Vietnam: avian influenza
In Vietnam, the avian influenza virus has affected a further two people. It is believed by scientists that the virus in Vietnam has mutated into a more threatening strain which could potentially be passed between mammals.
A report from the Ho Chi Minh Pasteur Institute has stated that, “The H5N1 type that infected people and waterfowl in early 2005 has several mutations focusing in the important functional parts of the surface protein. There has been a mutation allowing the virus to breed effectively on mammal tissue and become highly virulent.”
A Vietnamese Agriculture Ministry report has stated that the virus has now reached ten of its 64 provinces since October 2005. The total number of fatalities in Vietnam has now reached 42.
“There is much possibility that the disease spreading is due to improper quarantine of infected poultry and poultry products,” said Bui Quang Anh, head of the Ministry’s animal health department. He has requested that ‘search-and-destroy task force groups’ be set up to deal with sick poultry.
Vietnamese authorities have set a deadline of the 15th November, by which time rearing of poultry will be banned in the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Any live poultry found in the cities after that date will be destroyed.
Thailand: avian influenza
In Thailand, a previously confirmed case of H5N1 in an 18-month-old boy from Bangkok has made a full recovery.
“He is fully recovered now because he was infected with only a small amount of the virus and was given prompt treatment,” said Thawat Suntrajarn, Chief of the Disease Control Department, of the first case in the Thai capital since the initial warnings regarding the potential pandemic.
This case will be the fourth laboratoryconfirmed case in 2005. In Thailand, a total of 21 cases have been reported with 13 resulting in death. Although the virus has spread to the outskirts of Bangkok, the number of outbreaks are far fewer than at this time last year, when 44 out of the 75 provinces had reported cases.
Indonesia: avian influenza
In Indonesia, seven people have died of avian influenza, according to Susilo Yudhoyono, the Indonesian president.
The two most recent cases reported occurred in Tangerang, near Jakarta, in a 19-year-old woman who died 9 days following development of symptoms, and her 8-year-old brother, who remains in a reasonable condition in hospital.
“I have paid special attention to the greater Jakarta area. From what I have gathered, there are 11 (positive) sufferers, and of those, seven have died,” Yudhoyono told a news conference after a cabinet meeting to discuss the H5N1 virus outbreak.
Angola: Marburg hemorrhagic fever
The Health Minister of Angola, Sebastao Veloso, has declared Angola officially free of Marburg hemorrhagic fever. Last year’s outbreak killed 227 out of the 252 people it infected. “There have been no cases of fever since the 27th of July 2005,” he said.
The recent outbreak began in October 2004 in the Uige province, but it took until March 2005 before it was officially identified.
Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a rare, severe type of hemorrhagic fever which affects both humans and nonhuman primates. It is caused by a genetically unique zoonotic (animal-borne) RNA virus of the filovirus family and its recognition led to the creation of its virus family. It was initially detected in German laboratory personnel who were working in Marburg with infected African green monkeys. The disease spreads via contact with bodily fluids, and can be contained by following hygienic precautions.
Mali: yellow fever
A total of 21 possible cases and 14 fatalities of yellow fever in the Kayes region, primarily the Bafoulabé district of Mali, have been reported in October 2005.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been informed and the samples have been sent to their Collaborating Center in Dakar, Senegal. Among the 14 cases, four have tested positive. According to WHO classification, only one case constitutes an epidemic.
The Ministry of Heath, Mèdecins sans Frontières and the WHO are currently coordinated an epidemiologic assessment of the area affected. A vaccination campaign has been initiated, in which 300,000 people have been vaccinated. The Ministry of Health has requested a further 4 million doses of vaccine should be supplied to cover the surrounding districts.