New Bird Flu Outbreaks Raise Alarm in Asia

[hawkeye]

New Bird Flu Outbreaks Raise Alarm in Asia
By Claudia Blume
Hong Kong
15 January 2007

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Rising numbers of human bird flu deaths in Indonesia and avian flu outbreaks among poultry in several Asian countries have put the region on alert. The World Health Organization says Asia, Africa, even Europe, need to be prepared for the worse. Claudia Blume reports from VOA's Asia News Center in Hong Kong.

Vietnamese authorities reported on Monday that bird flu has spread to a seventh province in the country's south. Avian flu outbreaks have led to the killing of tens of thousands of birds in Vietnam's Mekong delta in the past month.

Thai livestock officials say they have just culled ducks in a northern province, the first flu outbreak in poultry in six months.

In Japan, agricultural authorities began culling thousands of chickens at a southern poultry farm on Sunday after tests found they were infected with bird flu. In Hong Kong, a dead bird suspected of having the H5N1 strain of avian influenza was found last Saturday, the second in two weeks.

Bird flu has also claimed human lives. Four people died of avian influenza in Indonesia last week. The son and husband of one the victims are being treated for symptoms of bird flu. Officials say, however, that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

Peter Cordingley, spokesman for the World Health Organization's regional office in Manila, says the recent outbreaks prove Asia needs to remain vigilant.

"We are prepared to see basically a repeat of last year and we wouldn't be surprised at all to see the other thing last year which is this virus getting on the move," he explained. "Last year it moved out of Asia and moved into the Middle East and Europe and parts of Africa. We have seen human cases in Egypt already, outbreaks in poultry in northern Niger already - so we suspect that it would be foolish to vote against this virus not doing exactly the same it did last year."

Cordingley urges continued education about the dangers of living in close proximity to infected poultry, particularly in Indonesia, where more than 60 people have already died of avian influenza.

Many Asian countries are now better prepared than they were a year ago however. Denis Hoffman is a bird flu expert at the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization in Bangkok. He says surveillance and containment mechanisms have improved tremendously.

"And even the countries that haven't had the disease yet, they have had assistance in preparing their contingency plans, looking at their imports and exports to make sure that they don't get the disease coming in through the trade of poultry products, which is probably one of the major reasons for its spread," he said.

Bird flu featured prominently at the meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations in Manila. Leaders endorsed a bird flu-prevention "road map" aimed at sharing best practices in the region.

[Thornton]

Re: New Bird Flu Outbreaks Raise Alarm in Asia

The dateline on this article says Jan 13, but it is current for today's edition of Japan Online. It appears they are quoting responsible experts but not necessarily the official Japanese public health authorities.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070113f2.html

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007

NEW STRAIN MAY BE COMING
Public told to brace for flu, get shots
Kyodo News
Doctors say a new flu strain may be coming and are telling the public to take precautions as the flu season nears.
"It has been predicted that if a new strain breaks out now, slightly fewer than 40 million people in Japan will be infected and 1 million people may die," said Seizaburo Kashiwagi, a flu expert and director of the Fukuoka Prefectural Red Cross Blood Center.
Avian influenza has broken out annually in recent years, and often infects some people. Antiviral drugs can be effective to combat the flu, but the rapid spread of viruses by air travelers is a cause of concern.
At Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, an average of 20,000 people per day arrive on international flights.
Transit isolators -- portable stretchers sealed airtight with transparent vinyl sheets -- are on hand in airport quarantine to transport infected people to the Red Cross Hospital in the city of Narita, which has an infectious diseases unit.?.
"In reports about people who died from an infection of bird flu, the virus entered the blood and spread throughout (the body). The cause of death was multiple organ failure, and there was hemophagocytic syndrome," Kashiwagi said.
There are two types of influenza drugs, which are either swallowed or inhaled.
"For hemophagocytic syndrome, the injection of immune-suppressing drugs and steroids should be considered," he said.
In late November, seniors and children, who are most vulnerable to influenza, flocked to Hanji Clinic in Tokyo's Nakameguro to get flu shots.
"There were more than 20 people a day. There was a day when the number reached 50," clinic director Naoto Hanji said. "In the past, many parents were not vaccinated, although their children received vaccinations. But recently, the number of parents who want vaccinations is increasing."
Vaccination is the most important step in preventing influenza. According to the Japan Physicians Association, 79 percent of the cases during peak flu season can be prevented if more people get flu shots during low season, when only 26 percent of the population typically is infected.
While local governments are trying to secure enough vaccines and antiviral drugs, officials are concerned about the public's lack of interest in preventive steps.