May 27 Flu Update
Readers note: I just finished reading the Nature articles today, and they are excellent. Many are nothing new to close observers of the flu scene, but the future blog is very good. Anyone wishing to understand the flu can start with the Nature articles.The Chinese say the bird flu threat has been stemmed.
China is also admitting to some under-reporting.
PBS jumps in on the China story, with this interview which contains audio links.
China is also denying any human bird flu deaths.
Recombinomics says the key questions is what killed 121 people in Qinghai?--note...given the unconfirmed nature of the report, the first question might be "were there 121 deaths?"
Recombinomics says that the 1,000 bird deaths is unprecedented.
Effect Measure on what we know and don't know in China.
Here's an update from Effect Measure that may shed light on the "blackout" characertization.
Update, 2:35 EST pm, 5/27/05: From China Daily (reporting press conference held by Jia Youling, director general of the Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture):
Qinghai Province, has been sealed off right after death of some migratory birds was found. He said there had been no precedent in the world to prevent and control avian influenza among migratory birds, and China's measures are all aimed at preventing the virus from spreading to domestic animals and human beings.
Up to May 26, more than 1,000 migratory birds including bar-headed geese and great black-headed gulls were killed by bird flu virus in northwest China's Qinghai Province. No tourists and irrelevant persons had been allowed to get into the habitats of migratory birds and the infected areas since the outbreak, he said."Sealing off the province" might be the source of the "blackout" rumors and also the suspicion something dire was happening there. We will keep watching developments.
The Pulitzer Prize Winning (Toledo) Blade weighed in with an anti-flu editorial today.
Even so, this Bump in the Beltway dude thinks its dopey.
CIDRAP on the Nature article.
CIDRAP on the Indonesia and the China situations.
The Standard of Hong Kong notes that the flu season isn't ending there.
Here's an estimate of 207,000 bird flu deaths in US...which as you know is on the low side of the estimates.
Euopreans are planning to fight a flu pandemic.
WebMD notes criticism of US pandemic preparation.
Effect Measure notes that the US pandemic plan should be done by the end of the summer. Not that there is any reason to hurry.
Effect Measure throws up his hands at high public officials who are concerned about our lack of flu planning--and it was their job in the first place.
ProMed on Chinese claims of a 100% effective flu vaccine.
posted by Orange @ 10:18 PM
2 Comments:
Orange,
Since when is "Melanie" a "dude?"
Melanie
Melanie,
Beats me...sorry.
Orange
Post a Comment
<< Home