Another Tamiflu blanket applied in Indonesia
Scott McPherson
in influenza and infectious diseases
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4 Comments
Over the past three weeks, a small island off the coast of Sumatra has been a viral Hell. The island is named Palua Tabuan, and it is located just off the coast of southern Sumatra. Two rural villages on that island have played host to a deadly illness that has infected hundreds and has killed several residents. The government of Indonesia originally identified the disease as typhoid, even though the illness affected chickens before it began infecting and killing humans.
The ever-alert watchdogs at Flutrackers.com, including intrepid posters treyfish and Theresa42, have been monitoring the situation, Toggletexting and collaborating to find the most accurate translations of certain key words. And that, folks, is what Web 2.0 is all about! http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34347 Flu Wiki is also covering the issue at http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1641
One of the items emerging from the translations is the mention of chickens dying after their combs turn blue. That is a hallmark and unmistakable sign of H5N1 infection. Veteran flu poster AlaskaDenise supplied a photo of an H5N1-infected chicken (the one on the left, with the blue comb).
Fowl typhoid is a known disease, but the visual symptoms do not include the blue comb. Fowl typhoid does not typically occur in humans; its closest relative in people is best described as salmonella poisoning, from eating raw or undercooked eggs. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol6no5/rabsch.htm
Dr. Henry Niman has identified an earlier cluster of H5N1 cases on the island, back in October, 2005. His commentaries on the 2005 cluster, and on the most recent cases, can be found at: http://www.recombinomics.com/News/10030504/H5N1_Lampung_Confirmed.html
and at http://www.recombinomics.com/News/09060701/Tamiflu_Blanket_Tanggamus.html .
What has apparently happened, judging from the various translated local newspapers, is that the regional authorities now suspect multiple H5N1 infections and have instituted a Tamiflu blanket over the entire island to be safe. Every islander has been given a course of Tamiflu (ten capsules). This is the second major Tamiflu blanket of rural Indonesia in thirteen months. The first known blanket happened in Garut in August, 2006, as some two thousand Indonesian villagers were placed on the antiviral as a precaution, following the infections and deaths of villagers from four hamlets. Representatives had attended a funeral for a young girl who died from H5N1, and human-to-human transmission was strongly suspected. No fewer than 18 residents were hospitalized with H5N1 symptoms. The WHO statement regarding the outbreak can be found at http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_08_21/en/index.html .
At least SOMEBODY is paying attention down there! We shift to the latest confirmed H5N1 death on the Indonesian mainland. A 33-year old man has succumbed to bird flu, As reported by FLA_MEDIC in his excellent blog Avian Flu Diary, the man died following protestations from the Indonesian Health Ministry that the man's condition had improved! http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2007/09/indonesia-incurs-85th-bird-flu-fatality.html
Sep 6, 12:57 AM EDT
Indonesian man with bird flu recovering, Health Ministry says
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- An Indonesian man hospitalized with bird flu after cooking infected chicken was recovering Thursday, the Health Ministry said.
From the AP follow-on story:
The 33-year-old plantation worker from Sumatra province had been hospitalized for almost 10 days with a high fever, coughing and breathing difficulties.
It looked as if he was going to recover, but his condition suddenly deteriorated and he died Thursday, said Arman Zubair, an official at the Health Ministry's monitoring post for bird flu.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/06/asia/AS-GEN-Indonesia-Bird-Flu.php
The number of suspected human H5N1 cases in Indonesia are now almost too numerous to track. Indonesia's Health Ministry is failing to contain the disease. Now an entire island's population is at risk.
Reader Comments (4)
With the over use of this drug, tamiflu, we may not even have that in our arsonal 2 combat a full blown pandemic. The virus, should it come out of Indonesia, will more thsn likely became somewhat, if not fully resistant 2 tamiflu. I know most of us already know that, but revoicing it again.
With the over use of this drug, tamiflu, we may not even have that in our arsonal 2 combat a full blown pandemic. The virus, should it come out of Indonesia, will more thsn likely became somewhat, if not fully resistant 2 tamiflu. I know most of us already know that, but revoicing it again.
With the over use of this drug, tamiflu, we may not even have that in our arsonal 2 combat a full blown pandemic. The virus, should it come out of Indonesia, will more thsn likely became somewhat, if not fully resistant 2 tamiflu. I know most of us already know that, but revoicing it again.
Holliegh,
Agreed. It is only a matter of time until H5N1 becomes Tamiflu-resistant. But I worry more about overprescription of Tamiflu to combat seasonal influenza. Influenza A is Amantadine-resistant because, over time, it developed resistance. The Japanese reported a few months ago that 3% of that nation's Influenza B is Tamiflu-resistant, and we also know that certain Egyptian human H5N1 cases have shown a genetic marker believed to signify Tamiflu resistance. Japanese doctors over-prescribe Tamiflu like American doctors overprescribe Ritalin! That is why the Japanese had such good data regarding suicidal tendencies with their Tamiflu-medicated youth and teens, which led directly to the Roche 35MG and 40MG Tamiflu youth capsules.
Thanks for the comment!
Scott