[Maine-NPs] Fwd: H5N1: Sudan - Air Travel (DNA based serological profiles)

[Robert S. Howe]

This may interest NPs who either have patients who travel internationally or who do themselves.
Bob Howe 




 
Consulate of the United States: Hong Kong & Macau
Avian Influenza - How to Prepare for "Sheltering-In-Place" (11/21/2006)

Avian Flu
Avian Influenza

How to Prepare for "Sheltering-In-Place"

Health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus among animals in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe has the potential to significantly threaten human health.  If a virus such as H5N1 mutates and spreads easily from one person to another, avian influenza may break out globally.  While there are no reports of sustained human-to-human transmission of avian influenza, the U.S. government and international health agencies are preparing for a possible pandemic.

Depending on the severity of a pandemic, commercial airlines might drastically curtail or even cease operations. Travel restrictions could also impede people from returning to the United States or fleeing to other countries. For these reasons, it may make more sense to "shelter-in-place" (i.e., stay home and practice "social distancing" to avoid contagion) for an appropriate period of time.

United States Residents: The Department of Health and Human Services suggests that US residents prepare two weeks of emergency supplies (food, water, medicines, etc.) in order to shelter-in-place during an influenza pandemic.

American Citizens Abroad:  Due to varying conditions overseas, Americans abroad should evaluate their situation and prepare emergency supplies accordingly (non-perishable food, potable water, medicines, etc.) for the possibility of sheltering-in-place for at least two and up to twelve weeks. Water purification techniques such as boiling, filtering and/or adding chlorine to locally available rainwater, swimming pools, lakes, rivers and wells may replace the need to store large quantities of water.

What can you do on a daily basis? Cover your cough. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to eradicate viruses and bacteria or apply a hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol content when soap and water are not available.  Stay home if you are sick. Vaccinate yourself against seasonal flu.

Travel: American citizens living in or traveling to countries with human or animal cases of H5N1 virus should consider the potential risks. Keep informed of the latest medical guidance and practical information and plan accordingly. Consult www.travel.state.gov for the latest tips on international travel.

On-Line Resources: Detailed information about suggested preparations, as well as planning checklists, are available on the U.S. government's one-stop web site on pandemic influenza (www.pandemicflu.gov), also the World Health Organization (www.who.int/en/) and the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) websites. 
 

-------- Original Message -------- Subject:  H5N1: Sudan - Air Travel (DNA based serological profiles) 
      Date:  Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:35:34 -0800 
      From:  "Stephen M. Apatow" <s.m.apatow at pathobiologics.org> 
      To:  ivphc.wg at pathobiologics.org 



IDIN Communication: International Veterinary Public Health Consortium
Subject: Pandemic Influenza: Contingency Planning discussion

Dear Colleagues:

The following report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs notes:

Authorities in southern Sudan announced in September that they had found the H5N1 strain in chicken and in the owner of an affected farm. The farmer was hospitalised with avian flu symptoms and later tested positive, prompting the World Health Organization to send a team into the impoverished country.

This infectious disease challenge continues to spiral out of control, due to an objective to supress the dissemination of  medical/veterinary/epidemiological expert guidance, as financial markets are being prioritized over public health.  Atypical H5N1 infections (encephalitis, diarrheal, gastrointestinal illness) have been completely ignored (ProMED: Avian influenza, human (140): atypical infections, archive: 20060905.2522)

I would like to open discussion regarding collaboration to assist countries with DNA based serological profiles for individuals crossing international borders through air travel from regions with widespread outbreaks (Nature: Google Maps).  

-- The Future of Biodetection Systems: Workshop focuses on immediate integration and future development of molecular detection technologies.  Sponsored by Los Alamos National Laboratory
-- Influenza Sequence Database: Research Programs and Facilities, Los Alamos Bioscience Division.
-- Planes play big role in spreading flu: Canceling flights might delay future pandemic, Nature, 12 September 2006; | doi:10.1038/news060911-2).

Looking forward to your input....

S.M.Apatow
                      

                                                   
Humanitarian Resource Institute
      .
      Stephen M. Apatow
      President, Director of Research and Development, Humanitarian University Consortium Graduate Studies Center for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Law
      . 

             
           Tel: (203) 668-0282 
            Internet: www.humanitarian.net
            Email: s.m.apatow at humanitarian.net 
           

     
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http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56437&SelectRegion=East_Africa&SelectCountry=SUDAN

SUDAN: Moves to contain suspected avian flu in Juba

KAMPALA, 20 Nov 2006 (IRIN) - Thousands of domestic poultry have been destroyed in and around the southern Sudanese capital of Juba in an attempt to contain an avian flu threat reported in the region several months ago, officials said.

Samson Kwaje, the southern Sudan information minister, said a team had been visiting homes to check poultry and destroy suspected cases. The team would also determine how the affected farmers should be compensated.

"A surveillance team has been visiting homes where there are reports of strange poultry deaths," Kwaje said on Friday. "When they go there they destroy the birds, then government compensates the affected farmers."

However, he added, southern Sudan did not have big poultry farms. The team, including health officials, was concentrating on small subsistence farmers who own a few dozens of birds. 

"This might have been a blessing in disguise, because the loss has not been that great. We have been assessing the situation of individual farmers and destroying the birds there if the situation is suspicious, so the impact economically has not been that pronounced," Kwaje added.

Authorities in southern Sudan announced in September that they had found the H5N1 strain in chicken and in the owner of an affected farm. The farmer was hospitalised with avian flu symptoms and later tested positive, prompting the World Health Organization to send a team into the impoverished country.

Neighbouring Uganda responded by restricting movements of bird and poultry products along the border with Sudan. It also asked its district officials to be on alert for suspected cases of the disease.

Health ministry spokesman Paul Kaggwa said a national task force was maintaining a high state of vigilance. At the same time, he added, Uganda had embarked on a community education programme, encouraging the general population to be vigilant as well.

"The task force on avian flu meets frequently to assess the situation. We have embarked on a programme to reach out to the communities disseminating information about the disease and how we can control its spread if it were to strike," Kaggwa said, adding that the health ministry was using a film van to reach out to the community.

The ministry, he added, had also trained medical personnel to handle the situation if the disease was detected in the east African country. The Uganda Wildlife Authority was also observing the movement of birds from the north and taking samples. 

Uganda and southern Sudan are situated on a major migratory route of birds moving to southern Africa from Europe and West Africa. There was also cause for concern as traffic between Uganda and southern Sudan has increased in the recent past as many businessmen travel on the route.

vm/mw


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