Announcement

**Gert van der Hoek** · January 20, 2009, 05:33 AM

Re: China - General news avian influenza

China announces third bird flu death this year

By Ian Ransom

BEIJING, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A 16-year-old boy died of bird flu in central China on Tuesday, the third death this year, as experts warned that lax monitoring could mask the true extent of the disease in Chinese poultry.

A health official on Tuesday also confirmed the mother of a toddler infected with the avian virus from the same province had died of pneumonia weeks earlier.

After going almost a year without recording a case, four human infections have been reported in China in the last two weeks, as millions of people flock to poultry markets to buy food ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

Three have died and one remains in hospital.

The latest victim, a student, died in hospital in Huaihua, in central Hunan province, after falling ill in neighbouring Guizhou, another health ministry official said.

Chinese health authorities now say the patients in three of the four cases had had close contact with poultry prior to being infected. It was unclear whether the fourth case, a 27-year-old woman who died in eastern Shandong province on Saturday, had also come in contact with poultry.

With all the victims having fallen ill in different provinces without any prior reports of outbreaks among local bird populations, experts are concerned that surveillance gaps may be masking the true extent of the disease.

"Quite a few provinces now have human cases, so where is the source of the infection?" said Leo Poon, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong.

"The recent cases indicate that (the victims were directly infected by poultry) and that the outbreak of the disease in poultry may be very widespread. That increases the likelihood of people getting infected," Poon said.

The H5N1 flu remains largely a virus among birds, but experts fear it could change into a form that is easily transmitted among humans and spark a pandemic that could kill millions worldwide.

Since the H5N1 virus resurfaced in Asia in 2003, it has infected 397 people, killing 249 of them, according to WHO figures.

With the world's biggest poultry population and hundreds of millions of backyard birds, China is seen as critical in the fight to contain bird flu, and shares long, permeable borders with countries that regularly report outbreaks.

There were only three recorded cases in China in 2008, all of which were fatal. At least 34 people have been infected in China and 23 have died.

MORE CASES FEARED

A batch of smuggled Chinese chickens infected with bird flu made its way to neighbouring Vietnam, officials there said last week. An eight-year-old girl was taken to hospital after being confirmed infected with bird flu earlier this month.

H5N1 has also been found in dead poultry and wild birds in India's northeastern state of Sikkim, which borders China and Nepal, prompting authorities to launch an initial cull of some 15,000 chickens and ducks, an Indian veterinarian official said.

China's Foreign Ministry said health authorities had reported the cases to the World Health Organisation, but played down the bird flu problem at home.

"Relevant departments of the Chinese government are paying high attention to this issue. At this stage, the cases are individual and isolated," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters at a regular briefing on Tuesday.

The World Health Organisation said in a statement it was seeking more clarification from China. "There are still unknowns as to how these infections are occurring," Gregory Hartl, a spokesman from WHO's Geneva headquarters, told Reuters.

China's Agriculture Ministry on Monday warned of more bird flu cases as poultry is shipped from region to region ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday next week.

China's State Administration of Industry and Commerce instructed officials to "severely punish" illegal sellers of live poultry and bird flu vaccines, the Farmers' Daily, a state-run newspaper, said in a report posted on its website (www.farmer.com.cn).

Thomson Reuters: Clarifying the complex

http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK359731.htm

Thomson Reuters empowers professionals with cutting-edge technology solutions informed by industry-leading content and expertise.

**HenryN** · January 20, 2009, 06:23 AM

Re: China - General news avian influenza

Experts say one major outbreak of bird flu is unlikely

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China has reported a total of 2008 people infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza cases in 3 patients. This year, just ten days after the report of our country found four cases of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases. Does this mean that the current of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in the situation from deteriorating further? Yesterday, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Disease Control and Prevention deputy director, director of the Center for National Influenza舒跃龙researcher explicitly rejected the argument the deterioration of the epidemic.
Beijing, Shanxi, Shandong, Hunan have all recently confirmed case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases. Such a short time after another report of 4 cases of human infection of highly pathogenic avian flu epidemic has caused widespread concern in the community. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health舒跃龙collective interview with reporters, said that year after year in accordance with domestic and international monitoring, and more cases appear in the winter and spring is a human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in a prominent feature of China's 2008 report of three cases of human bird flu cases also concentrated in the winter and spring.

舒跃龙pointed out that the analysis in terms of pathogens, or from the epidemiological findings, this year China's newly discovered four cases of reported cases, were not in excess of the past, people have the characteristics of the avian flu epidemic. Over the past few years, both at home and abroad, of human infection of highly pathogenic bird flu are highly distributed. China's newly discovered four cases of reported cases in four provinces, municipalities and have no relevance. China Disease Prevention and Control Center in Beijing has been completed cases virus isolation and gene sequence analysis. The results showed that the virus is still avian source not found with the human influenza virus re-allocation, but also with our country in recent years by the separation of the avian flu virus not very different. For Shanxi, Shandong, two cases of virus isolation of cases are proceeding.

China's human bird flu will show what kind of scale?舒跃龙said there will still be sporadic cases, the epidemic is unlikely that large-scale outbreak. Up to now, the world still did not observe the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus occurred in the nature of the changes caused by the virus is still not easy to spread between people. (Health News)

http://www.moh.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/mohbgt/s6717/200901/38861.htm

**HenryN** · January 20, 2009, 06:25 AM

Re: China - General news avian influenza

The Ministry of Health held a human avian influenza prevention and control of video and telephone conference

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(January 20, 2009)

The Ministry of Health Press Office

January 20, 2009, the Ministry of Health held a human avian influenza prevention and control of video and telephone conference, Health Minister Chen Zhu presided over the meeting and made an important speech.

Chen Zhu at the meeting stressed that the human avian influenza at a time when the high season, human avian influenza prevention and control work is extremely critical. Health departments throughout the country should attach great importance to human avian influenza prevention and control work, to increase prevention and control efforts, according to the relevant plans and programs to effectively implement various prevention and control measures. First, we must fully understand the risk of avian influenza hazards, from the source control of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza risk. Recently, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce will jointly issued "on the live poultry operators to increase market supervision and do a good job in the prevention and control of human avian influenza," which effectively control the risk factors. Second is to strengthen the clinical diagnosis and treatment of avian influenza work. All over the medical institutions at all levels in accordance with the Ministry of Health, "human bird flu treatment programs (2008 version)," further enhance the level of human bird flu clinics, and make sure that cases of early discovery, early reporting, early quarantine, early treatment. Third, the health sector at all levels to strengthen epidemic monitoring and environmental monitoring, found that the epidemic should be a timely report, to take prompt measures to effectively prevent and control the epidemic. The fourth is to further strengthen cooperation with agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors such as information communication and measures linked. Fifth, we should step up publicity and education and risk communication, timely to the public the progress of the disease and its prevention and control work, publicity can be anti-human avian influenza, controllable, can be cured. Six is to strengthen scientific research work, and constantly improve the human avian influenza prevention and control capacity and the level of science and rational response.

The meeting listened to Shanxi, Shandong, Hunan, Guizhou 4 Provincial Health Department on the human avian influenza prevention and control work of reporting, as well as the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention experts were on the current bird flu situation analysis.

http://www.moh.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/mohbgt/s3582/200901/38865.htm

**Gert van der Hoek** · January 20, 2009, 06:34 AM

Re: China - General news avian influenza

Beijingers bird flu virus, announced the results of the analysis

2009/01/20

January 13, the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau announced on its Web site for the Beijing bird flu virus were the results of the analysis.

According to the Chinese CDC report, based on human avian influenza cases in Beijing right lung tissue isolation of the virus (A/Beijing/1/2009 (H5N1)) gene sequence analysis of the results: the virus with China from 2005 to 2008 separation avian influenza virus without the essential difference between, only a very small variation.

The results showed that the virus did not happen with the human influenza virus re-allocation, which proved the source of infection is still Huang poultry source.

Communications, also pointed out that the virus is still not easy to cause the spread between people. In addition, China's CDC has been collected from Hebei Province CDC environmental samples isolated from avian influenza virus, gene sequencing is in progress.

Beijing Municipal Health Bureau announced on the 12th, the human bird flu deaths in close contact with 200 people have been removed from medical observation. As at 12 o'clock on the 12th, Beijing found no suspicious cases of human avian influenza.

As on the 12th, the Beijing disease control agencies engaged in poultry breeding, slaughtering, marketing and monitoring of high-risk groups, such as occupational and focus groups to carry out pro-active monitoring to monitor a total of 50,029 people, found no cases of influenza-like. External to the floating population in Beijing to carry out pro-active monitoring to monitor a total of 9731 people found no cases of influenza-like.

Beijing medical institutions of various types, out-patient, emergency cases to monitor bird flu or no medical observation reported cases of pneumonia of unknown causes to carry out monitoring and investigation of cases, no cases of pneumonia of unknown causes reports, monitoring reports a total of 1897 cases of influenza-like cases.

At the same time, Beijing medical institutions for disease control agency reported cases of influenza-like carried out epidemiological investigations, and追访, a total of 2256 cases of the investigation and追访of 1552 people conducted a rapid detection of influenza, 27 man-made positive. Found no suspicious cases of human avian influenza.

Pro-active monitoring of influenza-home operation, were detected in patients with influenza 167,898 people and found no suspicious cases of human avian influenza.

Beijing CDC has received cases of influenza-like samples 39 samples have been detected 39, the results were negative for H5N1 nucleic acid. Since the emergency monitoring carried out since the submission of the district and county emergency monitoring in patients with a total sample of 174, 174 have been detected, the results were negative for H5N1 nucleic acid.

Source: China CDC

http://china.ibtimes.com/articles/20090120/renqinliugan7.htm

**Gert van der Hoek** · January 20, 2009, 06:45 AM

Re: China - General news avian influenza

Taiwan strengthens info campaign against bird flu from China ahead of Lunar New Year

2009-01-20

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan is setting up information centers at two major international airports to warn travelers of the dangers of the expanding bird flu risk from China during the Lunar New Year holiday, the Centers for Disease Control announced Tuesday.

China said Tuesday a fourth person had been affected, with two already deceased. As the Lunar New Year is getting on the way this coming weekend, numerous Taiwanese might return home to the island, while about 10,000 Chinese tourists are also expected to visit.

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Kaohsiung International Airport in Hsiaokang will each set up an information kiosk in their departure hall to alert travelers to the risks of the disease, said Chou Jih-haw, deputy director of the CDC.

The four cases of bird flu recorded so far this month occurred in different parts of China, Chou said. The most recent case involves a 16-year-old boy in Hunan Province who had been in close contact with poultry, according to the Chinese authorities. Earlier this month, a 19-year-old woman died of H5N1 in Beijing. A 27-year-old woman was reported dead of the virus in Shandong Province, while a two-year-old girl was listed as critically ill in Shanxi Province.

All cases had likely been transmitted from poultry to humans, and no evidence had turned up that the flu was spreading among people, Chou said.

The CDC had been notified of the latest case on Monday evening, he said.

Taiwanese who travel to China should take care not to come into close contact with live poultry and would better not visit poultry markets, Chou warned.

While staying in China, travelers should also maintain personal hygiene, avoid staying in closed spaces for a long time, and watch out for other dangerous diseases common there, such as rabies, he said.

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=843926&lang=eng_news

**Gert van der Hoek** · January 20, 2009, 08:24 AM

Re: China - General news avian influenza

227 people under observation in bird flu scare

www.chinaview.cn 2009-01-20

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 227 people who had close contact with two bird flu patients in the provinces of Hunan and Guizhou are under observation, although none has yet been found to be infected, health officials said Tuesday.

A Hunan health department spokesman said 140 people had been examined including the patients' relatives and medical workers in Changsha County and Huaihua City as of Tuesday noon. No abnormalities were found.

A two-year-old girl fell ill on Jan. 7 in Changsha County and was confirmed to be infected with bird flu in Shanxi Province on Saturday. On Tuesday morning, a 16-year-old male student, who fell ill on Jan. 8 in Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou, died in a hospital in Huaihua.

The Qiandongnan prefectural government said Tuesday that 87 people who had close contact with the student were not affected.

Three people have died of bird flu and another has been infected in China so far this year. The first death was a 19-year-old woman in Beijing on Jan. 5, followed by a 27-year-old woman in Shandong on Jan. 17 and a 16-year-old male student in Hunan on Jan. 20. A two-year-old patient surnamed Peng was still receiving treatment in Shanxi.

The fatality rate for bird flu patients is more than 60 percent.

感谢您的浏览！ - 新华网

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/20/content_10691813.htm

**Sally Furniss** · January 20, 2009, 07:18 PM

Re: China - General news avian influenza

From north to south of avian flu virus, experts say migratory birds may
01 years http://www.sina.com.cn 2009 on 21 day 03:26金羊网- New Express

On the 6th of this month, China's one after another report of four cases of human avian influenza cases, and 3 people have died. From the time and geographical point of view, it seems that with the distribution of the epidemic was cold southward trend in the future as a result of Guangdong will continue to cool down, the concerns about the bird flu occurred in Guangdong. Experts said that the current status of cases distributed between the Agency, as temperatures fell in winter and spring, as well as migratory birds carry the virus across the border and other reasons, the epidemic is a normal phenomenon southward.
The incidence of avian influenza experts say the virus may be from north to south with the migratory birds died of bird flu in Hunan

■ New Express reporter Fan such as stone

4 confirmed cases were the North-South distribution

自1月6日北京确诊一例人感染高致病性禽流感之后，17日、18日、19日，分别在山西、山东、湖南相继确诊有人感染高致病性禽流感，从地图上看确诊time and place of obvious trend was moving gradually from north to south. From the time and location of the incidence of view, is the first in Beijing after it was infected, and then someone appears in Hunan, Guizhou infections (Shandong cases of infection of unknown origin).

Since the avian influenza virus cold span, according to weather forecasts, the Guangdong region from the outset, gradually cooling down today, 23 the temperature will be decreased, so some people are worried that human infection with bird flu will be cold with immediate Guangdong?

There is no incidence of poultry people get infected

Statistics show that China's human bird flu cases more than 70% of the time focused on the incidence of winter and spring (November to March), in the region to the southern provinces of mainly rural than urban. National Influenza舒跃龙director of the Center on the 19th when interviewed by reporters said that at present the virus isolates showed that human infection with the virus still comes from birds and pollution of the environment in the cycle of avian influenza virus. Has now occurred four cases, prior to the onset of three cases are directly or indirectly come into contact with dead birds, or go off in the incidence of live birds markets, only the source of infection in Shandong of dubious origin.

Reporter yesterday from the Agriculture Department of Guangdong Province was informed that there is no monitoring of the bird flu outbreak in Guangdong, but also did not receive the Ministry of Agriculture on the other parts of the bird flu outbreak briefing, Jiangsu only found in the eggs of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus . But So far, four cases of human infection with bird flu, and 3 people have died, the situation has attracted the attention of the parties.

Normal incidence from north to south

Against bird flu this year, the new situation in an interview with reporters yesterday, the provincial agricultural department of the party group members of the total animal husbandry and veterinary Tsai Shu Gan. Tsai Shu Gan said that people infected with highly pathogenic bird flu epidemic situation in the distribution from north to south is normal. He explained that based on the characteristics of highly pathogenic avian influenza, with temperatures dropping in winter and spring, the weather was relatively cold, the bird flu virus will be more active, which is from north to south movement of migratory birds, the virus is likely, therefore with the migratory birds was taken to the South. Together with the birds in cold weather resistance to the relative decline in the season, so the chance of infection is also increasing, these three reasons for making the bird flu tend to show the development trend from north to south.

But this time several cases of bird flu are infected, and is not found in birds before the outbreak of the epidemic, but also showed the North-South distribution. In this regard, the National Influenza舒跃龙on the 19th director of the Center for an interview with reporters, said several of China's recent cases of human bird flu is highly distributed, and cases there was no link between this and previous incidence of basically the same. Were sporadic cases of avian flu in our country there may occur, but there were no signs of large-scale outbreak.

Agriculture Department will strengthen the poultry immunity

It is understood that in recent years during the annual winter and spring have a bird flu outbreak in Guangdong so throughout the year to closely monitor the situation of bird flu. Agriculture Department last year after the beginning of winter, especially bird flu was discovered in Hong Kong, the Agriculture Department immediately issued an emergency notice to prevent and control bird flu and has organized the flight inspection, and urge the implementation of prevention and control measures. Yesterday, the provincial agricultural department of the party group members of the total animal husbandry and veterinary Tsai Shu Gan, currently the province's 43 provincial-level bird flu monitoring points and at all levels of supervision of animal epidemic prevention agencies have so far not yet found bird flu. The province's poultry immunity density of bird flu 113 percent, some poultry have been conducted many times immunization, the forefront of the nation.

Tsai Shu Gan said that with the gradual lowering of temperature in future, the Guangdong Provincial Agriculture Department will continue to strengthen the monitoring of wild birds and poultry immunization, for some period of validity expired poultry vaccines, timely fill epidemic.

Nearly a year chicken prices slight

Although human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred in several cases, but the reporter learned yesterday from the poultry wholesale market, the current price of live chickens Canton not affected by avian influenza. Although patients diagnosed nearly in Hunan, but Hunan shipped over the price of live chickens has been an upward trend. Baiyun District Jiang high wholesale market town of three birds, a Hunan wholesalers told reporters that since the winter solstice, as a result of market demand in Guangdong, Hunan catchment very scarce, so Hunan chicken overall upward trend in prices, has risen from 12 yuan a catty to 14 per catty.

16-year-old boys died of bird flu infected

Shanxi, Shandong and Hunan Beijing report a case of all cases have aroused considerable public concern

According to Xinhua News Agency, Xinhua learned from the Hunan Provincial Department of Health, Hunan Huaihua City recently confirmed case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases had been patients at 8:10 on the 20th about the death of the Ministry of Health and Hunan province after more than clinical experts and prevalence of patients with sexually transmitted diseases, experts conduct joint rescue.

According to the Hunan Provincial Health Department briefing, 16-year-old male with Wu, who lives in Qiandongnan Prefecture of Guizhou Province, January 8 this year in Guizhou morbidity due to illness on January 16 into Huaihua City, Hunan Province hospitalization. January 17, the Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory specimens of patient testing, the results for the H5N1 avian influenza virus nucleic acid positive; January 19, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention review of patient specimens for testing, the results for the bird flu virus nucleic acid H5N1 positive. Epidemiological survey found that patients had come into contact with dead poultry.

On the 20th morning, an emergency meeting of Hunan Province in winter and spring high incidence of infectious disease prevention and control meeting, asking that the relevant departments and throughout the province strictly implement the responsibility system. Epidemic occurred, the local government attaches great importance to Huaihua, in accordance with the "human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza contingency plans" to take the corresponding control measures. Close contacts of all the implementation of strict medical observation, and timely to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological investigation.

http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2009-01-21/032615064487s.shtml

**HenryN** · January 21, 2009, 04:27 AM

Re: China - General news avian influenza

Of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza prevention and control of common sense

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l of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza can prevent, control, can be cured.

l to reduce the people, especially children with poultry, birds unnecessary contact, especially contact with dead poultry. Found in dead chickens, ducks, geese and other birds, do not directly touch hands, avoid contact with dead poultry secretions.

l found in dead birds, they should immediately report to the local agricultural sector.

l formal slaughtered for human consumption and the purchase of factory products, do not eat sick chickens, ducks, geese and other poultry.

l When the unexpected prevalence of infectious diseases, the time being not to bad air circulation, the number of public places. Fever, cough and other symptoms to timely medical treatment, there is a history of exposure to avian influenza-like symptoms in patients with the need for timely medical treatment, doctors note to the situation in contact with birds, so early detection, early treatment of patients, early reporting, early prevention and control epidemic .

l attention to food hygiene, do not drink unboiled water, do not eat unripe foods such as meat and eggs.

l do not spitting, before it and after sneezing, wash their hands after going to擦鼻涕, to develop a good personal hygiene habits.

l regular physical exercise, and enhance physical fitness.

http://www.moh.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/mohwsyjbgs/s3578/200901/38879.htm

**HenryN** · January 21, 2009, 01:15 PM

Re: China - General news avian influenza

Three departments jointly prevent and control bird flu and human avian flu

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The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce issued January 20 "on the live poultry operators to increase market supervision and do a good job in human avian influenza prevention and control work," which called for intensified supervision and management of live poultry market operators, who do a good job Avian influenza prevention and control work to protect people's health and life security, to ensure that people across the country enjoy a happy and auspicious Spring Festival.

The circular pointed out that in our country at a time when human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza and other respiratory burst of the high incidence of acute infectious disease season. With the Spring Festival approaching, the flow of people and cargo all over the surge, the overall human bird flu prevention and control of the situation even more grim. Recently, the neighboring countries of animal and human avian flu bird flu frequent. 1 month, Beijing, Shanxi, Shandong, Hunan and other provinces and cities have found four cases of human avian influenza cases. According to the results of epidemiological investigations, as well as expert analysis study the views of operators of live poultry market is still bird flu prevention and control is an important juncture.

The circular called on local levels, health, agriculture and business sectors have to carry out their respective duties, full 24-hour duty system, the leadership of band shifts and report the epidemic situation on the system and doing a good job of bird flu monitoring and reporting of information, especially to do During the Spring Festival a good monitoring and reporting of information. After the epidemic was found in the first time to a higher-level departments in charge of the report at the same time, it is necessary to inform each other to ensure that the "three at the same time" principle (that is, at the same time arrived at the scene to conduct investigations at the same time, at the same time dealing with the epidemic) in bird flu prevention and control work has been implemented. Local levels, health, agriculture and business sectors to continue to solidify and improve the mechanism for joint prevention and control cooperation, strengthening market supervision work of live poultry operators convergence and cooperation. Wholesale markets and trading of poultry farmers market trading and distribution links to strengthen the supervision of personnel in the field to clear a 24-hour supervision. Once the discovery of avian flu or suspected bird flu, local health, agriculture and industrial and commercial departments should immediately in accordance with the plans and relevant work program and do a good job of bird flu emergency response, epidemiological investigation, the source of the outbreak traced and isolation of close contacts Observation of such work, the higher level departments should actively support, to prevent the spread of the epidemic. From the prevention and control work around the actual needs, and strive to close the City of live birds operating market, the market can not be shut down daily cleansing and disinfection should be implemented and regular rest, such as the prevention and control system, do a good job in live poultry markets strict sanitation, diseases such as sampling monitoring prevention and control work, from the source to reduce the avian flu and human avian flu.

http://www.moh.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/mohwsyjbgs/s3578/200901/38881.htm

**Gert van der Hoek** · January 21, 2009, 03:18 PM

Re: China - General news avian influenza

Bird flu hunters to fly with wild ducks

Adele Wong

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Hong Kong University researchers are using migratory wild ducks tagged with satellite transmitters to trace their annual flights in a study on the spread of avian flu viruses.

Partners in the project are World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong, US Geological Survey, and the Empres-Wildlife Unit from the Food and Agriculture Organization, with help from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Two dozen ducks were tagged last December. The ducks usually winter in Hong Kong and continue their flight in spring.

"We anticipate the project will reveal more information about the link between their migration and involvement, if any, in the spread of avian influenza viruses," a university spokeswoman said. "Wild birds are often blamed for spreading avian flu but, at present, little is known about their migratory routes and if they are connected to its spread.

"Swab samples collected and tested for avian flu viruses and Newcastle Disease were found to be negative."

Professor Malik Peiris from the department of microbiology said the real objective is to track down the ducks' destinations. "This is especially important since wild birds are believed to play some role in moving the disease," he said.

Peiris suspects poultry outbreaks are a much more likely cause of the spread than wild bird migration, and this project will be able to paint a clearer picture after a year of study.

Peiris' assistant, Connie Leung Yin-****, said wild birds usually transmit diseases through feces or when sharing food and water. "Hopefully within half a year to a year, we will know the routes of these birds and their breeding grounds."

There were four human infections in the last two weeks and three deaths in the mainland, sparking fears of an outbreak.

404 | The Standard

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=77409&sid=22342415&con_type=1

**Sally Furniss** · January 21, 2009, 04:37 PM

Re: China - General news avian influenza & animal/poultry/wild bird outbreaks Jan 20, 2009 +

With the cold front is expected bird flu south
http://www.wenweipo.com [2009-01-22]

■ Guizhou juvenile after the death of bird flu have been sent to inform retailers to step up disinfection of chicken stalls. The local poultry sales not yet affected by the incident. Bao Guizhou Fax

since January 6, the mainland one after another report of four cases of human infection with bird flu, of which 3 people have died. From the time and place, the distribution of the epidemic seems to be with the southward trend was cold, or the threat of Guangdong and other places. China denies舒跃龙influenza, director of the Center of human infection with bird flu to deteriorate, and that there is no correlation between these cases, there is currently no human infection of bird flu signs of large-scale outbreak.

Since January 6 Beijing confirmed case of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza after 17, 18, 19, respectively, in Shanxi, Shandong, Hunan, confirmed it was infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, confirmed the time from the map view and location of apparent trend was moving gradually from north to south.

Expert analysis, the current status of cases distributed between the Agency, as temperatures fell in winter and spring, as well as migratory birds carry the virus across the border and other reasons, the epidemic is a normal phenomenon southward.

Sent 4 cases unrelated

Despite the recently found four cases of human infection with bird flu, of which 3 people were killed, but the director of the Center for China influenza舒跃龙denied the deterioration of human infection with avian epidemic and that there is no correlation between these cases and the incidence of basically the same as before, there is currently no human infection large-scale outbreak of bird flu signs.

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce jointly issued on the 20th "on the live poultry operators to increase market supervision and do a good job in human avian influenza prevention and control work," which called for intensified supervision and management of live poultry market operators, who do a good job in poultry influenza prevention and control work to protect people's health and life security.

In Guizhou, a 16-year-old boy died of bird flu confirmed on the 20th after the reporter was rushed to the deceased's home and the incidence of land - in Liping County of Guizhou Qiandongnan Prefecture, from where the local government was informed that: with the boy before his death there have been close 44 contacts have all received medical observation, there are 3 people has been discharged from observation, and the remaining 41 people so far have not yet found nothing unusual.

Guizhou provincial governor to ask for public epidemic

Qiandongnan Prefecture, according to Lu Jiang Foreign Office briefing, human infection with bird flu deaths occurred, caused by high-level attention in Guizhou Province. Governor Lin Shusen specialized instructions to request a timely manner to the people of Health announced the epidemic and quickly carried out to investigate the source of the disease, and take effective measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

Reporters in the state capital of Changsha, Hunan, Kaili City, and the supermarkets and farmers markets to see, the public still eager to buy chickens and ducks as a New Year's dinner dishes.

Xiang person stationed at poultry market

It is understood that in order to ensure that the bird put in place prevention and control work, Hunan health and epidemic prevention departments have sent 24 hours at the poultry wholesale markets and farmers market. At the same time, Hunan railway authorities have also taken emergency measures to poultry is prohibited on passenger trains.

**Diane Morin** · January 21, 2009, 06:03 PM

Re: China - General news avian influenza & animal/poultry/wild bird outbreaks Jan 20, 2009 +

Shandong poultry ban in cities

Ta Kung Pao inquiry】【Recently, Shandong Province, Jinan City occurred confirmed case of human bird flu, which is in Shandong Province were the first confirmed case of avian flu.

Xinhua News Agency reported that in order to prevent and control the epidemic, Shandong Province, the Patriotic Health Campaign Committee, put forward on the 21st, is strictly prohibited in the water protection zone poultry restocking livestock, city, county ban poultry.

爱卫会Shandong Province has decided to conduct a province-wide to prevent and control avian influenza as the focus of health campaigns, comprehensive improvement of environmental sanitation.

Rural sanitation management to focus on key areas of poultry farming, large farms, aquaculture and professional major epidemic-prone areas.

Called for timely liquidation of livestock wastes, disinfection, and implementation of sound processing.

Villagers living in the area, to improve drinking water and lavatories, focusing on substantial improvements in sanitation.

Poultry animals in captivity to implement timely liquidation of livestock manure to dissipate into the atmosphere, strengthening human and animal excreta harmless treatment and management; enhance the water tap water plant protection, water protection areas is strictly prohibited in the restocking of poultry livestock.

City, county poultry ban on feeding pigeons households is necessary to strengthen education and management.

Strengthen the management of farm and sideline produce market, and maintain a hygienic environment.

source

**Commonground** · January 21, 2009, 06:52 PM

Re: China - General news avian influenza & animal/poultry/wild bird outbreaks Jan 20, 2009 +

Hunan Huaihua of human infection with highly pathogenic bird flu death

2009-01-20
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Channels of human infection with bird flu

At present, the spread of avian flu, there are two major ways: respiratory and digestive tract. Sick chicken manure dust, secretions, spread by air (chicken in captivity in small cages son, the air does not flow easily through the spread of feces); drinking contaminated by poultry droppings water, consumption of poultry under the eggs, may cause disease.

Avian influenza prevention and treatment of common sense
Prevent infection of avian influenza 4:00 proposals

One: Do not travel to affected areas.
Two: Do not contact with live birds.
Three: focus on disease prevention.
Four: attach importance to high temperature anti-virus.

**Commonground** · January 21, 2009, 06:55 PM

Re: China - General news avian influenza & animal/poultry/wild bird outbreaks Jan 20, 2009 +

Shandong Province died of bird flu had close contacts of patients with no abnormal

2009-01-20 16:05:59
Xinhua reported January 20 Jinan occurred in patients with a diagnosis of avian influenza and died later, Shandong Province, urgent action to dispose of the bird flu incident.

Zhang patients, female, 27-year-old Han, who lives in Jinan City槐荫district to help her husband operate the business of spicy string. Patients in January 5, 2009 the disease, the treatment of their own at home; January 10 to the Fifth People's Hospital of Jinan City in accordance with the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection, the effect was not obvious; on the 11th to the Shandong Provincial Hospital emergency department two days of observation and treatment, exacerbations, on the 13th hospital revenue due to sustained high fever, body temperature as high as 40 ℃, the general treatment of the poor in a serious condition, transferred to an isolation ward on the 15th, on the 17th by people suspected cases of bird flu into infectious disease hospitals in Jinan City isolation hospital to save the day by 6:40 p.m. died.

After the incident, Shandong Province, launched an urgent public health emergency response plans for two, set up in Shandong Province public health emergencies leading group started the Health Department, Animal Husbandry Bureau, Jinan City, the epidemic on the report and零报告制度. On the 19th, the leading group released "in Shandong Province of human infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza prevention and control program of work," people of the province's bird flu prevention and control was made for full deployment.

Shandong province, city and county disease control agencies carried out the three-tier tight surveillance of close contacts temperature 2 times a day, there body temperature higher than 38 ℃ and with influenza-like symptoms or pneumonia symptoms timely isolation. Medical observation has been a cumulative total number of 141 persons. Did not appear close contacts with the temperature rising pharyngodynia symptoms such as cough.

Shandong Province, the livestock sector to carry out comprehensive monitoring of poultry, and expand the sampling surface, increasing the sampling density; strengthened the work of emergency supplies reserves inspection, emergency response teams ready to do a good job. Group of Experts on the death of the Ministry of Agriculture on the location of some of the sick patients live poultry trading market, the habitat of migratory birds, the size of backyard farms and households to conduct epidemiological survey households. Assessment by experts, at present so far revealed the existence of bird flu in poultry, the monitoring results were normal.

At present, Shandong Province, the province's livestock sector is carried out within the framework of highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic large survey, further examination immune situation, strengthen the immune antibody levels failed, the new premium-free poultry补栏work. Strengthen the quarantine law enforcement, strengthening the poultry farms, slaughterhouses, market supervision and quarantine, strict investigations were verified, emergency preparedness to ensure the safety of animal products.

It is understood that the next step in Shandong Province will focus on doing a good job of poultry livestock and poultry influenza cases monitoring, investigation, human highly pathogenic avian influenza contingency reserve药械drugs, as well as the avian flu prevention publicity. (This article Source: Xinhuanet)

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China: General Avian Influenza news & Animal/Poultry/Wild Bird outbreaks Jan 20+

China: General Avian Influenza news & Animal/Poultry/Wild Bird outbreaks Jan 20+

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