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Bird Flu Updates

Israel reports finding its first cases of the H5N1 (deadly variety) of bird flu in fowl.

Earlier, Egypt confirmed its first human death from the disease.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu, its most aggressive form, has killed nearly 100 people worldwide, according to the WHO, and seen millions of birds destroyed amounting to huge losses for farmers.

The Israeli authorities believe the virus was brought in by migratory birds making their spring passage from Africa to Europe. Tens of thousands of storks passed through Israel earlier this week at the start of a season which will see an estimated half a million wild birds pass.

Bird Flu Update

Bird flu continues to spread, with Austria and Poland now joining the list of countries where the deadly H5N1 strain has been found.

Signs of the virus' ability to infect other species than birds and humans are also accumulating.

In the southern Austrian province of Styria, the agricultural authority said H5N1 bird flu virus had been found in "two or three cats," according to the Austria Press Agency and ORF radio.

The virus was detected in the live cats through tests by the Health and Food Safety Agency, the province's agricultural representative, Hans Seitinger, was quoted as saying.

Link: H5N1 bird flu infects cats in Austria, feeding pandemic fears - Yahoo! News.

Bird Flu Updates

The deadly H5N1 strain of Avian flu has now been found in India, and Iran.

Indonesia reports it's 19th death from the same. The Indonesian Agriculture Minister says that "people were now 'dying quicker' when they contracted the virus and that incidences of human cases were increasing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, human cases of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza have been found in the following countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey and Iraq.

Additionally, cases in wild birds and poultry have been found in:  Hong Kong (SARPRC), Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Russia, Slovenia (H5), Kazakhstan and Nigeria. Most of the infections appear to be in wild swans.

The CDC assesses the situation:

...There is  little pre-existing natural immunity to H5N1 infection in the human population. If these H5N1 viruses gain the ability for efficient and sustained transmission among humans, an influenza pandemic could result, with potentially high rates of illness and death. In addition, genetic sequencing of influenza A (H5N1) viruses from human cases in Vietnam and Thailand shows resistance to the antiviral medications amantadine and rimantadine, two of the medications commonly used for treatment of influenza.

...Research suggests that currently circulating strains of H5N1 viruses are becoming more capable of causing disease (pathogenic) in mammals than were earlier H5N1 viruses. One study found that ducks infected with H5N1 virus are now shedding more virus for longer periods without showing symptoms of illness. This finding has implications for the role of ducks in transmitting disease to other birds and possibly to humans as well. Additionally, other findings have documented H5N1 infection among pigs in China and H5N1 infection in felines (experimental infection in housecats in the Netherlands and isolation of H5N1 viruses in tigers and leopards in Thailand ).

The Washington Post reports on the state of preparedness for a pandemic here.

Linked with basil's blog

Bird Flu Found In France

A dead duck tested positive for the H5 strain of bird flu. Further testing is being done to see if the H5N1 strain is present in the bird.

The H5n1 strain is responsible for 91 deaths so far.

Link: Top News Article | Reuters.com.

Bird Flu Reaches Western Europe

Italy and Greece are reporting that Avian, or bird flu, has been detected in dead swans.

The announcement that the disease was detected in five swans in southern Italy came a day after the opening of the Winter Games in Turin, several hundred miles to the north. Italian officials said the virus had only affected wild birds and posed no immediate risk to people.

The disease has also been found in swans in Bulgaira (Southeastern Europe.)

"We have got bird flu now in southeast Asia, central Asia, eastern Europe, and west Africa," Dr. David Nabarro said, before the Greek and Italian announcements. "Compared with eight months ago, this is a major extension of the avian influenza epidemic."

Link: Bird Flu Found in Italy, Greece, Bulgaria - Yahoo! News.

Bird Flu Found In Turkey

It is believed that the first human cases of bird flu outside of Southeast Asia & China have been found--in Turkey.

Link: Turkey reports two human cases of bird flu - Bird Flu - MSNBC.com.

Avian Flu: Human to Human Transmission Detected?

Avian flu is spreading so quickly in Indonesia that doctors there suspect that the virus has mutated and that human to human transmission has already begun.

"There are just too many people who have it, said one doctor. "In many cases, it is difficult to establish any contact with birds."

Another official said the flu has "spread all over the city."

The Indonesian government intends to wage war on the virus by having military personnel perform house-to-house checks along weekly checks of farms.

With one small genetic adjustment in Influenza A, or H5N1, millions of people could die, warns World Health Organization Regional Director for the Western Pacific Shigeru Omi. Omi has called for health ministers and representatives to launch an all-out war on the deadly strain.

H/T Riehl World View via Instapundit

Link: WorldNetDaily: Has feared mutation of avian flu arrived?.