EGYPT - H7 found in migratory birds in Sharqiyah governorate

[Theresa42]

Google-translated from Arabic:

Mountain [Minister of Health] announces the discovery of a new strain of avian influenza virus in Egypt
8/20/2007 3:32:00 PM

CAIRO - Dr Hatem al-Jabali, Minister of Health and Population of the existence of a new breed of avian influenza virus (HP 7) [H7-something?] in one of migratory birds from Eastern Europe to Egypt.

The Mountain - addressing the meeting of the Shura Council health committee Monday - that officials at the Ministry of the Environment who discovered that jumper .. Adding that he would send a sample of the virus found by the analysis abroad.

The minister warned leniency in dealing with live birds, pointing out he noted during his tours nationwide this leniency, which could lead to the spread of infection among citizens.

He added that he had asked Amin Abaza, the Minister of Agriculture to hold an urgent meeting of the technical committee for the fight against bird flu to assess this new strain, which was discovered in a pond Eastern Province [Sharqiyah], according to the Middle East News Agency.

In a related context to the Red Crescent Society branch in coordination with the Center Giza General of the Egyptian Red Crescent, organizing awareness campaigns to combat the disease avian influenza update of the campaigns aimed at raising public awareness of those who are raising a bird conservation.

Ezzat told spend Director General of the Association Monday that he was planning training sessions for community leaders, housewives, farm workers on proper methods of prevention of the disease, besides holding seminars to educate workers massacres of the definition of scientifically sound at all stages of poultry processing to preserve the lives of citizens.

Participated in the campaigns Teachers College of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, and doctors Medicine minors kind addition to a number of volunteers who organized the Assembly home visits for residents of the province to familiarize them with ways to deal with health in poultry houses.

http://www.masrawy.com/News/2007/Egy...0/birdflu.aspx

[Theresa42]

CAIRO - Dr Hatem al-Jabali, Minister of Health and Population of the existence of a new breed of avian influenza virus (HP 7) [H7-something?] in one of migratory birds from Eastern Europe to Egypt.

Just to clarify -- that "HP" is most likely an artifact of the machine-translator and so probably doesn't indicate high-path vs. low-path or anything like that. I think it should just be read as H7 (and I'm not even 100% sure of that).

(Also, it probably doesn't indicate the sauce, either. )

[Theresa42]

Hat-tip, Pixie!

H7 strain of bird flu detected in Egypt
August 21, 2007

A case of the H7 strain of bird flu was detected in Egypt after a migrant bird in Sharqiya governorate in the Nile Delta tested positive to the H7 virus, Egyptian Health Minister Hatem el-Gabali said on Monday.

El-Gabali confirmed the discovery of the bird flu case when addressing the Heath Committee of the Shura Council on Monday, adding a sample of the virus will be sent abroad for further analysis, the Egyptian official MENA news agency reported.

After a migrated bird from East Europe found in a pond in Sharqiya was tested positive to the H7 strain of the disease, al-Gabali said he contacted Minister of Agriculture Amin Abbaza to hold an emergency meeting of the anti-bird flu committee to assess the situation.

The health minister warned against direct contact with live birds, saying leniency in dealing with live birds could lead to an outbreak of the disease.

Among a dozen more forms of avian influenza, or bird flu, the H5N1 form is the most dangerous. It is highly pathogenic and extremely contagious among birds, both by air and contact with faeces. But the H7 strain is not as deadly as H5 strains of the disease, said the report.

Since the deadly H5N1 virus was first detected in dead poultry in Egypt in February 2006 and the first human case in March of the same year, about 38 bird flu human cases have been recorded in the country. Out of them, 23 cases have recovered and 15 died.

The latest victim was 25-year-old Naeima Abdu Gamil, who came from Damietta governorate, 150 km north of Cairo, and tested positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in late July.

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/6244081.html

[HenryN]

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/08...ile_Delta.html

[AlaskaDenise]

Originally Posted by niman

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/08...ile_Delta.html

Commentary

H7 Detection in the Nile Delta Is Cause for Concern
Recombinomics Commentary
August 21, 2007

A case of the H7 strain of bird flu was detected in Egypt after a migrant bird in Sharqiya governorate in the Nile Delta tested positive to the H7 virus, Egyptian Health Minister Hatem el-Gabali said on Monday.

El-Gabali confirmed the discovery of the bird flu case when addressing the Heath Committee of the Shura Council on Monday, adding a sample of the virus will be sent abroad for further analysis, the Egyptian official MENA news agency reported.

After a migrated bird from East Europe found in a pond in Sharqiya was tested positive to the H7 strain of the disease, al-Gabali said he contacted Minister of Agriculture Amin Abbaza to hold an emergency meeting of the anti-bird flu committee to assess the situation.

The above translation describing H7 in a migratory bird in the Nile Delta is cause for concern. H7 is efficiently transmitted from human-to-human, as has been seen in multiple recent H7 outbreaks in Europe, including the recent H7N2 outbreak in the UK. H7N3 was in the UK last year and H7N7 was in the Netherlands in 2003. All three outbreaks resulted in reported human infections.

In late 2006, M230I was detected in human H5N1 cases in the Nile Delta, which was followed by additional bird and human isolates in 2007 with M230I. The emergence of M230I was coupled with convergence of two distinct coding sequences for the M230I (see Options VI presentation). One matched the H5N1 sequence from an eagle owl from Germany, while the other matched H7N3 UK bird isolates from 2006.

The H7 match raised the possibility that H7 was also circulating in the Nile Delta and these H7 sequences servered as donors for the new Qinghai clade 2.2 in the Nile Delta.

More information on the sequence of the H7 would be useful.


.

[Theresa42]

Originally Posted by Niman

The H7 strain is not as deadly as the H5, which is a highly contagious pathogenic among birds and birds can either contract the disease via air or contact with faces.

Presumably faeces.

Originally Posted by Niman

Al Gabaly mentioned that his ministry sent the government data confirming that the original virus is still serious and that the vaccination rate among birds has risen to three per cent.

That's not very high....

[Theresa42]

New Bird Flu Virus Appears in Egypt
By Magdy Samaan and Mona Abul-Nasr 21/8/2007

Minister of Health Dr. Hatem el-Gabali exploded a surprise yesterday during a meeting by the Shura Council Health Committee, as he confirmed the emergence of a new avian influenza virus in Egypt.

El-Gabali said that representatives of the Ministry of Environment within the Supreme Bird Flu Control Committee discovered a new strain of the virus, called H7 in some ducks coming from Eastern Europe, submerged in some ponds in Sharkia.

The Minister of Health said the infection of the new strain is weak, but precaution is necessary, pointing out that the Ministry of Health asked the Ministry of Agriculture to assess the seriousness of this virus.

El-Gabali stated that poultry production rate returned to its previous level before the emergence of the avian influenza, admitting the existence of laxity on the part governorate organs in the application of the decision banning the slaughter of live chickens outside farms.

He added that the ministry sent data to governorates to warn citizens that the original type of avian influenza, H5N1, is still serious, stressing that the vaccination rate rose from 0% to 3% of the birds.

http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/articl...rticleID=73209

[Theresa42]

Nine (9) migratory ducks found having H7 (low-path). Total number of migratory birds tested = 6,432. None found to be infected with H5.

Google-translated from Arabic:

Minister of the Environment told: descent "weak influence" .. 9 and discovered injuries

Yassin wrote 21/8/2007

Al-Majid George, Minister of State for Environmental Affairs, the Ministry of Environment inspection devices discovered yesterday 9 birds infected with the descendants of new bird flu symbol "H7", in the Eastern [Sharqiyah] Province.

George said in statements to Al "Egyptian Today" that the ministry has analyzed the six thousand and 432 samples [6,432] of migratory birds, and found that all free of virus "H5", the virus causing avian flu disease have been sent to laboratories "Navy [NAMRU-3] and Lourenço" abroad.

George added that under the ministry's plan to analyze all samples of migratory birds, we discovered a 9 birds infected with virus "H7", a weak influence in virus affects rights and causes B, فاوردنا each sampling results to record the Higher Committee for the follow-up disease avian influenza.

He continued: "The virus "H7" is not new to Egypt, he discovered since 1910, and recorded within the viruses causing the disease, and there are other types of high-impact, but this type is weak.

He pointed out that these birds coming from Central and Eastern Europe, stressing that it is checking the results of the viral gene recorded in the reference libraries of the virus.

http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/articl...rticleID=73172

[Dutchy]

Gabali calls for an urgent meeting for combating a new strain of bird flu

20/8/2007

"The H7 strain of bird flu was found in a migrant bird in Egypt," Health Minister Hatem Al-Gabali said before the Shura council's Health Committee Monday.

Gabali said a sample of the virus will be sent abroad for further analysis.

The Minister warned against leniency in handling live birds which he observed during his recent tours in some governorates across the country. Dropping our guard could lead to an outbreak of the disease, he warned.

He said he contacted Agriculture Minister Amin Abaza to arrange for an urgent meeting of the anti-bird flu committee to assess the situation after a bird that migrated to Egypt from East Europe and was found in a pond in Sharqiya Governorate tested positive to the H7 strain of the disease.

Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a contagious viral disease in animals, caused by a virus loosely related to human influenza.

While all bird species and - less commonly - pigs are thought to be susceptible, domestic poultry flocks are especially vulnerable to infection, which can rapidly result in epidemics among their populations.

The H7 strain has been known to infect humans but is not as deadly as H5 strains of the disease.

The Minister of Health said the Ministry of Health already drafted a plan for maintaining medical quality at all hospitals all over the republic adding this plan will be put before the world organization on endorsing medical quality standards.

http://birdflu.sis.gov.eg/html/flu01021264.htm

[Dutchy]

Minister of Environment Affairs: 'H7' strain not dangerous

22/8/2007


Minister of Environmental Affairs Maged George said on 21/7/2007 that H7 strain of bird flu is not dangerous and does not infect person with bird flu disease."H7 strain is not a new one but it was discovered in many parts of the world", he added.

The Minister asserted that the Ministry observed all kinds of viruses that infect birds with Avian flu in wild migratory and resident birds. He added that all samples are negative for the H5N1 virus high intensity for the disease which moves from birds to humans.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Amin Abaza on Tuesday 21/8/2007 in press statements said that "38 percent of Egypt's poultry was vaccinated against the bird flu virus.

Abaza noted that the ministry managed to put the virus under control, warning the problem facing the ministry was that around 6.5 million people were raising poultry at home.

http://birdflu.sis.gov.eg/html/flu01021265.htm

[Theresa42]

Google-translated from Arabic:

Veterinarians warn that the emergence of a new faction of "bird flu"
Aug 23, 2007

Ramadan Ragab wrote, Nasser Kashef Emad El

Veterinarians warned of the possible emergence of a new faction of the avian influenza virus, confirming that combines rapid transition labels, and cause serious illnesses, came during a conference organized by the Medical Branch Medical Association in Alexandria, yesterday I, under the heading "New Infectious Diseases", and the Ministry of Health had announced last Saturday as the emergence of a new breed of virus known as H7 in wild birds and water.

He asked veterinarians in Damietta new Ministry of Livestock, and the protection and immunization course Damietta international migratory birds.

Said Dr. Hatem Salah al-Din, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Cairo University: must take resolute steps to confront virus H7 because the seriousness of the rights if they moved him, pointing out that Egypt has hotbed 220 injured in home education [i.e. 220 outbreaks of bf in backyard birds, *I think*], according to statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture Official.

He Dr Ahmad handkerchief epidemiology professor at the Graduate Institute of Health, fears of the emergence of strong new faction, pointing out that he combines labels rapid transition between infected and causing them serious diseases.

Dr. Sabir Abdul Aziz, director-general of the General Authority for epidemics Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, there is a problem in poultry and birds in the house, as well as the complications that exercised by the owners when immunization, pointing out that he had been vaccinated 15 million birds in the regions and villages rural to now, have not been vaccinated, while 35% of the birds in Egypt.

In Damietta, experts and specialists warned of the danger of genetic mutations, which can be caused by avian influenza virus, as a result of genetic patterns of تباديل and combinations of virus quickly updated with new types of viruses are not known intensity and seriousness, and demanded that the Ministry of new livestock could face up to this.

http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/articl...rticleID=73419

[Theresa42]

Google-translated from Arabic:

Experts warn of the danger of new virus [H7] of avian influenza
Aug 24, 2007

Written by Metwalli Salem and meet Bakri

Veterinary experts criticized the statements of the Ministers of Health and Environment around downplay the seriousness of the emergence of a new breed of avian influenza in Egypt. Dr Sami Taha, a member of the Governing Council of the Bar veterinarians, the new strain of avian flu H7, which recognized Dr. Hatem Mountain [Minister of Health] appearing in Egypt yesterday are descendants of severe intensity, thereby dismissing statements by the Ministers of Health and Environment on the impact of weak new strain, and it is not a source of infection.

He said Taha told "Egyptian Today" that the statements of the two ministers are completely contrary to the truth, because this race very harshly, and the dramatic evolution of a virus, which can breed

H7 become a source of the infection

Rights, especially with the presence of pigs in the governorates of Cairo, Giza and Alexandria, where it is mixed with human flu and pigs.

He explained that the separation of the three strains of severe intensity was formerly birds immigrating to Egypt in 2004 and 2005, expressing fears a repetition of the scenario in February 2006, because of lack of transparency pursued by the concerned ministries, where the announcement of positive samples, followed by alarming spread of the new breed is not immunization without granting the necessary powers to the General Authority for Veterinary Services as the body responsible for resistance to these diseases, emphasizing that the terror will continue as long as the responsibility dispersed among the ministries concerned.

Said Dr. Sami Bisatti, President of the Egyptian Society of Animal Science, the H7 strain is less serious than a strain H5, but not a few to influence the rights, voices have been infected and cause a serious epidemic, stressing the need for caution from the new strains and to take the necessary preventive action to prevent its spread in a few days next.

Bisatti He explained that there are three types of avian flu, the most serious of N5 [H5], N7 [H7], N9 [H9], calling for intensified vaccination in areas near bodies of water, such as lakes downloaded and Karoon and Burullus and مريوط and Bardawil, because of the presence of migratory birds in these areas, so as not to give an opportunity for the spread of infection.

http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/articl...rticleID=73537

[Theresa42]

Google-translated from Arabic:

George: Wild Birds reserves free from flu
Aug 24, 2007

Rauf endorsed wrote:

Analysis results proved by the Ministry of the Environment to date on random samples of migratory birds and wild free from the avian influenza virus H5, which can be transmitted to humans through promiscuity. Eng Maged George, Minister of the Environment, to draw random samples and will periodically whether migratory birds coming from Central and Eastern Europe. And also endemic in wild birds collected reserves of natural places around the lake, and the Egyptian coasts Bahrain white and red aphid to be sent to labs نامرو in Egypt for analysis. The minister added that the virus H7 for the avian flu, which was discovered recently in Sharqia 9 samples of migratory birds does not pose any danger to human or even jumper himself .. he is tracking Jenny virus H5 to be put in the reference libraries in Egypt.

http://www.algomhuria.net.eg/almessa...l/detail09.asp [<< top story on page; not a permalink]

[Theresa42]

Question from MomCares:

Are there other places where H7 viruses are known to have coexisted with endemic H5N1?

[scottmcpherson]

I would say nowhere as precariously as in Northern Egypt, where the viruses could comingle so easily -- and where the intersection of H7 in wild birds and domestic ducks, along with H5N1 in poultry and humans, can create such a diverse number of potential mixing vessels.

[Theresa42]

Originally Posted by scottmcpherson

I would say nowhere as precariously as in Northern Egypt, where the viruses could comingle so easily -- and where the intersection of H7 in wild birds and domestic ducks, along with H5N1 in poultry and humans, can create such a diverse number of potential mixing vessels.

And pigs, too. Plenty of farmed pigs in Egypt.

Thanks, Scott!