Temperature Reading To Spot H7N9 Flu Virus 'unnecessary': Thai Health Ministry

[webfact]

Temperature reading to spot H7N9 flu virus 'unnecessary'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Strict screening of people for the H7N9 virus using body temperature detectors is unwarranted as there is no clear evidence that this type of bird flu can be transmitted from human to human, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday.

"So far, there's no report about the spread of H7N9 influenza in Thailand," Public Health Minister Pradith Sinthawanarong said.

Health officials and community medical volunteers nationwide have been instructed to conduct surveys to find anyone infected among travellers returning from trips abroad.

The officials have also been assigned to monitor the deaths of poultry across the country. The public is also asked to report any suspicious deaths of chicken or poultry.

Medical workers have been put on standby while antiviral drugs, both oral and injectable, are being prepared. Laboratories are now capable of detecting the virus and rapid response teams are ready to be dispatched to control and prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

"Medical workers are suggested to keep a close eye on patients with severe pneumonia," Pradith said.

Citing a meeting between the World Health Organisation and the ministry, he said the World Organisation for Animal Health reported on April 16 that it had discovered the H7N9-type virus in poultry bought from fresh markets in China's Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces but no symptoms of illness had appeared in the fowl.

Even though the number of people contracting H7N9 is still increasing, local health experts have not recommended authorities to beef up measures to catch people infected with the bird flu virus.


-- The Nation 2013-04-22

[webfact]

BIRD FLU
18 death cases on H7N9
The Nation

NEW DELHI: -- There are a total of 96 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China; including 18 deaths. Contacts of the confirmed cases are being closely monitored, according to the World Health Organisation's disease outbreak update.

As of April 20, China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission notified WHO of an additional 5 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. Of the latest laboratory confirmed cases, three are from Zhejiang Province, one is from Shanghai Municipality, and one is from Jiangsu Province.

The patients include:

· a 75 year-old male from Shanghai Municipality who became ill on 13 April 2013;

· a 43 year-old male from Jiangsu Province who became ill on 7 April 2013;

· a 56 year- old male from Zhejiang Province who became ill on 11 April 2013;

· a 35 year-old female from Zhejiang Province who became ill on 14 April 2013;

· a 37 year-old male from Zhejiang Province who became ill on March 30 2013.

Additionally, 1 patient earlier reported from Zhejiang Province has died.

National authorities continue to implement prevention and control measures which include: strengthened epidemic monitoring and analysis and enhanced public risk communication and information dissemination.

Investigations into the possible sources of infection and reservoirs of the virus are ongoing. "Until the source of infection has been identified, it is expected that there will be further cases of human infection with the virus in China. So far, there is no evidence of ongoing human-to-human transmission," WHO said.


-- The Nation 2013-04-22

[Locationthailand]

18 cases of death over a 'birdflu' in China with more than 1Bn people and Thailand panics and sends out health warnings?

[manarak]

18 cases of death over a 'birdflu' in China with more than 1Bn people and Thailand panics and sends out health warnings?

probalby learned from western countries when the latter issue warnings about Thailand.

[Docno]

18 cases of death over a 'birdflu' in China with more than 1Bn people and Thailand panics and sends out health warnings?

Well, only 5 people had died of SARS in China in 2003 when it spread to Hong Kong, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Singapore (and not much later, to places like Toronto). Hopefully we've learned not to be complacent about this stuff.... .

[A Member]

18 cases of death over a 'birdflu' in China with more than 1Bn people and Thailand panics and sends out health warnings?

Why not, there was a bomb in Boston and the Thai Police opened a war room. ! LOL

[BrianCR]

So what's the general consensus from TV posters - better to sit back and do nothing? Oop's if they do that then those same posters will complain of Thailand's inability to do anything! Personally I believe that in 2013 any potential threat of an epidemic (however small that threat may seem) should be treated with urgency and not become a case of locking the stable after the horse has bolted!

[jamhar]

I haven't checked the numbers recently but my recollection is that at one time there was 14 fatalities our of about 50 known cases. just under a 30% fatality rate. if this starts jumping human to human, we have a mess on our hands.

the good news is that antiviral meds are effective, so the fatality rate started to drop as time went on. But its still a scary situation esp in the outlying areas where medical attention isn't always possible.

Keep you fingers crossed, and stay informed.

[Thai at Heart]

So what's the general consensus from TV posters - better to sit back and do nothing? Oop's if they do that then those same posters will complain of Thailand's inability to do anything! Personally I believe that in 2013 any potential threat of an epidemic (however small that threat may seem) should be treated with urgency and not become a case of locking the stable after the horse has bolted!

The Thai government will be informed by CP as to whether they should exterminate every chicken in the country.

In the mean time, stay away from migrating birds and their crap, any wild chickens running around, and any Chinese tourists who hock a luugeee.

I have every confidence that CP has the best interests of the Thai people close to their migrant Thai hearts and wallets.

Edited April 22, 2013 by Thai at Heart