Third major bird flu outbreak in two weeks in China

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 26 Oct 2005 - 6:00 PDT

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Chinese authorities have reported another outbreak of bird flu, the third major one in the last two weeks - this one took place in the Hunan province, central China. 545 poultry died of bird flu. Authorities have also culled another 2,500 as a precautionary measure. This outbreak follows another two, one in Mongolia and another in the Anhui province.

Health secretaries from many countries around the world met in Canada this week. Michael Levitt, the American Secretary of Health and Human Services, said we need to find a balance between informing and alarming the public. All the ministers agreed that much more research is needed to find a vaccine.

The Mexican health secretary put forward a proposal to increase production capacity of vaccines that emerge as well as any anti-viral drugs. He said, countries such as Brazil, Mexico and India can produce in large quantities and at low prices.

The European Union has introduced a ban on the import of live birds into the Union. During the last quarter, over one quarter of a million live pet birds have been imported into the EU. The EU will decide at the end of November whether to extend the ban.

At the moment the only drug that can help an infected person is Tamiflu. This drug is an antiviral, it is not a vaccine. The drug is administered to a sick patient (infected with bird flu). Health professionals are concerned that there are now cases of the virus resisting the drug. If resistance to the drug grows, all doctors can do is to increase the dosage. Tamiflu is only effective if administered to the patient early on.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today


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