present in many countries, the use of adamantanes is recommended only in countries where H5N1 is not resistant to the drug. Adamantanes would have been recommended before reintroduction of H5N1 viruses in Lao PDR in 2008, but the emergence of clade 2.3.4 viruses with the S31N mutation in the M2 protein would limit antiviral treatment to oseltamivir. To prepare for pandemics, stockpiles of oseltamivir and zanamivir have been manufactured. However, the emergence of H5N1 influenza viruses with mutations in the NA, which alter their sensitivity to NAIs (Rameix-Welti et al., 2006), is of concern. Although no mutation resulted in oseltamivir resistance, the presence of multiple NA mutations accumulating during virus evolution may ultimately confer resistance. Identification of NA mutations in Lao H5N1 virus isolates indicates the importance of phenotypic surveillance for antiviral drug resistance, as it is occasionally mediated by previously unrecognized mutations such as S246N.

http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/91/4/949

**Commonground** · March 28, 2010, 04:25 AM

Re: Vietnam - Research shows bird flu could become more deadly - H5N1

[see also: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho....php?t=143607]

Tuesday ,Mar 23,2010, Posted at: 13:48(GMT+7)

Medical experts are growing increasingly worried that the bird flu virus (A/H5N1) is showing signs of transforming into more lethal forms, since the number of cases in Vietnam since the beginning of the year is equal to all those of 2009.

<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td class="Image">Medical workers advise people to wear protective clothing and wash their hands after coming into contact with poultry</td></tr></tbody></table>

The Department of Preventive Health and Environment, a sub-division of the Ministry of Health, has reported five H5N1 infections in the country since January 1 including two deaths. A 38-year-old woman from southern Tien Giang Province and a three-year-old from Binh Duong Province both succumbed to the illness.
Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga, head of the Department of Preventive Health and Environment, said the increase in infections highlights the complexity of the disease?s development.
Health workers are also concerned over the critical condition of a 25-year-old female in Hanoi?s Soc Son District who is currently being treated for bird flu at the National Tropical Disease Hospital. Unlike other cases, the woman reportedly had not had contact with diseased or dead waterfowl or eaten poultry before falling ill.
Dr. Nguyen Quynh Mai from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said research has revealed seven new A/H5N1 virus strains in Vietnam. Tests show the strains are drug-resistant and potentially lethal.
Dr. Nga said that low public awareness could lead to more lethal strains of both bird flu and swine flu (A/H1N1). He warned health agencies to strengthen supervision of flu outbreaks in communities to quickly isolate infected patients from coming into contact with other people.
Residents should report to local governments immediately when chickens die or show signs of disease for unclear reasons, he said. In addition, people should wear protective clothing and wash their hands after coming into contact with poultry.
Anyone suffering fever, cough or breathing problems is advised to seek immediate medical treatment.
-snip-

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Health/2010/3/80459/

**Commonground** · March 28, 2010, 04:31 AM

Re: Vietnam - Research shows bird flu could become more deadly - H5N1

[see this thread: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho....php?t=142914]
excerpt:
Day 12-3, in National Conference on prevention activities pandemic of 2009, implementation took place in 2010 in Hanoi, Dr Le Quynh Mai - Virus Dean, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology Central said that the influenza A/H5N1 virus evolved in our country are too fast and are of highly pathogenic strains.

From 2001-2007, there were nine types of the virus genes circulating in our country, including five new gene phenotype was discovered in 2007 and expression of the exchange, integration between the antigens of each gene. Dr. Mai also expressed concern because the H5N1 virus has made the change of antigens reduces the sensitivity of influenza treatment.

This is a very dangerous issue for public health by the forecast of experts, not soon, then later, a new virus may appear from recombinant strains of old and triggers a pandemic with unpredictable levels.

Also at the conference, several experts said that the existence of the time influenza A/H1N1, influenza A/H5N1 avian influenza in humans and, with winter weather - spring is a favorable condition for virus influenza developed and translated into many local spread.

Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga warning, the existence of H1N1 and H5N1 virus at the same time, requires monitoring the situation closely and conduct epidemiological studies for risk combination of two virus formed other pathogenic virus more dangerous is high.

http://tintuc.xalo.vn/00-1216266026/nguy_co_bung_phat_dich_cum_moi.html

**Commonground** · March 28, 2010, 05:12 AM

Re: Vietnam - Research shows bird flu could become more deadly - H5N1

This is an excerpt on the 2.3.4 clade

Redirect Notice

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**Vibrant62** · March 28, 2010, 05:17 AM

Re: Vietnam - Research shows bird flu could become more deadly - H5N1

As far as I am aware, the mutations listed as being associated with partial resistance have not surfaced elsewhere before now??? I had not heard of these before as being associated with resistance - is this the first time these changes have been seen?

NA mutation at position 116 (V116A),
three mutations at positions 222, 150 and 246 (I222L, K150N and S246N)
mutation at position 246 (S246N).

**Commonground** · March 28, 2010, 05:34 AM

Vietnam - Research shows bird flu could become more deadly - H5N1

Emergence of H5N1 avian influenza viruses with
reduced sensitivity to neuraminidase inhibitors and
novel reassortants in Lao People?s Democratic
Republic
David A. Boltz,1 Bounlom Douangngeun,2 Phouvong Phommachanh,2
Settha Sinthasak,2 Ricarda Mondry,3 Caroline Obert,4 Patrick Seiler,1
Rachael Keating,5 Yasuo Suzuki,6,7 Hiroaki Hiramatsu,6,7
Elena A. Govorkova1 and Robert G. Webster1
Correspondence
Robert G. Webster
robert.webster@stjude.org
1Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children?s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
2National Animal Health Centre, Vientiane, Lao People?s Democratic Republic
3Food and Agriculture Organization, Vientiane, Lao People?s Democratic Republic
4Hartwell Center for Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, St Jude Children?s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
5Department of Immunology, St Jude Children?s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
6College of Life and Health Sciences, Health Science Hills, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
7Global COE Program for Innovation in Human Health Sciences, University of Shizuoka School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shizuoka, Japan

Received 12 October 2009
Accepted 14 December 2009

DISCUSSION
The H5N1 outbreaks in poultry in Lao PDR in 2006?2008
were controlled, but the continuing emergence and
reintroduction of H5N1 viruses emphasizes their threat
to veterinary and human public health. Previous introductions
of H5N1 viruses in Lao PDR in 2004 and early 2006
were stamped out in the local bird population, but in mid-
2006 and early 2007, outbreaks of H5N1 viruses among
domestic poultry generated mutants and reassortants.
Phylogenetic analyses suggest that they persisted in the
region for 6 months before causing outbreaks throughout
Lao PDR in 2007. H5N1 clade 2.3.4 isolates and clade 2.3.2
viruses isolated in 2008 did not cluster with H5N1 viruses from 2007, demonstrating two new introductions. Only
isolates from mid-2006 and 2007 clustered, suggesting that
isolates from 2006 persisted in the region and resurfaced in
2007, causing outbreaks in avian species in five provinces
over a 3-month period, which also resulted in the first two
human fatalities in Lao PDR. The perpetuation of these
H5N1 viruses may explain the phenotypic diversity of the
genetically similar H5N1 viruses isolated in 2007.
Segmental reassortment among influenza viruses from
different host species has caused the rapid evolution of
influenza viruses and may aid the emergence of pandemic
strains. We have isolated novel H5N1 reassortments in Lao
PDR with genes from a circulating H5N1 virus and PB1
and PB2 genes from an unknown avian influenza virus
subtype. Since its emergence, highly pathogenic H5N1 has
continued to reassort with avian viruses from aquatic birds
and undergo intra-subtype reassortment to generate novel
genotypes in Southeast Asia (Guan et al., 2002a, b; Wan
et al., 2008) and Africa (Owoade et al., 2008).

-snip-

Redirect Notice

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**Commonground** · March 28, 2010, 06:02 AM

Re: Vietnam - Research shows bird flu could become more deadly - H5N1

from the pdf @ Post #12:

Because amantadine-resistant H5N1 strains are present in
many countries, the use of adamantanes is recommended
only in countries where H5N1 is not resistant to the drug.
Adamantanes would have been recommended before
reintroduction of H5N1 viruses in Lao PDR in 2008, but
the emergence of clade 2.3.4 viruses with the S31N
mutation in the M2 protein would limit antiviral treatment
to oseltamivir. To prepare for pandemics, stockpiles of
oseltamivir and zanamivir have been manufactured.
However, the emergence of H5N1 influenza viruses with
mutations in the NA, which alter their sensitivity to NAIs (Rameix-Welti et al., 2006), is of concern.

Although no mutation resulted in oseltamivir resistance, the presence of
multiple NA mutations accumulating during virus evolution
may ultimately confer resistance. Identification of NA
mutations in Lao H5N1 virus isolates indicates the
importance of phenotypic surveillance for antiviral drug
resistance, as it is occasionally mediated by previously
unrecognized mutations such as S246N.
-snip-
The highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses have
continued to circulate in epicentres in Eurasia for over a
decade, resulting in the evolution of multiple clades and
subclades. Because the transmission of H5N1 among
humans is inefficient and limited, the public is becoming
complacent about the pandemic potential of H5N1 viruses
and their capacity to achieve human transmissibility.
However, our study of H5N1 viruses in Lao PDR indicates
that this notion is premature. Historically, it is not known
how long it took for the Spanish, Asian and Hong Kong
pandemics to acquire human transmissibility. Our results
support the existence of a diverse population of H5N1
influenza viruses in Lao PDR – which might be true for all
countries where H5N1 is endemic – that may mutate and
reassort to cause a human pandemic.

Announcement

Vietnam - Research shows bird flu could become more deadly - H5N1 (2010)

Vietnam - Research shows bird flu could become more deadly - H5N1 (2010)

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