http://http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/birdfludeaths.php/ News on bird flu/avian flu deaths from around the world http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24901The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. A 34-year-old female from South Jakarta District, DKI Jakarta Province developed symptoms on 25 May, was hospitalized on 27 May and died on 1 June. Laboratory tests were positive for H5N1 virus infection. The case was possibly infected from environmental exposure to manure in her plant nursery. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24901Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24925 Official report into the outbreak said that the death toll could have been much higher but for the swift response and mild nature of the disease. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24925Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:35:54 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24784Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) June 11, 2010 / 59(22);682-686 http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24784Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:05:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24761AFP - A young pregnant woman has died of bird flu, China's Health Ministry said, the first reported fatality from the virus since early last year. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24761Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:58:05 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24771Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an uncommon peripheral neuropathy causing paralysis and in severe cases respiratory failure and death. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24771Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:30:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24813A diabetic boy who was misdiagnosed with swine flu died as a result of natural causes aggravated by neglect, a coroner rules. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24813Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:57:45 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24814A woman diagnosed with swine flu over the telephone died from Legionnaires' disease days later, an inquest hears. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24814Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:38:32 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24815A teenager who died after contracting swine flu was not given Tamiflu when she was admitted to hospital, an inquest hears. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24815Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:32:01 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24655Flu activity in the United States declined slightly from last week and is low nationally; however, some states in the Southeast continue to report regional activity, according to the March 28-April 3, 2010 FluView. Most flu continues to be 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but is expected to continue for weeks in the U.S. Internationally, 2009 H1N1 flu is still circulating, including in the Southern Hemisphere, which is about to enter its flu season. For more information, please see the international situation update. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24655Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24662Transcript for March 29, 2010 telebriefing. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A. Anne Schuchat, M.D., Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. "We are continuing to see people with serious illness from the pandemic H1N1 virus, especially in some of the southeastern states, and vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and those you love from further illness or death and..." http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24662Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24665While flu activity remains relatively low nationally, the Southeast is experiencing increases in activity, according to the March 14-20, 2010 FluView. Most flu continues to be 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but is expected to continue for weeks. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24665Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24699Is there anyone out there still interested in swine flu? Clearly the H1N1 virus has had its day in terms of being a big news story. Barring a sudden resurgence next autumn or some unusual mutation, we can be thankful that the first pandemic of the 21st Century was as mild as could be hoped. But in the interest of dotting a few i's and crossing some t's, I offer the following: The Department of Health has released swine flu vaccine uptake figures for England. 37% of those in at-risk groups (asthma, heart disease, pregnant women etc) were immunised while 20% of healthy children under 5 received the swine flu jab. 40% of front line healthcare workers have also been immunised. The Department of Health has said anyone travelling to the Southern Hemisphere, including the World Cup in South Africa, should be vaccinated to prevent them from catching the virus and bringing it back. The flu season will be in full swing in South Africa during the tournament. Despite it still being flu season here, there is very little swine flu about. Latest figures for England suggest the number of new cases in the last week is below 5,000 where it has been for the last 12 weeks. There are 65 patients in hospital, 14 of them in critical care. The death toll from the H1N1 virus now stands at 457 in the UK since the outbreak began almost a year ago. Probably several million Britons have had swine flu and most will have had either no symptoms or a mild illness. Useful resources: • Detailed UK weekly epidemiology update • Swine flu figures for Northern Ireland • Swine flu figures for Scotland • Swine flu figures for Wales http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24699Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:47:09 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24672FluView reports that for the week of March 7-13, 2010, flu activity in the United States was relatively low, with most flu continuing to be caused by 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but is expected to continue for weeks. It’s possible that the United States could experience another wave of flu activity caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal influenza. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24672Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24675CDC has again updated its estimates of the total number of 2009 H1N1 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the United States since April, 2009. The new estimates incorporate an additional four weeks of flu data from the previous estimates released on February 12, 2010. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24675Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:45:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24582FluView reports that for the week of February 21 - February 27, 2010, flu activity in the United States was relatively low, with most flu continuing to be caused by 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but is expected to continue for weeks. It’s possible that the United States could experience another wave of flu activity caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal influenza. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24582Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24586FluView reports that for the week of February 21 - February 27, 2010, flu activity in the United States was relatively low, with most flu continuing to be caused by 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but is expected to continue for weeks. It's possible that the United States could experience another wave of flu activity caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal influenza. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24586Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24541The Ministry of Health has reported three new confirmed cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, including one fatality. Two cases have been confirmed at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and one case has been confirmed at the Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh City. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24541Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24590FluView reports that for the week of February 14 - February 20, 2010, flu activity in the United States was relatively low, with most flu continuing to be caused by 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but is expected to continue for weeks. It's possible that the United States could experience another wave of flu activity caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal influenza. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24590Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24596FluView reports that for the week of February 7 - February 13, 2010, flu activity in the United States was relatively low, with most flu continuing to be caused by 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but is expected to continue for weeks. It's possible that the United States could experience another wave of flu activity, or more likely, localized outbreaks of 2009 H1N1 in communities that have been relatively unaffected by illness thus far, or where 2009 H1N1 vaccination rates may have been lower. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24596Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24598This Q&A provides updated information about flu-related hospitalizations and deaths in the United States reported to CDC from April 2009 - January 30, 2010. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24598Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:33:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24599CDC has updated its estimates of the total number of 2009 H1N1 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the United States since April, 2009. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24599Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:12:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24526FluView reports that for the week of January 31 - February 6, 2010, flu activity in the United States remained about the same as during the previous week. Flu activity is relatively low at this time, with most flu continuing to be caused by 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but it is expected to continue for several more months. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24526Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24234Four more people with swine flu have died in the West Midlands region, the NHS says. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24234Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:21:10 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24233FluView reports that for the week of January 24-30, 2010, flu activity in the United States remained about the same as during the previous week. Flu activity is relatively low at this time, with most flu continuing to be caused by 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but it is expected to continue for several more months. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=24233Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23968We were right to prepare for a swine flu pandemic – and it must not stop us anticipating future global health risksSwine flu is no longer sickening very many people but that does not mean it is no longer newsworthy. On the contrary, in recent weeks a succession of critics have rounded on "happy-go-lucky" virologists, "headline-hungry" journalists and the World Health Organisation, accusing them of being variously dupes of the pharmaceutical industry or willing accomplices to pointless hysteria. Their crime? Hyping the pandemic that never was and thereby helping Big Pharma to a billion-dollar vaccine bonanza.Leading the told-you-so's is Dr Wolfgang Wodarg, the former head of the Council of Europe's health committee, who this week tabled a motion in Strasbourg accusing the WHO of having "faked" the pandemic. Another is the Guardian's Simon Jenkins. In characteristically acerbic prose he rails against government scientists for peddling "drivel" about the tens of thousands of Britons who might have died this winter. That they didn't and that you and I are still alive shows that H1N1 is not the "Andromeda strain" long- predicted by scientists. "It was pure, systematic, government-induced panic," he writes. "Swine flu was a textbook case of a scare," concurs Christopher Booker in the Daily Telegraph.Jenkins is a sharp and entertaining writer and when he accuses the media of playing "its joyful part" in propagating panic I have to admit the dart hits home: as a medical historian and expert on the 1918 "Spanish" influenza pandemic I was continually asked to comment on the parallels with swine flu last summer and no doubt added to the hype. But as all good schoolboys know, post hoc doesn't make propter hoc. Just because 65,000 Britons didn't die this winter does not mean that the computer models were wrong or that the Department of Health shouldn't have ordered 50m doses of Tamiflu, only that prognostications about pandemics, like prognostications about earthquakes, are not an exact science.Writing in this paper last week, Tom Sheldon eloquently makes the point that predicting pandemics is a species of risk analysis and thus, by definition, subject to error. With better virological and epidemiological data perhaps the government wouldn't have stockpiled so much Tamiflu or ordered 90m doses of vaccine. But if it hadn't and armageddon had occurred, Jenkins would have been the first to call for the guillotining of the Chief Medical Officer.I do not wish to labour the point but it seems to me that the backlash against swine flu is a species of conspiracy-thinking, one that wilfully misconstrues the role of science in the regulation of technologies of health which have brought so many benefits to society. In the same way that 9/11 denialists point to the collapse of World Trade Centre 7 to support their wacko theories about "controlled demolitions", swine flu denialists point to Donald Rumsfeld's position on the board of Gilead, the company that developed Tamiflu, to argue that the "panic" was got up by similar shadowy neo-conservative corporate interests. It is then a short step to seeing all such panics as conspiracies. Thus, according to the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, the vaccine is really a tool for culling inner-city black populations because of military leaders' concerns about pressures on the global food supply.Similar conspiracy-thinking infects health advice websites that advise mothers not to give their children the swine flu jab because of the risk of rare side-effects, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. In fact, according to the Institute of Medicine, the chances of contracting GBS from influenza vaccination is one or two per million. By comparison, a recent French study found that the risk of contracting GBS from naturally occurring influenza is four to seven out of every 100,000 cases. But that hasn't stopped NHS staff, who should know better, from shunning the swine flu vaccine. Nor, I am sorry to say, are such peer-reviewed studies likely to persuade the sort of people who continue to refuse to give their children the MMR vaccine because they once read somewhere that it might be linked to autism.Twenty years ago, writing in the context of a very different epidemic, one that to date has claimed two million lives worldwide, Susan Sontag warned that the modern ability to anticipate and estimate the scale of future disasters had resulted in two very different visions of apocalypse: "There is what is happening now. And there is what it portends: the imminent, but not yet actual, and not really graspable, disaster." The result was what Sontag called a "permanent modern scenario: apocalypse looms… and it doesn't occur."Sontag, of course, was writing in the context of Aids and Jenkins is quite right to point out that in the response to swine flu there has been a similar inflation of apocalyptic rhetoric. But just because swine flu turned out to be a non-event, that doesn't mean that we should conclude that our technology is at fault and that it is a mistake to try to anticipate future disasters. As Margaret Chan, the director of the World Health Organisation, acknowledged in June when she issued a "phase six" alert, triggering the drawdown on the government's stockpile of Tamiflu, "the virus writes the rules and this one, like all influenza viruses, can change the rules, without rhyme or reason, at any time".Swine fluHealthWorld Health OrganisationMark Honigsbaumguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23968Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23962 http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23962Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23720Three more swine flu-related deaths in the West Midlands region are reported by health chiefs. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23720Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:38:37 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23719Overall flu activity in the United States decreased again slightly during the week of January 10-16, 2010, as reported in FluView. Though flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, it is expected to continue for several more months. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23719Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23689 High risk groups should still be vaccinated against swine flu, officials have warned, as they announced that 390 people have now died after contracting the virus. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23689Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:35:51 GMThttp://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23664Only one child who was previously healthy has died from swine flu in the West Midlands region, a Freedom of Information request reveals. http://www.ukbirdflunews.com/News/article.php?itemid=23664Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:27:08 GMT