Pandemic News/Awareness.

indigo girl · Feb 25, 2007

The SARS Scare, a Cautionary Tale of Emerging Disease Caught in the Act, from Harvard Magazine

(hat tip Fluwiki)

http://www.harvardmagazine.com/2007/03/the-sars-scare.html

This is a very well written article on SARS, and for the most part, the scientific explanations are easily understandable. It is an amazing, but true story. There are, of course, implications for the future.

indigo girl · Feb 26, 2007

Vietnam - Bird Flu Returns

It seems that once it happens, no matter how many times you attempt to wipe it out, it always returns. Perhaps this is how it will always be, and we should just get used to it. I wish that these countries would stop declaring themselves, birdflu free. It seems to be like a bad luck charm.

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/02/vietnam-bird-flu-returns.html

Again in Turkey:

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2007/02/h5n1_breaks_out.html

Kuwait:

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2007/02/kuwait_discover.html

Russia (hat tip PIF/monotreme)

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070226/61231399.html

indigo girl · Feb 26, 2007

More info on the human case in Laos. Laotian officials kept the info quiet for over a week, then they said that it was flu, but they could only confirm that the type was H5. What they did not say, is this, there is no other kind of H5 flu that effects humans but H5N1! The girl has bird flu. Just say it already!

Countries sure hate to admit that the disease is present whether it's in wild birds, poultry, or God forbid, humans.

http://www.ecanadanow.com/science/health/2007/02/25/bird-flu-confirmed-in-laos/

(hat tip P4P/rick)

CHATSDALE · Feb 26, 2007

they don't tell the truth because of the loss of domestic birds but this is foolish because the flocks are doomed qnyway and if the virus will have a chance to strength and mutate if something isn't done quickly

indigo girl · Feb 27, 2007

A Canadian seaman, who had been complaining of flu like symptoms was on a ship at Portsmouth harbor in New Hampshire. The paramedics found him unconscious with no pulse, and performed CPR, but he died. They wore protective face masks.

http://www.singtomeohmuse.com/viewtopic.php?p=16534#16534

I am not saying H5N1, obviously, but I still think that it is odd. I have been hearing about people in their forties lately, in the hospital with flu and no prior existing conditions.

indigo girl · Feb 27, 2007

The FDA will probably declare the current experimental bird flu vaccine as safe. Too bad it may not be effective.

http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2007/02/fda_will_probably_declare_expe.php#more

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/02/sanofi-vaccine-gets-nod-from-advisory.html

No bird flu in Iran, so don't even think of saying it:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/02/iran-denies-bird-flu-outbreak.html

The Chinese are downplaying a report by the very famous, Dr. Zhong, their leading expert. Who should we believe, Zhong or the Chinese government? Let's think about this...

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/02/chinese-officials-downplay-pandemic.html

indigo girl · Feb 28, 2007

Look at these numbers, 44 thousand people screened in Turkey, 213 treated for infections, presumably with Tamiflu. This is just one country, we are talking about. How much Tamiflu is there in the world today?

Every time the disease appears in poultry, cullers and the people nearby are frequently treated, with the so called Tamiflu blanket.

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=104032

Egypt's newest case is a four year old girl:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-02/28/content_5781374.htm

indigo girl · Feb 28, 2007

The 16 year old Laotian girl is being treated in Thailand. Her condition is described as critical:

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2007/02/lao_girl_16_cri.html

Two suspected cases in Afghanistan:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/02/afghanistan-two-suspected-human-cases.html

I also held off on reporting this Egyptian woman's case because of the inconsistent reports. It does appear that she is a positive case:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/02/egypt-story-changes-third-time.html

Good grief! The story changed again!

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/02/egypt-presto-chango.html

This is new. The Chinese are confirming a human case of bird flu:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=68293&postcount=1

Update on the Afghan patients, they are now reporting negative test results, however, we have had many examples of negative cases that were later discovered to be positive.

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/02/afghanistan-two-patients-test-negative.html

indigo girl · Feb 28, 2007

A message from HHS at pandemicflu.gov/, includes some PSA videos:

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/

CHATSDALE · Mar 1, 2007

the hard decisions about the distribution of tamiflu or any other meds that have proven to be effective or even partially effective will have to be made on regimens that we have not used in past years

we have stressed that the elderly and the sick have first shot but if this becomes a human to human contact we are going to have to protect the younger level of the population these will be the ones most effected and these will be the ones needed to give care for the young and the old

indigo girl · Mar 1, 2007

Vietnam, no longer bird flu free:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/03/vietnam-more-infected-birds.html

Burma, keeping it a secret from its own citizens:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/03/myanmar-infected-birds-but-no-public.html

indigo girl · Mar 2, 2007

Confusion continues over the Indonesian agreement with the WHO over avian flu isolates. Let us hope this will be straightened out soon as this info is vital:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/03/confusion-over-indonesian-agreement.html

Discussion on the ethics of a pandemic flu vaccine distribution:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/03/cold-and-flu-equations.html