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May 25, 2006
Surveillance update: Cluster of avian flu in Indonesia
Indonesian health authorities this week confirmed that the H5N1 virus had killed at least six members from one extended family on Sumatra Island. A seventh family member may have also died from avian flu; her body was buried before samples were taken for analysis. An eighth relative was hospitalized with a confirmed case and is now recovering.1
This event may indicate a significant evolution of the virus. According to Maria Cheng, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization (WHO), this outbreak is:
- The largest single clustering of bird flu to date, and
- The first set of cases in which there is indication of limited, sustained human-to-human transmission.
According to Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "'the leading hypothesis' right now is that the disease spread among family members after extremely close contact with ill relatives."2 The timing of infection makes it unlikely that all family members contracted avian flu from the same source (e.g., sick chickens).1 At the same time, officials have been unable to find an animal source for this infection.3
While this Indonesian outbreak is significant, lab analysis shows that the virus does not appear to have mutated in a way that makes it more easily passed human-to-humans.3 Scientists believe that the virus was passed among family members who were in close contact with one another. There has been no sign of outbreak outside this one extended family. Health experts have quarantined 33 people in Kubu Simbelang that they identify as being close contacts of the victims.4 This series of events points to disease transmission through casual contact while infectious. Health officials are closely monitoring the situation as transmission through casual contact would be of serious concern.3
The World Health Organization may convene an expert panel to decide whether this Indonesian outbreak should trigger raising the global alert for possible pandemic. However, officials caution that the investigation is still underway and more information is needed.
References
- Bird flu in Indonesian family may raise global alert level. The Washington Post. May 25, 2006.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/24/AR2006052401271.html?referrer=email&referrer=email - W.H.O. to study bird flu deaths in family. The New York Times. May 25, 2006.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/25/world/asia/25flu.html - Officials ‘stumped’ by Indonesian bird flu. Associated Press. May 24, 2006.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/05/24/D8HQ4A501.html - Indonesia puts villagers on home quarantine. The New York Time. May 25, 2006.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-birdflu-indonesia.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
The information presented was compiled by the National Business Group on Health and has been posted with their permission. The views expressed are solely views of the National Business Group on Health and/or source and are not necessarily the views of Aetna Global Benefits. Similarly, the accuracy of this information is solely the responsibility of the author and/or source. For more information on avian flu, please visit the National Business Group on Health's website at: http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/globalhealth/avianflu.cfm