NYT: U.N. Urges China to Do More Tests on Pig Disease in Humans

[DeepModem Mom]

U.N. Urges China to Do More Tests on Pig Disease in Humans
By LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN
Published: August 5, 2005


The World Health Organization urged China yesterday to conduct more tests to clarify perplexing aspects of the largest outbreak in humans of a bacterial pig disease, including the reason the death rate among patients has been unusually high.

China has reported that the disease, caused by Streptococcus suis bacteria, infected 206 people in Sichuan Province from June 24 through July 21. Of these, 38 - or nearly 1 in 5 - died and 18 are critically ill.

Most cases have occurred among adult male farmers who have had close contact with diseased pigs or have eaten uncooked pig products. The bacteria are commonly found where pigs are raised. Animals without symptoms carry the bacteria in their tonsils and noses. Sichuan has one of the largest pig populations in China, and news organizations have reported a concurrent outbreak among pigs there.

There is no evidence that the illness has been transmitted from one person to another in the outbreak, the health agency said. Many patients have developed meningitis, an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord, with symptoms that can include a high fever, malaise, nausea and vomiting. In the past, about half of the patients who have recovered from meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis have become deaf....

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Chinese officials say they are searching for cases and that the outbreak is under control. But Dick Thompson, a W.H.O. spokesman, said, "We do not have enough information to determine that."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/health/05pig.html

[Coastie for Truth]

1. Santa Clara County Fatwa-Talmudical Responsa

issued by a bunch of Muslim And Jewish techies in Silicon Valley

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM PIG FLU
JUST FOLLOW HALACHAH AND SHARIAH--
OBSERVE HALLAL AND KOSHER--
NO PIG MEAT

WE ARE THINKING OF PUTTING THIS ON A BUMPER STICKER WITH APPROPRIATE CARICATURES