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Flood-ravaged Manila on disease alert

By Mynardo Macaraig
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 16:53:00 09/28/2009

Filed Under: Disasters (general), Flood, Health

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20090928-227337/Flood-ravaged-Manila-on-disease-alert

MANILA, Philippines – Local health authorities warned Monday of disease outbreaks following horror floods, as filthy water covered large areas of Manila and bodies lay in coffins next to survivors at evacuation centers.

More than 115,000 people were dangerously crammed into makeshift centers such as schools and open-air gymnasiums across Manila, the nation’s capital, and surrounding areas that were submerged in Saturday’s floods.

Infections including swine flu, diarrhea and the bacterial disease leptospirosis were at the top of the government’s list of concerns, Doctor Melissa Guerrero, chief aide to the health secretary, told AFP.

“Now that you have a breakdown in your water and sanitation facilities and evacuation sites, the transmission of diseases will be faster,” Guerrero said.

Stagnant water could also become breeding grounds for mosquitoes that spread dengue fever, she warned.

Saturday’s disaster saw tropical storm Ketsana drop the heaviest rain in more than 40 years on Manila and neighboring areas of Luzon island.

The nine-hour pounding left some areas of Metro Manila, a city of 12 million people, under six meters (20 feet) of water and many areas remained submerged on Monday. The government said the death toll was at least 100 and more than 450,000 other people had been displaced.

Sanitation conditions at schools, gymnasiums and other buildings that had been turned into evacuation centres were deplorable, AFP reporters at the scene observed.

In one makeshift evacuation centre in a riverside Manila village that was inundated by the floods, about 3,000 people crowded in an open-air gymnasium, cooking and sleeping on the cold concrete floor as human feces lay nearby.

In warm, muggy conditions, 11 bodies were kept inside coffins at the same centre, with homeless survivors resting on the concrete.

Armando Endaya, captain of Bagong Silangan village and in charge of that center, said relief workers had yet to help them, and they were being forced to fend for themselves and rely on aid from private groups.
“We are waiting for more aid to arrive. We are trying to mobilize our own relief operations here. But we need more help,” Endaya told AFP from the gymnasium, which had a roof but no walls.

Healthcare efforts have been further complicated by flooding at four hospitals, which interrupted electrical power or forced the evacuation of patients, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

With authorities desperately short of food, medicine, clean water and medics, various national appeals for help were launched on Monday.

The secretary-general of the Philippine National Red Cross, Gwendolyn Pang, urged doctors to volunteer their services.

On national television, she also called on the public to donate soap, shampoo and other cleaning items, as well as bottled water for drinking, to help make up “hygiene kits.”

The head of the Philippine Medical Association, Rey Melchor Santos, issued similar pleas.
“They (the public) can call our office to send donations. But we want the doctors… so we can send them to the evacuation centers,” he said.

Aside from the help of doctors, Santos appealed for donations of medicines and antiseptics to help fight colds, fevers and diarrhea.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs. (Source: excerpt from Leptospirosis (General): DBMD)

Leptospirosis is a disease is caused by spiral shaped bacteria called leptospires. It occurs worldwide and can affect humans as well as many wild and domestic animals, including dogs and cats. The disease can be serious for both humans and animals. In people, the symptoms are often like the flu, but sometimes leptospirosis can develop into a more severe, life-threatening illness with infections in the kidney, liver, brain, lung, and heart. (Source: excerpt from Leptospirosis and Your Pet: DBMD)

Potential key to AIDS vaccine discovered

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 09:54:00 09/04/2009

Link:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20090904-223480/Potential-key-to-AIDS-vaccine-discovered

CHICAGO – US researchers have discovered two powerful new antibodies which could hold the key to achieving a viable AIDS vaccine, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science.

The antibodies are produced naturally by a minority of people infected with HIV and are able to neutralize a high percentage of the many types of the virus currently in circulation worldwide.

Researchers in California believe they can create an effective vaccine if they are able to stimulate the body to produce such “broadly neutralizing” antibodies before exposure to HIV.

“The findings themselves are an exciting advance toward the goal of an effective AIDS vaccine because now we’ve got a new, potentially better target on HIV to focus our efforts for vaccine design,” said Wayne Koff, senior vice president of research and development at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

“And having identified this one, we’re set up to find more, which should further accelerate global efforts in AIDS vaccine development.”

These are the first broadly neutralizing antibodies to have been identified in more than a decade and are the first from donors in developing countries, where 95 percent of new HIV infections occur.

Just four other broadly neutralizing antibodies have been discovered to date and they functioned by binding to places on the virus that have proven difficult to exploit.

“These new antibodies, which are more potent than other antibodies described to date… attach to a novel and potentially more accessible site on HIV to facilitate vaccine design,” said Dennis Burton, scientific director of the vaccine initiative’s California-based Neutralizing Antibody Center.

“So now we may have a better chance of designing a vaccine that will elicit such broadly neutralizing antibodies, which we think are key to successful vaccine development.”

The antibodies target a region of the virus which is used to infect cells and has evolved to thwart attacks from the immune system by becoming highly variable. The antibodies appear to target regions of this protein that do not change, the study found.

This could explain their potency and breadth.

High potency is important because it allows for protection without requiring the body to produce large quantities of the antibodies.

The breadth of neutralization is important because HIV — the virus which causes AIDS — has evolved into so many different subtypes.

The antibodies were isolated using a new screening method which tested the blood of more than 1,800 HIV-infected volunteers from seven Sub-Saharan countries, Thailand, Australia, Britain and the United States.

Researchers are hopeful that the new method will help them discover additional broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Mozzimort’s Testing Information

Test results, using the standard World Health Organization (WHO) insecticide treated surface bioassay method conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), confirmed Mozzi-Mort™‘s ability to eradicate the Anopheles mosquito, the major malaria carrier, in under 8 minutes.

LSHTM has also carried out tests on two other types of mosquito; Aedes aegypti, carrier of Dengue Fever, and culex mosquitoes, carrier of West Nile Disease, both of which Mozzi-Mort™ has been proven to eradicate.

Testing has continued at LSHTM on a bi-annual basis since June 2003 in order to monitor the efficacy of the product over time. Results have shown that Mozzi-Mort™ continues to be effective at least two years after initial application.

In conjunction with the WHO’s 2003 Roll Back Malaria campaign, LSHTM findings have been sent to the World Health Organization in Geneva. As a result, all WHO regional Offices in Africa have been alerted to Mozzi-Mort™.

In addition to the benefits Mozzi-Mort™ offers to the Third World, it is equally of use to the United Nations, whose troops and personnel are regularly called upon to enter areas of natural disaster and war zones where they are often exposed to an abundance of deadly insects, viruses and bacteria.

The active ingredient in Mozzi-Mort™ is effective against the following insects:

• Ants • Aphids • Armyworm • Azalea caterpillar • Bagworm • Bed bugs • Bees • Beetle • Black turfgrass ataenius • Black vine weevil • Bluegrass billbug • Boxelder bugs • Broadmite • Brown soft scale • Budworm • California oakworm • California red scale (crawler) • Cankerworm • Carpenter bees • Carpet beetles • Centipede • Chiggers • Chinch bug • Cigarette beetles • Clover mite • Cluster flies • Cockroaches • Confused flour beetles • Crickets • Cutworm • Earwigs • Eastern tent caterpillar • Elm leaf beetles • European sawfly • Fall webworm • Firebrats • Flea beetle • Fleas • Flies • Forest tent caterpillar • Grasshopper • Grubs • Gypsy moth larvae • Hyperodes weevil • Japanese beetle • June beetle • Lace bugs • Leaf skeletonizer • Leaf-feeding caterpillar • Leafhopper • Leafminer • Leafrollers • Lesser grain borer • Litter beetles • Mealybug • Midges • Millipede • Mites • Mole cricket • Mosquito • Oleander moth larvae • Parasitic Wasp • Pillbug • Pine sawfly • Pine shoot beetle • Pineneedlescale (crawler) • Pinetip moth • Plant bug • Red flour beetles • Rice weevil • Root weevil • Sawfly • Saw-toothed grain beetles • Scale insect (crawler) • Scorpions • Silverfish • Sowbugs • Spider • Spider mite • Spider Mite, (two-spotted spruce) • Spittlebug • Striped flea beetle • Striped oakworm • Termites • Termites, (above ground only) • Thrips • Tick • Tip moth • Tussock moth larvae • Wasps • Webworm, sod • Whiteflies

Mozzi-Mort™ has been specifically tested at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and proven to be effective against such insects as:

• Anopheles gambiae – Mosquito vector of human malaria
• Aedes aegypti – Mosquito vector of Dengue & other arboviral diseases
• Culex quinquefasciatus – Mosquito vector of filariasis & West Nile virus
• Musca domestica – Common domestic house fly
• Periplaneta americana – Common American cockroach
• Cimex leticularis – Bed bug
• Tenebrio molitor – Mealworm beetle
• Ctenocephalides felis felis – Cat flea
• Dermatophagoides farinae – House dust mite

EnviroCair’s Efficacy

EnviroCare® has been subjected to extensive independent testing. For a full list of companies please contact the office

EnviroCair is proven effective against:

Viruses:

Avian Influenza H5N1, Acinetobacter spp, Congo virus, FMD Virus, Hepatitis B, HIV-1 (AIDS), Herpes Simplex, Influenza, Newcastle Disease, Norovirus (Norwalk virus), Paramyxovirus, Rubella, Vaccinia, Swine Vesicular Fever, and Poultry Diseases.

Bacteria:

Bacillus cereus, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Brevibacterium animonagenes, Chlamydia psittaci, Clostridium difficile, Corynebacterium diptheriae, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter clocae, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli (EHEC), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae (MRKP), Legionella pneumophila, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Listeria monocytogenes, Micrococcus lysodeiticus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Proteus mirabillis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella abortus equi, Salmonella choleraesuis, Salmonella dublin, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella infantis, Salmonella manhattan, Salmonella newport, Salmonella panama, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella schottmuelleri, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella thyphimurium, Serratia marcescens, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus faecalis (MRSF), Streptococcus pyogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica.

Algae:

Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Chlorella vulgaris, Phormidium faveolarum, Phormidium inundatum (Black Mould), Phormidium uncinatum and Scenedesmus obliquus.

Fungi/Yeasts:

Absidia corymbifera, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus versicolor, Candida albicans, Cladosporium cladosporiodes, Microsporum gypseum, Penicillium glaucum, Penicillium verucosum, Saccharomyces cerevisiaeand Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Types of EnviroCair and its uses

EnviroCair Mist Sprayer (sold separately)

1. EnviroCair-GP is a new breakthrough in sanitizing disinfectant. It is colorless and safe to use in any environment. It can be used in open food areas, is biodegradable, it does not contain alcohol yet kills most major well known pathogens, viruses, bacteria, spores, fungi and mold germs in seconds.
2. EnviroCair FLU the same as GP version but with added strength to kill Swine Flu. Fully tested in UK and fast acting and effective flu virus killer.Kills – Swine Flu, Legionella, Hepatitis, Herpes plus all of GP version
   
3. EnviroCair PRO contains all that GP and Flu versions have but with extra strength for applications where infections or existing disease control is required  such as surgeries, waiting rooms, dentists, dosctors, hospitals, clinics, disease control areas, high risk areas Kills – Polio, Adeno Virus, Norovirus, TB, Chlamydia, Rubella and all of GP and Flu versions
   
4. EnviroCair AP EnviroCair Animal & Poultry is a new breakthrough in sanitizing disinfectant. It has all the properties of the Human GP and Flu versions but with added strength for Animal Husbandry.
5. EnviroCair E use in all Equine environments including Stables, Yards, Horseboxes, Arena’s, etc…

6. EnviroCair AP PRO Animal and Poultry PRO is a stronger version to be used in infected high risk areas.  Can be used as a strong initial cleaning process or on disease control mats.

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT SITUATION OF INFLUENZA A (H1N1) IN THE PHILIPPINES

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT SITUATION OF INFLUENZA A (H1N1) IN THE PHILIPPINES

from http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/2292

As of May 25, the Department of Health has identified ten new Cases Under Observation (CUO), eight of whom are from NCR, one from Region I and one from Region VII. Since May 1, the DOH has monitored 113 CUOs, two of whom were confirmed cases of A(H1N1). Fifteen CUOs still have pending laboratory results, the remaining 96 have been discarded since they are negative for Influenza A(H1N1).

Globally, the World Health Organization reported a total of 12,022 cases and still 86 deaths in 43 countries as of May 24. There are no new countries reporting confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1).

Update on the two confirmed cases in the Philippines. Both cases are well and do not have any symptoms. They are still being monitored and will be discharged once their repeat PCR becomes negative for A (H1N1). At present, all their close contacts have not reported any symptoms of flu and are observing home quarantine.

Update on the Taiwanese two nationals. On further investigation, the Department of Health was informed that the Taiwanese nationals did not attend a yoga workshop in the Philippines. However, it was found that this confirmed A(H1N1) case and her daughter did attend a social gathering while visiting the country. The DOH is now in the process of tracing their contacts and will update you as information becomes available.

We would like to reiterate that if you have traveled to an Influenza A(H1N1) affected country or have been exposed to a confirmed case of Influenza A(H1N1) and have fever, cough, sore throat or other flu-like symptoms, please consult a health facility immediately. You can also call the DOH Hotline (02) 711-1001 or 711-1002.

What exactly is swine flu?

Influenza type A H1N1 — What is it?

http://www.utsa.edu/today/2009/05/flufaq.cfm

james chambers

By Amanda Beck
Communications Specialist, College of Sciences

(May 4, 2009)–What is swine flu? What can you do to prevent it? Below is a discussion of the science behind the influenza type A H1N1 virus (swine flu) as described by UTSA influenza researcher James Chambers, professor of biochemistry in the Department of Biology and a member of the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Swine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease that emanates from pigs. Pigs are unique because these animals accommodate influenza virus from two other major hosts: humans and birds. Swine flu is a type A influenza virus.

Type A influenza viruses are sub-typed according to 1) their respective Hemagglutinin (H), which is a surface protein that allows the virus to attach to host cells and 2) a viral surface associated neuraminidase (N), which allows the virus to enter the host cell. All influenza A subtypes have been identified from birds. The current swine flu is type A subtype H1N1.

What makes this different from other flu strains?

Pigs represent a mixing bowl for influenza viruses affecting both humans and birds. The current virus represents a triple reassortment of viral gene sequences coding for H that determines binding specificity of the virus from three different hosts. Gene mixing is a common event in pigs and birds. Because pigs are susceptible to infection from other hosts, it is possible to have viruses from two different sources infecting the same host and thus the mixing of viral gene sequences.

What is troubling with regard to this current strain is the possibility of bird influenza, Type A H5N1, to species jump and infect humans. Bird flu, with a few exceptions, is not passed from human to human. The current triple reassortment could be a prelude to such an event making humans a prime host for “bird” influenza, H5N1, which has been shown to be very virulent in humans.

How bad is this strain?

This strain is unique for several reasons. First, as previously mentioned, the combination of avian and human influenza gene sequences is worrisome because of the possible species jumping of the avian virus to that of humans. Second, the H is sufficiently different from the current vaccine strain H such that humans will have little or no protection. Third, unlike the H5N1 bird influenza virus, this current swine influenza virus is effectively passed from human to human and has made its debut well in advanced of the typical influenza season typically kills 36,000 people in the United States. However, it is still too early to tell the full extent of the current viral infection.

How is the virus transmitted?

Influenza spreads primarily through aerosolization (coughing and sneezing) and direct contact by touching contaminated surfaces. Although the virus requires a living cell to survive/thrive, influenza virus has been shown to persist on surfaces like tabletops for up to 24 hours. The virus is not transmitted by eating cooked pork products.

How can we kill the virus?

Like many viruses, influenza is very heat sensitive. Furthermore, influenza is an envelope virus, which means the genetic material (RNA) is contained within a membrane. Once the membrane is compromised, the viral RNA genome is subject to degradation and thus the virus cannot replicate/survive. There are a number of hand hygiene products that are available that disrupt viral membranes. Additionally, drugs such as Tamiflu (an inhibitor of the viral N) are very effective against the current circulating virus. The antiviral drug Amantadine (an inhibitor of the viral proton pump) has been shown to be ineffective against the current circulating swine influenza.

How can we prevent getting the virus?

Covering the nose and mouth with a surgical mask can be of some help but good hand hygiene, staying away from sick individuals and avoiding crowds will also help greatly.

Who is at risk?

Typically, the very young and the very old tend to be at greatest risk, but for two very different reasons. In small children, the immune system is very alert and when activated in response to entities such as an influenza virus, literally goes into overdrive creating a cytokine storm. The result is extensive damage in the lungs akin to drowning in one’s own fluids. In the elderly, the immune system is not as alert and does not go into an overdrive as it does with young hosts. Due to aging a compromised immune system gives rise to secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia.

Saving the world on pennies a day

Is it possible? Doesnt it take billtions or trillions to make a differance? Apparently it doesnt, it just takes a belief in what you are doing as well as connections, connections and more connections. Envirocaire and mozzimort have given us an avenue to do some good in this world which most people cant even imagine. We are not particularly special in anything we do or aspire to although I must pass Kudos to our esteemed Filipina because her contacts are especialy useful, and her line of attack is also quite focused. However, it seems that we are not too shabby here in the States either. From USAID contacts made over flat tires to potentially phenomenal contacts made over a birthday lunch, or even further contacts born over 45 years ago in Pittsburgh it seems that what it really takes is a seminal idea (thanks biocide!) and a belief that what we are doing is not only necessary and important but absolutely essential. Well, we have accomplished a good solid foundation but the real work is only just beginning. As I write these lines on this side of the globe, we are advancing half way around the world this day and soon we shall advance every day. Feel free to become a connection, we are open to suggestions and opportunity abounds, even in times of epidemic and pandemic. Opportunities to help the truly needy, the old, the young, rich and poor, well, usually these opportunities are all mutually exclusive but I guess we have found the junction of all thats good, health and well being are in everyones best interest. Lets get on it!

What makes EnviroCair different?

What makes EnviroCair different?

http://envirocairinternational.com/advantage.html

Envirocair uses a ‘new generation’ Quat, DDAC which has a twin alkyl chain structure.

Other competitive products using Quats are ‘older’ version, which are based on benzene ring which have a single alkyl chain structure.

Performance studies on DDAC alone have shown it to have superior activity over the benzene ring based Quats because of this, ie:

• Lower concentrations of DDAC to achieve same/more effective bug kill
• The addition to the Envirocair formulation has achieved sporocidal activity e.g
  C Diff (not possible/shown to date with other products using the other types of Quats as a single agent on the market) and comprehensive bug kill activity against a range of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
• Lower concentrations of the overall formula are safe for human contact and reduce the environmental load (i.e less active biocidal ingredients used compared to many other products) so providing a more ‘responsible’ disinfecting solution.
• Envirocair adds a disinfectant type of action whereas the Quat promotes cell membrane destabilization of viruses, bacteria and fungi (so the bugs don’t have an opportunity to ‘learn’ from biocide and develop resistant strains, which is a concern with some disinfecting/biocidal agents).
• In other words the combination formula presented by Envirocair maximizes biocidal performance in so doing requires a lower concentration than other competitive products on the market.

In summary

• Unique formulation based on a new QUAT as sole active substance
  • Radically different from traditional alkyl benzyl type of Quat
  • Twin alkyl chain structure – superior characteristics to benzene ring quats
  • Disinfectant action and pathogen membrane destabilisation
  • Envirocair formulation maximises biocidal performance

• Delivering
  • Better performance at lower concentrations of active than
    previously possible
  • More versatile pathogen control applications
  • More responsible environmental load — active is biodegradable