Weekly releases (1997–2007) - Volume 7, Issue 18, 01 May 2003

During the 2003 outbreak of avian influenza caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus A/H7N7 in the Netherlands, human infection with this virus occurred in unexpectedly high numbers. The first signs of human infection were found in a veterinarian who visited several farms with infected poultry and subsequently developed acute conjunctivitis caused by the A/H7N7 virus. Human influenza virus (mostly A/H3N2) was circulating in the community simultaneously. In view of the potential risk of co infection and reassortment, active case finding among people exposed to infected poultry was implemented immediately.

In the Netherlands, existing restrictive measures adopted by the European Commission to control the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (A/H7N7) have been extended until 12 May. No live poultry, hatching eggs and fresh, unprocessed poultry manure or litter may be exported to other member states or third countries and, with some derogations, no live poultry and hatching eggs may be transported within the Netherlands. All poultry in the buffer zones created around infected areas will be culled as soon as possible. (1)

The communicable disease network committee has published a document listing future actions for the longer term to provide the community network with tools to better address the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) problem in Europe (http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/com/sars/sars_future_actions_en.pdf). This follows the publication on 15 April of a document on ‘immediate actions for the surveillance and control of SARS in Europe’ (http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/com/sars/sars_actions_en.pdf).

The surveillance case definition for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has been updated for the United States to take account of the results of laboratory tests for SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that are becoming increasingly available (1) (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm52d429a1.htm). Reported cases of SARS in the US will continue to be classified as suspect or probable; however, these cases can be further classified as laboratory-confirmed or -negative if laboratory data are available and complete, or as laboratory-indeterminate if specimens are not available or testing is incomplete. Obtaining convalescent serum samples to make a final determination about infection with SARS-CoV is critical.

Five new cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) were diagnosed in the United Kingdom (UK) in the first quarter of 2003, bringing the total number of confirmed or probable cases to 134 (1). Five deaths occurred in the first quarter, bringing the total number of deaths to 126. The total number of onsets and deaths by year are shown in the table.

On 17 April 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States announced the latest HIV prevention strategy (1). The new initiative, Advancing HIV Prevention: New Strategies for a Changing Epidemic, places emphasis on increasing access to early diagnosis of HIV infection and to prevention and care services. The strategy consists of four key parts: