FLU NEWS SCAN: H5N1 in Indonesia, flu plan for Africa, Indonesia revamps disease committee

Anthrax
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Influenza, General
Public Health

Jun 3, 2011

WHO confirms Indonesian child's H5N1 infection
The World Health Organization (WHO) today confirmed H5N1 avian influenza in a 1-year-old Indonesian girl. Indonesia's health ministry had reported the case earlier this week on its Web site. The girl, from North Jakarta, got sick on Apr 3 and was hospitalized on Apr 8, the WHO said in a statement. She has recovered. An investigation revealed that, a week before she started having flu symptoms, she had visited a live poultry market with her father, where she handled chickens. The girl's illness pushed Indonesia's H5N1 case total to 178, of which 146 were fatal. The global H5N1 total now stands at 555 cases, including 324 deaths.
Jun 3 WHO statement
WHO outlines plan for fighting flu in Africa
Citing influenza's impact on Africa, including its death toll among children, the WHO today released a plan for easing the burden of the disease on the continent. Steps include gathering and sharing flu data better, improving surveillance and lab testing, bolstering patient care and education, and introducing and enhancing prevention and control strategies such as creating regional antiviral stockpiles. Other prevention and control strategies detailed in the report in the WHO's Weekly Epidemiological Record include better vaccine messaging, improved pandemic plans, and integrating flu-mitigation efforts with campaigns against other public health threats.
Jun 3 Wkly Epidemiol Rec landing page

Indonesia launches new zoonotic disease group
Indonesia's government has formed a new zoonosis committee to replace one that focused solely on the avian influenza threat, the Jakarta Post reported today. Government minister Agung Laksono told Tempo Interaktif, an Indonesian news outlet, that the Committee on Zoonosis and Communicable Diseases will monitor a wider range of zoonotic diseases, including anthrax and rabies. He said the committee replaces the National Commission for Bird Flu Control and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness. Indonesia is among the countries in which the H5N1 avian influenza virus is endemic in poultry.
Jun 3 Jakarta Post story

This week's top reads

  1. FDA significantly limits COVID-19 vaccine recommendations

    Critics said today’s announcement is more evidence of the current administration’s willingness to undermine public trust in vaccines.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    FDA building

  2. USDA suspends southern border livestock imports over New World screwworm threat

    As cattle detections track northward, Mexico recently reported its first human case.

    Lisa Schnirring
    screwworm larva

  3. Meta-analysis: Zika-infected pregnant moms 4 times more likely to have babies with microcephaly

    Five of 22 studies noted that over 50% of newborns had microcephaly, and the same number of studies observed that over 5% had congenital Zika syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom

  4. Woman dies of Creutzfeldt-Jakob almost 50 years after taking prion-contaminated growth hormone

    The patient, who presented with gait imbalance and tremors, wasn't diagnosed until she was in a coma, shortly before she died.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Woman in hospital bed

  5. HHS expected to discontinue COVID vaccine recommendations for some groups

    When CDC advisers widened their recommendation in 2023, most members were swayed by data, including those for long COVID, showing that no group is at low risk for the virus.

    Lisa Schnirring

  6. Data suggest COVID-19 reinfections less likely to cause long COVID

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    Stephanie Soucheray
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  7. WHO advisers say current strains OK for COVID vaccine production

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    Lisa Schnirring
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  8. Texas announces more measles cases, including first in Dallas area

    Two cases near the Dallas area are now included in the large outbreak, which now totals 717 cases.

    Lisa Schnirring

  9. US measles outbreak grows to 1,024 cases

    Texas remains the country's hot spot, with 718 cases. 

    Chris Dall
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  10. Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster

    Since 2023, the country has ramped up MERS-CoV testing as part of sentinel surveillance.

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