NYT: China Bird-Flu Scare Ends

[DeepModem Mom]

China Bird-Flu Scare Ends
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: July 25, 2005


BEIJING, Monday, July 25 - Chinese and international health officials said Monday that they believed that the mysterious deaths of at least 17 farmers in western China were caused by a bacterial infection in pigs and not, as initially feared, by a new outbreak of the deadly avian influenza....

***

...Robert Dietz, a spokesman for the World Health Organization, said doctors in Sichuan had identified streptococcus suis, a bacteria carried by pigs that can spread to humans, as the cause of the illnesses.


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/25/international/asia/25china.html?oref=login

[hallc]

1. Yeah...

But that still doesn't explain the stuff in the rest of Asia...

[WhiteTara]

6. you weren't supposed to notice

but you did and welcome to DU hallc :hi:

[pandemic_1918]

15. CNN Transcript

Aired July 28, 2005 - 18:00 ET

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0507/28/ldt.01.html

DOBBS: A mysterious new disease has killed dozens of people in China. At the same time, there are rising concerns about the spread of the deadly bird flu in China and other Asian countries. Experts, health experts are now warning it could be only a matter of time before these new diseases spread to the United States.

Kitty Pilgrim has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KITTY PILGRIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One hundred thirty people in China sick from a mysterious pig-borne disease. The World Health Organization doesn't know quite what it is, and the death toll is now at 31. BOB DIETZ, WHO SPOKESMAN: I think the first thing that pops into everyone's mind is avian influenza, and then comes SARS, and are we looking at that sort of situation. Very early in the stage to make any rash judgments, but at this point we don't see that kind of threat looming. But we are watching it very closely.

PILGRIM: The disease comes from eating or slaughtering sick pigs, which is commonly done in rural China. The problem with the new diseases suddenly affecting people around the world is that they are an airplane ride away from anywhere, as in the case of SARS, which infected thousands and killed 800 people globally.

They can turn up anywhere. For example, health officials don't know how three people in a family in Indonesia contracted avian flu and died. The CDC currently has 11 quarantine stations in U.S. airports, with seven more planned to be open this year to be able to screen people if necessary.

HENRY NIMAN, FOUNDER, RECOMBINOMICS: It actually is a flight away by a migratory bird or commercial airline. So it literally can arrive in a matter of days. So there's no really room for error that, once it starts to spread, it can move around the world quite quickly.

PILGRIM: The worry is so great in this country, Congress has had five hearings on the flu this year. Scientists think the bird flu virus could mutate, as all viruses do. And there is thought nearly enough vaccine for the current strain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PILGRIM: Now, many experts are convinced the next global pandemic could come from avian flu. It is highly deadly. Last year, 109 human cases caused 55 deaths in Asia. And with the new sudden unexplained deaths in Indonesia, the concern is very, very high right now -- Lou.

DOBBS: Kitty, thank you very much. Kitty Pilgrim.

[OKthatsIT]

14. SCARY LINKS we can't afford to toss.

-------------------------------------------------------------
World Health Organization: China Engaging In Bird Flu Cover Up
By Drog (Canada)
Section International
Mon Jul 25, 2005
11:30:48 AM PST

By Wikinews

The World Health Organization's Beijing spokesman has said that the People's Republic of China has withheld vital information regarding H5N1 outbreaks, a type of bird flu that is infecting animals throughout Asia. The animals most affected by the disease are those among waterfowl and poultry, however in recents months it has infected humans and had also been discovered in tigers as well as swine. The Nation magazine quotes WHO officials has saying that the strain has the potential of causing a human pandemic resulting in tens of millions of deaths on a global scale.

http://www.theworldforum.org/story/2005/7/25/113048/859
----------------------------------------------------------


The following is a translation(from Chinese) from at the Disease Outbreaks Blog:

Rioting in YuShu Farming Community Suppressed, Troops Leaving Area


According to the BBS (BBS, incidentally, stands for Bulletin Board Service) from Qinghai, riot troops sent in to quell the YuShu riots departed the area on 24th July. These troops were sent in the previous week in response to urgent requests for re-inforcements to quell the riots (following the bird flu outbreak) in the YuShu farming community. According to eyewitness reports, loud explosions, complete with fire and smoke, were observed in the surrounding area following their (troops) insertion.

Currently, the affected farming community is under martial law and is policed by local police. A quarantine has been imposed - banning movement of people in and out of the farming community. The casualty figures are yet to be known. However, it is believed that this is the first time since 1989 (Tiananmen) that the riot troops have been activated and deployed. Eyewitnesses said that the revolt started because the patients being seized by the troops were afraid of being buried alive. Hence, they seized a large quantity of arms from their guards, and took some doctors hostage. Skirmishes were reported with the advance party of a "special arms" unit of the local police (i'm guessing this is their SWAT). Villagers from neighouring communities also joined in, swelling their numbers and creating a largescale revolt. Afraid that this revolt would escalate and be complicated by the Tibetan issue, local authorities urgently requested for information by the PLA. That brought things under control and the unrest was suppressed.

That excerpt was extracted from Qinghai discussion boards and chatrooms.
Photos of the following are attached.






The news report is inaccurate. Although some riot troops have withdrawn, most have yet to leave the area. The area is still in a state of martial law. The exact situation is unclear.

Boxun adds that part of the information is from reports by its readers in the area, hence, it is unable to verify its authencity.

But, it adds, troop movements in the area would corroborate with their accounts. However, it is unable to confirm the seriousness of the events.
-------------------------------------------------------------
The mutation has created a 1918 pandemic flu.
..the dead turn blue from hemoraging, just like the 1918 pademic.

Disease Outbreak Discussion Board:
(lots of info and links...many microbiologist and health professionals post here)
http://discuss.agonist.org/yabbse/index.php?board=6

More Articles:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...5072300936.html
http://english.epochtimes.com/news/5-7-25/30562.html
http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasiona...6-64376,uk.html
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/english/2...507250126.shtml
http://english.epochtimes.com/news/5-7-25/30562.html
http://freeinternetpress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4097

[Neshanic]

2. China always tells the truth....fingers drumming on desk.

[leesa]

3. Unlike the US.....

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. Uh-huh.

And China has always been up front about its epidemiology. They wouldn't dream of fudging the numbers or making false reports.

[barb162]

11. If all I saw in this article was Chinese health authority blather

(versus WHO) that they had things straightened out, I would take it to mean an epidemic was expanding fast.

[Tyler Durden]

5. Hear they got that "AIDS" thingie licked, too.

[XemaSab]

7. what AIDS thing?

There is no AIDS in China... never has been. I don't know what you're talking about.

[Tyler Durden]

10. OOPSY!

Sorry! Forgot about that.

Right. WHAT AIDS thingie?

[XemaSab]

12. You're learning

:-D

[despairing optimist]

8. Bird-Flu Scare Ends, Swine-Strep Scare Begins

As Roseanne Roseannadanna's mom used to say, it's always something.

[NNN0LHI]

9. Just don't be hanging out with any Chinese pigs for a while

:hi:

[smirkymonkey]

13. Whew! Well, that's a relief!

:eyes: