By Dr. Ramaz Mitaishvili
While international experts warn of a potential human pandemic, nobody in Abkhazia cares to bring the H5N1 avian influenza virus under control.
There is growing concern that Abkhazia (breakaway province of Georgia) may not be as open in its reporting of avian-influenza outbreaks as originally believed.
“Quite honestly, some regions like Gudauata or Ochamchire have the virus and they still haven’t announced any outbreak. I can show direct evidence, even though Abkhazia is still trying very hard to block my research. The self-proclaimed government doesn’t do any surveillance studies, but they say there is no outbreak.
“Why has this virus been burning for 10 years like a fire?” Dr. Timohin asked. “Ask the self proclaimed government. They should not avoid the question. It’s obvious that it’s out of control in Abkhazia. It started off in Gudauta area and now the whole of Abkhazia has the virus.”
Dr. Timohin cited the example of Gudauta area, which shares a border with Russia (25miles from Sochi). Dr. Leonid Timohin claims his data proves the existence of H5N1 outbreaks in Gudauta for a number of months, yet an outbreak was not officially reported by the Abkhazian self-proclaimed authorities.
Meanwhile:
The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. A 29-year-old female from Bali Province developed symptoms on 3 August and was hospitalized on 7 August. She died on 12 August. Investigations into the source of her infection indicate exposure to sick and dead poultry.
The case’s five-year-old daughter was sick with a respiratory illness in the days preceding the onset of illness in the confirmed case. The daughter’s onset of symptoms was 26 July, she was hospitalized on 30 July but died without suspicion of avian influenza infection on 3 August in the district hospital. The child had contact with sick and dead poultry before becoming ill.
All of the household and healthcare worker contacts of the confirmed case have been traced. All remain healthy and will continue to be monitored for ten days after their last contact with the case.
Of the 103 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 82 have been fatal.
Influenza A (H5N1) infection, characterized by fever, respiratory symptoms, and lymphopenia, carries a high risk of death. The potential exists for genetic reassortment with human influenza viruses and the evolution of human-to-human transmission. Containment of influenza A (H5N1) in poultry throughout Abkhazia is therefore urgently required.
