News Briefs Archive

China (Beijing) — First National AIDS Conference
On 13 Nov 2001 China held its first national AIDS/STD (sexually transmitted diseases) conference. The four–day conference drew 2,000 participants and featured celebrity AIDS Prevention spokespersons. The number of HIV–infected people in China is increasing rapidly, with the number of infections reported in the first half of the year being 6.4 per cent higher than in the same period last year. While 28,133 people officially are registered to have contracted the HIV virus as of September of this year, Chinese health officials estimate the figure to be 600,000. The United Nations, however, estimates that China has roughly one million HIV carriers. Health Minister Zhang Wenkang said the Chinese Government would invest more money on efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS over the next five years. The Chinese government has vowed to do more to control the spread of HIV/AIDS by ensuring the safety of blood donations, increasing AIDS education, improving the training of health workers, and developing reliable HIV monitoring systems. Dai Zhicheng, the secretary–general of the conference, has said the conference is to be held every two years.
[Reuters 11/13/2001; Associated Press 11/14/2001]

China (Jiangsu) — Flamingo Chlamydiosis
An ecological tourism company in East China's Jiangsu Province imported 100 flamingos from the Netherlands in late September. Six died during the transportation and the remaining 94 were found to be infected with chlamydiosis, which can be easily transmitted to humans. Quarantine officials destroyed the 94 flamingos and the place where the flamingos briefly stayed has been disinfected. Chlamydia psittaci causes psittacosis in humans and an avian strain causes chlamydiosis in birds. The disease can be passed to humans, but the risk is low. Symptoms of the disease include fever, chills, cough, and shortness of breath and a prominent headache is common.
[PROMED 11/07/2001]

US (New York, Connecticut) — West Nile Viral Encephalitis
Four human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) encephalitis or meningitis were reported in New York and one case was reported in Connecticut during the week of 31 Oct to 06 Nov 2001. During the same period, WNV infections were reported in 255 crows, 22 other birds, and 11 horses in the United States. However, no WNV–positive mosquito pools were reported. During 2001, 10 human cases of WNV encephalitis or meningitis have been reported in Florida, 10 in New York, six in Connecticut, six in Maryland, six in New Jersey, three in Pennsylvania, and one in Georgia. In addition, 4,251 crows and 1,459 other birds infected with WNV have been reported in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Reports of WNV infection also have been found in horses.

Birds infected with WNV have also been found in Canada. As of 08 Nov 2001, 122 birds have been confirmed to be infected with WNV in Ontario.
[PROMED 11/08/2001 11/10/2001]

US (Connecticut) — Poultry Avian Influenza
On 05 Nov 2001 officials discovered avian influenza virus at a Scotland poultry farm in Connecticut. As a result, the state Department of Agriculture ordered the destruction of 16,000 chickens at the farm. On 12 Oct 2001 the state quarantined the site and began destroying the birds the following day. Tests taken from flocks in the nearby area have been negative, but all poultry owners in New England were informed on how to protect their flocks.
[PROMED 11/07/2001]

OCEANIA

Australia — Botulism Outbreak in Chickens
An outbreak of botulism on a farm near Brisbane, the first big case recorded on a Queensland farm, has killed 14,000 chickens. The infected birds of the 96,000 chicken farm died over a 20–day period. Scientists have traced the outbreak to litter in the sheds of the farm and believe it is an isolated case. Dr. Ron Glanville, of Queensland's Department of Primary Industries (DPI), said he did not believe the outbreak would spread. The dead birds have been buried and the farm is in the process of being cleaned. The DPI will continue to monitor the farm.
[PROMED 11/06/2001]

WORLDWIDE

Unexplained Dialysis Deaths
The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating the deaths of at least 53 dialysis patients from around the world who used Baxter International products called dialyzers. This product of Baxter International, a company based in Deerfield, Illinois, filters toxins out of the blood of patients whose kidneys have failed. Baxter became aware of the possible problems with the filters after several patients died in Spain in mid–August 2001. The FDA is reviewing 21 deaths in Croatia, 10 in Spain, seven in Taiwan, five in Germany, four in Italy, two in Columbia and four in the United States.

The dialyzers were made by a Baxter acquired company, Althin Medical, at a factory in Ronneby, Sweden and were distributed from January 1998 to 15 Oct 2001 to dialysis facilities in more than 50 countries. After research of the product, Baxter has said that a fluid chemical used to manufacture some of the filters for dialysis patients might have played a role in the deaths. Director of the FDA's center for devices and radiological health, Dr. David W. Feigal, has also said that the source of the problem may be this chemical, perfluorohydrocarbon. A spokeswoman for Baxter, Sally Benjamin Young, has reportedly said the fluid was used in the filters set aside after they failed a quality control test. This is approximately 10 percent of all the filters.
Evidence of multiple–organ failure was found from autopsies of five of the deceased. Most of the dialysis patients who died experienced shortness of breath, chest tightness, cardiac arrest or stroke symptoms within hours of being dialyzed.

The company voluntarily recalled the filters worldwide on 18 Oct 2001 and said that it had decided to permanently cease manufacturing the dialyzers. Baxter has also planned to compensate the families of patients who died.
[PROMED 11/07/2001]

Related News

India — Deaths Follow Polio Campaign
At least 10 children have died and more than 500 children have been admitted to hospitals in India's northeastern state of Assam due to side effects of a polio vaccine. On 10 Nov 2001, thousands of children throughout India were administered a polio vaccine as part of a massive polio immunization campaign run by the state government. A day later, large–scale side effects in and around the city of Silchar in southern Assam were reported. While officials have not announced possible causes of the side effects, non–governmental organizations in Silchar, who assist the government in this campaign, say outdated vaccines were possibly supplied in some areas.
[British Broadcasting Company 11/12/2001]