Month: March 2013

Highlights include our CRE soapbox (it’s only 4%!), NCov updates, the surprising news about flu droplets (oh it’s surprising), Hong Kong  and the risks of high population density, the resilience of viruses, and an overview of pandemics. Happy Friday!

CDC- Making Health Care Safer

Drug-resistant CRE (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae) has been in the news often this week, following the CDC’s warning about the bacteria. Now, clearly this is a concern, but before we freak out let’s look at some of the figures behind this story. First, the statistic regarding CRE’s case fatality- almost every news source we’ve seen has indicated it’s 50% – aren’t what they seem. What the sources don’t say is that it’s 50% if, and only if, the infection becomes septicemic. Septicemia as a result of almost any bacterial infection is very dangerous. Second, CRE is really only of concern amongst the immunocompromised and those in long-term treatment for prior conditions. If you’re a healthy adult in possession of an active immune system, you’re chances of becoming infected are minuscule. Third, yes the rate of infection from CRE has increased in the last decade, but again let’s keep the actual number in mind – four percent.

Antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria are a real concern, and steps should absolutely be taken to mitigate their growth and prevent their spread. However, disproportionately scaring the public is not the way to do that, and can be detrimental in the long run – the “boy who cried wolf” anyone? But our soapbox aside, check out the CDC’s review if you haven’t already.

CDC – “Untreatable and hard-to-treat infections from CRE germs are on the rise among patients in medical facilities. CRE germs have become resistant to all or nearly all the antibiotics we have today. Types of CRE include KPC and NDM. By following CDC guidelines, we can halt CRE infections before they become widespread in hospitals and other medical facilities and potentially spread to otherwise healthy people outside of medical facilities.”

Novel coronavirus infection – update

Yesterday the WHO reported another fatality from the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases up to 14 and the fatalities to eight. This case is of special concern because it remains unclear how the man became infected.

WHO – “The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia has informed WHO of a new confirmed case of infection with the novel coronavirus (NCoV). The patient, a 69-year-old male, was hospitalized on 10 February 2013 and died on 19 February 2013. Preliminary investigation indicated that the patient had no contact with previously reported cases of NCoV infection and did not have recent history of travel.”

Study provides new clues to how flu virus spreads

According to this study, the tiny aerosol droplets of flu we exhale when sick contain nine-times the amount of virus than the larger cough/sneeze generated droplets. So the next time an infected colleague/friend/loved one walks toward you, make them stop four feet away and calmly explain that their breath is infectious. (GMU Biodefense is not responsible for the implications of you calling the breath of a colleague/friend/loved one infectious).

Medical Express – “People may more likely be exposed to the flu through airborne virus than previously thought, according to new research from the University of Maryland School of Public Health. The study also found that when flu patients wear a surgical mask, the release of virus in even the smallest airborne droplets can be significantly reduced. ‘People are generally surprised to learn that scientists don’t know for sure how flu spreads,’ says Donald Milton, M.D., Dr.P.H., who directs the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health and led the study of influenza virus aerosols published in the journal PLoS Pathogens…”

Hong Kong Prison Homes Spur Virus Risk Decade After SARS

Population density remains an important factor in understanding pandemic potential, and Hong Kong is close to the top of the list in terms of people-per-square-mile. As housing prices continue to increase, many of the city’s 7.2 million residents are settling for smaller and more cramped living quarters.

Bloomberg – “Hong Kong electrician Chan, who shares a mold-stained toilet with his neighbors, says he’d move out if it weren’t for the rising cost of accommodation. Last year, residents were forced to bathe using a shared kitchen sink for six months when a plastic shower hose in the communal bathroom broke, Chan said…Chan Sung-ming says the coughs and sneezes echoing through the plywood walls of his windowless, 60- square foot Hong Kong apartment get him thinking: is there a bug going around and could it be deadly?”

Virus overcomes ‘enormous hurdle’ to survive

Wonderful. As if viruses aren’t good enough at surviving against all possible odds in the first place. For things that technically aren’t alive (I know, I know, I read the piece about viral immune systems as well – they’re still undead in my book), they are disturbingly resilient.

Futurity – “Researchers have uncovered a virus inside a host with a non-standard nuclear genetic code—one that differs from the standard genetic code that almost all living things use to produce proteins.’The finding is significant because it shows that these viruses can overcome what appears to be an insurmountable change in the host genome,’ says researcher Derek J. Taylor, professor of biological sciences at the University at Buffalo.’So the fact that we haven’t previously seen any viruses in these species with a modified genetic code may not be because the viruses can’t adapt to that shift. It may be that we haven’t looked hard enough.'”

Bioterrorism and the Pandemic Potential

A good overview of the basics of pandemics (I tend to disagree with their bioterror assessment, but to each their own!)

STRATFOR – “”The potential for a disease to spread is measured by its effective reproduction number, or R-value, a numerical score that indicates whether a disease will propagate or die out. When the disease first occurs and no preventive measures are in place, the reproductive potential of the disease is referred to as R0, the basic reproduction rate. The numerical value is the number of cases a single case can cause on average during its infectious period. An R0 above 1 means the disease will likely spread (many influenza viruses have an R0 between 2 and 3, while measles had an R0 value of between 12 and 18), while an R-value of less than 1 indicates a disease will likely die out. Factors contributing to the spread of the disease include the length of time people are contagious, how mobile they are when they are contagious, how the disease spreads (through the air or bodily fluids) and how susceptible the population is. The initial R0, which assumes no inherent immunity, can be decreased through control measures that bring the value either near or below 1, stopping the further spread of the disease.”

Highlights include secondary transmission of vaccinia through sex, humidity – good for something?!, two new cases of H1N1 in Taiwan, another H5N1 fatality in Cambodia, viruses with immune systems, and avian influenza (no, not that one- it’s H7N3) in Mexico. Happy Friday!

Vaccinia as an…STD?

This is one of the ongoing problems with the ACAM2000 vaccine – it sheds. More specifically, you shed for a couple days after receiving the vaccine. Which means you can pass it on, in a number of different ways.

MMWR – “On June 24, 2012, CDC notified Public Health Services, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, of a suspected case of vaccinia virus infection transmitted by sexual contact. The case had been reported to CDC by an infectious disease specialist who had requested vaccinia immune globulin intravenous (VIGIV) (Cangene Corporation, Berwyn, Pennsylvania) for a patient with lesions suspicious for vaccinia. The patient reported two recent sexual contacts: one with a partner who recently had been vaccinated against smallpox and a later encounter with an unvaccinated partner. Infections resulting from secondary transmission of vaccinia virus from the smallpox vaccinee to the patient and subsequent tertiary transmission of the virus from the patient to the unvaccinated partner were confirmed by the County of San Diego Public Health Laboratory.”

Higher Indoor Humidity Inactivates Flu Virus Particles

High levels of humidity – the bane of DC metro riders, women who straighten their hair, and people who don’t like being able to drink their air – are apparently very good for keeping the flu at bay:

Science Daily – “Higher humidity levels indoors can significantly reduce the infectivity of influenza virus particles released by coughing, according to research published February 27 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by John Noti and colleagues from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers tested the effect of relative humidity on the capacity of flu virus released in a simulated ‘cough’ to re-infect cells. They found that an hour after being released in a room at a relative humidity of 23% or less, 70-77% of viral particles retained their infectious capacity, but when humidity was increased to about 43%, only 14% of the virus particles were capable of infecting cells.”

 Two New H1N1 Deaths in Taiwan

Full credit to Taiwan and China: during the Chinese New Year a huge swath of the population travels, creating a really tremendous logistical challenge in terms of disease surveillance. Both states have nonetheless managed to keep a sharp eye on new cases of influenza:

The China Post – “The H1N1 flu strain claimed two lives this month, as the number of diagnosed influenza cases surged due to increased travel over Chinese New Year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 疾病管制局) said yesterday. During the recent flu season, 365 cases of influenza were reported, resulting in 29 deaths, according to the CDC, which has attributed 26 of the deaths to the H3N2 virus strain and three deaths to H1N1. The first victim to be claimed by H1N1 earlier this month, a 48-year-old man, had reported flu-like symptoms of fever, soreness and pain on Jan. 19, but did not seek medical attention until Jan. 24. The man died on Feb. 5 despite the efforts of doctors. The second victim, a 38-year-old woman, became feverish and felt discomfort on Feb. 14, but did not receive medical attention until Feb. 18 when she was rushed to the ER. She was resuscitated but died on Feb. 21.”

Ninth New Human Case of Avian Influenza H5N1 in Cambodia in 2013

The man was known to have come in contact with infected poultry in his village. Cambodia is having difficulty halting the disease incidence due to the ongoing practice of slaughtering poultry within residences. This practice is also thought to explain the disproportionately high incidence of the disease amongst children – approximately 20 of the 30 cases of H5N1 in Cambodia have occurred in children under the age of 14.

WHO – “The ninth case, a 35-year-old man from Kbal Ou village, Me Sar Chrey commune, Stueng Trang district in Kampong Cham province, was confirmed positive for influenza H5N1 on 23 February 2013 by Institut Pasteur du Cambodge. He developed fever on 8 February 2013 and his condition worsened on 10 February 2013 with fever, frequent cough, and dyspnea….The man is the ninth person this year and the 30th person to become infected with the H5N1 virus, and the 27th person to die from complications of the disease in Cambodia.”

Viruses pass major test to enter ranks of living

What do you think? Should viruses be classified as “living”?

Discovery News – “Viruses can acquire fully functional immune systems, according to new research that bolsters the controversial theory that viruses are living creatures. Until now, scientists thought that viruses existed only as primitive particles of DNA or RNA, and therefore lacked the sophistication of an immune system. The study, published in the journal Nature, is the first to show that a virus can indeed possess an immune system, not to mention other qualities commonly associated with complex life forms.”

Avian Influenza Outbreak in Mexico Raises Concerns about Price Speculation

Just as a FYI – stick it in the back of your mind for the time being.

The Poultry Site – “The dreaded avian influenza has returned to central Mexico again this year, this time causing significant poultry deaths in Guanajuato state, writes Carlos Navarro, Editor of SourceMex. The outbreak of the H7N3 virus—which had forced poultry farmers in the state of Guanajuato to destroy more than 2 million birds as of the end of February — affects municipalities in northern Guanajuato as well as in Jalisco state.”

In Case You Missed it (you wouldn’t have if you followed us on Twitter!)

– Analysis: Emerging deadly virus demands swift sleuth work
– New Bioterrorism Vaccine Gets First Test In Humans
– Brazil dengue cases almost triple as new strain spreads
– DHS awards contract for utilities plant at NBAF