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ISSAPHARMA / FLU A /H1N1 : Deaths evolution in the world, information on the vaccine and the school closures, testimonies and press review on the world actuality of the day.News about detection, prevention, infection control, viral evolution, potential pandemics & more..
Mutated avian flu can infect humans
The 02 Sep. 2010 at 11:03Last newsComments (0)Add a comment
A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) that mutated in pigs in Indonesia has acquired the ability to infect humans, researchers have found.
The discovery was made by a team led by virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Tokyo's Institute of Medical Science.
"There are concerns that a highly pathogenic flu virus which can easily be transmitted to humans could spread without being noticed," Kawaoka said. "Pigs must be tested for viruses even if they don't show symptoms."
Kawaoka and other Japanese researchers, in cooperation with Indonesia's Airlangga University, examined nasal, fecal and serum samples from 702 randomly chosen pigs in 14 provinces from 2005 to 2009.
Of pigs examined from 2005 to 2007, 7.4 percent yielded avian flu strains, which further studies showed were from an outbreak among poultry in the neighborhood.
Among 39 virus samples analyzed, one was found to have the ability to attach itself to human nasal or throat cells.
In the 2008-2009 survey, pigs showed traces of past infections, but no viruses were isolated.
Avian influenza usually does not infect humans. But because pigs are susceptible to both avian and human flu, the flu strain in question is believed to have mutated in an infected pig.
"Our data suggests that pigs are at risk of infection during outbreaks of influenza virus A (H5N1) and can serve as intermediate hosts in which this avian virus can adapt to mammals," the team said in a report published in the online edition of the journal "Emerging Infectious Diseases" of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
BY YURI OIWA THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
89 swine flu deaths in India this week
The 30 Aug. 2010 at 21:13Last newsComments (0)Add a comment
New Delhi, Aug 30, PTI:
Swine flu continued its grip on India with 89 deaths reported from across the country in the week ending August 29.
Maharashtra reported the maximum number of 50 deaths, followed by 14 from Orissa and six each from Gujarat and Delhi. ive deaths were reported from Madhya Pradesh while four were reported from Andhra Pradesh.
A total of 1,247 cases reported during the week. All are indigenous cases. Till date, samples from 1,67,846 people have been tested for swine flu in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 39,977 (23.8 per cent) of them have been found positive. The World Health Organisation has officially declared that the swine flu pandemic was over.
Doctors concerned about likely expansion of H3N2 flu virus in Hanoi
The 28 Aug. 2010 at 19:55Last newsComments (0)Add a comment
Medical workers fretted that seasonal H3N2 flu virus continued to be widespread in Hanoi and the disease is likely to erupt into epidemic.
Seasonal influenza viruses, H1N1 and H3N2, flow out of overlapping epidemics in Vietnam. Meanwhile H1N1 has been controlled, most influenza infections this season have been attributed to influenza A (H3N2) viruses.
According to Dr. Nguyen Hong Ha, deputy director of the National Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, there has been an increase of H3N2 patients. The hospital receives over 130 people suffering from the flu a day, doubling the number of last weeks.
All of patients experienced high fever, cough, respiratory problems, body pain, runny nose and sore throat. Tests proved the disease is caused by H3N2 virus. Dr. Ha stressed although it is normal seasonal flu, patients can suffer dangerous complications because H3N2 can cause pneumonia which leads to death. These people of the high risk group including pregnant women, the elderly, children, and people with chronic diseases are vulnerable to the virus.
Since the virus is easily transmitted from human to human, which could lead to a pandemic, infected people should well conduct personal hygiene and wear masks in public places.
Moreover, the sick should go to nearby medical clinics for timely treatment in avoid complications. Doctors warned people not to take antibiotics from pharmacies without prescription when they caught the flu as uncontrolled use and abuse of antibiotics has caused severe resistance to medicines.
Death of children in India put officials on alert
The 28 Aug. 2010 at 18:41Last newsComments (0)Add a comment
Moradabad, Aug 28 : As many as seven deaths of children due to mysterious fever in the last two days in a village of this Uttar Pradesh district has put the health authorities on alert.
The authorities have denied incidence of encephalitis in the village and attributed 'critical viral' fever as the cause of deaths in Bhaisia village near district headquarters.
Earlier on August 25, three children died of 'viral' fever in the same village prompting district authorities to set up a camp in the village beside sounding an alert in adjacent villages as well, the official sources said.
At least 15 other children were admitted to hospital with the same complaint of high fever and lump in throat with some symptoms of secondary infection, the sources said.
Blood samples of affected children have been sent for further investigation, health officials said.
India: Swine flu cases likely to rise
The 27 Aug. 2010 at 23:06Last newsComments (0)Add a comment
KANPUR: With the fluctuating weather conditions, doctors caution against the H1N1 infection as there are chances of it getting more virulent. Health experts say that there will be spurt in swine flu cases. Hence, the masses need to be vigilant if they are suffering from common cold like symptoms.
Chief medical officer (CMO) Ashok Mishra said: "In the coming days, there will sharp increase in the number of positive cases. Testing all the cases is not possible. We have to treat the disease like common flu and strong flu like symptoms should be administered full dose of Tamiflu or Tamivir. The benefit of the anti-viral drug is that it makes illness milder and shorter and may also prevent serious influenza."
The high risk categories are children, elderly, pregnant women, patient with chronic illness, immuno-compromised persons and even those who come late for treatment. "Death is mostly due to respiratory complication. It affects the lungs resulting in viral pneumonia. The virus disrupts the respiratory mechanism by lowering the oxygen level and making the patient dependent on artificial ventilation," the CMO said.
Experts say that for the treatment of flu, one should visit a doctor within 48 hours and if necessary go for confirmatory test and other Influenza test like rapid influenza diagnostic tests ( RIDT), immunofluorescence tests (DFA or IFA) as early as possible.
Seasonal influenza has never been a serious concern until H1N1 influenza A virus gripped the city. Five deaths were reported in one week. Doctors say, every year many people die due to seasonal influenza world wide but unnecessary panic has been created about swine flu. The H1N1 influenza has high morbidity but low mortality.
H1N1 is a new sub-type of influenza A virus resulting from genetic shift. The virus is expected to behave like seasonal influenza. Currently, limited data is available regarding its epidemiological and clinical behaviour. Moreover. the virus has not shown any change in its genetic configuration since its emergence. Seasonal influenza virus (H1N1 and H3N2) and other respiratory viruses are also causing flu side by side.
Dr Arti Lalchandani, ICU incharge at Lala Lajpat Rai ( LLR) Hospital, said: "Around 60 per cent of the people develop antibodies against the infection without showing any clinical symptom. Only 5 per cent people show clinical symptom and 3 per cent die under critical condition."
"Generally, the incubation period of the virus is 1-4 days or may be up to 7 days. The condition becomes severe when the patient feels difficulty in breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, sudden dizziness, persistent vomiting and flu-like symptoms with fever and cough," Dr Arti added.