Tag Archives: influenza

Influenza

H7N9 update: Like I said before, it is human to human! More blood tests prove it’s not the chickens!

25 May 2013 (13:49 UTC-07 Tango)/15 Rajab 1434/04 Khordad 1392/16 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

“Under appropriate conditions human to human transmission of the H7N9 virus may be possible.”-Infectivity, Transmission, and Pathology of Human H7N9 Influenza in Ferrets and Pigs

“We also found that the virus can infect pigs, which was not previously known……People may be transmitting the virus before they even know that   they’ve got it.”-Maria Zhu Huachen, Hong Kong University

As I’ve been warning since I first started reporting on the H7N9 outbreak in March, it is human to human!  If you go over all my H7N9 updates, you’ll notice that very few birds are infected.  More than 90% of infected poultry were found at live markets, where they come into contact with lots-o-humans.  I’ve postulated that the chickens are getting infected from contact with humans.

To back that up, not one chicken or duck on a farm has been found to be infected.  Not one poultry sent to the industrial butcher shops has been found to be infected, just the ones in live markets.

And to add to that, China’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) just released their latest H7n9 testing data (on 23 May 2013), and yet again not one bird on a poultry farm was positive!   They’ve tested a total of 899758 samples, here’s the results: Only 53 positive results out of the hundreds of thousands of samples!  51 were in live markets.  The other two were wild pigeons.  The MOA says they are done testing birds for H7N9. 

The resulting paranoia about getting H7N9 from chickens and ducks has resulted in China’s poultry industry losing $6.5 billion USD.  Poultry markets around Asia are expected to see huge loses as more and more countries join in banning innocent but delicious chickens and ducks.

The biggest biological threat to poultry markets is still H5N1, not H7N9.

How many humans have gotten sick?  So far 132 infected with 36 deaths.  By the way, research is showing this new H7N9 is an airborne disease which means washing your hands won’t do you much good.

Influenza

False Flag Bio-War? Mystery deaths called “coincidence”, yet infections increasing! Getting sick (or vaccinated?) while pregnant will cause mental problems for the baby!

23 May 2013 (13:55 UTC-07 Tango)/13 Rajab 1434/02 Khordad 1392/14 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

“At this time, there is no epidemiological link between these patients.”-Alabama Department of Health statement

The mystery illness in Alabama is more mysterious after health officials stated that the age of the people infected range from 20s to 80s, and has now infected a total of ten people: “Since we sent out the alert to providers last night, we have had three additional patients/cases. These patients all have the same symptoms of cough, shortness of breath and ‘something’ on their chest….”-Mary McIntyre, Alabama Department of Public Health

Also, the patients have other health problems, which complicate the diagnostics.

Health officials think this is just a bunch of cases of common colds or flus (first off the term ‘cold’ refers to many different viruses, and second flus have proven not to be ‘common’), and they don’t think this is caused by a “…new or unexpected virus…”

In a study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, historical researchers have found a link between influenza infections in pregnant woman and a nearly four-fold increase in cases of bi-polar disorders in their children.

The study isn’t new, but the release of the data is.  Researchers reviewed a ten year study done by Kaiser Permanente insurance, conducted from 1956-66.  It involves just over 19000 people in California.

Reports are suggesting this study is proof that people should get vaccinated.  A very small percentage of the study group got vaccinated.

However, another study concluded that a fetus can not identify viruses.  Remember that vaccines are viruses, grown in a controlled environment.  If a fetus can not recognize viral RNA, wouldn’t that apply to RNA viruses in vaccines?

Flus are RNA viruses (as are norovirus, MERS, SARS, SFTS),  and it has already been established that vaccines don’t work well on RNA viruses!  (as opposed to DNA viruses)

Previous studies have already linked schizophrenia to influenza viruses.  Is there a correlation between increased human brain function problems and the increased use of flu vaccines?

 

Influenza

H7N9 / Bird Flu update: Mexico hit! Thousands of humans carriers? North Korea kills 160000!

20 May 2013 (14:01 UTC-07 Tango)/10 Rajab 1434/30 Ordibehest 1392/11 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea reporting that H5N1 bird flu has struck their poultry industry hard.  They’ve had to cull (kill) 160000 ducks, at just one Pyongyang duck farm, to try and stop the spread of the virus.  United Nations health officials were notified.

Here’s some more news to make you more fearful of the creation of new biological weapons: Chen Hualan, of China’s Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, has discovered a single gene that can make bird flus easily become deadly human flus.  She found that one of two genes from the human version of H1N1 made the bird flu H5N1 infectious to animals other than birds.

Vietnam recently declared their H5N1 epidemic fini.  Health officials report no new cases in birds or humans for the past 21 days, thanks to efforts to cull or vaccinate tens of thousands of birds.  Since 2003, 62 people in Vietnam died from H5N1, the most recent being a four years old boy in April.  123 people got sick.

Animal health officials in Nepal have been culling poultry, as two new H5N1 outbreaks hit Kathmandu.  Outbreak response teams are overstretched and officials said they are unable to respond to the latest outbreak.

Indonesia has been put on warning for new H7N9 infections.  Researchers at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture studied how farmers keep their livestock, and concluded that current Indonesian livestock practices have the potential “….to facilitate the spread of the H7N9 virus.” 

China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission claims that no new cases of H7N9 ‘bird’ flu have been reported.  However, in a joint study by  National Health and Family Planning Commission, and the UN World Health Organization, researchers are now concerned that not only has the virus evolved to spread human to human, but that possibly thousands of people are now carriers, showing little or no symptoms.

The Mexican state of Puebla has been hit with H7N3.   The National Service of Health, Food Safety and Food Quality say the source is laying chickens brought in from surrounding states.  So far 55000 chickens have been culled.  33 million doses of vaccine have been issued.  The United Nations has been notified.

 

Influenza

H7N9 update: Health officials reluctantly admitting it’s human to human!

19 May 2013 (09:06 UTC-07 Tango)/09 Rajab 1434/29 Ordibehest 1392/10 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

A new joint statement by China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission, and the UN World Health Organization, admits H7N9 has a higher chance for human to human infection than any other known ‘bird’ flu.

Also, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control revealed that the only human case in their country never showed the officially recognized symptoms of H7N9.   The case was discovered simply because the man’s doctor was suspicious because the man just returned from infected areas of China.  Health officials noted that throat swabs were conducted daily, with negative results on day four and nine, yet a positive result on day eight.

The case caused Taiwan’s health officials to change their guidelines for diagnosing H7N9.   Since then they’ve tested at least 399 people, all tested negative for H7N9.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is preparing for H7N9 in Europe.  Health officials say the virus could be brought in via illegally imported poultry, or migrating birds, or even by infected humans: “Highly significant events include: transmission in countries distant from China, isolation of viruses from domestic birds in Europe, locally acquired infections in Europe and sustained human-to-human transmission. Epidemic intelligence is crucial for detecting trigger events.”

Influenza

H7N9 / Bird Flu update: Another death! Tibet child killed!

16 May 2013 (13:46 UTC-07 Tango)/06 Rajab 1434/26 Ordibehest 1392/07 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

A 64 years old woman in Hunan Province died.  The death toll is now 36.  It appears the spread of H7N9 is slowing, as no new cases have been reported.

Zhejiang Province has ended its Level 4 Emergency status.  Health officials say they’ve had no new cases.

Singapore reporting that 11 people were tested for H7N9, they all tested negative.

Nick Honhold, a doctor in Scotland, is concerned about the fact that only birds in live poultry markets are testing positive for H7N9.  He’s posted on the ProMED Mail that investigations should focus on why that is.  He suspects the origin of H7N9 is the live markets (as I’ve suggested in past postings).

In Tibet, Guangxi autonomous region, another ‘bird’ flu is spreading and killing.  H5N1 has infected 65 children, and killed one of them.  Chinese health officials think the kids got sick by eating infected chickens bought in a live poultry market.  Other villages are reporting cases, and elementary schools have been closed.

 

 

Influenza

H7N9 update: 132 cases, 35 deaths! Spreads to Singapore? Your chicken dinner to cost more?

13 May 2013 (08:53 UTC-07 Tango)/03 Rajab 1434/23 Ordibehest 1392/04 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

The latest reports out of China say 35 people have died out of 132 cases.  The National Health and Family Planning Commission says another person got infected in Jiangxi Province.  The report did not give any info about the new deaths.

In Singapore, the Health Ministry revealed that 11 people were suspected of having H7N9, as well as 24 people suspected of having coronavirus/MERS.  The ministry told Parliament that testing of birds was underway, and so far no sign of H7N9.  Singapore does not import live poultry.  The testing on the people suspected of being infected with the new viruses were negative.

Taiwan is reporting that their only human case is recovering.  They say there is no sign of the virus in his system, but his organs have been weakened so much that he must remain hospitalized, until they regain full strength.

At this point, China’s live poultry market ban has lost their economy $6.5 billion USD!

Commodity market analysts are expecting poultry prices to shoot up next month, because of the ongoing H7N9 infections.  Not only has China shut down live poultry markets, and culled tens of thousands of chickens and ducks, but many Asian countries have imposed poultry import bans.  The result is a shortage of poultry products in those Asian countries.

Those bans might help poultry prices come down in the countries of origin.  Example; Malaysia recently banned imports from Mexico and South Africa.  This should result in a glut of poultry in those countries.

 

Influenza

H7N9 update: More cases & deaths! Possible spread to Texas? More proof you can’t blame the birds!

12 May 2013 (22:46 UTC-07 Tango 11 May 2013)/02 Rajab 1434/22 Ordibehest 1392/03 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

A Texas U.S.A. TV station reporting two unexplained deaths.  KHOU reporting that two teenagers, from different counties, died from unknown causes.  They had symptoms similar to H7N9: Fever, cough, respiratory failure, pneumonia.  At least 30 tests were conducted, all testing came back negative.

The first Texas teen to die actually got sick in February, and he died in March.  A teen girl died at the end of April.  The parents of the deceased teenagers are demanding answers.

At the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, a 17 years old boy is in critical condition with the above symptoms, plus his liver and spleen have enlarged.

In Shanghai, China, an 83 years old woman died from H7N9, just one day after city health officials downgraded the city’s health alert status.  She had been sick for one month.

Malaysia’s Veterinary Services has reported no H7N9 in the 41882 live market poultry tested.  Also, 41 shipping containers of processed chicken were tested, and were negative.  However, Malaysia is imposing a ban on chicken products from other Asian countries, Mexico and South Africa.

A recent report says any H7N9 vaccine will likely not work. That’s according to three doctors commenting in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).   The concern is that even if an effective vaccine was created, it would be too late if a pandemic happened now, because it would take to long to mass produce.

A study by U.S. and Chinese researchers found that there is little evidence of ‘mild’ H7N9 infections.  It suggests that when H7N9 compromises a persons immune system, it hits them hard. Results published in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

So far, 131 confirmed human cases, 33 deaths.

Influenza

H7N9 update: Shanghai downgrades, Canada holds back!

10 May 2013 (11:51 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada t-Tania 1434/20 Ordibehest 1392/01 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

Health officials in the city of Shanghai have terminated the Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan (Level III).  They claim there have been no new human cases of H7N9 in the past 20 days.

While there are newer cases in Shanghai hospitals, they actually got infected in neighboring provinces.  Shanghai health officials have also stopped monitoring the 458 people connected to those Shanghaians who were infected.

At this point 33 Shanghai residents got sick, 13 died and 15 have recovered.  The live poultry markets will remain closed.

Canada has decided not to take part in H7N9 vaccine studies. Officially the Public Health Agency (PHA) of Canada has decided to just sit back and watch what happens with the H7N9 trials in the United States. However, one official slipped up and revealed they already have a vaccine: “So this step of doing some early clinical trials looking at immunogenicity is really going to be critical for the U.S. go-forward process. Whereas here in Canada, we’ve already made a decision on what kind of vaccine we’re going to use.”-John Spika, PHA

According to a report in Clinical Chemistry, a new test has been developed to detect H7 viruses early on.  This would be a good thing, as recent studies showed the H7N9 is a killer because it somehow remains undetected, even by your own body’s immune system, until it overwhelms you.  Also, by that point anti-viral treatments don’t work well, so the key is early detection and treatment.

 

 

International

More reasons to avoid vaccines: Vietnam bans vaccine after children die!

09 May 2013 (13:14 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada t-Tania 1434/19 Ordibehest 1391/30 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has temporarily banned the vaccine Quinvaxem.   Since Novmeber 2012 nine infants have died from the vaccine.

The vaccine is made by a capitalist South Korean company, and is marketed as a preventative for diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), pertussis (P, whooping cough), hepatitis B (HepB) and Type B flu (Hib).

The UN World Health Organization is investigating.  According to Vietnamese news media, all the babies that died were healthy before getting the vaccine. They died violently less than 24 hours after getting the shot: “…they began wailing loudly, convulsed, and had serious trouble breathing, before passing away…”-Tuoitrenews

Of interest, the Hanoi Preventive Health Center stopped using Quinvaxem early in 2012, because they were concerned about the high death rate of children getting the shot.  The only investigation done, back then, was to make sure the vaccine ingredients were not compromised and that it was being stored properly, not if the vaccine itself was the cause of death.  So far, there has not been evidence established of allergic reaction to the vaccine.

In March 2013 health officials in Lam Dong Province stopped the use of Quinvaxem, after a four months old boy died.  He developed fever, then was found dead the next morning.

While Quinvaxem is made in South Korea, it was pushed into use by the Netherlands based pharmaceutical company Crucell, in 2006.

Since 2010, Quinvaxem has been distributed in Vietnam for free by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, through UNICEF.  It’s starting to look like the people of Vietnam are being used as guinea pigs for new vaccines.

 

Influenza

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.