|
AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN - EAST ASIA (35): UPDATE |
||
|
A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org> ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org> Date: Fri 16 Jul 2004 From: ProMED-mail <[email protected]> Source: CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Travelers Health, Wed 14 Jul 2004 [edited] <http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/h5n1apr2004.htm> Updated Information for Travelers about Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus: (Released 23 Apr 2004;Updated 14 Jul 2004) --------------------------------------------------- In recent weeks, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE; <http://www.oie.int>) has received reports of confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1), a serious viral infection, among poultry in Indonesia (28 Jun), Vietnam (1 & 12 Jul), Thailand (7, 9 & 13 Jul), and China (6 Jul). No associated human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection has been reported during this period. In response, the 4 countries have instituted control measures and increased surveillance for H5N1 virus among poultry. Along with South Korea, Japan, Cambodia, and Laos, these 4 countries were previously affected by widespread H5N1 outbreaks among poultry that were reported from mid-Jan 2004 through Mar 2004. While it is unusual for humans to contract influenza virus infections directly from poultry or [wild] birds, rare human infections and outbreaks caused by certain avian influenza A viruses have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). During the H5N1 outbreaks among poultry in Asia earlier this year, Vietnam and Thailand reported 34 human infections with H5N1 viruses, including 23 deaths and references below). All patients with confirmed H5N1 were severely ill, and many had a history of exposure to sick or dead poultry. Field investigations at that time showed no conclusive evidence of human-to-human transmission of the disease. <http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/> Although the H5N1 poultry outbreaks in South Korea and Japan have been controlled, the degree to which outbreaks in Vietnam, Thailand , Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, and China have been controlled is uncertain. For this reason, CDC continues to recommend the measures that were detailed in a health update on 10 Jun 2004, which specifies enhanced surveillance for suspected H5N1 cases among travelers with severe unexplained respiratory illness returning from H5N1-affected countries. <http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/han/archivesys/viewmsgv.asp?alertnum=00204> Travelers to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, and China are advised to follow standard health recommendations for that region and, as a precaution, avoid places such as poultry farms and bird markets where live poultry are raised or kept, and avoid contact with sick or dead poultry. As with other infectious illnesses, one of the most important and appropriate preventive practices is careful and frequent hand washing. Cleaning your hands often using either soap and water or waterless, alcohol-based hand rubs removes potentially infectious materials from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission. Travelers returning with an illness from any area of the world are reminded to seek prompt medical attention. For more information about CDC health recommendations for travel to Asia, see <http://www.cdc.gov/travel/seasia.htm> and <http://www.cdc.gov/travel/eastasia.htm>. On 8 Jul 2004, WHO issued a summary of recently published research findings on H5N1, indicating that the virus may be widespread in domestic ducks in southern China, has been found in wild birds as well as poultry, may be causing increasingly severe illness in humans with each outbreak, and remains a serious threat to human health. The summary also makes recommendations to countries about measures to prevent and control the disease. For details, see <http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_07_08/en/>. For information on influenza, see <http://www.cdc.gov/flu/>. -- ProMED-mail <[email protected]> ****** [2] Date: Sat 17 Jul 2004 From: Allen Lenoir, MD <[email protected]> A Comment on Vaccination Policy ------------------------------- One cannot emphasize enough that vaccination of those involved in culling is in addition to, not in place of, protective clothing, masks and goggles. Vaccination would provide only partial protection from infection with a drifted strain. Subclinical infection with a drifted strain may be enough to allow a shift to occur. Neither vaccination, protective clothing, nor antivirals are 100 percent effective. For this reason prophylactic antivirals (to which the virus is not resistant) should also be provided to the workers. -- Allen Lenoir, MD <[email protected]> [It is my understanding that the principal aim of vaccination of those involved in culling of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus-infected poultry, using the current human (H1N1/H3N2) vaccine, is not only to provide some limited cross-protection, but rather to reduce the potential for simultaneous infection of susceptible individuals by both avian and human strains of influenza virus. The intention is rather to reduce the potential for generation of novel strains by reassortment of genome subunits between human and avian virus, producing viruses that may be the precursors of human epidemic and pandemic influenza viruses. - Mod.CP] [see also: Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (93): WHO statement 20040716.1935 Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (91) 20040715.191 Avian influenza, human - East Asia 20040124.0283 Avian influenza, human - East Asia (34) 20040323.0805 Avian influenza, human - Thailand (02): confirmed 20040123.0262 Avian influenza, human - Thailand (03) 20040123.0268 Avian influenza, human - Thailand: suspected 20040122.0247 Avian influenza, human - Vietnam (02) 20040113.0138 Avian influenza, human - Vietnam (03) 20040114.0154 Avian influenza, human - Vietnam (04) 20040114.0155 Avian influenza, human - Viet Nam (05) 20040117.0181 Avian influenza, human - Vietnam (06) 20040118.0193 Avian influenza, human - Vietnam (07) 20040119.0213 Avian influenza, human - Vietnam (08) 20040119.0216 Avian influenza, human - Vietnam (09) 20040120.0225 Avian influenza, human - Vietnam (10) 20040122.0251 Avian influenza, human - Vietnam (11) 20040122.0258 Avian influenza, human - Vietnam: RFI 20040112.0127] ...................cp/pg/mpp *##########################################################* ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the information, and of any statements or opinions based thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID and its associated service providers shall not be held responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted or archived material. ************************************************************ Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>. Send all items for posting to: [email protected] (NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help, etc. to: [email protected]. For assistance from a human being send mail to: [email protected]. ############################################################ ############################################################ |