April 7 Flu Update
A 29 year old man has died in Indonesia of bird flu. He is the 74th death in that country.ProMed on the death in Indonesia.
Indonesia now moves into the lead in bird flu cases, along with a 78.7% fatality rate.
India is destroying 100,000 doses of its first bird flu vaccine, since it is expiring.
Portsmouth, UK, has what it describes as a "huge" stockpile of flu materials.
Revere on a typical flu material--masks. The subject isn't as simple as it seems, and a recent study seems to indicate that they aren't as protective as people would wish--especially if not used correctly.
Bird flu continues to spread in Bangladesh.
Vietnam says its priority is preventing bird flu in humans.
India understands this presents a high risk area for their country, as well.
The US Marines have an expeditionary force ready to respond if flu hits in the Western Pacific.
Forbes reports that Tamiflu might have effected more than 100 teenagers in Japan.
posted by Orange @ 2:56 AM
1 Comments:
Orange;
Even on a slow news days, some of your articles are quite interesting.
I see Indonesia now holds the coveted honor and moniker as, “the nation with the highest number of confirmed human infections”, so this is a strong indication that Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s bird flu control plans, are right on course.
Of course, I am being facetious, but it is quite evident that their “firm policy separating poultry from humans and intensification of surveillance of the virus”, is not working. Clearly, what is not working against them is simple: their inept and ineffectual government, 22 million families still raising chickens which are clucking away in their back yards, Ms. Supari’s combative stance on the subject by refusing to share virus strains, and their total lack of commitment over the last three years to eradicate the virus in their environment. Other than all that, things appear to be going well.
If President Yudhoyono had any cojones, he would immediately fire Ms. Supari, or transfer her to the Jakarta sanitation department where she belongs. I am absolutely convinced that both you or I could do a better job then both of these people.
When one looks at the extensive bird flu surveillance, control and eradication activities taking place in the other Asian countries, like Vietnam, Indonesia appears pathetic (and I’m cutting them a lot of slack). We can only hope that writer John Barry is taking notes for a sequel to his best seller, to chronicle the Indonesia debacle accurately, so history gets it right.
I’m still trying my darnedest to figure out why there are no takers for the Indian bird flu vaccine. At current conversion rates, they are only asking roughly a penny a dose. I would even think Bangladesh and Indonesia would jump at the offer, especially since it has a proven 90% protection factor. Maybe if they raised the price to a dollar a piece, people might think they are getting a better value – go figure.
Revere must be having some slow times, or something. I’m with him all the way on being puzzled why people seem to be obsessed with the proper fitting of a protective N95 mask. The flu boards are covered with frenetic individuals who seem almost schizophrenic and bi-polar when this topic seems to come up. Actually, I believe a little scotch tape or duct tape around the edges solves the problem.
Quite frankly, I’m more concerned about having enough disinfectant and figuring out the 1000 best ways to keep whiney starving unprepared dumb people away from my residence during the pandemic, to worry too much about it. Compassion for unprepared people, who feel entitled to things during a pandemic, will be a hard sell.
I found the Star and Stripes article about the Marine’s and their PDA pandemic reporting and tracking devices, quite interesting. This seems to be yet another small, but critical part to our vast early warning network that is being put in place.
Finally, I’ve given it a lot of thought, and unfortunately, I’m just not worried about the teenagers and their bizarre behavior in Japan anymore, after they’ve taken Tamiflu.
A long time ago when they were little, I would take my own teenagers everywhere and drop them off.
But they always found their way back home.
The best of Easter to you.
Wulfgang
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