|
| ||||||||
| ||||||||
|
Biosecurity BriefingIndonesia Investigates Recent Outbreak of H5N1 in Humans By Kunal Rambhia, December 21, 2007 On December 18, 2007, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that health officials in Indonesia are investigating “several recent cases” of H5N1 avian influenza in humans who did not have contact with infected birds. According to the article, the relative number of “inconclusive cases” (i.e., those occurring in patients who had no known contact with birds) is up from 20 percent of total cases in 2006 to 30 percent in 2007. The AFP article reports that Indonesia’s health officials are investigating four specific human cases in which poultry in the patients’ neighborhoods tested negative for H5N1. Bayu Krisnamurthi, the head of Indonesia’s National Avian Influenza Committee, said “The number is significant enough for us to intensify our investigations so that we could have a more accurate explanation." Scientists are concerned that if H5N1 develops the ability to be efficiently transmitted between humans, it could spark a global pandemic.1 Mr. Krishnamurthi notes that although “Indonesia had made progress in tackling bird flu, with the number of reported cases decreasing this year,” the country still needs “more effective measures, particularly to combat bird flu in poultry.” Specifically, he notes that although the “agriculture ministry vaccinated 70 percent of the country's farmed poultry in 2007, ‘the quality of the vaccine must be improved.’”1 In a related Associated Press (AP) report, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging surveillance and vigilance as the H5N1 virus was detected in humans in Myanmar and Pakistan.2 According to the article, initial tests in Pakistan confirmed the infections, but the details surrounding the cases are still unclear. A cluster of infections among four brothers and two cousins raised concern that the virus was spreading among family members, but it remains unknown whether the human infections were the result of contact with infected poultry. At least one of the brothers worked on a farm in an area where H5N1 was previously detected in poultry. The WHO will continue to analyze samples to determine if virulence or patterns of spreading have changed. Nature News noted that the cases in Pakistan started in mid-November and that one victim was buried before testing for H5N1 could be done.3 WHO officials have continued to urge countries to “be on alert for bird flu, because it is again on the move.”1 References
|