North Korea Denies Bird Flu Outbreak - June 2008

[Dutchy]

Jun 11, 5:22 AM EDT


Bird flu outbreak reported in North Korea, South Korean aid group says

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Bird flu has broken out near a North Korean military base in the first reported case of the disease in the country since 2005, a South Korean aid group said Wednesday.

The outbreak occurred last week near an air force base in Jongpyong county in South Hamgyong province, northeast of the capital Pyongyang, the Seoul-based private aid group Good Friends said, citing the North's quarantine authorities.

The case was first reported June 3, when several birds were found dead in a small mountain area near the military base, said the aid agency. There were no details on whether it was the H5N1 virus, which can be deadly to humans.

South Korea's Unification Ministry said it could not immediately confirm the report.

Separately, dozens of magpies were found dead inside a political prison camp in Hwasong in North Hamgyong province, the aid group said.

A prison camp official's 5-year-old child subsequently suffered a high fever and died, the group said. There was no way to confirm if the child caught a virus from the birds or to know what killed the child.

The Buddhist-affiliated group that sends food and other aid to the North also said two prisoners showed similar symptoms and three others were subsequently diagnosed with an unidentified virus.

The group has previously provided information on the North that has proven correct but does not provide information on its sources, out of fear they could face retribution.

The case prompted the authorities to quarantine people inside the prison camp and launched preventive measures, but they failed to identify the disease, said the aid agency. It had no details of measures taken.

The bird flu virus remains hard for people to catch, but scientists worry it could mutate into a form that spreads more easily between humans, with the potential to kill millions worldwide.

Worldwide, at least 241 people have died from bird flu since 2003, according to the World Health Organization. Most human cases have been linked to contact with infected poultry.

The North's outbreak came after South Korea slaughtered 8.46 million chickens, ducks and other poultry in recent months to stem the spread of bird flu.

Bird flu was last known to have hit North Korea in 2005, leading to the killing of about 210,000 birds.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...06-11-05-22-17

[HenryN]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/06110801/H5N1_NK.html

[Dutchy]

machinetranslated

North Hamgyong emergency bird flu virus

2008.06.11

Last June 9, in Chongjin, North Hamgyong, city, the military chief of the emergency anti-epidemic jihwibu gathered held an emergency meeting of the bird flu virus-related emergency.

All of this meeting, the head of the emergency anti-epidemic of bird flu virus have occurred in rural areas and often focused on pagyeonhae defenses to gamsiwon decided to watch.

Along with high fever and suffering from another disease carefully observing children 2-8 years old, and the avian flu as soon as it turns out that you need to isolate the area.

Meanwhile, North Hamgyong 16 hwaseonggun Agency Ho is dead magpie in the clinic inside the 10 can be found.

Three days after the magpie murijukeumhan clinic Agency-year-old boy won one of five people become ill and died three days symptoms of high fever.

And after two days of the same symptoms had two prisoners, one day after another three people were infected.

People inside the quarantine zone and the current clinic, the number of anti-epidemic illness, but doctors are scrambling to emergency anti-epidemic task is still not clearly revealed.

Good Friends : http://www.goodfriends.or.kr/n_korea...no=6465&page=1

credits Helblindi

[Sally Furniss]

Suspect Fujian H5N1 in North Korea Patients
Recombinomics Commentary 11:44
June 11, 2008

The outbreak occurred last week near an air force base in Jongpyong county in South Hamgyong province, northeast of the capital Pyongyang, the Seoul-based private aid group Good Friends said

The case was first reported June 3, when several birds were found dead in a small mountain area near the military base, said the aid agency

Separately, dozens of magpies were found dead inside a political prison camp in Hwasong in North Hamgyong province, the aid group said. A prison camp official's 5-year-old child subsequently suffered a high fever and died, the group said.

The Buddhist-affiliated group that sends food and other aid to the North also said two prisoners showed similar symptoms and three others were subsequently diagnosed with an unidentified virus.

The above comments describe suspect H5N1 in birds and patients, including one fatality. Although not confirmed, H5N1 in North Korea would not be a surprise. H5N1 has been confirmed in South Korea, Japan, and southeastern Russia. In all cases the H5N1 was a reassortant with a clade 2.3.2 HA and clade 2.3.4 for the remaining seven gene segments.

In South Korea, were the number of poultry outbreaks were at record levels, one soldier who was involved in the culling developed bird flu symptoms and was H5 PCR confirmed.

The outbreaks in regions bordering North Korea suggest that suspect cases described above are caused by the same Fujian reassortant.

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/06110801/H5N1_NK.html

[Sunshine123]

"The outbreaks in regions bordering North Korea suggest that suspect cases described above are caused by the same Fujian reassortant."

Do I detect a subtle inference to the previous thread describing unknown cause of deaths in children, about 6/ day? Bird Flu vs Hoof and Mouth disease?

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...ht=north+korea

[HenryN]

Map of North Korea Provinces and Counties

http://www.reliefweb.int/mapc/asi_east/cnt/prk/dprk.pdf

[HenryN]

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...,12.216797&z=6

[rymich13]

so we have some cases, I wonder if this means that the virus has mutated to go human to human more easily?

[ironorehopper]

Originally Posted by rymich13

so we have some cases, I wonder if this means that the virus has mutated to go human to human more easily?

For the moment, we have ''suspected human cases'' of (avian) influenza, or undiagnosed illness with some fatal cases.

A confirmation from reliable source is anticipated.

[Dutchy]

Originally Posted by rymich13

so we have some cases, I wonder if this means that the virus has mutated to go human to human more easily?

We don´t have cases, we have suspect cases. Also no information on the sequences of possible (bird) flu strains. Could be no (bird) flu at all.

[HenryN]

Originally Posted by rymich13

so we have some cases, I wonder if this means that the virus has mutated to go human to human more easily?

It really depends on how many of the suspect cases, if any, are really H5N1. Prisons can be crowded and facilitate H2H, as can day care centers. If the day care centers deaths are due to H5N1, then there has been a major change. If its just the prisoners, the virus may not have changed much.
North Korea is still denying any H5N1 infections.

[rymich13]

why would there be a major change if the day care center are due to h5n1? also asia has so much disease so it could really be anything.

[HenryN]

Originally Posted by rymich13

why would there be a major change if the day care center are due to h5n1? also asia has so much disease so it could really be anything.

5-6 deaths per day.

[Siam]

Originally Posted by niman

5-6 deaths per day.

But these cases are all children, correct?? Wouldn't we see a mixture of adults and children if this was H5N1?

[Dutchy]

Originally Posted by Dutchy

Jun 11, 5:22 AM EDT


A prison camp official's 5-year-old child subsequently suffered a high fever and died, the group said. There was no way to confirm if the child caught a virus from the birds or to know what killed the child.

The Buddhist-affiliated group that sends food and other aid to the North also said two prisoners showed similar symptoms and three others were subsequently diagnosed with an unidentified virus.

We have 2 N Korea threads running: 1 concerning kids in kindergartens, probably (?) ill from HFMD http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70095

and this thread: children and adults with bird flu like symptoms in combination with dead birds found.

[Siam]

Sorry Dutchy, thanks for pointing that out.

[ironorehopper]

North Hamgyong county is the same where earlier this month several undiagnosed people fell ill (... On May 22nd in Musan, North Hamkyong Province, people began to suffer and collapse from the unidentified disease, which caused pulmonary tuberculosis, scabies(옴병), and high temperature. ..., from GoodFriends USA blog).

Scabies or other skin abnormalities could be mistakenly diagnosed instead of septic shock sub-cutaneous haemorrhages.

In addition, the same GoodFriends USA blog cited another undiagnosed illness that local doctors stated as ''bird flu or SARS-like''.

An urgent clarification update is needed, I think.

[HenryN]

Originally Posted by ironorehopper

North Hamgyong county is the same where earlier this month several undiagnosed people fell ill (... On May 22nd in Musan, North Hamkyong Province, people began to suffer and collapse from the unidentified disease, which caused pulmonary tuberculosis, scabies(옴병), and high temperature. ..., from GoodFriends USA blog).

Scabies or other skin abnormalities could be mistakenly diagnosed instead of septic shock sub-cutaneous haemorrhages.

In addition, the same GoodFriends USA blog cited another undiagnosed illness that local doctors stated as ''bird flu or SARS-like''.

An urgent clarification update is needed, I think.

Although most locations are in North Hamgyong county, they are distinct. The location of the day care centers are on the border with China, while the dead birds are on the coast.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...,12.216797&z=6

If the day care is H5N1, then the number of daily deaths would dwarf all prior H5N1 reports.

[Sunshine123]

Children in daycare were the reports a couple of days ago, the newer reports from today include children and adults. I believe the preschools have an extensive detection system in place by the government to report illness. Adults can drop dead w/ little question. My opinion is that the government already knows the answer and is practicing damage control...(or is it foot in mouth disease?) sooo sorry

[ironorehopper]

North Korea Kept June Bird Flu Case Secret - Aid Group

SEOUL (AFP)--

North Korean health officials detected a bird-flu outbreak this month, but the isolated country has kept the case secret, an aid group said Wednesday.

Quarantine officials found the infection June 3 in wild birds in the eastern city of Hamhung, said Good Friends, a Seoul-based aid group which operates in the North.

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http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content...ntentID=228232
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[HenryN]

Originally Posted by Sunshine123

Children in daycare were the reports a couple of days ago, the newer reports from today include children and adults. I believe the preschools have an extensive detection system in place by the government to report illness. Adults can drop dead w/ little question. My opinion is that the government already knows the answer and is practicing damage control...(or is it foot in mouth disease?) sooo sorry

The newer reports are for locations that are quite distinct from the day care outbreaks,

[Sunshine123]

Connect the dots and it spells trouble for fall. It might be a good thing the trucks are striking in S. Korea. This may inhibit the spread......

[fab4]

I posted this question before...

How do we know that BF won't progress this way:
Phase 1:Family2family units only
Phase 2: Family2family units + Children2children
(could there even be a step here children2young adults - which is where 1918 fizzled out)
Phase 3: everyone else???

I mean it wasn't like we had the ability to track past pandemics in the early stages. Do we really know? Is it possible children have receptors that are easier to bond with bf than adults? If that were the case, could bf have an intermediate step before it goes to the general population?

I'm way out of my knowledge area, so maybe you can help me out Niman

[HenryN]

Originally Posted by fab4

I posted this question before...

How do we know that BF won't progress this way:
Phase 1:Family2family units only
Phase 2: Family2family units + Children2children
(could there even be a step here children2young adults - which is where 1918 fizzled out)
Phase 3: everyone else???

I mean it wasn't like we had the ability to track past pandemics in the early stages. Do we really know? Is it possible children have receptors that are easier to bond with bf than adults? If that were the case, could bf have an intermediate step before it goes to the general population?

I'm way out of my knowledge area, so maybe you can help me out Niman

Adults may have cross reactive immunity.

[Treyfish]

Bird flu outbreak reported in DPRK and Hong Kong
12/06/2008 -- 9:32 PM

Hanoi (VNA) – Bird flu has emerged in some areas in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) since the beginning of the month, a Republic of Korea (RoK) aid group announced on June 11. Tens of magpies have been found dead in Chongjin, 260km northeast of Hamhung city, since June 3, the Good Friends group cited DPRK quarantine authorities as saying. The DPRK concerned authorities have taken immediate measures to cope with the outbreak, the aid group added. The same day, the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said it would cull all live poultry sold at markets and stores across China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region due to a reoccurrence of bird flu. The department also stated that all stores selling live poultry would be considered bird flu-infected places. The decision of the department was made after the deadly virus H5N1 was found in poultry sold at three markets in Hong Kong on June 7.– http://www.vnanet.vn/Home/EN/tabid/1...7/Default.aspx

[Treyfish]

North Korea's wife, also a bird flu outbreak gyesokdwae

2008년 6월 11일(수) 오후 4:56 [노컷뉴스]

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 4:56 p.m. [nokeotnyuseu]
[Nokeotnyuseu anyunseok a waiting list], wife of North Korean health authorities still do hamgyeong inter-Korean bird flu outbreak sujokgubyeong and through him the news of North Korean human rights groups.

North Korean human rights group 'joteunbeot' newsletter in 11 days "in last June 9, in Chongjin, North Hamgyong, municipal, and county emergency anti-epidemic of bird flu viruses, gathered jihwibu director of the emergency-related emergency meeting on avian influenza virus occurred in open areas Focused on rural areas and often pagyeonhae defenses to gamsiwon instructed to watch, "he said.

16 clinic inside the hotel can hwaseonggun Hamgyung Agency that 10 of the magpie was found dead after having won five of Agency Management Office during the three-year-old children show symptoms of high fever is reported killed.

In addition, two other people were showing symptoms such as quarantine, and anti-epidemic numbers of doctors are scrambling to emergency operations defenses, but the illness is still not clearly revealed, he said.
Enns River last June 3 to 5 pm sijjeumeneun reputation from several military air force headquarters belonging gosachong gubundae dwitsan that the birds were found dead birds in the survey jihwibu Hamhung emergency anti-epidemic of bird flu was found said.

Enns River, the gun Jang Jin young children balbyeonghae sujokgubyeong is suffering from high fever medicine without a special quarantine at a hospital, but her parents were driving him into a 'joteunbeot' reported.

.

Meanwhile, North Korea and China in the border region and caused the bird flu and that the rumors were widely spread sujokgubyeong, but the World Health Organization's Southeast Asia regional office in New Delhi responsible country, "said Dr. North Korean health authorities from the North until September 9, or bird flu sujokgubyeong The report was not raised in one case, "he said. http://translate.google.com/translat...3Den%26tl%3Dko

[Treyfish]

2008.06.11

78

5:00 p.m. last June 3, Air Force headquarters. Hamgyeongnamdo reputation in many of them belonging gosachong gubundae dwitsan that the birds were found dead. . The emergency anti-epidemic down from Hamhung jihwibu result of bird flu took hold, the situation turned out as the plague. . Military authorities have announced a reputation without bird flu, instead of a similar form of byeongyiragoman said.The next morning, even with lots of dogs have a good reputation for multiple gun that was found dead. Authorities are frequently residents of the district and the outbreaks around the roads, people livestock (poultry) to keep an eye on more than good if it happens in an emergency anti-epidemic jihwibu Ali said. 지휘부는 아직 별다른 대책이 없는 상태다. Jihwibu still does not have been any measures. Nationwide, there are all the factories, enterprises, public buildings danwina, "Muller in advance of bird flu plague," wrote the residents were pasted everywhere can see them often. http://translate.google.com/translat...3Den%26tl%3Dko

[Treyfish]

North Korea, avian flu, his wife repeatedly balsaengseol
[2008-06-13 06:23:46]
Nokeotnyuseu the waiting anyunseok
North Korean health authorities in China and North Korea border region in the recent avian flu nadoneun balsaengseol World Health Organization officials had repeatedly said his wife.
The World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva seti gongbogwan coming, "World Health Organization bird flu outbreak in North Korea, asked whether the phone is a joyride," "The World Health Organization bird flu outbreak, but whether the North Korean health authorities for assistance, North Korean authorities have denied it, "he said in Free Asia broadcasts.
Seti gongbogwan come, "the North Korean health authorities have reported to the World Health Organization is in charge of North Korea's Public Health employees to go directly to the scene confirmed bird flu in the last 12, 2006, North Korea did not occur," he said.
Ogi said the seti "But the World Health Organization's office in Pyongyang's agents have agreed to that country unless specifically requested or go directly to the scene to investigate North Korea's bird flu outbreak is impossible," he explained.
The World Health Organization official said Pyongyang office, "the North Korean authorities have repeatedly denied balsaengseol bird flu," "The avian flu in neighboring countries such as China and South Korea because North Korea has raised the possibility of propagating the lookout for bird flu." .
Meanwhile, North Korean human rights group 'joteunbeot' wife, also north of the North Korean authorities, the border regions of the avian flu and a large courtroom sujokgubyeong said.
ysan@cbs.co.kr http://209.85.171.104/translate_c?hl...3Den%26tl%3Dko Translation help from Commonground

[ironorehopper]

ANOTHER VARIATION (http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/...20bird%20flu):

''Residents of Hamheung City Dying from Symptoms of Poisonous Grass Porridge

''In addition to many deaths attributed to grass porridge in the countryside of North Hwanghae province, it has been reported that an increasing number of residents in Hamheung city of South Hamkyong province are dying from the same cause.
These residents have been taking so-called ‘grass porridge’ for a long time to escape extreme hunger and ended up going through serious, painful symtoms like indigestion and a swelling of the body.
A growing number of people are just waiting for death as they are left home without getting any proper treatment for their illness.
Park Cheon-ho, a 43- year-old man, has come close to death.
Neighbors said he would soon die from so-called ‘poisonous grass porridge symtoms’ within a week. Having had only grass soup for so long, people end up dying from painful symtoms, unable to afford to any treatment. ''
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------

[rymich13]

HHMM, Maybe this what people are dying from the poison grass. Also maybe the mysterious illness killing the children is just a regular disease because of the starvation, many people have comromised immune systems.