Thanks to Sari Setiogi for tweeting the link to this article in Kompas.com: Indonesia Facing Biggest Problems of Possible Bird Flu Resurgence. First an excerpt, then a comment:
NSSI Pandemic Flu Initiative
To produce the NSSI Pandemic Flu materials
Using Satellite Images for Drought Monitoring: A Knowledge Discovery Approach
na-businesspress.com - Getachew Berhan, Shawndra Hill, Tsegaye Tadesse, Solomon Atnafu
The main objective of this research was to develop a new concept and approach to extract knowledge from satellite imageries for near real-time drought monitoring. The near real-time data downloaded from the Atlantic Bird satellite were used to produce the drought spatial distribution. Our results showed that approximately 40% of the observed areas exhibited negative deviation. In this study, the possibility of using the near real-time spatio-temporal Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) data for drought monitoring in food insecure areas of Ethiopia was tested, and promising results were obtained. The output of this research is expected to assist decision makers in taking timely and appropriate action in order to save millions of lives in drought-affected areas.
(VIEW COMPLETE RESEARCH PAPER)
Controversial Bird Flu Study Finally Published
A controversial bird flu study has been published. The Canadian Press/Hanout/CDC
(LINKS TO THE THREE STUDIES REFERENCED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST - CLICK ON "READ MORE" BELOW)
metronews.ca - by Helen Branswell - June 21, 2012
A controversial bird flu study, blocked from full publication for months because of biosecurity concerns, found that as few as five mutations might be enough to give H5N1 viruses the power to infect people and spread among them.
And new research, which played a role in reversing the initial ban on full publication of the study, says viruses with two of those changes are already cropping up regularly in nature. That means that if bird flu viruses were able to pick up three specific additional mutations, they might be able to infect human respiratory tracts and trigger a pandemic.
Press Statement: National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) Review of H5N1 Research
H5N1 Transmissable Research: Key Documents at 1 Jan 2012
[Editor’s Note: We present three key statements involving the continuing debate around publication of recent H5N1 research on transmissible strains and related biosecurity concerns: The NSABB statement, a WHO statement of concern, and a Washington Post editorial]
Press Statement: National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) Review of H5N1 Research
The U.S. government remains concerned about the threat of influenza, for the risks it poses seasonally, as well as its potential to cause a pandemic. Our domestic and global influenza surveillance efforts have become increasingly capable, along with expanded vaccine manufacturing capacity and assistance to other countries in their efforts to detect and respond to a pandemic. To enhance the detection of and response to influenza outbreaks, the U.S. government supports a broad range of domestic and global preparedness and response efforts that include research on better diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics.
New International Consortium to Prepare Research Community for Future Pandemics
Wellcome Trust - December 8, 2011
An international consortium aiming to ensure that the clinical research community is better prepared for the next influenza pandemic or other rapidly emerging public health threat is launched today by leading funders of medical research from across the globe.
Bird Flu Research Rattles Bioterrorism Field
submitted by Theresa Bernardo
by NELL GREENFIELDBOYCE - npr.org - November 17, 2011
H5N1 avian flu viruses (seen in gold) grow inside canine kidney cells (seen in green). Cynthia Goldsmith/CDC
Scientists and security specialists are in the midst of a fierce debate over recent experiments on a strain of bird flu virus that made it more contagious.
The big question: Should the results be made public?
Critics say doing so could potentially reveal how to make powerful new bioweapons.
WHO Warns of New Pandemic
Global Health Council - November 18, 2011
With recent Swine Flu and Bird Flu outbreaks, experts warn that first world countries are not immune from future pandemics.(REUTERS)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged the international community to step up global efforts to fight future pandemics, warning another outbreak is just a matter of time.
Over 100 international health experts from some 30 countries converged on Mexico City this week to discuss how authorities can help stave-off another animal to human epidemic spreading over the world.
Headed by the WHO and with the support of Mexico's government, the three-day conference entitled "Health Risks in Human-Animal Ecosystems" aims to establish a co-ordinated globalresponse to deal better with future outbreaks and human infections from animal species.
http://www.globalhealth.org/news/article/13921
For complete article, visit:
http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/98c72780491a8185906db997212f5526/WHO-warns-of-new-pandemic--20111118
UK's surge in flu could stretch across Europe
(AP) – 1 day agoLONDON (AP) — European health officials are warning that the swine flu outbreak that appears to be spiking in Britain could soon spread to the rest of the continent.The annual flu season struck the U.K. early this year, with cases surging last month and doubling almost every week.
Obama Folds Homeland Security Council into National Security Council
By Matthew Harwood
05/27/2009 -
President Barack Obama announced yesterday that he will follow a recommendation of the 9-11 Commission and fold the Homeland Security Council into the National Security Council (NSC), creating one body capable of quick communication and unified policymaking on security threats, reports The Wall Street Journal.
WHO Phase 6 Pandemic Alert Announced
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-swine-flu-pandemic12-2009jun1...
From the Los Angeles Times
Swine flu pandemic declared by World Health Organization
Associated Press
7:13 AM PDT, June 11, 2009
GENEVA — The World Health Organization has told its member nations it is declaring a swine flu pandemic -- the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.
The move came today as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.
Flu researchers call for enhanced swine surveillance
Lisa Schnirring Staff Writer
Jun 8, 2009 (CIDRAP News) – Government officials and researchers may have underestimated the potential role of pigs as "mixing vessels" for influenza viruses and the importance of swine surveillance for identifying new pandemic threats, veterinary experts from Mexico asserted recently.
The group based their conclusions on two genetic analyses tracing the evolution of the novel H1N1 virus that lend support to the mixing vessel theory. Their findings appeared in the Jun 4 issue of Eurosurveillance.
Following virus protein clues
SO-H1N1/2009 Situation Report: June Week 2
With WHO on the cusp of announcing a Phase 6 pandemic, the question of whether the world is prepared becomes paramount. The 2009 Swine-Origin Influenza A virus (SO-H1N1/2009 has, in roughly two months, traveled to and created illness in over 70 countries that have reported confirmed cases of the virus. However, in actuality, the virus is most likely already in many more countries than those that have the means to confirm cases.
