Bird Flu Facts about the Avian Influenza Virus

Link to Pigs Edges Birdflu Closer to...

I found this site on bird flu, it gives a different perspective on Bird Flu, at least from my advantage. This is a look at bird flu mutuation from an Asian perspective.

Link to Pigs Edges Birdflu Closer to Pandemic

"The specter of a global influenza pandemic has loomed a little larger in recent weeks with revelations that Chinese researchers found the deadly H5N1 virus strain last year in pigs, a crucial link in the mutation of the disease to a form that can infect humans.

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Chinese officials have confirmed that the virus—which has killed 27 people in Asia so far this year—was found in pigs in the southeastern province of Fujian in 2003, official media reported. But the agricultural ministry has denied a report that pigs were found to be infected in "another place" this year.

The initial revelation was made by Chen Hualan, director of the China National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory. It came as a surprise to World Health Organization (WHO) representatives present at the seminar, who heard about it for the first time.

Chen called the finding "a rather dangerous signal in terms of public health.”

Once influenza mutates to infect pigs, it is far closer to a form that can infect humans. Many influenza strains are born where poultry, pigs, and people live in close contact.

Chinese officials claim that no human infections have been found so far, but they had also previously claimed that no pig infections had been found, either.

Chinese public health procedures have come under intense scrutiny and suspicion since an official attempt to cover up the extent of the SARS epidemic of 2003 was exposed by a military doctor in Beijing.

The doctor, who has also called for a re-appraisal of the 1989 military crackdown on democracy protesters, was detained for several months at an undisclosed location. Local editors at a newspaper in the southern Chinese city of Guangdong that broke news about the deadly SARS virus have been harassed and detained."

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posted by Scott Parat @ 7:58 AM 0 comments

REDI Centre to detect disease outbreaks

I found a great site from Singapore loaded with information on Birdflu. Gives a different perspective

	The REDI Centre will work with neighbouring countries to provide advice and consultation to address the bird flu situation in Southeast Asia.

Singapore and the US have renewed their joint commitment to work together to prevent and respond to pandemic influenza and other emerging diseases in Southeast Asia.

Both countries have signed a historic agreement which provides for the operation of the Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention (REDI) Centre, pledging to cooperate on a range of health issues, in particular emerging infectious diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and avian influenza.

The REDI Centre will respond to requests for assistance from Indonesia and Vietnam, and address concerns about infection control in hospitals in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos

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posted by Scott Parat @ 7:20 AM 0 comments