Egypt is on high alert after the H5N1 strain of the avian flu became more resistant to the Tamiflu antiviral drug predominantly used to combat the disease, the health minister has been quoted as saying. "The health ministry remains in a state of maximum alert and is reviewing its strategy in combating avian flu following the mutation of the H5N1 virus," Hatem al-Gabali told the top-selling state-owned Al-Ahram daily Monday.
The World Health Organisation announced last week that a mutated strain of the virus with "reduced susceptibility" to Tamiflu had been discovered in two people infected with bird flu in northern Egypt. The two Egyptians were from the same household and died in late December.
A total of 11 people have died of the highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza since the virus was first detected in Egypt almost a year ago, making it the world's worst hit non-Asian country.
The Egyptian government has launched a broad awareness campaign in a bid to curb the occurrence of infections caused by domestic poultry rearings. But in recent weeks, none of the infected humans have survived despite being treated with Tamiflu, while the mortality rate hovered around 50 percent in the first half of 2006.
Tamiflu isn't a great drug: you have to start treatment within the first day of symptoms or it's pretty much worthless, and most patients don't report to a medical facility the first day.
The virus detected in the two patients in Egypt was resistant to Tamiflu but susceptible to other antiviral drugs, in a development which could prompt health services to treat patients with a cocktail of drugs.
"The resort to Tamiflu continues, but additional medication now has to be given to complement the treatment," health ministry spokesman Abdel Rahman Shaheen told AFP. "These drugs are part of the Amantadine antivirals and are available commercially under various names," he explained. Tamiflu-resistant strains of the avian influenza virus were found in three unrelated patients in Vietnam in 2005 but did not spread.
Health organisations fear the virus could mutate into a strain transmissible from humans to humans, prompting a pandemic.
#2
The way I read the original WHO release is that the patients received only a few days of treatment, 3 or so. One of the issues with Tamiflu and the other meds is that they must be given daily, the effects don't seem to last longer.
I have to wonder if the limited course of treatment is contributing to the mutation? That's why the docs tell you to take all your antibiotics, to prevent drug resistant strains from developing. It may be the same for virii.
Bangladeshs Chief Election Commissioner Justice M.A. Aziz stepped down yesterday to avert further political unrest as the election panel issued official notification canceling the polls scheduled for Jan. 22. Aziz, who had been on leave since Nov. 23 amid a pressing demand by the Awami League-led opposition alliance for him to quit, met President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday and tendered his resignation, officials said.
Azizs exit will pave the way for an overhaul of the election commission, a longstanding demand of opposition parties, for credible polls. Aziz said he was stepping down to help create an environment acceptable to all political parties ahead of the polls.
Azizs resignation came hours before Fakhruddin Ahmed, the new head of Bangladeshs caretaker administration, addressed the nation for the first time since assuming office on Jan. 12. The new interim leader pledged to hold elections as soon as possible. My administration is pledge-bound to hold the new elections within the shortest possible time, Fakhruddin said. Our motto is to hold a free, fair and participatory election, he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/22/2007 00:00 ||
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Posted by: ed ||
01/22/2007 12:07 ||
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#1
We can expect Helms-Burton Act Part II coming soon too. Hugo can sell his oil in the depressed market to China, if they get the refining capacity to handle his crude.
#2
Citgo refineries and gas stations are viable economic assets w/o Venezuelan crude. The bulk of Venezuelan crude exports are not viable w/o those refineries. US corps with seized assets will be looking for compensation.
Posted by: ed ||
01/22/2007 13:10 Comments ||
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#3
OK, Chavez cut that sh*t out. I knew I held on to my GTE/Verizon stock too long.
Mexico has extradited several key alleged drugs smugglers to the US, including the reputed leader of one of country's most powerful drug cartels. Osiel Cardenas was among a group of 11 suspects handed over, officials said. He is said to lead the notorious Gulf cartel, responsible for smuggling drugs into the US, even continuing to run it from behind bars after his 2003 arrest.
Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, who took office in December 2006, has vowed to curb drug-related crime in Mexico. In mid-December he ordered thousands of troops to be sent to Michoacan state, on the Pacific coast, where drug-related crime killed more than 500 people last year. Correspondents say these latest extraditions show that Mr Calderon is also ready to co-operate with the US on major crime as promised.
Among the suspects handed over with Cardenas was Hector "El Guero" Palma, believed to be a senior figure in another trafficking cartel. The US had requested Cardenas' extradition to face charges of organised crime, drug trafficking, money laundering and assaults on federal agents. He was arrested in the northern Mexican city of Matamoros, in Tamaulipas state in 2003, after a dramatic gun battle in which a number of people, including at least two soldiers, were wounded. He was caught after a six-month operation in which authorities identified at least 300 people working for his organisation.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/22/2007 00:00 ||
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CANBERRA - Fears of race clashes on Monday led organisers of Australias biggest outdoor rock concert to bar fans from carrying the national flag, sparking a furious reaction from the countrys prime minister and war veterans. After fights between ethnic Croatian and Serbian fans outside the Australian Open tennis tournament last week and 2005 race clashes on Sydneys beaches, Big Day Out concert organisers said Australias flag was a gang colour which could incite hatred.
It was racism disguised as patriotism and Im not going to tolerate it, event producer Ken West told Australian newspapers. The concert Web site said the flag was not banned outright, but security staff were discouraging its use.
This sort of thing could happen in the U.S. I could see the Dixie Chicks trying to pull a stunt like this.
The Big Day Out in Sydney and other Australian cities has in the past drawn some of the worlds biggest bands, including Pearl Jam, The Ramones, The Foo Fighters and Chemical Brothers, to play on multiple stages watched by thousands of fans. This years concert sold out in hours and headline band Jet planned to take the stage with a black-and-white version of the normally red, blue and white flag on set.
West said he was disturbed at last weeks Melbourne tennis clashes and race riots on Sydneys Cronulla Beach just over a year ago in which some rioters draped flags across their shoulders. The Australian flag was being used as gang colours, he said. The usual staging of the concert on the Jan. 26 Australia Day national holiday had already been moved forward one day to avoid any nationalist fervour.
Prime Minister John Howard, whose government has demanded new migrants to respect vague Australian values such as mateship and fair go for all, condemned the flag prohibition. The event organisers should not ram their peculiar political views down the throats of young Australians who are only interested in a good day out, Howard said.
Don Rowe, president of the RSL veterans group in New South Wales state, said organisers were trying to bar a symbol first adopted in 1901 and which had served through two world wars. Using the Cronulla riots as an excuse to outlaw it is an absolute bloody outrage, Rowe told local newspapers.
The row came after claims this month by one of Australias top Muslim clerics that Muslim Australians had more right to the country than white people descended from convict settlers.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/22/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
"last weeks Melbourne tennis clashes"
Did we miss this little tidbit ? I hope it involved some severe Muz thrashing.
#4
If, as in Britain, you have a significant immigrant minority who brag that the flag of Islam will be the flag of the country in the near future are you really surprised that naturalised citizens also use their flag as a symbol? F8ck muslim sensibilities - they don't give tuppence about anyone else. Get yer flags out.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
01/22/2007 3:59 Comments ||
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#5
No Howard, the time for "Get yer flags out" has already passed, its "get your guns out" time.
#6
Big Day Out concert organisers said Australias flag was a gang colour which could incite hatred.
WTF??? Your very own country's flag is a "gang colour"?!? Seems like the systematic educating out of partiotism & nationalism in the sweaty masses by the Enlightened Elites has been very successful not only in Europe.
#11
Once a jolly swagman camped beside a billabong
under the shade of a koolaba tree,
and he sang as he watched and waited while his
billy boiled, 'You'll come a waltzin Matilda with me'.
Arr, ole memories from me days before the mast.
Have at 'em mates, let no ragheads a standin.
BELGRADE - Serbias ultranationalist Radical Party claimed victory in national elections on Sunday, in a voter rejection of Western appeals for closer cooperation on the arrest of war criminals and on Kosovo. A projection of the result showed the opposition Radicals, strongest party in Serbia for years, taking 28 percent of the vote, a point higher than the 2003 national elections.
The Radical Party has won these elections, said Tomislav Nikolic, the Radicals candidate for prime minister in the absence of party leader Vojislav Seselj, who is on trial for war crimes at the U.N. tribunal in The Hague. His only regret was the Radicals did not win 50 percent. That spoils our celebration tonight because were convinced that hard days lie ahead for Serbia, said Nikolic. Until the Radicals form a government, things will be tough for Serbia.
Western capitals worried about Serbias future course could take heart in the fact the pro-Western opposition Democratic Party of President Boris Tadic nearly doubled its share of the vote, at 23 percent. The projection from Serbian electoral commission, based on actual results counted, showed neither of the two parties had enough votes for a parliamentary majority.
Outgoing Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunicas Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) was seen as having 17 percent of the vote. Kostunica courted the nationalist vote in his campaign and has not ruled out allying with the Radicals if he ends up kingmaker. A coalition of their two parties would have a slim majority in the 250-seat parliament. A DSS coalition with the Democrats would need the liberal G17 party to form a majority.
Coalition talks are ahead of us, Kostunica told reporters. We are open, we expect other parties to be responsible.
The West made clear to Serbs before the elections that they should turn their backs on nationalism if they hoped to join the European Union and NATO, and make up for a decade of isolation, war and sanctions under late leader Slobodan Milosevic.
The Serbs, like the Paleos, have a right to elect a government that reflects their views. And we have the right to react accordingly.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/22/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
"The Serbs, like the Paleos, have a right to elect a government that refect their views. And we have a right to react accordingly".
Does it mean any time soon YOU are going to bomb paleos for 78 days?
Posted by: Matt K. ||
01/22/2007 0:18 Comments ||
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#2
Dunno Matt, but with our current president the Paleos better not think of killing another one of our ambassadors.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/22/2007 0:31 Comments ||
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#3
Good for them---it'll take a 100 years to fix the damage that Billary did in this particular case only.
If the timing came as a bit of surprise, nothing could have been less unexpected than Hillary's "I'm In" announcement of today.
But have a look at the video of her announcement. Rather than her "let's chat" rap, please focus on the background. Look out the door. Presumably the announcement was shot in one of Hillary's homes: Chappaqua or Georgetown. Now I know it's been a mild winter, but even so, surely the leaves are gone from the trees and bushes in either spot.
And check out the yellow spot in the bushes. At first I thought it was just a warm dapple of sunshine. But freeze the frame when, about 1/4 of the way through, Hillary says "how to end the deficits that threaten Social Security." That's not sunshine -- those are flowers in bloom.
#2
"Like many of that time, she adopted as some of her more famous if not admirable practices, the arts of finesse, lying, and even assassination by poisoning in carrying out her role of statesmanship in particular. Rumors of a hidden or trap doors to dispose of the bodies of her victims brings to light a more sinister side of the renaissance queen."
"Dictatorial, unscrupulous, calculating, and crafty... Moreover, being intensely superstitious, she surrounded herself with astrologers. But she was sadly wanting in strong religious faith, and acted in favour of Catholicism only because in so doing she saw some advantage to her crown... Indeed her methods were so essentially egotistical as to border on cynicism..."
#4
Sounds like you're making a case for reincarnation . . .
Posted by: The Doctor ||
01/22/2007 13:30 Comments ||
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#5
What is this, "Seperated at Birth"?
Posted by: The Ghost of Vince Foster ||
01/22/2007 14:06 Comments ||
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#6
Evil never dies
Posted by: Steve ||
01/22/2007 14:15 Comments ||
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#7
Sounds like Mrs. Iselin in the original Manchurian Candidate (not the crappy remake): "The speech is short. But it's the most rousing speech I've ever read. It's been worked on, here and in Russia, on and off, for over eight years...rallying a nation of television viewers to hysteria, to sweep us up into the White House with powers that will make martial law seem like anarchy!"
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
01/22/2007 15:51 Comments ||
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#8
She's scary.. Where is the location of the secret Clintonian replication chambers? Can we shut them down or will they self implode from excessive pomposity?
#10
DMFD, Slick Willie never served in the Miliotary but he was the Commander in Chief, to our eternal detriment. One of his closest miliotary advisors was Murtha.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/22/2007 18:51 Comments ||
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#11
In good times, I would urge a Hillary presidency.
She is so bitter and hateful that within 4 years, she would be alone, friendless, notorious, and the butt of unending humor. Of course, we would need a republican Congress just to assure that America would not go the way of Venezula.
But then, what's the point ? It's not worth the time just to show the world how miserable she is.
A bomb that exploded and killed seven Cambodian de-miners in north-western Battambang province last week was a forgotten Khmer Rouge booby trap, an official said Monday. Battambang chief of the Cambodian Mine Action Center, Keo Sarath, said the device consisted of three anti-tank mines wired together, creating a massive blast when it was accidentally triggered. "It was an old Khmer Rouge set-up," he said.
The device, which exploded on January 19 while the men were attempting to demine the area, could have been laid any time before 1993, when fighting in the area was at its peak. Investigators said the dismembered bodies of the de-miners were thrown more than 200 metres by the massive blast.
Cambodia remains one of the most mined countries on the planet following nearly three decades of civil war.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Egypt is on high alert after the H5N1 strain of the avian flu became more resistant to the Tamiflu antiviral drug predominantly used to combat the disease, the health minister has been quoted as saying. "The health ministry remains in a state of maximum alert and is reviewing its strategy in combating avian flu following the mutation of the H5N1 virus," Hatem al-Gabali told the top-selling state-owned Al-Ahram daily Monday.
Mexico has extradited several key alleged drugs smugglers to the US, including the reputed leader of one of country's most powerful drug cartels. Osiel Cardenas was among a group of 11 suspects handed over, officials said. He is said to lead the notorious Gulf cartel, responsible for smuggling drugs into the US, even continuing to run it from behind bars after his 2003 arrest. 
A bomb that exploded and killed seven Cambodian de-miners in north-western Battambang province last week was a forgotten Khmer Rouge booby trap, an official said Monday. Battambang chief of the Cambodian Mine Action Center, Keo Sarath, said the device consisted of three anti-tank mines wired together, creating a massive blast when it was accidentally triggered. "It was an old Khmer Rouge set-up," he said. 
