The initial doses of bird flu vaccines that were stockpiled by US authorities are less effective now - they lose their strength over time. As the vaccines have a shorter 'shelf-life' than was first expected, it is possible that the US stockpile would now cover one million fewer people than previously thought.
In other words - as the vaccines have a shorter shelf-life than we had previously thought, many of the first ones that were bought may now not be so good.
(Shelf life = How long a drug can be kept/stored before it has to be thrown away. A bit like 'expiry date' on foods. If a drug has a two-year shelf life and was made on 1 January, 2007, it must be discarded by the end of 2008.)
Authorities may have to re-think their contingency plans. It was first thought that by having large stocks of H5N1 vaccines, a nation would be better prepared against a possible pandemic by vaccinating health workers, key personnel and other high-risk groups.
Even so, authorities stressed that the loss of strength is gradual, not total. It does not mean that the strength of the oldest vaccines in stock have gone down from 100 to zero.
Novartis Wins Contract To Top Up USA H5N1 Vaccine Stockpile
Novartis has been awarded a $40.95 million contract to top up the USA's bird flu vaccine stockpile. US authorities aim to have enough vaccines to cover 20 million people. Last year Novartis was awarded a $62.5 million contract.
The pre-pandemic egg-based vaccine will be manufactured by Novartis in 2007 in Liverpool, UK.
Written by:
воскресенье, 26 июня 2011 г.
суббота, 25 июня 2011 г.
Avian Influenza Virus In Manitoba Confirmed To Be Low Pathogenic, Canada
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed that the virus detected in a commercial poultry operation in the Rural Municipality of Rockwood, Manitoba is low pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza.
Pathogenicity refers to the severity of the illness caused in birds.
The infected farm remains under quarantine, and all birds in the operation will be humanely destroyed within days. As a precautionary measure, the CFIA has also quarantined a local hatchery and two poultry farms that had significant contact with the infected farm.
Avian influenza viruses do not pose risks to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked. Avian influenza rarely affects humans, unless they are of specific types and there has been close contact with infected birds.
Animal health and public health authorities from the Province of Manitoba, local poultry specialists and industry are actively collaborating on the response to avian influenza in the Manitoba poultry operation, and in supporting the producer.
For information on safe food handling, please visit here.
Source:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Pathogenicity refers to the severity of the illness caused in birds.
The infected farm remains under quarantine, and all birds in the operation will be humanely destroyed within days. As a precautionary measure, the CFIA has also quarantined a local hatchery and two poultry farms that had significant contact with the infected farm.
Avian influenza viruses do not pose risks to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked. Avian influenza rarely affects humans, unless they are of specific types and there has been close contact with infected birds.
Animal health and public health authorities from the Province of Manitoba, local poultry specialists and industry are actively collaborating on the response to avian influenza in the Manitoba poultry operation, and in supporting the producer.
For information on safe food handling, please visit here.
Source:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
пятница, 24 июня 2011 г.
West Nile Virus Threat Reduced By Diversity Among Bird Populations In Surrounding Area
A more diverse bird population can help lower the incidence of West
Nile virus in the surrounding human population, in a process called the
"dilution effect," according to an article released in the open access
journal PLoS ONE on June 25, 2008.
West Nile Virus, usually infecting birds but also affecting humans, is
often passed through mosquitoes. Part of the Japanese encephalitis
family of viruses, it's symptoms have three phases, but include fever,
chills, and diaphoresis.
In the dilution effect, an increased level of biodiversity in wildlife
results in a lower risk for humans to be infected by animal diseases.
This was first reported in Lyme disease, but this new study, it has
been demonstrated in a vector with an avian host. This effect, relating
biodiversity of birds to West Nile Virus, is the largest application
thusfar of the dilution effect, and may also apply to other infectious
diseases such as avian flu or bubonic plague, according to the authors.
John P. Swaddle and Stavros E. Calos worked with the National Center
for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at the Univeristy of
California, Santa Barbara, synthesizing existing data to make
inferences for management and policy applications. "We don't yet know
the precise mechanism that drives this pattern, but
it's likely to be due to diverse areas having relatively few of the
bird species that are particularly competent hosts and reservoirs for
the virus," Swaddle said.A set of qualities that makes a species best
able to contract a particular disease is known as host competence. The
highest levels of host competence for West Nile Virus are found in
rows, jays, thrushes and sparrows, which also happen to thrive when
avian biodiversity is lowest.
This research has many implications, according to Swaddlepoints: by
attracting more land species, land management policies could increase
biodiversity and thus decrease the number of human infection rates in
an outbreak of West Nile Virus. "Biodiversity is giving us a public
health service that people have rarely considered and the value of this
service should be considered when developing land and managing bird
populations in the future," Swaddle said.
About the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis:
The National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) was
established in 1995. The organization has hosted more than 3,500
scientists from
over 50 countries, and supported more than 430 collaborative projects
in ecology and related fields. NCEAS scientists develop new
techniques in
informatics, and apply general knowledge of ecological systems to
specific issues such as the loss of biotic diversity, global change, and
sustainability of marine ecosystems. NCEAS is among the top 1 % of
38,000 institutions evaluated for scientific impact in environmental
research.
NCEAS is funded by the National Science Foundation, the State of
California, the University of California, and numerous other donors.
About PLoS ONE
All works published in PLoS
ONE
are open-access. Everything is immediately available - to read, download,
redistribute, include in databases and otherwise use - without cost to
anyone, anywhere, subject only to the condition that the original
authorship and source are properly attributed. Copyright is retained by
the authors. The Public Library of Science uses the Creative Commons
Attribution License.
PLoS ONE is
the first journal of primary research from all areas of science to
employ both pre- and post-publication peer review to maximize the
impact of every report it publishes. PLoS ONE
is published by the Public Library of Science (PLoS), the Open-access
publisher whose goal is to make the world's scientific and medical
literature a public resource.
Increased Avian Diversity Is Associated with Lower Incidence
of Human West Nile Infection: Observation of the Dilution Effect.
Swaddle JP, Calos SE
PLoS ONE 3(6): e2488.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002488
Click
Here For Full Length Article
Written by Anna Sophia McKenney
Nile virus in the surrounding human population, in a process called the
"dilution effect," according to an article released in the open access
journal PLoS ONE on June 25, 2008.
West Nile Virus, usually infecting birds but also affecting humans, is
often passed through mosquitoes. Part of the Japanese encephalitis
family of viruses, it's symptoms have three phases, but include fever,
chills, and diaphoresis.
In the dilution effect, an increased level of biodiversity in wildlife
results in a lower risk for humans to be infected by animal diseases.
This was first reported in Lyme disease, but this new study, it has
been demonstrated in a vector with an avian host. This effect, relating
biodiversity of birds to West Nile Virus, is the largest application
thusfar of the dilution effect, and may also apply to other infectious
diseases such as avian flu or bubonic plague, according to the authors.
John P. Swaddle and Stavros E. Calos worked with the National Center
for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at the Univeristy of
California, Santa Barbara, synthesizing existing data to make
inferences for management and policy applications. "We don't yet know
the precise mechanism that drives this pattern, but
it's likely to be due to diverse areas having relatively few of the
bird species that are particularly competent hosts and reservoirs for
the virus," Swaddle said.A set of qualities that makes a species best
able to contract a particular disease is known as host competence. The
highest levels of host competence for West Nile Virus are found in
rows, jays, thrushes and sparrows, which also happen to thrive when
avian biodiversity is lowest.
This research has many implications, according to Swaddlepoints: by
attracting more land species, land management policies could increase
biodiversity and thus decrease the number of human infection rates in
an outbreak of West Nile Virus. "Biodiversity is giving us a public
health service that people have rarely considered and the value of this
service should be considered when developing land and managing bird
populations in the future," Swaddle said.
About the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis:
The National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) was
established in 1995. The organization has hosted more than 3,500
scientists from
over 50 countries, and supported more than 430 collaborative projects
in ecology and related fields. NCEAS scientists develop new
techniques in
informatics, and apply general knowledge of ecological systems to
specific issues such as the loss of biotic diversity, global change, and
sustainability of marine ecosystems. NCEAS is among the top 1 % of
38,000 institutions evaluated for scientific impact in environmental
research.
NCEAS is funded by the National Science Foundation, the State of
California, the University of California, and numerous other donors.
About PLoS ONE
All works published in PLoS
ONE
are open-access. Everything is immediately available - to read, download,
redistribute, include in databases and otherwise use - without cost to
anyone, anywhere, subject only to the condition that the original
authorship and source are properly attributed. Copyright is retained by
the authors. The Public Library of Science uses the Creative Commons
Attribution License.
PLoS ONE is
the first journal of primary research from all areas of science to
employ both pre- and post-publication peer review to maximize the
impact of every report it publishes. PLoS ONE
is published by the Public Library of Science (PLoS), the Open-access
publisher whose goal is to make the world's scientific and medical
literature a public resource.
Increased Avian Diversity Is Associated with Lower Incidence
of Human West Nile Infection: Observation of the Dilution Effect.
Swaddle JP, Calos SE
PLoS ONE 3(6): e2488.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002488
Click
Here For Full Length Article
Written by Anna Sophia McKenney
четверг, 23 июня 2011 г.
Trust For America's Health On New HHS Influenza Pandemic Draft Guidance
Trust for America's Health (TFAH) issued the following statement on the release of The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Draft Guidances to Assist in Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic, emphasizing that the federal government must do all it can to ensure it protects every American from a potential pandemic flu outbreak, especially those who are employed by smaller businesses that may not have the ability or resources to fully prepare.
"Asking employers and families to take tangible steps to prepare in advance for a pandemic influenza outbreak is step in the right direction. However, the federal government must assure that all Americans have access to the protections HHS recommends," said Jeff Levi, Director of the Trust for America's Health. "An employee of a small to mid-size company should not be penalized because the enterprise can not afford the costs of acquiring, storing and dispensing antiviral medications during a flu pandemic.
"Nor is it reasonable for every American family to stockpile the recommended 20 respirator masks per household or the up to 100 facemasks per family at a cost of $35.00 - $70.00. Even for the families that can afford to stockpile masks, children would likely be left unprotected. There is still no Federal Drug Administration-approved respirator mask for kids, despite the warning by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that children can be more susceptible than adults to infection, and compared to adults, children usually shed more influenza virus for a longer period of time.
"In the event of a pandemic outbreak, leaving the massive costs and logistical responsibilities to businesses and individuals, without the assurance of equal access to key prevention strategies, like antivirals and respirator masks, is not an option. The government must assure all Americans are protected, regardless of where they live or work."
Trust for America's Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.
Trust for America's Health
"Asking employers and families to take tangible steps to prepare in advance for a pandemic influenza outbreak is step in the right direction. However, the federal government must assure that all Americans have access to the protections HHS recommends," said Jeff Levi, Director of the Trust for America's Health. "An employee of a small to mid-size company should not be penalized because the enterprise can not afford the costs of acquiring, storing and dispensing antiviral medications during a flu pandemic.
"Nor is it reasonable for every American family to stockpile the recommended 20 respirator masks per household or the up to 100 facemasks per family at a cost of $35.00 - $70.00. Even for the families that can afford to stockpile masks, children would likely be left unprotected. There is still no Federal Drug Administration-approved respirator mask for kids, despite the warning by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that children can be more susceptible than adults to infection, and compared to adults, children usually shed more influenza virus for a longer period of time.
"In the event of a pandemic outbreak, leaving the massive costs and logistical responsibilities to businesses and individuals, without the assurance of equal access to key prevention strategies, like antivirals and respirator masks, is not an option. The government must assure all Americans are protected, regardless of where they live or work."
Trust for America's Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.
Trust for America's Health
среда, 22 июня 2011 г.
Bird Flu Could Strike Again In India, FAO Warns
India is to be commended for its successful efforts to control the recent worst-ever outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the state of West Bengal, FAO said. The agency warned, however, that intensive surveillance should continue in high-risk areas as the possibility of new outbreaks remains high.
"Intensive culling in the predominantly backyard poultry sector appears to have stopped the disease in its tracks," said FAO veterinary expert Mohinder Oberoi after a recent field trip to the affected areas.
"The political and financial commitment from the government of India and the state of Bengal to stamp out the disease was instrumental in this success. Public awareness campaigns, a strong command chain from districts to villages, compensation payments and an effective collaboration between animal and human health departments at field level, have been the key factors for the success," Oberoi said.
No new disease outbreaks have been discovered since 2 February 2008.
FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech urged to maintain intensive surveillance in high risk areas as the possibility of new outbreaks remains high. "The virus could still be present in the environment despite heavy slaughtering and extensive disinfection of affected areas, or it could be reintroduced from other countries," he said.
In order to achieve rapid control, prevent virus spread to other states and to avoid the risk of human infection the government of India had to cull over 3.9 million chickens and ducks, mainly belonging to poor backyard poultry farmers.
The socio-economic impact of this control campaign should be urgently assessed in order to better define and apply the necessary mitigation measures regarding the negative impacts of massive culling on poor small holders, FAO said. Live bird markets, migration of wild birds and transportation routes of birds and poultry products should be mapped to better understand and control the spread of the disease.
Public awareness campaigns should continue over the next months introducing rural communities to safe poultry production and basic biosecurity measures with the ultimate goal of reducing the risk of human infections.
The recent outbreak of avian influenza in West Bengal, and the ongoing spread of the disease in Bangladesh require close collaboration between affected countries, FAO said. FAO, in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), has invited India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar to participate in a regional meeting to better coordinate avian influenza control campaigns. The Government of Nepal has agreed to host the meeting in Kathmandu.
fao
"Intensive culling in the predominantly backyard poultry sector appears to have stopped the disease in its tracks," said FAO veterinary expert Mohinder Oberoi after a recent field trip to the affected areas.
"The political and financial commitment from the government of India and the state of Bengal to stamp out the disease was instrumental in this success. Public awareness campaigns, a strong command chain from districts to villages, compensation payments and an effective collaboration between animal and human health departments at field level, have been the key factors for the success," Oberoi said.
No new disease outbreaks have been discovered since 2 February 2008.
FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech urged to maintain intensive surveillance in high risk areas as the possibility of new outbreaks remains high. "The virus could still be present in the environment despite heavy slaughtering and extensive disinfection of affected areas, or it could be reintroduced from other countries," he said.
In order to achieve rapid control, prevent virus spread to other states and to avoid the risk of human infection the government of India had to cull over 3.9 million chickens and ducks, mainly belonging to poor backyard poultry farmers.
The socio-economic impact of this control campaign should be urgently assessed in order to better define and apply the necessary mitigation measures regarding the negative impacts of massive culling on poor small holders, FAO said. Live bird markets, migration of wild birds and transportation routes of birds and poultry products should be mapped to better understand and control the spread of the disease.
Public awareness campaigns should continue over the next months introducing rural communities to safe poultry production and basic biosecurity measures with the ultimate goal of reducing the risk of human infections.
The recent outbreak of avian influenza in West Bengal, and the ongoing spread of the disease in Bangladesh require close collaboration between affected countries, FAO said. FAO, in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), has invited India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar to participate in a regional meeting to better coordinate avian influenza control campaigns. The Government of Nepal has agreed to host the meeting in Kathmandu.
fao
вторник, 21 июня 2011 г.
"No-Evacuation Required During A Bird Flu Outbreak" Breakthrough Technology To Be Presented At The 5th International Bird Flu Summit, USA
The worldwide fear against the pandemic threat of the avian flu is soon to be allayed at the 5th International Bird Flu Summit organized by New-Fields Exhibition Inc., as Dr. Norio Ogata of the Japanese Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. presents, for the first time in an international conference, the company's experimental data and practical applications of chlorine dioxide against pandemic influenza. The product to be launched uses chlorine dioxide gas to create virus-free living spaces. With this breakthrough method in infection control, "It isn't necessary to evacuate people from workplaces", explains Dr. Ogata.
Together with this Taiko launching, the 5th В International Bird Flu Summit slated on September 27 and 28 in Las Vegas Nevada will also cover discussions on pandemic prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery and will feature public and private sector leaders addressing the threat of a Bird Flu pandemic and a possible human-to-human transmission. Participants will include distinguished scientists, public health officials, law enforcers, first responders and other experts.
The summit draws on the successes of the four previous summits held in Washington andВ Geneva, Switzerland. Like in the past summits, attendees will also have a unique chance to come face-to-face with doctors who have treated fatal human cases of bird flu such as Dr. Sardikin Giripatro, of the Indonesian Investigation and Verification Team for Avian Influenza Outbreaks.
The summit will host public health officials and bird flu experts from more than 30 countries. This global event is open to all interested businesses and organizations from all countries.
About Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of Japan is known for gastrointestinal pharmaceuticals since its founding in 1940.В В
Taiko's chlorine dioxide product has three forms, one is a precisely controlled chlorine dioxide gas generating machine. The machine is installed adjacent to an air-conditioner of a building and the gas generated is introduced in the duct of the air-conditioner to disinfect air of a large room. Another form is a desktop-type small gas generating gel. The "gel" is used on top of a desk or table or stuck to a wall of a room to disinfect air in a relatively small room.В The third is chlorine dioxide solution used as a spray to disinfect an object's surface. seirogan.co.jp/english
About New-Fields
New Fields Exhibitions, Inc. is a leading emerging markets and business information provider, producing trade shows that produce results for companies worldwide. With offices in the Asia Pacific Region and Washington, DC, the company provides marketing services in the areas of construction, energy, oil & gas, telecommunications and health care.
new-fields
Together with this Taiko launching, the 5th В International Bird Flu Summit slated on September 27 and 28 in Las Vegas Nevada will also cover discussions on pandemic prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery and will feature public and private sector leaders addressing the threat of a Bird Flu pandemic and a possible human-to-human transmission. Participants will include distinguished scientists, public health officials, law enforcers, first responders and other experts.
The summit draws on the successes of the four previous summits held in Washington andВ Geneva, Switzerland. Like in the past summits, attendees will also have a unique chance to come face-to-face with doctors who have treated fatal human cases of bird flu such as Dr. Sardikin Giripatro, of the Indonesian Investigation and Verification Team for Avian Influenza Outbreaks.
The summit will host public health officials and bird flu experts from more than 30 countries. This global event is open to all interested businesses and organizations from all countries.
About Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of Japan is known for gastrointestinal pharmaceuticals since its founding in 1940.В В
Taiko's chlorine dioxide product has three forms, one is a precisely controlled chlorine dioxide gas generating machine. The machine is installed adjacent to an air-conditioner of a building and the gas generated is introduced in the duct of the air-conditioner to disinfect air of a large room. Another form is a desktop-type small gas generating gel. The "gel" is used on top of a desk or table or stuck to a wall of a room to disinfect air in a relatively small room.В The third is chlorine dioxide solution used as a spray to disinfect an object's surface. seirogan.co.jp/english
About New-Fields
New Fields Exhibitions, Inc. is a leading emerging markets and business information provider, producing trade shows that produce results for companies worldwide. With offices in the Asia Pacific Region and Washington, DC, the company provides marketing services in the areas of construction, energy, oil & gas, telecommunications and health care.
new-fields
понедельник, 20 июня 2011 г.
Bird Flu And Developing Countries - A New Resource
The Science and Development Network (SciDev) today launches a new online BIRD FLU DOSSIER designed to keep readers up-to-date on the latest information on bird flu and developing nations.
Since originating in Asia, the H5N1 bird flu virus has spread widely and is causing problems in many developing countries. The human flu pandemic that the virus could trigger will also hit these countries hardest.
There is urgent need for policymakers to make informed decisions, for scientists to share their findings, and for the media to communicate the pandemic threat in a measured and accurate manner.
SciDev's dossier aims to support these groups by providing authoritative and comprehensive coverage on the spread of H5N1 and efforts to prepare for a human flu pandemic.
The dossier also contains the internet's most comprehensive bird flu glossary and links to relevant reports, articles, websites and organisations. This includes free access to the latest relevant research papers appearing in the journals Science and Nature.
The Science and Development Network
The Science and Development Network (SciDev) seeks to help individuals and organisations in the developing world make informed decisions on science and technology related issues that impact on social and economic development.
It does this by providing reliable and authoritative information through a free-access website containing news, views and analysis about science and technology in the developing world.
In addition, SciDev builds regional networks of individuals and institutions who share its commitment to improving science and technology communication, and organises workshops and other events in the developing world to build capacity in this field.
SciDev is supported by the journals Nature and Science, as well as the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World
Funders
SciDev is funded by the UK Department for International Development, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Canadian International Development Research Centre and the Rockefeller Foundation.
scidev/birdflu
About the SCIDEV
SciDev is a free-access, internet-based network devoted to reporting on and discussing those aspects of modern science and technology that are relevant to sustainable development and the needs of developing countries
SCIDEV
11 Rathbone Place,
London ,
W1T 1HR,
scidev
Since originating in Asia, the H5N1 bird flu virus has spread widely and is causing problems in many developing countries. The human flu pandemic that the virus could trigger will also hit these countries hardest.
There is urgent need for policymakers to make informed decisions, for scientists to share their findings, and for the media to communicate the pandemic threat in a measured and accurate manner.
SciDev's dossier aims to support these groups by providing authoritative and comprehensive coverage on the spread of H5N1 and efforts to prepare for a human flu pandemic.
The dossier also contains the internet's most comprehensive bird flu glossary and links to relevant reports, articles, websites and organisations. This includes free access to the latest relevant research papers appearing in the journals Science and Nature.
The Science and Development Network
The Science and Development Network (SciDev) seeks to help individuals and organisations in the developing world make informed decisions on science and technology related issues that impact on social and economic development.
It does this by providing reliable and authoritative information through a free-access website containing news, views and analysis about science and technology in the developing world.
In addition, SciDev builds regional networks of individuals and institutions who share its commitment to improving science and technology communication, and organises workshops and other events in the developing world to build capacity in this field.
SciDev is supported by the journals Nature and Science, as well as the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World
Funders
SciDev is funded by the UK Department for International Development, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Canadian International Development Research Centre and the Rockefeller Foundation.
scidev/birdflu
About the SCIDEV
SciDev is a free-access, internet-based network devoted to reporting on and discussing those aspects of modern science and technology that are relevant to sustainable development and the needs of developing countries
SCIDEV
11 Rathbone Place,
London ,
W1T 1HR,
scidev
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