October 3 Flu Update
The Waco Tribune Herald editorializes that we are facing bird flu unarmed.Saudi Arabia has travelling coming up from Ramadan, but they're preparing for the bird flu, too.
These nanoviricide guys think they have a bird flu answer.
Vietnam continues to note that bird flu has not claimed a victim that country in two months (does that mean culling really works?)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution urges people not to let bird flu fall below the radar--noting we have a few days warning for a hurricane, but months for a flu pandemic.
Interesting article on the results of earlier preperation for bird flu in Philippines.
Here's one everyone will like. UBS has a report on the projected economic repercussions of bird flu.
People from a company called GenoMed say that President Bush made a big mistake buying the bird flu vaccine currently available.
The LA Times has a round-up of US efforts on preparing for the bird flu.
Effect Measure reviews and cites this article, saying that the teachable moment may finally be here. Interestingly, Secretary Leavitt realized the problem as he toured a shelter in Louisiana, post Katrina, and thought "what if we were dealing with this in 50 states?"
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune says we are not prepared for bird flu.
Well, you gotta read this one to believe it. A fitness/food addiction exercise music podcast interviewed Niman.
Effect Measure on Pandemic Flu Awareness Week.
Yesterday, we reviewed Nabarro's newest prophecy--that the flu would change everything as we know it. Revere thinks he knows what he really meant, but decides in the end, there's no point in quibbling.
The Atlanta Journal Consitution on the CDC's restricted data sharing policies.
Revere notes that he had this a while ago, and comments.
Lest you think he forgot, Recombinomics says the death toll from the mysterious disease in Toronto is up to 6.
Recombinomics notes nine deaths in Indonesia (unconfirmed), and goes on to note that many cases are mild, and that more data is needed.
H5N1 has the Jakarta Post on the ninth death, a 68 year old poultry farmer.
Recombinomics says that the way the test for flu in Indonesia, they would be expected to miss mild cases.
This is a must read. WHO has a review (published on Pro Med) that spells out some analysis of the bird flu. Here is a summary of some conclusions. I've markd in red the ones that seem especially significant to me:
The authors have drawn the following conclusions. Infected birds have
been the primary source of influenza A (H5N1) infections in humans in
Asia. Transmission between humans is very limited at present, but
continued monitoring is required to identify any increase in viral
adaptation to human hosts. Avian influenza A (H5N1) in humans differs
in multiple ways from influenza due to human viruses, including the
routes of transmission, clinical severity, pathogenesis, and perhaps,
response to treatment. Case detection is confounded by the
non-specificity of initial manifestations of illness, so that
detailed contact and travel histories and knowledge of viral activity
in poultry are essential. Commercial rapid antigen tests are
insensitive, and confirmatory diagnosis requires sophisticated
laboratory support. Unlike human influenza, avian (H5N1) influenza
may have higher viral titers in the throat than in the nose, and
hence, analysis of throat swabs or lower respiratory samples may
offer more sensitive means of diagnosis. Recent human isolates are
fully resistant to M2 inhibitors, and increased doses of oral
oseltamivir may be warranted for the treatment of severe illness.
Despite recent progress, knowledge of the epidemiology, natural
history, and management of influenza A (H5N1) disease in humans is
incomplete. There is an urgent need for more coordination in clinical
and epidemiologic research among institutions in countries with cases
of influenza A (H5N1) and internationally.
H5N1 has a story on the looming Pandemic from an English-language Indonesian weekly.
posted by Orange @ 11:06 PM
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