Re: Chinese Streptococcus Suis II Outbreak

WHO has finally responded to criticism posted here on UKBA, yesterday.

Overnight, this was posted to the WHO website:

Burkie

P.S. Previous statements made in a New Scientist article by one Gaia
Vince, indicating this disease outbreak might evolve into a
human-to-human disease transmission, should be regarded as an attempt
to create unwarranted fears in the world's peoples. In that article,
two UK veterinarians were quoted by this particular author...Dr. Jill
Thompson, a Scottish Veterinarian, Veterinary Investigation Centre
Edinburgh, Scotland, and Andrew Rycroft, Royal Veterinary College,
are both quoted by Gaia Vince, in the New Scientist article
entitled:

'Pig disease' may be spreading between humans
18:44 01 August 2005
NewScientist.com news service
Gaia Vince

This should be cause for serious concern, as this article was
re-printed in its entirety in a previous Pro-Med mail post on August 1,
2005.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Questions should be asked and investigation of this situation is
warranted. A retraction by Gaia Vine, whomever that person is, (Pen
Name, I suspect) is also warranted.

We have to ask why this person has done this?
Why were these UK veterinarians selected to be quoted?
Dr. Rycroft is involved with vaccine development at the Royal College.
Perhaps he could be contacted to respond to why he made the
surrepticious statements implying that this disease would develop
further into a human-to-human disease transmission situation.

What we have here, is an effort to whip the Public into a worried
frenzy. Why? Or, better yet, what do these people know that we
aren't supposed to know.

We need their answers NOW.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2005_08_03/en/index.html


Outbreak associated with Streptococcus suis in pigs in China

3 August 2005

To date, the Ministry of Health in China has reported 206 cases of
human disease associated with an outbreak of Streptococcus suis in
pigs. Of these human cases, 38 have been fatal. As reported by China,
18 patients are critically ill.

Virtually all cases have occurred in Sichuan Province, where infections
with Streptococcus suis have been detected in pigs in a concurrent
outbreak. The province has one of the largest pig populations in China.

Investigation and containment of the outbreak have been given high
priority by Chinese authorities. The country's ministries of health
and agriculture are working in close collaboration, and WHO and FAO are
being promptly informed of new developments.

Investigations conducted by Chinese epidemiologists indicate that the
first human cases occurred at the end of June in Ziyang City, Sichuan
Province. From 24 June through 21 July, the authorities reported 20
cases of illness, of unknown cause, admitted to three hospitals in that
city. WHO was officially informed of the outbreak on 22 July, at which
time 20 cases and 9 deaths had been reported.

Cases have since been reported in 11 prefectures in Sichuan Province.
Most cases reported have occurred in adult male farmers. Information
reported to WHO suggests that close contact with diseased or dead pigs
is the principal source of human infection.

Symptoms reported by local clinicians include high fever, malaise,
nausea, and vomiting, followed by meningitis, subcutaneous haemorrhage,
toxic shock, and coma in severe cases. The incubation period is short
and disease progression is rapid.

Local experts are conducting active searches for further cases. To
date, Chinese authorities say they have found no evidence of
human-to-human transmission.

The outbreak in humans has some unusual features and is being closely
followed by WHO. Diagnostic testing to further characterize the
causative agent is recommended as an essential part of ongoing efforts
to understand this outbreak, ensure its rapid containment, and prevent
further deaths.

© World Health Organization 2005. All rights reserved

.

Relevant Pages

  • Steptococcus suis
    ... C.U. Veterinarians Identif Disease From Pig Contact ... Veterinarians at Cornell, along with physicians at the Mary Imogene Bassett ... first U.S. case of meningitis resulting from contact with pigs. ... a bacteria found in pigs. ...
    (uk.business.agriculture)
  • Re: FMD in China
    ... China has reported another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on a farm ... The agricultural ministry says 19 head of cattle and two pigs were culled ... It is the fourth outbreak this year in China. ...
    (uk.business.agriculture)
  • Avian Flu and Pigs
    ... With PMWS and associated disease widespread and probably MRSA present too, ... South Holland being reported with MRSA from pigs underlines the possibility ... could play a role in allowing avian flu virus to mutate and infect humans. ... is to be restricted on farms where an avian flu outbreak has been detected. ...
    (uk.business.agriculture)
  • Re: FMD in China
    ... The agricultural ministry says 19 head of cattle and two pigs were culled ... after researchers confirmed the disease in Qinghai province. ... It is the fourth outbreak this year in China. ...
    (uk.business.agriculture)
  • WHO Epi Report
    ... Outbreak associated with Streptococcus suis in pigs in China ... disease associated with an outbreak of Streptococcus suis in pigs. ...
    (sci.med.nursing)
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