Toddler gets bird flu

( IOL )

Cairo - An Egyptian toddler has contracted bird flu in the country's third reported case in a week, state media reported on Monday.
The 18-month-old girl from Kafr el-Sheikh province was in stable condition after being treated with the antiviral drug Tamiflu, the Al-Ahram daily quoted a health ministry official as saying.
It was the 66th recorded case since the outbreak of the disease in Egypt in 2006

Padang, West Sumatra ::: Male,Kabupaten Sijunjung,bird flu suspected

(Bird Flu Information Corner)

Padang, West Sumatera – A resident of Kabupaten Sijunjung, bird flu suspected victim, is treated at M. Djamil hospital, Wednesday (15/4) after developing high fever and breathing disturbance. Patient, who’s identity remained confidential, had contact history with suddenly died birds around his house.

Bird flu virus spreads in Riau after boy's death
( The Jakarta Post )

The bird flu virus has spread within Sungai Apit district in Siak regency, Riau, following the death of a child infected with the virus at the end of March, says a local official, adding prevention measures were being hampered by residents' reluctance to cull their poultry.
District chief Indra Atmaja said the spread of the virus was only discovered following reports of poultry dying abruptly on April 4.

US contributes $7.3 million to Vietnam’s fight against bird flu
(Thanhnien News)

Documents relating to the projects were signed by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan and FAO representative Andrew Speedy in Hanoi Wednesday.
The two projects will cover the provision of technical assistance to improve preparedness against the deadly avian flu and will help shift the country’s vaccination strategy for the H5N1 virus.

10 raccoons discovered with bird flu antibodies
( Daily Yomiuri )

UTSUNOMIYA--Ten wild raccoons have been found with signs of previous H5N1 bird flu infections, according to a joint study by Tokyo University and Yamaguchi University.

This is the first time mammals in this country have been found with bird flu virus antibodies, which develop as a result of infection

H5N1 Avian Virus Adapting to Pigs,Closer to Human Variation
( Digital Journal )

The deadly H5N1 virus, a scourge among avian species in Asia, appears to have adapted to operate in swine populations, a report in the Archives of Virology finds.
The H5N1 virus - a headline-producing species that regularly ravages avian populations throughout Asia - appears to have successfully mutated toward residence in pigs

It is feared bird flu could become more frightening
( THE JAKARTA POST )

There is a need to raise awareness of bird flu because of a real threat: It could turn into something much more frightening than the H5N1 virus.

The frightening thing would be if the virus caused a pandemic if and when it became able to spread among humans, Coordinator of Surveillance and Monitoring at the National Commission on Bird Flu Control and Awareness on Influenza Pandemic (Komnas FBPI) Heru Setijanto said Friday.

Pekanbaru, Riau ::: Test result has been officially announced (revised due to missing text)
(Bird Flu Information Corner)

Another confirmation of bird flu suspect boy from Pekanbaru, Riau.

Pekanbaru — WIS, 2-year-old baby who died in Arifin Ahmad hospital, Pekanbaru has been announced to contract bird flu virus. This confirmation was made according to throat swab sample by Research and Development Department (Balitbangkes) of Health Ministry Indonesia.

Indramayu, West Java ::: New bird flu suspect
(Bird Flu Information Corner)

Indramayu, West Java – Indramayu regional hospital received new bird flu suspect, Tarlam (60), resident of RT 04/02 Desa Telukagung, Kecamatan/Kabupaten Indramayu.

Widiana, doctor of Indramayu regional hospital said that Tarlam was introduced to emergency room because of having breathing difficulty and high fever.

Another bird flu suspect from Bandung
(Bird Flu Information Corner)


Bandung, West Java – Urip Rahayu, 23, resident of Bukit Pelamungan IX Bekasi and Rajim, 50, resident of Kampung Pasirkunci RT 08/03,Kelurahan Sarijaya, Kecamatan Majalaya, Kabupaten Karawang, admitted to Hasan Sadikin hospital Bandung due to bird flu (avian influenza) suspect. Urip has been treated in Flamboyan room since 24 March because of having breathing problem and high fever.

Nigeria: Mass Campaign Against Bird Flu Kicks Off in Kano
All Africa.comMass awareness campaign against Avian Influenza has kicked off in Kano, with a view to forestalling future recurrence of the outbreak
The campaign, which was scheduled to take place in nine local governments of the state, was also aimed at conducting social mobilisation activities for migrant poultry workers, traders, transporters, among others.

‘Mx’ gene in indigenous chickens keeps the flu away: Study
( The Jakarta Post )At least 62 percent of chickens indigenous to Indonesia are resistant to bird flu, thanks to a gene in their body called Mx, the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) revealed Monday.
“Genetically, the indigenous chickens [to Indonesia] have a gene that is immune to avian influenza,” said head of the institute Umar


Bird Flu Suspected in Pekanbaru Boy’s Death; Cases Mount in W. Java
( Jakarta Globe )

A toddler from Pekanbaru district, Riau Province, died on Thursday after exhibiting bird flu-like symptoms.

The 2-year-old boy, identified as Wahyu Ibnu Saputra, died at Arifin Achmad Hospital after suffering respiratory problems and fever, and falling unconscious, said Dr. Azizman Saad, the hospital’s bird flu control coordinat

Govt allots Rp 200 billion for bird flu research
[ The Jakarta Post ]

SURABAYA: The government has allocated Rp 200 billion (US$17 billion) to finance research on bird flu in an effort to prevent and mitigate the spread of the virus, according to the health minister.

"Foreign financial assistance is also available, but it's still under our control," Siti Fadilah Supari said after speaking at an international symposium on bird flu at the University of Airlangga (Unair) in Surabaya, East Java, Antara reported.