Tag Archives: China

H7N9 update: 131 cases, 32 deaths! Spreads to Indonesia?

09 May 2013 (12:44 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada t-Tania 1434/19 Ordibehest 1392/30 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The UN World Heath Organization reporting 131 cases, and 32 deaths.

A 79 years old woman in Jiangxi Province is the latest case, and a 56 years old man died in China’s Henan Province, three weeks after symptoms began.  He claimed not to have had any contact with birds, but health officials said there were empty bird cages in the hallway of the apartment he was living in.

In Fujian Province, another bird from a poultry market tested positive for the new H7N9.  That makes 52 birds testing positive compared to the 131 humans who’ve tested positive.

The Indonesian province of North Kalimantan has banned the importation of ducks.  That’s because local health officials claim the new bird flu has been found in neighboring provinces: “We reject ducks that come from East Java, both frozen and live. This is because there have been indications of the new bird flu variant in Surabaya.”– Elang Buana, Tarakan Husbandry and Crops Agency

The result of the duck ban in North Kalimantan is a 70% drop in supplies of ducks, forcing markets and restaurants to make drastic changes.  I have not found any reports to specify which “new” bird flu the official is talking about.  Last year Indonesia’s duck markets were hit hard by a new H5N1 bird flu.

Capitalist Commodity Markets to blame for Pocatello’s Hoku Polysilicon near abandonment!

08 May 2013 (09:49 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Jumada t-Tania 1434/18 Ordibehest 1391/29 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The massive, and expensive (to local tax payers), Hoku Materials polysilicon factory sits idle and unfinished in Pocatello, Idaho.

Red Neck right wingers like to point the finger at President Obama, saying ‘I told you so’ concerning ‘clean energy’ projects, but the reason for the demise of many solar power companies is actually the capitalist commodity market system and government interference.

Polysilicon prices have crashed and burned since construction started on the 50 American football fields long factory.  It just isn’t worth it to produce the stuff used in solar power panels.  In 2008 polysilicon was worth $400 per kilogram, it’s now crashed to a paltry $20.50!

Hoku Materials ghost town factory, Pocatello, Idaho. 50 football fields long at a cost of at least $400 million.

Hoku Materials ghost town factory, Pocatello, Idaho. 50 football fields long at a cost of at least $400 million.

The ‘experts’ got everything wrong.  They thought the high petroleum prices would drive societies into the arms of clean energy companies, but the problem is that so many clean energy companies started production that soon there was a glut of polysilicon on the market, even before the construction of Pocatello Hoku plant was close to being finished.

Then add to that the trade wars between China, the U.S. and European Union.  Eventually, the Obama administration jacked up tariffs so high on Chinese polysilicon companies that it wasn’t worth it to do business in the U.S.  By then Hoku Corporation (the parent of Hoku Materials) had become Chinese owned, due to financial problems (including Hoku Materials not being able to pay its construction contractor, JH Kelly, or pay its Idaho utility bills, so many times that both threatened to seize the property).

By the middle of 2012 the unfinished $400 million USD Pocatello polysilicon factory was moth balled, staffing reduced to just 30 people, with rumors of liquidation in bankruptcy court.  By the end of 2012, the Chinese company that bought into Hoku (Tianwei) was getting blasted in the Chinese media for buying a pig in a poke.  According to former Hoku Corporation CEO, Scott Paul, Tianwei invested “….more than $129 million of its own capital in Hoku, and they have provided for another $244 million in debt financing from banks in China.”

Now back to the ‘experts’.  In February 2013, ‘experts’ predicted that polysilicon prices had bottomed out.  They were wrong!  Prices had hit $21 per kilogram, and polysilicon producers said there was no reason to produce anymore until the price went up over $25.

In March 2013, British media reported that prices had crashed 50% compared to the same time last year.

In April 2013, another report said that polysilicon prices could continue to crash because of the anti-free market tariffs imposed by the major players; China, South Korea, European Union and United States.  And, the ‘experts’ again said prices had bottomed out.  The average price at the end of April 2013 was $20.50.

So where does that leave Hoku Corporation’s Hoku Materials factory in Pocatello?  Optimistic officials with the Bannock Development Corporation (a County level organization that worked hard to bring Hoku to Pocatello, including huge local tax breaks) think that anytime now Hoku will start production: “It’s a wait and see thing, depending on the market……Basically, [Hoku Corp.] needs to fire up the plant when it’s ready to go.”-John Regetz, Bannock Development

Sounds like the local development folks aren’t communicating with Hoku.  The latest statement from the company indicates that bankruptcy and liquidation is the only option being considered: “….exploration of potential restructuring at Hoku Materials and Hoku Corporation is ongoing, with no formal update at this time.”-Hoku Corporation statement

“Restructuring” is code for bankruptcy/liquidation.  So no Mister Regetz, it sounds like Hoku is not planning to “fire up the plant”.

Green/clean energy just doesn’t make big enough profits for the crony capitalist system.  Another case in point is the recent announcement by BP (British Petroleum) that it will abandon it’s wind power operations near Idaho Falls, Idaho, as well as its wind and solar projects across the United States.

Also, don’t forget the artificial reduction in demand created by all those government tariffs.

The answer is that clean energy projects need to be run like a non-profit co-op, but the problem is that crony capitalists don’t like that and will do everything they can to prevent that from happening (’cause contrary to their propaganda, they do not like competition, especially if it’s from a non-profit).

More on the demise of Hoku Materials:

Hoku deregisters with SEC

Hoku downward spiral

Hoku restructuring

Hoku to be finished off

U.S. tariffs nail in the coffin for Hoku

Good & bad news for Hoku

Hoku better get its rear in gear

Hoku beggars China

Hoku going under

Hoku begs

More trouble for Hoku

Hoku starts operations(?)

Hoku ended before it starts

Investigation puts the brakes on Hoku

Hoku ongoing delays

Hoku turning to China

H7N9 update: 130 cases, 31 deaths! More evidence of Tamiflu resistance!

06 May 2013 (12:32 UTC-07 Tango)/25 Jumada t-Tania 1434/16 Ordibehest 1392/27 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

After several days of no reports, the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission says the number of human case are now 129 (however, by my count it’s 130), and 31 people have died.

Two people in Fujian Province are infected. On 02 May there were 128 cases, so these two new cases makes 130.   42 people are reported to have recovered.

In Shandong Province a test of poultry waste at a market was positive for H7N9.  A chicken in a live market, in Jiangxi Province, was positive for H7N9, as well as a chicken in a market in Guangdong Province.

Health officials in Shanghai say that four men who were in critical condition did not benefit from anti-viral treatment with oseltamivir (Tamiflu).   Three of the men had not been in contact with birds.  One man died, two actually recovered, and one is apparently still hospitalized.

Health officials believe anti-viral treatment was started too late in the infection, that as the infection progresses it becomes much stronger.  They suggest starting anti-viral treatments ASAP.

H7N9 update: 20% kill rate!

04 May 2013 (13:13 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1392/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

Medical researchers say the rate of people dying from H7N9 has reached 20%, or one in every five human infections.

Other researchers put together possible H7N9 spread maps, using wild bird flight patterns, and poultry distribution.

When looking at only wild bird migration patterns the spread of H7N9 seems to correlate.  However, problems pop up when looking at domesticated poultry.  Government testing of poultry has already shown that only poultry in the live markets show signs of infection, not one chicken or duck on a farm has tested positive.  Much more research needs to be done to find out why poultry are becoming infected after being brought to live markets.

In Taiwan, government health officials are in trouble after video was released showing the culling of poultry being done by people who are not protected.

The video also shows dead chickens piled in parking lots: “We can see vendors, workers and regular people moving around the market without gloves or masks, and no protection measures at all have been implemented. The market should be a model for the city’s bird flu prevention campaign, but has become a big loophole…”-Tung Chung-yen, Taipei City Council

 

H7N9 update: Man recovers from death bed! Thailand & U.K. on alert!

03 May 2013 (10:26 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Jumada t-Tania 1434/13 Ordibehest 1392/24 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The government of Thailand is drafting an emergency plan to deal with a potential outbreak of H7N9: “Personally I believe the outbreak of this avian flu virus will reach Thailand by October, because of the rainy season. It will also deal a psychological blow to the poultry industry, not only in frozen chickens but cooked chicken as well.”-Pornthep Siriwanarangson, Disease Control Department

A 38 years  old man is now considered recovered after several days on death’s door.  Health officials in Zhejiang Province say he had been hospitalized for 22 days.  He was one of nine people recovered from H7N9 and released from hospitals on Friday.

In Taiwan, health officials say their first, and so far only human case of H7N9 is recovering.  The 53 years old man came back from a trip to China sick.  He’s been hospitalized since the first week of April.

Doctors in United Kingdom have been told to be on the alert for symptoms of H7N9 in Britishers.  The reason is that about 11000 Britishers visit China every week.  Also, about 3500 Chinese visit the U.K. every week.

Yet another study has confirmed what earlier studies have said about where H7N9 came from: It’s mutated from several other viruses.

 The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other universities, identified some of the genes.  One set of genes came from ducks in the Yangtze River Delta region.  Another set of genes are believed to have come from wild migrating birds.  Six other gene types evolved from two different groups of H9N2.  Some of the genes are resistant to tamiflu anti-viral treatment.

 

H7N9 update: 128 cases, 27 deaths!

02 May 2013 (01:47 UTC-07 Tango)/21 Jumada t-Tania 1434/12 Ordibehest 1391/23 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission reported that as of 01 May 2013, there were 127 human infections of H7N9.

On 02 May 2013, a 55 years old man died from the ‘bird’ flu in Hunan Province.  Apparently he got sick in Jiangxi Province and was transferred to Hunan on 26 April.

Also on 02 May, Hunan Province reported a new human case in the city of Shaoyang.

H7N9 update: 126 cases! Taiwan warns of human to human cases!

30 April 2013 (01:49 UTC-07 Tango)/19 Jumada t-Tania 1434/10 Ordibehest 1391/21 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

“Countermeasures have been effective so far, but the situation is still developing…..We cannot afford to take it easy or relax, as we are facing a new virus. We should be prepared for any possible development.”-Li Keqiang, Chinese Premier

Fujian Province reporting their third human case.  A 58 years old man got sick with symptoms of fever and cough, then sought help at the hospital on 28 April.  He tested positive on 30 April.  Anybody who’s been in close contact with him are now being monitored.

The UN World Health Organization says they’ve confirmed 126 human cases of H7N9, in China and Taiwan.

Despite World medical opinion, Taiwan is now warning of human to human infections.  A report points out that there are now three cluster cases involving people related to or living near each other.

China’s Centers for Disease Control also point out that 40% of infected people had no contact with birds.

 

H7N9 update: 24 deaths! NIAID warns of human to human cases!

29 April 2013 (15:48 UTC-07 Tango)/18 Jumada t-Tania 1434/09 Ordibehest 1391/20 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

The city of Shanghai reporting a death.  An 89 years old man died 12 days after seeking medical help.  He was from Jiangsu Province.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and the World Organization for Animal Health restated that if you cook poultry properly you won’t get sick.

Despite World health officials continuing to claim there is no evidence for human to human infections, Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said: “…we still need to be very prepared for the eventuality of that happening.”

H7N9 update: 124 cases! Another human to human case?

29 April 2013 (00:33 UTC-07 Tango)/18 Jumada t-Tania 1434/09 Ordibehest 1391/20 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

A 38 years old man tested positive for the ‘bird’ flu in Zhejiang Province.

In Shandong Province, a four years old boy is hospitalized with H7N9.  He is the son of the first person to become infected in the province.  At this point, local health officials are reluctant to call it a human to human case.  This is the second time someone who is connected to an infected person got sick.  The first one is in Beijing, a four years old boy in quarantine because he is considered a carrier.  A seven years old girl, who lives in the same neighborhood as the boy, got sick, but she has recovered.

An 80 years old man and a 31 years old woman tested positive in Jiangxi Province.

In Fujian Province, a man suspected of being the province’s second case, has tested positive. He is in critical condition.

In Henan Province, a 38 years old man became the third person to be considered recovered, in that province.  He is a live poultry seller.

So far 23 people across China have died from H7N9, since the end of March.

 

H7N9 update: 120 cases! The more you’re exposed, the greater your chances of getting sick!

28 April 2013 (00:51 UTC-07 Tango)/17 Jumada t-Tania 1434/08 Ordibehest 1392/19 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

The Chinese province of Hunan reporting its first human case.  A 64 years old woman became sick with pneumonia after working with poultry. She’s in critical condition, but improving.

Travel agencies in Taiwan reporting a 30% drop in bookings to mainland China, after a Taiwan man came back from China sick with H7N9.

On top of that, potential visitors to Taiwan, from Japan, have also been canceling their trips: “…the number of tour groups composed of Japanese corporate employees has declined remarkably.”-Mori Chen, Star Express

Researchers in Canada think the reason so many old men are getting sick, is because of their life long exposure to H7 strains of the flu, as a result of their work with poultry.  A similar antibody-dependent enhancement has been confirmed with dengue fever, and studies have shown that lab animals exposed to flu are more likely to finally get sick than “influenza-naïve animals”.

Basically the more you come into contact with a disease the weaker your immune system gets, even you if you never show symptoms: “…..we should also stay open to the possibility that pre-existing cross-reactive antibodies may actually facilitate the viral infection process, a phenomenon best recognised for dengue through the mechanism of antibody dependent enhancement.”-Danuta M. Skowronski, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Virus-host interactions and the unusual age and sex distribution of human cases of influenza A(H7N9) in China, April 2013