Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) today released a review of USpandemic flu plans that found many planning topics remain under-addressed and additional actions couldbe taken to improve preparations and reduce the risks posed by an outbreak. Some key areas of concerninclude vaccine and treatment shortfalls, gaps in containment strategies, limited plans for how to keep thepublic informed, and inadequate review of state plans for quality and feasibility.
The findings are particularly troubling in light of the severity of the avian influenza virus circulating inAsia. TFAH’s analysis follows warnings issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) about the pandemic, “killer flu” threat. Preparationsfor an outbreak of the avian or pandemic flu are the topic of a Congressional hearing being held today bythe U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health andHuman Services, Education, and Related Agencies.
“The threat of a pandemic flu is deadly serious. Experts worldwide are calling it inevitable,” said ShelleyA. Hearne, DrPH, Executive Director of TFAH. “We’re not talking about the kind of flu Americans areused to where you bounce back after a week of bed rest. There are a number of concrete steps that theU.S. can and should take swiftly to better protect the health and safety of Americans.”
Concerns with National Pandemic Flu PlanningIn August 2004, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a draft plan of U.S.strategy to deal with a flu pandemic. The plan is the first of its kind to be released and TFAH commendsHHS for the development of this very important effort that outlines proposed collaboration amongjurisdictions and preparedness and response guidelines for federal, state, and local health officials. CDCis also working on a federal plan to address specifics needed during a pandemic in coordination with theHHS plan. HHS has solicited comments on the plan and has received responses from many leadingexperts in the U.S. and throughout the world. Some key concerns expressed include:
– Coordination, Details, and Funding: Lack of coordination of state, federal, and internationalefforts, lack of detail about how the plan would be implemented, and limits on available fundingto carry out the plan;
– Surge Capacity Capabilities: Limited planning based on factoring of how hospitals and thehealth care system would be overwhelmed;
– Vaccine and Treatment Limitations: A gap in determining who in the government wouldcontrol and distribute vaccine and treatments, in addition to the lack of plans to stockpile stopgapantiviral medications and vaccines, limited planning based on the small supplies of drugs that willbe available versus the need and demand, and no focus on liability issues for vaccine makers;
– Public Information Planning: Lack of a clear action plan for what information would be madeavailable to the public and on what time frame; and
– Monitoring Outbreak and Managing Containment: Gaps exist in coordinating containmentefforts, including insufficient surveillance and tracking systems to monitor and detect outbreaks,infected persons, vaccine supply, and the readiness of infected survivors to re-enter theworkplace.
Concerns with States’ Pandemic Flu Planning
Most states are developing pandemic response plans, however, a recent report by TFAH found onlybetween 25-30 states have made their plans publicly available. All of the plans have yet to be evaluatedfor quality and feasibility. TFAH is recommending immediate action be taken to build a strong, cohesive,fast-tracked U.S. pandemic flu strategy. These actions are consistent with guidance from the federalgovernment and the WHO.
TFAH Recommendations for 10 Key Components that Should Be Included in State Pandemic Plans
– Outbreak Tracking: Ensure adequate laboratory surveillance of influenza, including the abilityto isolate and subtype influenza viruses year round. Following federal guidelines outlined byHHS, states must report all necessary data and information to federal and other health officials assoon as it becomes available to federal officials.
– Securing Back-Up Doctors and Health Care Support: Conduct and maintain an inventory ofhealthcare professionals including current and retired doctors, nurses, veterinarians, emergencymedical staff, and other potential volunteers. Tracking survivors, who are presumably immune tothe virus, should be done to help support treatment and care efforts.
– Mass Vaccination and Treatment Systems: Develop and maintain a system for tracking anddistributing antiviral medication and vaccines, once they are developed. One of the best ways toimprove vaccination preparations for a pandemic outbreak is to enhance annual flu vaccinationcoverage for non-traditional high-risk groups (e.g. minorities and persons younger than 50) tofacilitate access to these populations.
– Prioritization of Who Would Receive Antivirals and Vaccines Based on Limited Supplies:Define high priority populations, such as health care workers, prior to an outbreak. Establishpriority for which groups should receive antiviral medications and vaccines, and in what order,particularly since the amount of available pharmaceuticals will be limited.
– Surge Capacity Capabilities: Account for the likelihood that hospitals would be quicklyoverwhelmed, by developing auxiliary sites (such as shelters, schools, nursing homes, hotels, anddaycare centers) for surge capacity treatment and for treatment of the “walking well.” Statesshould be conducting surveys of potential sites and obtaining agreements.
– Measures to Manage Mass Death: Conduct and maintain an inventory of facilities withsufficient refrigerated storage to serve as temporary morgues.
– Public Information Campaign in Place: Identify and train spokespersons (in multiplelanguages) and educate public health officials, politicians, community leaders, partners, and themedia about what information will and will not be available during a pandemic. Createinformation templates (in multiple languages) that can be used on Web sites, public serviceannouncements, and in other materials aimed at informing the public of the best ways possible toprotect their health and safety.
– Ensuring Food, Water, and Other Supplies will Be Available: Ensure that food, water, andother basic supplies will be available and able to be delivered in the case of an outbreak. Factorin potential complications of infected food and delivery workers, possible infected store facilities,and limitations on public interaction both for those infected and the general population at-risk ofexposure. The issue of “just-in-time” manufacturing of food and supplies must also be weighed,since reserves of supplies would not be available. Additionally, the limitations of medicalequipment manufacturing (much of which is imported from Asia) must be addressed.
– Quarantine Measures and Authority to Close Public Places: Clear legal authority andemergency measures in place to be able to contain the spread of disease through the prohibition ofpublic gatherings, closing public facilities and schools, and placing restrictions on travel at anystage of the outbreak.
– Defined Roles and Responsibilities: Define and agree upon leadership, roles, andresponsibilities with respect to who is in charge of a state’s public health and health caredecisions. Also a clear ‘chain of command,’ including designation of a liaison, must be definedto work with federal officials.
The Pandemic Potential
The avian influenza virus circulating in Asia has killed 50 individuals since its emergence in 2003 and hasspread rapidly among bird populations. Health officials are concerned that it could become morecontagious among humans and that it could remain in a strain against which humans have no naturalresistance. The “world is now in the gravest possible danger of a pandemic,” according to a statementmade in February 2005 by the WHO regional director for the afflicted Western region.In recent months, health officials and governments around the world have taken a series of steps thatdemonstrate the seriousness of the potential threat:
– In April 2005, President George W. Bush approved use of quarantine in the event of a U.S.outbreak of “influenza caused by novel or reemergent influenza viruses that are causing, or havethe potential to cause, a pandemic,” which includes, but is not limited to the H5N1 strain of avianflu currently in Southeast Asia.
– In April 2005, the U.S. Department of State issued a warning statement about the avian flu andannounced it is taking measures to support the WHO efforts to contain the outbreak.
– In April 2005, CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, the Asian investment banking arm of Cr閐it Agricoleof France, estimated that the avian influenza had already cost the region $8 billion to $12 billion,mostly from lost revenue from poultry and related industries.– In March 2005, in the U.S. Department of State authorization bi
ll (S.600), the U.S. Senateproposed including $25 million for International Famine and Disaster Assistance to prevent andrespond to a possible outbreak of the avian flu and called for a task force to coordinate U.S.policy toward combating the avian flu.
– As of March 2005, CDC advises travelers and U.S. citizens living in countries with known avianflu outbreaks to avoid poultry farms and contact with animals in live food markets, to ensurepoultry and eggs are thoroughly cooked before eating, and to frequently wash their hands withsoap or alcohol-based hand rubs.
– In March 2005, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began a trial of an experimental avian fluvaccine.
– In February 2005, WHO released a report that recommended nations around the world stockpileantiviral medication to protect against the lethal current avian strain of the flu. This isrecommended as a “stopgap” measure, since it would likely take a minimum of six months todevelop a vaccine after a widespread outbreak. The amounts of both the antiviral medication anda vaccine would be limited and countries around the world would all be seeking supplies. OnApril 5, 2005, the New York Times reported on efforts different countries are taking to stockpileTamiflu, produced by the pharmaceutical company Roche, which is the recommended antiviralmedication for stopgap use against the avian flu. The U.S. has stockpiled approximately 2.3million treatment courses of the drug stockpiled in comparison to Britain which has ordered 14.6million courses, France which has ordered 13 million, and Canada which has ordered 5.4 million.It will take several years to fill these orders.
– In March 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) placed restrictions on imports ofpoultry and poultry products from Asian countries.
Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives byprotecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.
http://www.healthyamericans.org
The Ministry of Health in Cambodia confirmed that an 8-year-old girl from Kampot province who died on 7 April, was the country’s third case of avian influenza.
The girl became ill with a fever on the 29th March. Her condition deteriorated rapidly on 7 April, when she was taken to a district referral hospital and then transferred to Kuntha Bopha Hospital in Phnom Penh, where she died. Samples from the girl tested positive for avian influenza H5N1 virus at the Pasteur Institute, Phnom Penh.
A field investigation was conducted immediately, with team members from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, WHO, Pasteur Institute and FAO. Poultry deaths occurred in this village in February, but no poultry deaths occurred in the two weeks prior to the girl’s onset of symptoms. Human-to-human transmission as a source of the girl’s infection appears unlikely, as none of her known contacts were sick with similar symptoms before she became ill. Investigations as to the source of the girl’s infection are continuing.
Samples were collected from four close contacts who cared for her at the village and nine medical contacts from Kampot and Phnom Penh. All have tested negative for the H5N1 virus.
The public education campaign in Banteay Meas and neighbouring districts is continuing. The recent funding from international donors will be crucial in helping Cambodia control this disease.
Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) since 28 January 2004
http://www.who.int
On 27 March, state media in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea officially reported the country’s first outbreak of avian influenza in poultry. To date, outbreaks involving large numbers of poultry have been reported at commercial poultry farms, including one in Pyongyang Province. Mass culling has been undertaken by the authorities in an effort to prevent further spread.
No human cases have been reported to date.
Government officials have assured WHO that all measures are being undertaken to prevent transmission to humans and to detect human cases, should they occur.
The WHO country office in Pyongyang has offered direct assistance to the Ministry of Public Health in strengthening surveillance and diagnostic capacity for the detection of possible human cases. WHO has offered to send oseltamivir, an antiviral drug that can be used prophylactically, to reduce the risk of human infection and disease, as well as therapeutically.
The WHO country office has further offered to supply personal protective equipment for poultry cullers.
WHO is this week despatching test kits to support laboratory diagnosis of H5-subtype avian influenza in humans. Further assistance has been offered in the form of training of local staff in laboratory diagnosis and surveillance.
In monitoring the outbreak, WHO staff in Pyongyang are working closely with the FAO local and regional offices, which are also offering specialized expertise.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2005_03_30/en
The Ministry of Health in Viet Nam has confirmed three additional cases of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza. The cases concern a 5-year-old boy from the central province of Quang Binh, a 17-year-old girl from the northern province of Nam Dinh, and a 40-year-old woman from the northern province of Quang Ninh. The 17-year-old girl has died.
An earlier case has also been confirmed. These recently confirmed cases bring the total in Viet Nam since mid-December to 28.
WHO is aware of reports of suspected H5 avian influenza infection in five members of a family who are presently hospitalized in the northern port city of Haiphong. These cases, which include the parents and their three young daughters, are undergoing further investigation following initial tests indicating infection with the H5 subtype of avian influenza. Reports indicate outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry in the vicinity. Field investigation of this family cluster is under way.
The current outbreak of human cases in Viet Nam has included several clusters, mostly in family members, of cases closely related in time and place. Thorough investigation of all such clusters is essential to determine possible changes in the behaviour of the virus and thus support assessment of the risk of an influenza pandemic.
There is currently no evidence that the H5N1 virus is spreading easily from person to person. Rapid sharing with WHO of viruses from recent clusters of cases has become increasingly important. Analysis can determine whether any significant changes in the virus have taken place and provide further support for risk assessment.
Several media reports have recently covered rumours of a large outbreak of influenza-like illness in Quang Binh Province. The outbreak is presently under investigation by provincial and central health authorities. Samples have been taken for testing, and WHO is awaiting the results. The number of cases with influenza-like illness appears much smaller than initially reported by the media.
Cambodia
The Ministry of Health in Cambodia has today confirmed the country’s second human case of avian influenza.
The 28-year-old man, from Kampot Province, developed symptoms on 17 March and was hospitalized in Phnom Penh on 21 March. He died on 22 March. The same day, laboratory tests by the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh confirmed that the man was infected with H5 avian influenza virus. The Cambodian government immediately launched an investigation to search for possible additional cases and identify possible sources of exposure to the virus. The investigation team, which is continuing its work in Kampot Province, includes Cambodian Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agricultural officials joined by staff from the WHO country office and the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh. FAO is assisting the investigation of animal disease. Numerous deaths among chickens in the area have been reported and samples taken from sick chickens have tested positive for avian influenza. The results from the investigation indicate the deceased man had contact with sick poultry. An 18 year-old boy initially identified as an additional suspected case has tested negative for the avian influenza virus. Samples taken from twenty seven other people, including family contacts of the confirmed case and Phnom Penh medical staff involved in his care, have all tested negative for H5 avian influenza infection. Results from a further six people from Kampot Province have also tested negative for H5 influenza virus.
Cambodia’s previous case, a 25-year-old woman who died in late January, was also from Kampot Province but lived in another district.
The majority of poultry in Cambodia are raised in small backyard flocks in rural areas, making surveillance for outbreaks especially challenging. A campaign to educate rural populations about the dangers of contact with dead or diseased poultry is being undertaken by the government, with support from WHO.
http://www.who.int
Fast-track recruitment has begun for a trial to investigate the safety of a vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced today.
Sites in Rochester, NY, Baltimore and Los Angeles will enroll a total of 450 healthy adults. The clinical sites are part of the NIAID-sponsored Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units (VTEU).
“While there have been relatively few cases worldwide of H5N1 avian influenza infection in humans, the public health community is concerned that the virus will develop the capability of efficiently spreading from human to human and thus create a risk for a worldwide pandemic,” says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
“NIAID has supported research on H5N1, the strain responsible for this deadly form of avian influenza, since 1997 when the first cases in humans were reported. The initiation of this vaccine trial marks a key advance in our efforts to prepare to respond to an avian flu pandemic,” adds Dr. Fauci.
Sanofi pasteur, Swiftwater, PA, manufactured the trial vaccine, which is an inactivated vaccine made from an H5N1 virus isolated in Southeast Asia in 2004. Sanofi pasteur, formerly Aventis Pasteur, was awarded a contract by NIAID to manufacture the H5N1 vaccine in May 2004.
This Phase I trial will test the vaccine’s safety and ability to generate an immune response in 450 healthy adults aged 18 to 64. If the vaccine is shown to be safe in adults, there are plans to test it in other populations, such as the elderly and children.
H5N1 avian influenza leads to severe disease in both birds and humans. Between January 2004 and March 11, 2005, there were 69 confirmed cases of and 46 deaths from H5N1 infection in humans reported to the World Health Organization. To date, there has been a small number of cases where human-to-human transmission of the virus may have occurred. However, public health experts fear that the virus may evolve into one that is more easily transmitted between people. If this were to happen, a worldwide pandemic could follow.
Influenza pandemics are global outbreaks that emerge infrequently and unpredictably and involve strains of virus to which humans have little or no immunity. H5N1 is one such flu virus strain. The last influenza pandemic swept the globe in 1968; many public health officials believe the world is overdue for another one.
The VTEUs now enrolling adult volunteers are
– University of California at Los Angeles (Joel Ward, M.D., Principal Investigator)
– University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (James Campbell, M.D., Principal Investigator)
– University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY (John Treanor, M.D., Principal Investigator)
In addition to the previous contract awarded to sanofi pasteur, in May 2004 NIAID also awarded a contract to Chiron Corporation of Emeryville, CA, to produce H5N1 vaccine for clinical trials.
NIAID is a component of the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIAID supports basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose and treat infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria and illness from potential agents of bioterrorism. NIAID also supports research on transplantation and immune-related illnesses, including autoimmune disorders, asthma and allergies.
Contact: Anne A. Oplinger
aoplinger@niaid.nih.gov
301-402-1663
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
http://www.niaid.nih.gov
According to officials in Viet Nam, a 16 year old girl has the H5N1 bird (avian) flu virus. She is from Tay Ninh province (southern part of the country). She came into hospital last Sunday with a very high temperature and bird flu symptoms. Test results reveal she has bird flu.
Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Hospital, Dr. Tran Tinh Hien, told reuters news agency “Her condition is not getting better or worse compared with two days ago.” He added that the girl is still on a respirator.
WHO officials have been told about this (says WHO).
So far this month, 10,000 birds have been destroyed (culled) as a preventative measure, say Vietnamese officials. The virus has been found in six southern provinces (this month).
The girl and her family have been eating infected chickens (and handling them), according to state media. The girl started with a cough, then had a temperature which gradually climbed and ended up in hospital last Sunday.
Bird flu tends to spread faster during the winter months.
Authorities in Japan have confirmed the country’s first human case of bird flu. Four other people are being tested for suspected bird (avian) flu. Authorities say that none of the five patients is critical.
Four of them worked at a poultry farm near Kyoto. The same farm had a bird flu outbreak in February this year (no humans then, just chickens). The other person is a city official who was involved in disinfecting the farm during the outbreak.
Blood tests have shown that all five have tested positive for bird flu.
The city employee only suffered from a mild sore throat - he is fine now.
Health officials say the five people do not pose a public health risk - they have not developed any serious problems. Humans with bird flu cannot infect other humans.
Health experts around the world fear that one day the virus could mutate and then spread from human to human. They say the most likely way this could happen would be for a pig to become infected, the pig would then infect a human with a mutated virus, the human would then infect other humans.
Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (”Sinovac”) (”the Company”) (AMEX: SVA) announces that it has signed an Avian Flu Vaccine Co-development Agreement with China Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC).
China CDC is responsible for surveillance of influenza prevalence, molecular epidemiology study of the virus strain, guidance and establishment of avian flu vaccine development strategy, participation in avian flu vaccine research and development, and the design of the technical roadmap. Sinovac is responsible for avian flu vaccine research and development based on the established technical platform and vaccine application and production. Furthermore, China CDC is responsible for conducting several tests, including genome analysis on the virus strains used in the vaccine R&D, antigen analysis, and immunization protection analysis among others. Lastly, China CDC is also responsible for providing guidance on the scope of use of the vaccine, storage of the vaccine, and the evaluation of the protection of the vaccine.
The two parties intend to apply for government funding for this avian flu vaccine co-development project.
Under the terms of the agreement, the new drug certificate, production license, and patents will all be applied for by Sinovac and as a result the commercial rights will be owned by Sinovac.
The World Health Organization influenza network began providing the prototype bird flu virus early in 2004 to vaccine makers around the world. Sinovac received the virus in April 2004.
About China CDC
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) is the nonprofit government funded institution working in the fields of disease control and prevention, public health management and provision of service. China CDC is committed to retain the nation’s stability, to protect the country’s security, and to enhance people’s health through disease prevention. The tenet of China CDC is to rely on science and study, to be based on intelligence, and to focus on disease control.
Avian Flu
World health authorities have recently warned that if the current avian flu virus mutates into a form that spreads easily among people it could lead to the next global flu pandemic, which could kill tens of millions of people worldwide. Pandemics occur when a completely new flu strain emerges for which humans have no immunity.
Influenza experts and world health authorities are concerned that the recent appearance and widespread distribution of an avian influenza virus, H5N1, has the potential to ignite the next flu pandemic. Given the current threat, world health authorities are currently urging all countries to develop or update their influenza pandemic preparedness plans for responding to the widespread socioeconomic disruptions that would result from having large numbers of people sick or dying.
Central to preparedness is an estimate of how deadly the next pandemic is likely to be. Experts’ answers to this question have ranged from 2 million to over 50 million. All these answers are scientifically grounded. There are several reasons for the wide range of estimates.
Some estimates are based on extrapolations from past pandemics but significant details of these events are disputed, including the true numbers of deaths that resulted. The most precise predictions are based on the pandemic in 1968 but even in this case estimates vary from one million to four million deaths. Similarly, the reported number of deaths from the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 by different investigators ranges from 20 million to well over 50 million. Extrapolations are problematic because the world in 2004 is a different place from 1918. The impact of greatly improved nutrition and health care needs to be weighed against the contribution the increase in international travel would have in terms of global spread. The specific characteristics of a future pandemic virus cannot be predicted. It may affect between 20-50% of the total population. It is also unknown how pathogenic a novel virus would be, and which age groups will be affected.
The level of preparedness will also influence the final death toll. Even moderate pandemics can inflict a considerable burden on the unprepared and disadvantaged. Planning to maintain health care systems will be especially crucial. Good health care will play a central role in reducing the impact, yet the pandemic itself may disrupt the supply of essential medicines and health care workers may fall ill. Because of these factors, confidently narrowing the range of estimates cannot be done until the pandemic emerges. World health authorities state that even in the best case scenarios of the next pandemic, 2 to 7 million people would die and tens of millions would require medical attention. If the next pandemic virus is a very virulent strain, deaths could be dramatically higher. The global spread of a pandemic cannot be stopped but preparedness will reduce its impact.
In summary, world health authorities believe that the appearance of H5N1, which is now widely entrenched in Asia, signals that the world has moved closer to the next pandemic. While it is impossible to accurately forecast the magnitude of the next pandemic, it is known that much of the world is currently unprepared for a pandemic of any size.
About Sinovac Biotech Ltd.
Sinovac Biotech Ltd. specializes in the research, development, commercialization, and sales of human vaccines for infectious illnesses such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B, influenza, “SARS”, and avian flu. Sinovac is one of the leading emerging biotechnology companies in China.
Sinovac has three vaccines that have completed all three phases of clinical trials - Hepatitis A, Hepatitis A&B combined, and influenza (flu). The Hepatitis A vaccine, Healive?, is currently experiencing strong sales growth in China and applications have been filed for its sale in nine other countries to date. Sinovac’s Hepatitis A&B combined vaccine, Bilive?, is expected to receive approval to commence sales in China soon and to achieve similar sales growth to Healive?. The flu vaccine completed clinical trials in April 2004 and a New Drug Application has been filed with the SFDA (Chinese FDA). Approval of Sinovac’s flu vaccine is expected in 2005 upon completion of the flu vaccine production line.
Sinovac is currently the only company in the world to be conducting clinical trials for a vaccine to prevent SARS. The Company is co-developing a vaccine targeting avian flu with China CDC.
For further information please refer to the Company’s filings with the SEC on EDGAR or refer to Sinovac’s website at http://www.sinovac.com.
If you would like to receive regular updates on Sinovac please send your email request to info@sinovac.com.
Contact: Investor Relations at (888) 888-8312 or 1 604 684-5990 from outside of North America or info@sinovac.com
THIS NEWS RELEASE MAY INCLUDE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 21E OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, WITH RESPECT TO ACHIEVING CORPORATE OBJECTIVES, DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL PROJECT INTERESTS, SINOVAC’S ANALYSIS OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF VARIOUS PROJECT INTERESTS AND CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS. THESE STATEMENTS ARE MADE UNDER THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED STATES PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES WHICH COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN.
Tokyo (JCNN) - 3M Health Care has started to sell 1870F, a package of two N95 respirators for controlling micro particles causing infectious diseases such as SARS and avian flu, for general use.
Originally sold for use in hospitals, the 1870F folding-type portable respirator softly and yet closely covers the mouse and the nose. Discretely packed, each respirator in the package remains clean until opened for use.
Compatible with the N95 standard, with recommendations from the WHO, the CDC, and the Health Labor and Welfare Ministry of Japan, the respirator can capture a 75nm-diamter particle with a probability of 99.9%, high enough to be effective in preventing tuberculosis, hay fever, SARS and bird flu.
The product sells for 819 yen ($7.88) through online shopping mall Rakuten.
Copyright ?2001-2004 JCNN. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network KK.
Hong Kong authorities may ban the slaughtering of poultry by retailers in a bid to prevent a bird (avian) flu pandemic. The WHO has warned that the next global pandemic may come from a mutated bird flu virus.
Shopkeepers have tried to resist laws that prohibit them from slaughtering poultry in front of their customers.
So fat this year 32 people have died from bird flu in Thailand and Vietnam. Poultry stocks have been slaughtered in large numbers to try to stem the spread.
Hong Kong Health Minister, York Chow, said “The broad direction for the government is to separate humans from chickens. And the announcement next month will be about how we are going to do that.”
It is common for shoppers in Hong Kong to have their poultry slaughtered in front of them (they like their food fresh). All cases of humans getting infected with the bird flu virus have been when there was close contact with live, infected animals.
WHO experts believe a bird flu pandemic is coming. They no longer talk about whether there is going to be one, they talk about ‘when’ one will start and ‘where’. They say that if the virus were to infect a pig, it could then mutate much more easily and become a human-to-human spreading disease. Humans have no immunity to the bird flu virus. Up to 30% of humans worldwide could become infected when the pandemic appears, say experts.