Bird Flu USA RELATED MATERIAL

[Rob1981]

I'm a little concerned. But at least it hasn't mutated... into a flu that can be spread person to person.


Some tips on how to be safe (many of these are obvious, but many people don't do these, and that's how people get sick with many common sicknesses anyway):

-Wash hands on a regular basis (not obsessively, just a few times a day)

-Cover your mouth when coughing

-If you feel really sick, see a doctor. Don't ignore it.

-If you see sick or dead birds, REPORT it. (It's better to be safe than sorry)

[Rob1981]

Did anyone see the Bird Flu movie on ABC the other night?


I didn't, because I don't like made-for-TV movies much... plus I think it's just wrong how Hollywood takes advantage of real life things and translates it into a movie.

[AJE]

Bird flu kills 5-year-old Indonesian girl
20 chickens died suddenly near her home; man in Vietnam hospitalized

May 23, 2007
msnbc news

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A 5-year-old Indonesian girl from Central Java province has died of bird flu, a health ministry official said on Wednesday.

The girl from Wonogiri died last Thursday after being hospitalized on May 17 suffering from fever and respiratory problems, said Suharda Ningrum of the ministry’s bird flu center.

Authorities were still investigating the case, but at least 20 chickens had died suddenly near her home, the official said.

In Vietnam, a man infected with bird flu has been admitted to a hospital in Hanoi, becoming the first confirmed human case since November 2005, the state-run Tien Phong newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Tests confirmed the 30-year-old man was infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus. The man comes from Vinh Phuc province near the capital, the newspaper said.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18817839/

[MrKhay]

So far, looks like the bird flu deal has been held at bay, in this region.. (neck 'o' da woods).

[AJE]

New vaccine may beat bird flu before it starts

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
August 9th, 2007
Yahoo News WASHINGTON


Researchers studying bird flu viruses said on Thursday they may have come up with a way to vaccinate people before a feared influenza pandemic.

Experts have long said there is no way to vaccinate people against a new strain of influenza until that strain evolves. That could mean months or even years of disease and death before a vaccination campaign began.

But a team at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Maryland and the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta said they may have found a short-cut.

The vaccine might protect people against the mutation that would change the H5N1 avian flu virus from a germ affecting mostly birds to one that infects people easily, the NIAID's Dr. Gary Nabel and colleagues report in Friday's issue of the journal Science.

For the complete information please :arrow:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070809/...flu_vaccine_dc

[AJE]

Is bird flu still a threat? What is your opinons?


:arrow: Although it’s widely believed that some form of avian epidemic H5N1strain will eventually morph into a human pathogen. Countries around the world are playing the safety card and taking whatever prevention measures to protect the populations from this deadly disease. Grim estimates say that if a pandemic occurs, it will kill over million Americans in the first year alone, as noted above the vaccine is underway. On the other hand if the vaccine still isn't marketed when the plague hits, we can but hope the disease will be contained to one area. It is, in the end, just a matter of waiting to see what transpires.


www.bird-flu-center.com

[AJE]

Birds Quarantined At Metro Atlanta PetSmarts

ATLANTA -- All birds at PetSmart stores in metro Atlanta and the rest of Georgia are under a quarantine after an outbreak of a bird disease that can be transferred to humans.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture ordered the quarantine at the PetSmarts, plus a Superpetz store in Martinez outside of Augusta due to psittacosis, Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced Monday.

Psittacosis is a bacterial disease that primarily affects parrots, parakeets and other members of the parrot family. It is treatable but can be fatal to the birds. Only in rare cases does it infect poultry.

The disease produces flu-like symptoms in humans, but it does not respond to treatments for the flu. The disease is especially dangerous to the young, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, such as persons with chronic disease, AIDS or HIV infection or those taking chemotherapy for cancer.

"We have had two confirmed cases of psittacosis at PetSmart stores in Hiram and Woodstock. There have also been confirmed cases at the dealer, Preferred Birds of Milton, Florida, that supplied birds to all the stores we are quarantining," said Irvin.

Birds Quarantined At Metro Atlanta PetSmarts - News Story - WSB Atlanta

[AJE]

December 26, 2007


Dear Pet Parent,
Our records show you recently bought a pet bird from PetSmart. We hope you are enjoying the new addition to your family.

We’re writing to you because we recently conducted random tests of the pet birds in our stores and a small percentage of Cockatiels tested positive for being exposed or infected with psittacosis. All of these Cockatiels and other birds came from the same vendor and, we believe, may have been exposed to the bacteria prior to arrival at our store. While we don’t believe there is any cause for alarm, we want you to be aware of this possibility.

Psittacosis is an infection caused by bacteria that can be carried by birds, primarily Cockatiels. It is easily treatable and infected birds generally fully recover. In rare cases, it can cause a respiratory infection in humans similar to a cold or flu and is treatable with antibiotics. If you have questions or concerns about your health, please contact your health care provider.

As a precautionary measure, we have voluntarily and temporarily suspended sales of birds at all of our stores supplied by this vendor while we preventatively treat them. And we’re contacting Pet Parents who may have purchased a Cockatiel or other type of bird from these stores on or after October 3, 2007, to make sure you’re aware.

Birds infected with psittacosis may appear drowsy, eat poorly, and have runny eyes or nose and diarrhea. If your bird is exhibiting these symptoms we encourage you to contact your veterinarian. If your veterinarian feels it necessary to test your bird for psittacosis, our corporate veterinarians will review your bird’s health records and are authorized to reimburse you reasonable and customary fees associated with testing and treatment of psittacosis. We are happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Please contact our Customer Service team at 800-738-1385, ext. 2518.

I’ve also attached a fact sheet that provides additional information. We value you as a customer and want your experience with your pet and PetSmart to be
enjoyable. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
David Kless
Pet Care Operations Manager

[CarolsCritterCare]

Interesting seeing this subject here. I belong to a International Bio-Security Committee head up by vets across the world. Just this week I brought up High Fever Illness in China...see below for the article I shared


High CFR in High Fever Illness in Eastern China

Since the middle of July 2006, an unknown pig disease has occurred in
the neighboring provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hunan and
Henan, and other areas. Already 40 percent of pigs have died from
infection. As of mid-August this disease had already spread to parts
of Hubei. Conditions are relatively serious. According to reports,
the pig disease is characterized by high fever, sudden onset, rapid
transmission, and high mortality rate.

Pig "high fever illness" is appearing in all areas in our province
[Zhejiang] other than Zhoushan City. There are more than 66 000 ill
pigs and already more than 11 000 have died. Since July, pig "high
fever illness" has appeared in one village after the other in
Jiangshan. Symptoms are elevated body temperature, redness on the
body surface, and cough. Ears turn light blue in a minority of pigs.
The mortality rate among sucklings and weaned pigs is especially high.

I hope that the Chinese authorities are carefully considering the
possibility of Swine Influenza usually caused by H1N1, H1N2, or H3N2
in Asia. Although Swine Influenza does not normally cause very high
mortality (i.e. only 2-3 percent die when the disease is endemic), a
new influenza strain could cause high mortality in swine, just as it
would in humans. Therefore, it is important we find out exactly what
is causing this undefined, undiagnosed disease over large areas of
China. - Mod.PC]

The above excerpts from the latest Promed report on the swine
outbreak in China, as well as the final comment, are cause for
concern. The failure to diagnose this widespread and fatal illness
is curious. As noted in the commentary, the symptoms certainly do
not exclude swine influenza, and the description of the light blue
ears sounds remarkably like combs turning blue in H5N1 infected
poultry. Although H5N1 is not directly mentioned in the commentary,
there is data out of China supporting "a new influenza strain."

H5N1 in swine in China has been reported previously. Initial reports
were on isolates from Fujian ands Shenzhen provinces. These isolates
were most closely related to "older" H5N1 isolates from China which
were not associated with human cases. Similarly, the H5N1 infections
were not linked to a high mortality or easy transmission.

However, more recent isolates from Guangdong and Anhui provinces are
more diverse and also have a curious history. The sequences from all
8 gene sequences were placed on deposit at GenBank on April 1, 2006.
A month later all 40 sequences were "removed at the submitter's
request because the sequence could not be confirmed". However, the
sequences can still be accessed (see links below) and they have
evidence of recombination, especially the Anhui sequences, with wild
bird H5N1 sequences in China (tree sparrows in Henan amd migratory
ducks in Jiangxi). These wild bird sequences are more closely
related to the H5N1 found in human cases.

The interaction between H5N1 in swine and H5N1 in migratory birds is
cause for concern. The Qinghai strain has PB2 E627K and has been
isolated from human cases in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iraq, and
Djibouti. Infection of swine can lead to the accumulation of
mammalian polymorphisms, which can lead to more efficient infection
in swine and humans.

The most recent H5N1 sequences from swine in China are the retracted
sequences from 2003/2004. Information on 2006 sequences and more
detail on diagnosing the "high fever illness", would be useful.

[CarolsCritterCare]

I then learned this from one of our vets on the committee;

this is reported to be a virulent PRRSv virus - but I believe it is more likely to be PCVAD/PMWS in combination. But the Chinese just do not talk about it - or invite people in to check.