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**HenryN** · July 22, 2008, 03:20 PM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

<TABLE cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 width=468 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD background=/www/news/images/view_title.gif><TABLE height=20 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left height=30><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="70%"> 07-22-2008 18:56</TD><TD align=right width="30%"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=style7 align=middle height=70>`Bird Flu Strain Can Be Transmitted to Mammals'</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>

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The government plans to strengthen monitoring of open bird markets as part of preventative measures against avian influenza. / Korea Times</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

Quarantine authorities said Tuesday that the virus strain of avian influenza that swept the country in April could be transmitted to mammals, but not necessarily to humans.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sent samples from infected birds to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention for detailed analysis.

The U.S. agency concluded the virus from the sample could be transmitted to mammals but that there was no proof it could infect humans, an official from the ministry said.

``It was impossible to directly test if it can cause illness in humans. Alternatively, we chose a weasel for testing and when it was infected, it showed similar symptoms to bird flu,'' the official said at a news briefing.

He declined a ``yes or no'' answer over the possibility of the virus infecting humans, citing the lack of human testing.

He said the ministry was implementing a system to monitor poultry farms and bird habitats all year round and set up new procedures to quickly cope with any bird flu outbreaks.

The decision came as the disease caused massive damage to the nation last April ― some 8.46 million birds were culled at a cost of 263 billion won ($260 million).

The ministry said it will specially monitor all 2,300 duck farms in the country because ducks have a longer incubation period for bird flu and were found to be the main cause of the spread. Chickens die more quickly from the disease.

The government will strengthen countermeasures against less virulent strains of bird flu and implement preventative culling to prevent possible mutation. It will also strengthen monitoring of traditional open-air markets and distributors to check for signs of sick birds or sudden deaths, and push new laws to prevent restaurants from butchering infected birds.

The sale of live birds at traditional markets to restaurants contributed to the spread of this year's outbreak. On the cause of the latest outbreak, migratory birds that spend the winter in warmer climates may been responsible as they stopped in South Korea on their way north, government officials said.

The ministry said all countermeasures to cull and disinfect areas affected by this year's bird flu outbreak were concluded by May 15, so South Korea can declare itself a ``clean zone'' to the World Organization for Animal Health on August 15.

e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news...117_28022.html

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**sharon sanders** · July 23, 2008, 09:10 PM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="516"><tbody><tr><td>Hat tip Senior Moderator Fla Medic

Cat May Have Died of Bird Flu 
 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="news01" valign="top">  Quarantine authorities are investigating whether a cat died of bird flu in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, where a highly pathogenic strain of the disease broke out in April. If the cat is found to have died of avian influenza, it would be the first mammal to die of the disease in Korea. Dr. Kim Chul-joong, a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Chungnam National University, said Wednesday, “We isolated the highly pathogenic strain of avian flu from the dead cat found along the Mangyeong River in Gimje and have asked the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service to confirm the cause of death of the cat.” The strain of bird flu found in the country in April and May is known to infect not only poultry but also mammals such as rats and ferrets. If the cat is confirmed to have died from bird flu, quarantine authorities may have to order a cull of dogs, cats and other mammals in the wild. However, Kim Chang-seob, chief veterinary officer of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said, “Even though the cat might have died from the avian influenza virus, cats’ somatological characteristics do not transfer the virus to human bodies. Therefore the chances of humans being infected with the virus remain slim."

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http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200807/200807240020.html

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**mixin** · July 24, 2008, 04:05 AM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

If the cat is confirmed to have died from bird flu, quarantine authorities may have to order a cull of dogs, cats and other mammals in the wild.

Well, wild birds, dogs, cats, other mammals, poultry ... soon they can start on insects.
Roach patrols and fly brigades

**Giuseppe** · July 24, 2008, 04:30 AM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

Unfortunately, the widespread dispersion of HPAI H5N1 in the large 2008 epizootics among poultry farms finally hit other animals, as happened in European countries during 2006 wave. Cats are susceptible to these viruses and a strong surveillance should be put in place to avoid further spread to other - domestic - animals and possibly humans.

**HenryN** · July 24, 2008, 07:04 AM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

Commentary at

H5N1 In South Korean Cat

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/07240801/H5N1_Korea_Cat.html

Recombinomics Commentary

**mixin** · July 24, 2008, 07:37 AM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

Originally posted by ironorehopper View Post

Unfortunately, the widespread dispersion of HPAI H5N1 in the large 2008 epizootics among poultry farms finally hit other animals, as happened in European countries during 2006 wave. Cats are susceptible to these viruses and a strong surveillance should be put in place to avoid further spread to other - domestic - animals and possibly humans.

You are correct that strong surveillance should be in place.

I'm not convinced killing all the birds and animals is a good answer. If everything that's found to carry the disease is eradicated, what's to say the virus won't just jump to another species?

**HenryN** · July 24, 2008, 08:09 AM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

Originally posted by mixin View Post

You are correct that strong surveillance should be in place.

I'm not convinced killing all the birds and animals is a good answer. If everything that's found to carry the disease is eradicated, what's to say the virus won't just jump to another species?

If it is in cats when there are no reported cases in birds, it has already jumped (when H5N1 in wild birds and poultry was readily detected).

**mixin** · July 24, 2008, 08:32 AM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

Originally posted by niman View Post

If it is in cats when there are no reported cases in birds, it has already jumped (when H5N1 in wild birds and poultry was readily detected).

The test results will be interesting, I'm sure.

Aside from that, whether it is or is not in cats wasn't exactly my point. I really can't see where destroying the dogs, cats and other mammals will accomplish any long-term goal.

As long as we have birds, we will always have AI and its potential to infect other species.

A new motto:
Save humanity; kill the birds!

**gsgs** · July 24, 2008, 11:06 AM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

create birds which don't get influenza (plus some other advantages...)
and let them outcompete other birds

**HenryN** · July 24, 2008, 11:59 AM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

Originally posted by gsgs View Post

create birds which don't get influenza (plus some other advantages...)
and let them outcompete other birds

Hopes and dreams.

**AlaskaDenise** · July 24, 2008, 12:27 PM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

Originally posted by niman View Post

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/07...Korea_Cat.html

Commentary

H5N1 In South Korean Cat
Recombinomics Commentary 12:50
July 24, 2008

Quarantine authorities are investigating whether a cat died of bird flu in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, where a highly pathogenic strain of the disease broke out in April. If the cat is found to have died of avian influenza, it would be the first mammal to die of the disease in Korea. Dr. Kim Chul-joong, a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Chungnam National University, said Wednesday, ?We isolated the highly pathogenic strain of avian flu from the dead cat found along the Mangyeong River in Gimje and have asked the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service to confirm the cause of death of the cat.?

The above comments indicate H5N1 is still present in South Korea, regardless of the cause cat death. Clade 2.3.2 is circulating in South Korea. This is a sub-clade of 2.3, which is also called the Fujian strain.

There are four clade/sub-clades that have been isolated from dead patients. Clade 1 was confined to southeast Asia and caused the patients deaths in Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia in 2004/005. Clade 2.1 has been isolated from patients in Indonesia since 2005. Clade 2.2 (Qinghai strain) has been isolated from patients in a number of countries west of China since 2006. Clade 2.3 (Fujian strain) has been isolated from patients in China and southeast Asia since 2005.

In addition to fatal infections in patients, these H5N1 sub-clades have also been associated with deaths of many mammalian species including clade 1 deaths of wild and domestic cats, dogs, and palm civets in southeast Asia, clade 2.1 deaths of dogs and cats in Indonesia, clade 2.2 deaths of cats, dogs, foxes, stone martens, jackals in the Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and south Asia. In addition to the animal deaths, H5N1 has been associated with asymptomatic infections in mammals and has been used to infect experimental animals such as ferrets and mice.

The clade 2.3.2 from South Korea infected lab mice and ferrets as well as a soldier/ culler who had bird flu symptoms and was H5 PCR positive. The failure to isolate the H5N1 from the soldier does not indicate he was not infected. Similarly, the official cause of death of the cat has nothing to do with the isolation of H5N1 or its current/continued presence in South Korea.

The presence of clade 2.3.2/2.3.4 H5N1 in the cat raises more questions about surveillance in adjacent countries, including Japan and Russia which have isolated Fujian clade 2.3.2 H5N1 recently, which is over 99.7% identical to the H5N1 reported in South Korea. There have been excessive poultry deaths in Russia, bit the poultry was said to be H5N1 negative.

The presence of H5N1 in South Korea suggests H5N1 is endemic in the area, and surveillance detection failures remain a cause for concern.

.

**AlaskaDenise** · July 24, 2008, 12:38 PM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

Originally posted by mixin View Post

......... I really can't see where destroying the dogs, cats and other mammals will accomplish any long-term goal.

As long as we have birds, we will always have AI and its potential to infect other species...........

I'm assuming that culling animals infected with a mammalian-adapted version of AI will KEEP AI in only birds.

It would be like the SOP for domestic poultry LPAI outbreaks - cull the impacted flock to eliminate that one adapted strain, prior to its further mutation to HPAI or mammalian-adapted strain.

It may be similar to the recent news stories that further human mutations seem to occur only when humans are infected, so it's imperative to keep any humans from being infected.

.

**Gert van der Hoek** · July 24, 2008, 03:49 PM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

/ snip /

The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service said Thursday that a cat was found dead in April in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, right next to a farm where bird flu killed tens of thousands of chickens.

Dead Cat to Be Examined for Bird Flu - The Korea Times

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/07/117_28187.html

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Quarantine authorities are examining a cat to discover whether it was infected with the highly pathogenic strain...

**mixin** · July 24, 2008, 03:55 PM

Re: _|SOUTH KOREA: ?Bird Flu Can Be Transmitted to Mammals? |_

From Niman's post:
..clade 1 deaths of wild and domestic cats, dogs, and palm civets in southeast Asia,
clade 2.1 deaths of dogs and cats in Indonesia,
clade 2.2 deaths of cats, dogs, foxes, stone martens, jackals in the Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and south Asia.
In addition to the animal deaths,
H5N1 has been associated with asymptomatic infections in mammals
has been used to infect experimental animals such as ferrets and mice.

That's an awful lot of animals to destroy with the hope it won't infect another species.