China: Man Dies; Infected Father "Improving"; More Suspects

[Dutchy]

Man dies of bird flu in E China province


www.chinaview.cn 2007-12-03 02:56:12 Print

NANJING, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- A man in east China's Jiangsu province died of bird flu on Sunday, the provincial health department reported.

The 24-year-old man, surnamed Lu, developed fever, chills and other symptoms on November 24 and was hospitalized on November 27 after being diagnosed "lower left pneumonia". Lu's illness deteriorated in the hospital and died on Sunday.

A respiratory tract sample examination by Jiangsu Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Center on Saturday showed the man's avian flu virus nucleic acid was H5 positive and N1 positive.

However, the man had no contact with dead poultry, the health department said.

A test done by the China Disease Control and Prevention Center on Sunday also indicated that the man was H5N1 positive and the Chinese Ministry of Health has confirmed Lu was infected with bird flu.

The local government has adopted relative prevention and control measures. All of the 69 people who had close contact with Lu have been put under strict medical observation. So far, they have shown no signs of symptoms.

The Ministry of Health has reported the case to the World Health Organization and some countries and regions.

Jiangsu Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau said no bird flu epidemic has been found in the province so far.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_7187514.htm

[HenryN]

Man dies of bird flu in China: report
Posted: 03 December 2007 0234 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 A doctor examines a man at a temporary medical centre set up for bird flu check-ups in Medan.

BEIJING - A man in east China died of bird flu Sunday, the country's 17th fatality from the H5N1 virus, state media reported.

The 24-year-old man was hospitalised last Tuesday after being diagnosed with pneumonia, Xinhua news agency reported early Monday, citing the Jiangsu provincial health department.

The man's condition deteriorated in hospital and he died on Sunday, it said.

Separate tests by the provincial and national disease control centres indicated the man was positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza, the agency said, adding the health ministry had confirmed he was infected with bird flu.

The man, surnamed Lu, had no contact with dead poultry, the Jiangsu health department said, according to Xinhua. Jiangsu also had no outbreaks of bird flu, the agency said, citing the provincial animal husbandry bureau.

All 69 people who had close contact with Lu had been put under medical observation but none had so far shown any symptoms, Xinhua said.

With the latest case, the virus has so far infected at least 26 people in China, 17 of whom died. The country's previous bird flu fatality was a teenage soldier who died in June.

While the disease is usually associated with contact with infected birds, China has a widespread poultry vaccination programme and only one confirmed human bird flu case has followed a matching outbreak in poultry.

China conducted a huge campaign last year to contain the disease, aggressively slaughtering tens of thousands of poultry and stepping up public education efforts.

Vice Agriculture Minister Yin Chengjie however warned in September this year that much of the country remained ill-equipped to prevent the spread of bird flu.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed 206 people worldwide since 2003, according to the latest World Health Organisation figures on November 12.

Asia has accounted for most of the victims, with 91 deaths in Indonesia alone and 46 in Vietnam.

Scientists fear that H5N1 will eventually mutate into a form that is much more easily transmissible between humans, triggering a global pandemic.

A UN and World Bank report last week warned that the world remained unprepared to cope with a human pandemic arising from bird flu.

The original source of the virus is thought to have been wild migratory birds.

- AFP /ls

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...315125/1/.html

[HenryN]

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...1_Jiangsu.html

[HenryN]

China Reports 17th Bird Flu Death
By VOA News 02 December 2007

China's health ministry has reported the death of a man from bird flu in the coastal province of Jiangsu.
China's official news agency says health officials confirmed that the man died Sunday from the H5N1 strain of the virus.
Xinhua said the 24-year-old man's condition deteriorated rapidly after he was hospitalized Tuesday. The report did not identify the hospital or its location.
Information about how and where the man may have contracted avian influenza was not immediately available.
No bird flu outbreak has been reported among the province's wild birds or poultry.
Bird flu outbreaks were reported last month in Hong Kong, South Korea and Burma.
The World Health Organization reports there have been at least 25 human cases of avian flu confirmed in China in recent years, 16 of them fatal.
The WHO says more than 200 people have died of bird flu worldwide since the first outbreak in 2003.
Scientists are concerned the a deadly strain of the bird flu virus could change into a form easily passed among humans, sparking a pandemic.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-12-02-voa24.cfm

[AlaskaDenise]

Originally Posted by niman

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...1_Jiangsu.html

Commentary H5N1 Confirmed Fatality in Jiangsu China Recombinomics Commentary December 2, 2007 A man in east China died of bird flu Sunday, the country's 17th fatality from the H5N1 virus, state media reported. The man, surnamed Lu, had no contact with dead poultry, the Jiangsu health department said, according to Xinhua. Jiangsu also had no outbreaks of bird flu, the agency said, citing the provincial animal husbandry bureau. A UN and World Bank report last week warned that the world remained unprepared to cope with a human pandemic arising from bird flu. The original source of the virus is thought to have been wild migratory birds. The above comments describe a new confirmed H5N1 fatality in China. The lack of a poultry link is cause for concern. Wild bird migrations at this time of the year have been linked to outbreaks to the west of China in Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, England, Romania, and Poland. To the south there have been new outbreaks in Bangladesh, Mayanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. In the north, only H7N8 has been reported in South Korea, but wild birds from Mongolia arrive in the area at this time of the year, and those birds may be linked to the fatality in China. The widespread reports of H5N1 at this time of the year suggest that human and poultry cases may be higher than those reported last season. Sequence data on the latest case in China would be useful.

.

[hawkeye]

From Boxun:

One man died of bird flu in Jiangsu

China's Jiangsu Provincial Health Department on December 2 briefing, a 24-year-old local man in the same day died from the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, become China's first 17 bird flu cases. Below are Radio Free Asia reporter hope that the news gathering and reporting.

According to Xinhua News Agency reported Monday, Jiangsu Province, the Chinese Ministry of Health confirmed the man is indeed infected and died of the deadly bird flu, which is China's first 17 cases of bird flu patients

Reports said the man, surnamed Lu, in the November 24 fever, chills and other symptoms, November 27 because of lower left pneumonia hospitalization, his condition deteriorated rapidly, as done to save invalid, in the December 2 deaths.

Jiangsu Provincial Disease Prevention and Control Center and China Disease Prevention and Control Center were taken from the respiratory tract of patients with test results are confirmed to be avian influenza virus H5N1 nucleic acid positive. Reports said that the deceased died and never contacted the poultry. The relevant government departments have 69 and the men have had close contact with people who practice a strict medical observation.

The Xinhua News Agency quoted the Jiangsu Provincial Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau's words, Jiangsu has not occurred poultry highly pathogenic avian flu epidemic. This H5N1 deadly bird flu death cases is China in May since the first such cases. This year in May, one stationed in Fujian's 19-year-old surnamed Cheng of the People's Liberation Army soldiers died from the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

China has so far occurred 26 human infections of H5N1 avian flu cases, of which 17 people died. Science and Technology Association Honorary President of the United States Xie Dr. Ye, the Chinese government in its work to prevent bird flu, said: "Like other countries like China is also taking various measures, once found on the comprehensive culling, blockades, and disinfection. Since Savimbi Andean later, after receiving lessons, this reaction is quite fast, measures are also quite effective. out once after the incident, it immediately reported, we take immediate preventive measures but overall, we must also strengthen and I think that China's medical care, although in some urgent things, a lot of them is to strengthen preventive measures, but also various local medical uneven development, even in some big cities there, I think the medical field must take great efforts to reform and how to find an effective way to protect the life and health of the people across the country. "

Although so far, the H5N1 avian influenza remains mainly in the spread between birds, but experts worry that once the virus abnormal change and the bird flu virus could trigger a global epidemic disaster.

More recently by the United Nations and the World Bank a joint report warned that although countries in the area to prevent bird flu spread has done a lot of work, the global outbreak of large-scale human transmission of each other the possibility of the avian flu epidemic is not small. This, Xie Mr Yip said: "This is because the bird flu virus changes relatively quickly, a slight change that will become another kind of virus, although it is the avian flu, but it may be a relatively new structure, so a bit impossible. this is not the World Health Organization fear most, the most trouble is air-borne. now the only contact with avian flu also sexually transmitted. contact and air-borne transmission is absolutely different situation. must contact is the contact zone virus poultry birds or animals contracted the disease before, but once the virus changes and became air-borne, the same as ordinary influenza, can be relatively trouble, it will result in large areas of transmission. virus changes relatively quickly, vaccine may be unable to keep up with. "

The report pointed out that the current avian flu in Indonesia and throughout the territory of China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Egypt and Nigeria are still some areas has not been cleared. According to World Health Organization data, in 2003 the worldwide infection with the H5N1 avian flu patients has reached the number of at least 328 cases, of which 200 people died.

These are Radio Free Asia reporter hope that the news gathering and reporting.

[Laidback Al]

This, Xie Mr Yip said: "This is because the bird flu virus changes relatively quickly, a slight change that will become another kind of virus, although it is the avian flu, but it may be a relatively new structure, so a bit impossible. this is not the World Health Organization fear most, the most trouble is air-borne. now the only contact with avian flu also sexually transmitted. contact and air-borne transmission is absolutely different situation. must contact is the contact zone virus poultry birds or animals contracted the disease before, but once the virus changes and became air-borne, the same as ordinary influenza, can be relatively trouble, it will result in large areas of transmission. virus changes relatively quickly, vaccine may be unable to keep up with. "

I tried retranslating this paragraph with WorldLingo and integrated the two translations with my liberal interpretation of the intent of the speaker.

-----
Regarding this, Mr. Xie Jiaye said: "This is because the bird flu virus changes relatively quickly; a slight change will produce another kind of virus. Although it is [still] avian flu, it may have a new structure, so it [will be] impossible to guard against. This change in the virus is not what the World Health Organization fears most, rather [WHO] is more concerned about air-borne transmission. Currently, avian flu is only transmitted by direct contact. Direct contact and air-borne transmission are two absolutely different situations. [For now, contact is necessary with poultry birds or other infected animals to catch the disease {must contact is the contact zone virus poultry birds or animals contracted the disease before}] But once the virus changes and becomes air-borne, the same as ordinary influenza, it will be very troublesome and it will result in large areas of infection. The virus changes relatively quickly; vaccine [development] may be unable to keep up with [the changes]. "

[Theresa42]

Hat-tip, Carol@SC!

Mainland avian flu death poses infection riddle
Timothy Chui
Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Ministry of Health officials in the mainland are trying to determine how a 24-year-old man, who had no known contact with infected or dead poultry, died from avian flu on Sunday.

The Centre for Health Protection of Hong Kong's Department of Health was told yesterday morning none of the man's close contacts had shown signs of avian influenza. Reports say that 69 people who had been in contact with the man are under medical observation.

The center said samples taken from the man confirmed he had been infected with H5N1. His death brings the number of avian flu fatalities in the mainland to 17.

But virologist Julian Tang Wei-tze was skeptical about the assessment that the victim has had no contact with birds or poultry. "Its about the accuracy of their contact history. With an incompatible history it's hard to exclude any contact with infected birds, their droppings or people."

A Hong Kong-based microbiologist said it was too early to assume any sort of mutation and that the explanation lay in the definition of contact with sick or dead poultry. "If you look back to Hong Kong in 1997 and take the definition of sick or dead poultry, hardly any of the 18 human cases had evidence of contact with sick or dead poultry. Hong Kong has very few poultry farmers and in all likelihood, the cases were exposed at markets."

Contact with infected birds is the most common form of transmission of the virus to humans.

A similar case occurred in July when a six-year-old Indonesian boy was infected, with no apparent contact with poultry. The Indonesian medical community was puzzled, unable to find infected poultry within 300 meters.

The death was reported just as a second exercise began yesterday to test emergency response cooperation and coordination between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

More than 60 public health officials and medical personnel joined, including representatives of the Food and Health Bureau, the Department of Health and Hospital Authority in Hong Kong, the Ministry of Health in Beijing and the Jiangsu province Health Department and Health Bureau of Macau.

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_d...=20071204&fc=1

[Dutchy]

China says father of man killed by bird flu also infected

07 Dec 2007 14:04:31 GMT

BEIJING, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The father of a Chinese man who died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu last week has also been diagnosed with the disease, authorities said on Friday.

The national disease control authority has confirmed that a 52 year-old man surnamed Lu from the Nanjing, capital of the eastern province of Jiangsu, was feverish with the H5N1 strain on Thursday, the Ministry of Health reported on its Web site (www.moh.gov.cn).

The reported noted that Lu's son had also contracted the disease, and an earlier report by Xinhua news agency said the son had died from it on Sunday.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK95354.htm

[HenryN]

Originally Posted by Dutchy

China says father of man killed by bird flu also infected

07 Dec 2007 14:04:31 GMT

BEIJING, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The father of a Chinese man who died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu last week has also been diagnosed with the disease, authorities said on Friday.

The national disease control authority has confirmed that a 52 year-old man surnamed Lu from the Nanjing, capital of the eastern province of Jiangsu, was feverish with the H5N1 strain on Thursday, the Ministry of Health reported on its Web site (www.moh.gov.cn).

The reported noted that Lu's son had also contracted the disease, and an earlier report by Xinhua news agency said the son had died from it on Sunday.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK95354.htm

The medical department on December 7 notifies, Jiangsu Province newly diagnoses an example person to infect the high pathogenic birds and beasts flu case of illness. Patient Lu, male, the father which 52 years old, the Jiangsu Province Nanjing people, are which on December 2 diagnoses the person infect the high pathogenic birds and beasts flu case of illness. In medical inspection period evening appears on December 3 gives off heat the symptom, namely by "a pair of under pneumonia" is hospitalized to treat. On December 5, Jiangsu Province prophylaxis control center to patient respiratory tract sample examination demonstration, birds and beasts flu virus H5N1 nucleic acid masculine gender. On December 6, the China prophylaxis control center reexamines the examination to the patient respiratory tract specimen, the result for the birds and beasts flu virus H5N1 nucleic acid masculine gender. Infects the high pathogenic birds and beasts flu according to the World Health Organization people to diagnose case of illness definition and our country diagnoses the standard, the Jiangsu Province person birds and beasts flu guards against controls the expert group to determine this case of illness manner to infect the high pathogenic birds and beasts flu to diagnose case of illness. After the epidemic situation occurs, the local government highly takes, "Infected High Pathogenic Birds and beasts Flu Emergency Predetermined plan according to Person" to adopt correspondingly has guarded against controls the measure. To completely close contact implementation strict medical inspection; Up to at present, discovery exceptionally clinical manifestation. This case of illness related situation, medical department already to World Health Organization, Hong-Kong, Macao and Taiwan area and partial national notification.

[Dutchy]

China says father of bird flu victim also infected

07 Dec 2007

(Adds details, background)

BEIJING, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The father of a Chinese man who died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu last week has also been diagnosed with the disease, authorities said on Friday.

The National Disease Authority has confirmed that a 52-year-old man surnamed Lu from the Nanjing, capital of the eastern province Jiangsu, was feverish with the H5N1 strain on Thursday, the Ministry of Health reported on its Web site (www.moh.gov.cn).

This latest case raises troublesome questions about how the man was infected.

Humans can contract H5N1 from close contact with infected birds, but scientists fear the disease could mutate into a version that spreads from person-to-person, risking wider outbreaks or even a global pandemic.

Lu's son died on Sunday from the same disease, making the question of how these two infections occurred especially important.

The Xinhua news agency had earlier reported that the son had had no contact with dead poultry and there had been no reported poultry outbreak in the province.

The latest report did not say whether contact with infected poultry had been confirmed in either of the infections.

With the world's biggest poultry population and millions of backyard birds roaming free, China is at the centre of the fight against bird flu.

This latest case brings the number of confirmed human infections of bird flu in China to 27. The Ministry of Health said the World Health Organisation had been notified of this latest case.

WHO representatives in Beijing could not be contacted for comment late on Friday evening. (Reporting by Chris Buckley; Editing by Alex Richardson)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP216287.htm

[JohnW]

This from HarpManDoodle on PFP.

Even Sky News just covered this one from the reuters only report. it could be the first ripple!


BEIJING, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The father of a Chinese man who died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu last week has also been diagnosed with the disease, authorities said on Friday.

The National Disease Authority has confirmed that a 52-year-old man surnamed Lu from the Nanjing, capital of the eastern province Jiangsu, was feverish with the H5N1 strain on Thursday, the Ministry of Health reported on its Web site (www.moh.gov.cn).

This latest case raises troublesome questions about how the man was infected.

Humans can contract H5N1 from close contact with infected birds, but scientists fear the disease could mutate into a version that spreads from person-to-person, risking wider outbreaks or even a global pandemic.

Lu's son died on Sunday from the same disease, making the question of how these two infections occurred especially important.

The Xinhua news agency had earlier reported that the son had had no contact with dead poultry and there had been no reported poultry outbreak in the province.

The latest report did not say whether contact with infected poultry had been confirmed in either of the infections.

With the world's biggest poultry population and millions of backyard birds roaming free, China is at the centre of the fight against bird flu.

This latest case brings the number of confirmed human infections of bird flu in China to 27. The Ministry of Health said the World Health Organisation had been notified of this latest case.

WHO representatives in Beijing could not be contacted for comment late on Friday evening. (Reporting by Chris Buckley; Editing by Alex Richardson)


http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP216287.htm

[Dutchy]

Dec 7, 2007

WHO confirms father of Chinese bird flu victim also infected

BEIJING - THE father of a Chinese man who died of bird flu has also been infected with the H5N1 virus that causes the disease, the World Health Organization reported on Friday, saying it could not rule out the possibility of human-to-human infection.

Joanna Brent, a Beijing-based WHO spokeswoman, said the father began presenting symptoms on Monday and was confirmed as having the virus on Wednesday. She said he was being monitored in hospital.

'Because the possibility of human to human transmission cannot be ruled out, we will be monitoring this case closely,' Brent told reporters.

'If it is found to be easily passed between humans, we would be concerned,' Ms Brent said.

Ms Brent said there was no evidence that the man had been infected by his 24-year-old son, who died on Dec 2, but said the possibility could not yet be eliminated.

Chinese news reports gave the man's age as 52. Both he and his son, who lived in the eastern province of Jiangsu, were identified only by their surname, Lu.

Ms Brent said it was also possible that both men were infected by the same bird, or that they were infected separately from different sources.

Ms Brent said health authorities were monitoring another 68 people who were in close contact with the son, none of whom have so far shown symptoms of H5N1 infection. She said that seemed to indicate that it was unlikely that the virus was being easily passed between humans.

China has not confirmed any cases of human-to-human infection, although the sister of a Chinese boy who was diagnosed with H5N1 in 2005 later became sick and died. Authorities were not able to confirm whether the girl had been infected with H5N1.

Sporadic human-to-human transmission of the highly viral and hard-to-treat H5N1 flu strain has been reported in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia, but none of the cases have been proven, and officials determined there was no epidemiological significance because the spread was not sustained.

Despite that, Dr. David Nabarro, the U.N. official coordinating the global fight against bird flu, said last month that the risk of a worldwide human-to-human pandemic remains as great today as it was when H5N1 first gained intense media attention in mid-2005.

Bird flu in poultry and wild birds has since spread to 60 nations, but improved responses have limited it mainly to just six nations: Indonesia, parts of Bangladesh, Vietnam, Egypt, Nigeria and China.

Experts say the virus has not been able to commingle its genetic material with that of a human influenza virus and, in so doing, acquire the ability to be transmitted from person to person.

Most people killed by the disease so far have been infected by domestic fowl, and the virus remains very hard for humans to catch; about half the people infected die. But experts fear it could mutate into a form that easily spreads among humans, sparking a pandemic that some have said could kill anywhere from 5 million to 150 million.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest&#...ry_184528.html

[HenryN]

Avian influenza – situation in China - update 4

4 December 2007
The Ministry of Health in China has reported a new case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case was confirmed by the national laboratory on 2 December.
The 24-year old male from Jiangsu Province, developed symptoms on 24 November, was hospitalized on 27 November and died on 2 December. There is no initial indication to suggest he had contact with sick birds prior to becoming unwell. Close contacts have been placed under medical observation and all remain well.
Of the 26 cases confirmed to date in China, 17 have been fatal.

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_12_04/en/index.html

[HenryN]

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...u_Cluster.html

[Theresa42]

From SusanC @ FW:

from TV news in Hong Kong
The father was initially tested positive on Dec 3, confirmed on Dec 6th.

There was a gap of 10-days between the symptoms onset of the father and son. WHO has not excluded person-to-person transmission. Common environmental exposure is another possibility....

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showComme...ommentId=75731

[Dutchy]

New China bird flu case raises human-to-human fear

by Dan Martin

The father of China's latest bird flu victim also has the disease, officials said Friday, prompting World Health Organisation (WHO) fears of possible human-to-human transmission.

A Chinese health ministry statement said a 52-year-old man named Lu in the eastern city of Nanjing had the H5N1 strain, which killed his son on Sunday and has reportedly caused more than 200 deaths worldwide since 2003.

The WHO in Geneva said there were three possible explanations for the father-son case: either they were infected by the same animal, by transmission between them, or by exposure to two different infected animals.

The deadly H5N1 strain has passed from human to human only in very rare cases but scientists fear that such transmission could become more efficient and widespread through mutation, causing a global pandemic.

Jiangsu province health department said this week that it had not determined how the dead man contracted the virus as he was not known to have had contact with dead poultry.

The new case brings to at least 27 the number of infections in China, where 17 people have died from bird flu.

"The patient, a 52-year-old male surnamed Lu from Nanjing in Jiangsu, is the father of the serious case of bird flu diagnosed on December 2," said the statement posted on the health ministry website.

"On December 6, the China Disease Prevention and Control Center confirmed the presence of the H5N1 bird flu strain."

The man developed a fever and pneumonia symptoms on Monday while under medical observation following his son's death, the statement said.

The ministry added that all people who had been in contact with the older man were under observation but no new cases had appeared, and that it had promptly notified the World Health Organisation.

WHO spokesman John Rainford said cases of human-to-human transmission are very rare, citing only three previous cases in Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.

Another WHO official, Christiane McNab, said 69 people had been in contact with Lu, and none seemed to have bird flu.

"If this is a case of contact between humans, the virus isn't virulent, otherwise other people would have been infected," she said.

Lu's son, 24, was hospitalised 10 days ago after developing pneumonia, Xinhua news agency reported at the time, citing Jiangsu health department. His condition deteriorated in hospital and he died on Sunday, Xinhua said.

The Chinese health ministry gave no further details on the condition of the new patient, whether he had had contact with poultry, nor any information on possible human-to-human transmission.

While the disease is usually associated with contact with infected birds, only one confirmed human case in China has followed a poultry outbreak.

China conducted a huge campaign last year to contain the disease, slaughtering tens of thousands of fowl.

Vice Agriculture Minister Yin Chengjie, however, warned this September that much of the country remained ill-equipped to prevent its spread.

The H5N1 strain has killed more than 200 people worldwide since 2003, according to the WHO.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071207...a_071207182406

[Theresa42]

The WHO in Geneva said there were three possible explanations for the father-son case: either they were infected by the same animal, by transmission between them, or by exposure to two different infected animals.

Four possible explanations: they could both have been infected by a third person who has not been diagnosed.

Not sayin' that's what's happened -- just sayin' it's possible.

[Theresa42]

Google-translated from Chinese:

Jiangsu newly confirmed case of human infection with the highly pathogenic avian flu cases

2007-12-08

The Ministry of Health on the 7th communications, Jiangsu Province, newly confirmed case of human infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza. This is confirmed in the province in a week of the second case of human infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Patients陆某, male, 52 years old, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, which is on December 2 confirmed human infection with the highly pathogenic avian flu cases the father. In medical observation during December 3 evening fever symptoms, which was to "double pneumonia under" hospital treatment. December 5, Jiangsu Province, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in patients with respiratory tract samples detected that the avian flu virus H5N1 nucleic acid positive. December 6, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention to review samples of patients with respiratory tract, the results of the avian flu virus H5N1 nucleic acid positive.

According to the World Health Organization human infection with the deadly bird flu confirmed case definition and diagnostic criteria in China, Jiangsu Province human avian influenza prevention and control expert group found cases of people infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed cases.

After the epidemic occurred, the local government has attached great importance, in accordance with the "people infected with the deadly bird flu contingency plans" to the corresponding prevention and control measures. Close contacts of all implement strict medical observation; Up to the present and found no abnormal clinical manifestations.

The case of the situation, the Ministry of Health has the World Health Organization, Hong Kong, Macao regions and some national communications.

Jiangsu Provincial Health Department on December 2 evening was informed, the Ministry of Health confirmed a case of human infection with the Jiangsu province of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Patients陆某, male, aged 24, on November 24 fever, chills and other symptoms, November 27 "lower left pneumonia" hospital treatment, his condition deteriorated rapidly, as done to save invalid, was on December 2 deaths.

http://www.yangtse.com/sytj/rdxw/200...208_385518.htm

[HenryN]

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (155): CHINA (JIANGSU)
*********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Fri 7 Dec 2007
Source: Physorg.com, Agence France-Presse (AFP) report [edited]
<http://www.physorg.com/news116246264.html>


The father of a man in China who died this week of bird flu [see
ProMED-mail Avian influenza, human (154): China (Jiangsu)
20071205.3920] has also tested positive for the H5N1 strain of the
disease, the country's health ministry reported on Friday [7 Dec 2007].

A statement on the ministry website said a 52-year-old man in eastern
Jiangsu province, has been confirmed with the virus, just days after
his 24-year-old son died on Sunday [2 Dec 2007]. The man developed a
fever and pneumonia symptoms on Monday [3 Dec 2007] while under
preventive medical observation following his son's death, the statement said.

It added that 2 days later, Jiangsu bird flu experts conducted tests
to determine whether he had the virus and confirmed the diagnosis on
Thursday [6 Dec 2007]. The ministry added that all people who had
been in contact with the 52-year-old man were under observation but
that no new cases had appeared.

The 52-year-old man's son was hospitalised 10 days ago [27 Nov 2007]
after being diagnosed with pneumonia, the Xinhua news agency reported
at the time, citing the Jiangsu provincial health department. His
condition deteriorated in hospital and he died on Sunday [2 Dec
2007], according to the report. Earlier this week, provincial health
authorities said they had not determined how the deceased man
contracted the virus, saying he was not known to have had contact
with dead poultry.

The ministry gave no further details on the medical condition of the
new patient, nor any information on whether human-to-human
transmission was to blame.

--
Communicated by:
Mike Buman, EMT-PS/RN
Western Arizona Regional Medical Center
<ayrman@frontiernet.net>

[This is the 27th human case of H5N1 avian influenza in China.

Notwithstanding the father-son relationship of these 2 cases in
Jiangsu province it is premature to consider this to be an instance
of human-to-human transmission in view of the lack of information on
the source of the virus, and the absence of onward transmission. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
Avian influenza, human (154): China (Jiangsu) 20071205.3920
Avian influenza, human (153): China (Jiangsu) 20071202.3886
Avian influenza, human (90): China, WHO 20070604.1809
Avian influenza, human (85): China, WHO 20070530.1743
Avian influenza, human (84): China 20070527.1699
Avian influenza, human (62): China, Egypt, WHO 20070331.1103]
...................................cp/mj/mpp

[HenryN]

Originally Posted by niman

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (155): CHINA (JIANGSU)
*********************************************
A
[This is the 27th human case of H5N1 avian influenza in China.

Notwithstanding the father-son relationship of these 2 cases in
Jiangsu province it is premature to consider this to be an instance
of human-to-human transmission in view of the lack of information on
the source of the virus, and the absence of onward transmission. - Mod.CP]

Calendar check required.

[HenryN]

New bird flu case in China

Posted on Fri, Dec. 07, 2007

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By AUDRA ANG

Associated Press Writer


BEIJING --
The father of a Chinese man who died of bird flu has been infected with the virus that causes the disease, the World Health Organization confirmed Friday, saying it could not rule out the possibility of human-to-human infection.

Joanna Brent, a Beijing-based WHO spokeswoman, said the father began showing symptoms Monday and was confirmed as having the H5N1 virus on Wednesday. She said he has been hospitalized.
Brent said there was no evidence the man had been infected by his 24-year-old son, who died on Dec. 2, but could not eliminate that possibility.
"Because the possibility of human-to-human transmission cannot be ruled out, we will be monitoring this case closely," Brent told The Associated Press. "If it is found to be easily passed between humans, we would be concerned."
She said it was also possible that the two men were infected by the same source, or that they were infected separately from different sources.
Chinese news reports gave the man's age as 52. Both he and his son, who lived in the eastern province of Jiangsu, were identified only by their surname, Lu.
Jiangsu's Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Center said the son - China's 17th official fatality from bird flu - had not had any known contact with dead poultry, and there were no reported outbreaks of the disease in the province.
Brent said health authorities were monitoring 68 people who had been in close contact with the son, and none have shown symptoms of H5N1 infection.
Sporadic human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 flu strain has been reported in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia, but none of the cases have been proven.
Dr. David Nabarro, the U.N. official coordinating the global fight against bird flu, has said the risk of a worldwide pandemic remains as great today as it was when H5N1 first gained attention in 2005.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/worl...ry/336389.html

[Sally Furniss]

Human Source of Bird Flu Infection Can't Be Ruled Out, WHO Says
By Jason Gale and Belinda Cao
Dec. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Human-to-human transmission can't be ruled out as the source of bird flu in a man whose son died of the infection in eastern China six day ago, a World Health Organization official said today.
The WHO was informed of the case late yesterday and is ``hoping to arrange a meeting with China's Ministry of Health to offer support and to get more details'' on the case, said Joanna Brent, a Beijing-based spokeswoman for the United Nations agency.
The 52-year-old man from Nanjing in Jiangsu province was confirmed to have the H5N1 avian influenza strain on Dec. 6, the health ministry said yesterday in a statement on its Web site. He developed a fever on Dec. 3, a day after his 24-year-old son died. An initial investigation found no evidence the younger man had contact with sick birds prior to becoming unwell.
``We are not ruling anything in or out'' in determining the source of the father's infection, Brent said in a telephone interview. He may have been infected by a common virus source, a separate source, or from his son's respiratory secretions, she said.
At least 336 people in a dozen countries have contracted the virus since 2003. Three of every five cases were fatal and most were caused by contact with infected poultry, such as children playing with them or adults butchering them or plucking feathers, according to the Geneva-based WHO.
Disease trackers monitor clusters of two or more linked cases to gauge whether the virus is becoming adept at infecting humans not just birds. Millions of people could die if H5N1 develops the characteristics of seasonal flu and begins spreading easily between humans through coughing and sneezing.
Inefficient Transmission
The WHO ``would be concerned'' if the H5N1 virus had been passed between family members in China's latest case, Brent said. In the event that it did, it's unlikely that it would represent the ``efficient'' human-to-human transmission that could signal the start of a pandemic, she said. ``No further medical abnormalities have been detected'' by Chinese authorities in the 70 or more people in close contact with either man, she said.
Excluding the two most recent cases, China has reported 25 human H5N1 infections, 16 of which were fatal. The previous case had occurred in May in a 19-year-old male soldier serving in Fujian province. There had been no initial indication to suggest he had contact with sick birds prior to becoming unwell, the WHO said in a May 30 statement.
A study by researchers in China in June found that so- called wet markets where fresh meat and vegetables are sold might be an important host of avian flu viruses in urban centers.
Researchers led by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing looked for the source of H5N1 avian influenza infection in six patients who lived in cities and had no known exposure to sick or dead birds. They found all had visited so-called wet markets before becoming ill, and may have touched contaminated surfaces or inhaled virus-containing dust.
To contact the reporters on this story: Jason Gale in Singapore at j.gale@bloomberg.net ; Belinda Cao in Beijing at lcao4@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: December 7, 2007 23:42 EST

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...4s4&refer=home

[Theresa42]

Hat-tip, pugmom!

Google-translated from Chinese:

Jiangsu has a father and son were diagnosed with bird flu
"Financial" network version
Dec 7, 2007

Son 陆某on December 2 of the death and morbidity at home, before pro forma "upgraded" and the meals provided by the family, there is no history of exposure to poultry; December 3, his father was that the symptoms are fever

"Financial" net Roundup: December 3, December 7, the Ministry of Health Web site has information, Jiangsu Province, were confirmed human infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza, and the relationship between father and son duo to. According to the Ministry of Health saying, Jiangsu Province, Nanjing of a 24-year-old male with陆某, November 24 fever, chills and other symptoms, November 27 "lower left pneumonia" hospital treatment, his condition deteriorated rapidly, with full rescue invalid, December 2 deaths. After the epidemic occurred, the local all 69 close contacts implement strict medical observation, was not unusual clinical manifestations.

According to local health departments for investigation, the deceased had been at home prior to the onset of preparations for "upgraded" examinations, meals provided by the family, there is no history of exposure to poultry. Another fact is, Jiangsu Province, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau said that the province has not occurred so far this year poultry highly pathogenic avian flu epidemic. According to the province's forestry sector in Jiangsu Province birds sentinel monitoring, the province's birds are also found no abnormal mortality.

Jiangsu has two more hospitals sub-standard pre-consultation

But in陆某disease die the next day, that is, December 3 evening, the 52-year-old father has fever symptoms, which was to "double pneumonia under" hospital treatment. December 5, Jiangsu Province, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in patients with respiratory tract samples detected that the avian flu virus H5N1 nucleic acid positive. December 6, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention to review samples of patients with respiratory tract, the results of the avian flu virus H5N1 nucleic acid positive.

The Ministry of Health said that according to WHO of human infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed case definition and diagnostic criteria in China, Jiangsu Province human avian influenza prevention and control expert group found cases of people infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed cases.

Jiangsu Province, the local recently issued an urgent circular calling for further strengthening the province's human avian flu prevention and control work, actively deal with the possible outbreak. Over the province's two hospitals should standardize the creation outpatient infectious diseases (including fever clinics), sub-standard pre-consultation work carried out to strengthen influenza cases and cases of pneumonia of unknown causes monitoring; Up to the present and found no abnormal clinical manifestations.

The Ministry of Health has the World Health Organization, Hong Kong, Macao and some countries in Case informed of the situation.

In 2007, China has a total of least three people died of human infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza. Apart from December 2 death陆某, May 24, 2007, a 19-year-old People's Liberation Army noncommissioned officer surnamed Cheng was diagnosed as infected with human avian influenza, after the condition deteriorated, the rescue void in the June 3 death. Earlier, on March 27 a force of a certain Anhui patients also died of bird flu infected people.

On August 8, 2006, the Information Office of the Ministry of Health confirmed a statement, China's first case of human bird flu cases occurred in 2003 (see "financial" net previously reported, "China retrospective first human avian influenza").

Vigilance "family Poly," [cluster] phenomenon

China is not the only threat to national avian flu virus. According to the Chinese Ministry of Health in June between the published data show that since 2003, the global total of 12 countries found that the 313 cases were reported infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, which killed 191 cases.

Existing medical research results show that bird flu is a bird of people suffering from infectious diseases, people infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza primarily by contact with dead poultry or migratory birds spread of the current bird flu has not yet been found infected person phenomenon.

But in the international community, human avian flu "family of poly (more than two family members)" phenomenon has drawn widespread attention. In the past two years, Indonesia has replaced Vietnam as the H5N1 avian flu hardest hit. Not only human infections and deaths from the head of the largest in the world, but at least 10 have been reported so far from the family Poly [cluster] case. One of the eight people infected, seven people were killed and all national reports so far of the biggest cases of Poly [cluster].

On June 20, 2006, from the family Poly [cluster] infections of the last three weeks after the death, the WHO reiterated that, a month ago, the family of viruses Poly, "and not mutated into a can or in sustained or effective interpersonal communication between the new influenza virus. (See "Financial" net previously reported, "Indonesian bird - to-human transmission of disputes touching") to this conclusion, for those who worry that the H5N1 outbreak has been imminent finally easing slightly.

In July 2006, the latest scientific research scientists in the United States, "National Bureau学院院刊" published that the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 and the human influenza virus gene recombination, and will not easily be interpersonal communication capacities. This does not mean that H5N1 turned into a huge disaster warning had been lifted.

http://www.caijing.com.cn/home/cjkx/...07/40763.shtml

[Sally Furniss]

China says father of bird flu victim recovering

The father of a Chinese man who died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu this month was recovering on Saturday after he was infected with the same virus, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The 52-year-old man surnamed Lu from Nanjing, capital of the eastern coastal province Jiangsu, was feverish with the H5N1 strain on Monday but "showed signs of improvement", Xinhua said, quoting unidentified bird flu prevention experts.


This latest case raises troublesome questions about how the man was infected.

Humans can contract H5N1 from close contact with infected birds, but scientists fear the disease could mutate into a version that spreads from person-to-person, risking wider outbreaks or even a global pandemic.

Lu's 24-year-old son died last Sunday from the same disease, making the question of how these two infections occurred especially important.

Xinhua had earlier reported that the son had had no contact with dead poultry and there had been no reported poultry outbreak in Jiangsu province.

It was unknown whether contact with infected poultry had been confirmed in either of the infections.

The 24-year-old man's death was the first case in China since June and brought the death toll from the disease to 17.

The Ministry of Health said the World Health Organisation had been notified of the latest case.

WHO representatives in Beijing could not be contacted for comment. (Reporting by Li Jiansheng and Benjamin Kang Lim; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK74804.htm

[Theresa42]

A conflicting report from The Epoch Times. Hat-tip, pugmom @ FW. Apparently, some reports have it that the father has died and two other people -- girlfriend and mother -- have flu-like symptoms.

Google-translated from Chinese:

Bird flu kills people - Nanjing father who died also failed emergency treatment

Dec. 8 (CNA Taipei 8 Dec) 2 at Nanjing this month due to the highly pathogenic avian flu infection died 陆某 father, also infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, Nanjing brain Hospital sources today to the Hong Kong "Ta Kung Pao" said 陆某 father has died, but the news was official denied.

Reports also pointed out that close contact with the deceased persons and two others in varying degrees of suspected bird flu symptoms.

"Ta Kung Pao" Comprehensive Several sources said that following 陆某 death, the first symptoms of the avian flu is his father, had died on December 6.

According to reports,陆某 girlfriend and the mother appeared one after another suspected bird flu symptoms, the severity of which is currently being girlfriend rescue, 陆某 mother has been a quarantine check.

The Chinese Ministry of Health informed the evenings website, the new confirmed case of human infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The circular, 52-year-old patient surnamed Lu, is December 2nd confirmed human infection with the highly pathogenic avian flu cases father, in the December 3 night fever symptoms, which was to "double pneumonia under" hospital treatment.

The Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the 5th of patients with respiratory tract samples detected that the avian flu virus H5N1 nucleic acid positive; the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for further testing in patients with respiratory specimens review results for the avian flu virus H5N1 nucleic acid positive.

According to the World Health Organization human infection with the deadly bird flu confirmed case definition and diagnostic criteria in China, Jiangsu Province human avian influenza prevention and control expert group, decide this case was infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed cases.

"Ta Kung Pao" to the afternoon of 7 verify Jiangsu Province Health Department, the Office of Comprehensive Health deny the news.

A Jiangsu Province health department officials insisted that, in addition to the current avian flu case reported deaths, Jiangsu will not have a recurrence of any deaths due to bird flu cases.

Health Department said 陆某 father is a suspected bird flu symptoms, the etiology is diagnosed, the current treatment has emerged recent encouraging signs, patients increasingly stable condition, while the other deceased family members are closely monitoring isolation, not physical any abnormal.

http://epochtimes.com/gb/7/12/8/n1934963.htm

Info on The Epoch Times:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Epoch_Times

[HenryN]

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (156): CHINA (JIANGSU)
*******************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 6 Dec 2007
Source: Health Times (translated from Chinese by Dan Silver) [edited]
<http://society.people.com.cn/GB/37454/6619905.html>


Human Avian Influenza, Jiangsu Province, Dog Bite
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Jiangsu Provincial Health Bureau announced on the night of Sun 2
Dec 2007 that the Ministry of Health had confirmed a human case of
highly pathogenic avian influenza in Jiangsu, and that [the patient]
had died in hospital that day due to multiple organ failure.

In an exclusive interview with Health Times, Professor Yin Kaisheng,
attending physician for the fatal Nanjing avian influenza case,
Ministry of Health national public health emergency response
specialist, and official in charge of the Jiangsu Province Health
Bureau's Human Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Prevention Medical
Treatment Team, stated that, for the moment, it is not possible for a
SARS-like super-spreader to emerge, transmitting avian influenza from
one person to the masses. Residents don't need to panic.

Yin Kaisheng revealed that during this patient's hospitalization
there was no way to confirm [he had] avian influenza. It was the
Jiangsu Center for Disease Control's laboratory that detected that
the infection was H5N1 type avian influenza virus. Moreover, the
patient always maintained that he had no way [to contract] this
infection, and had no history of contact with poultry. It is only
known that 20 days before becoming ill [he] had been bitten by a dog,
and 20 days later [he] developed fever after drinking a little alcohol.

[Byline: Sun Weili]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Dan Silver

[The patient who died on Sun 2 Dec 2007 is presumed to be the
24-year-old man who had developed a fever and pneumonia symptoms on
Mon 3 Dec 2007. Later this man's 52-year-old father was was admitted
to hospital and was also confirmed H5N1-positive. He remains alive.
Neither father nor son are known to have had contact with diseased
fowl, but the matter is still being investigated.

Notwithstanding the father-son relationship of these 2 cases in
Jiangsu province it is premature to consider this to be an instance
of human-to-human transmission in view of the lack of information on
the source of the virus, and the absence of onward transmission. The
suggestion that the 24-year-old man's infection might be relate to a
dog bite (and/or alcohol!) is intriguing. Although domestic and wild
felines are know to be highly susceptible to H5N1 virus infection,
dogs are less so (see: Current outbreak of H5N1 in birds and other animals;
<http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/avianflu/biofacts/avflu_huma
n.html#_Summary_of_Avian_Influenza_in_Human>).


However it is possible that dogs in their role as scavengers could
mechanically transmit bird flu virus by biting. The 20-day lapse
between bite and onset of illness in this case makes this route of
transmission of disease unlikely, and there would still have to
reservoir of infected wild birds or domestic poultry in the area.
Further information is awaited. - Mod.CP]

[sharon sanders]

Hat tip Dr. Modesto - Report of H5N1 in a Dog -

October 12, 2006

Bird flu case in Thai dog raises questions about infection

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...andHealth/home
Canadian Press

Thai scientists have reported a case of H5N1 influenza infection in a dog, a finding that lengthens the unusually long list of mammals this avian flu virus can infect.

The report, which suggests the dog became infected by eating ducks killed by the virus, also underscores a need to figure out whether the virus can be transmitted through consumption of infected animals, a World Health Organization scientist said Wednesday.

“This is the third species or fourth species that has been infected by eating carcasses. So I think we really have to think about the risk of oral ingestion,” said Michael Perdue, an avian flu expert with the WHO's global influenza program.....


Con't here:


http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11533

[Treyfish]

..more like he ate a contaminated dog

[HenryN]

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/12...angsu_H2H.html