No human infection of avian flu in Qinghai: official (Chinese gov't lies)

[wschalle]

-snip-
XINING, May 26 (Xinhuanet) -- No human infection of avian flu or unexplained pneumonia case has been detected in northwest China's Qinghai Province and health departments are going all out to prevent a possible outbreak of bird flu, according to a local health official.
-snip-
Emergency measures have been taken by the provincial health authorities after Ministry of Agriculture investigators confirmed on Saturday that migratory birds found dead in Quanji Township of Gangca County had been killed by the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, said Ai Keyuan, an official with the provincial health bureau.
-snip-
Ai said hospitals in Gangca County, where the avian flu cases were reported, have opened up a separate outpatient department forfeverish patients alone. "The county's health department, meanwhile, is assisting the provincial disease control and prevention center in medical observations of people who had had close contacts with the birds," he added.
-snip-
"All hospitals have been told to set up a task force and put aside medication and facilities for the treatment of any avian flucases that might be detected," he said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-05/26/content_3004962.htm

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Commentary at recombinomics: News Blackout on Human Bird Flu Deaths in Qinghai China?
Final Phase 6 Bird Flu Pandemic in Qianghai China?
News Blackout on Human Bird Flu Deaths in Qinghai China?

The Chinese government is obviously scrambling to control an emerging outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu. This situation seems to be playing out similarly to the SARS outbreak. The Bird Flu pandemic appears to have begun.

[Obviousman]

1. Nothing to see here....just keep moving

[wschalle]

2. Promed release

-snip-
"Recently, many people died of avian influenza in Qinghai province.
The affected localities reveal that, as of early April 2005, there have
been several deaths of migratory birds. Because of lack of
reporting, the news has not traveled widely. Toward the end of April
2005, cases of human infection started to emerge. After 1 May
2005, some tourists who visited the areas were severely affected,
and 6 of them died.

During the month of April 2005, a large-scale dissemination of the
infection took place involving both humans and domesticated
animals. The affected area is vast but sparsely populated. Thus,
the problem of large-scale of infection involving both humans and
domesticated animals is relatively unnoticeable. The feral birds
migrate freely and so expand the area of transmission. The
Chinese authorities have admitted the outbreaks and started to seal
off the affected area.

Because of this, Mrs. Yi Wu (Chinese Minister of Health) has cut
short her visit to Japan and returned home. According to the local
news in the affected locality, the number of human casualties is
higher than 6.

The deceased persons are all foreign tourists (i.e. not local
residents): 2 (a man and a woman) from Chengdu, and one man
from Chongqing, Sichuang province. It is unknown from where the
remaining casualties come."
-snip-
Link

[SnowGoose]

3. I read here in the last few days that 5 species of bird

there had been found to be infected with H5N1. It would be interesting to know all the species and then look at their migration routes. They could be a very effective vector out of the area.

[wschalle]

4. I think the cat's out of the bag at this point...

Humans will spread this far more quickly than migrating birds once the infection reaches a certain threshold.

[xchrom]

5. interesting. if china handles this badly -- will the olympics

be compromised?

[wschalle]

6. Flu pandemics compromise more than just the olympics... nt

[fertilizeonarbusto]

7. SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURE n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. There was no SARS in China either.