Best remedy for Swine Flu? H1N1 [Archive]

David Jamieson

04-30-2009, 04:44 AM

actually mr. punch, there have only been 7 confirmed deaths in Mexico city that are related to the swine flu.

THe other deaths that somehow got lumped in there, no doubt by yet more shoddy reporting and the increasing low standard of what passes for journalism these days, are not related to swine flu.

There are 20 to 30 THOUSAND deaths a year in the USA from influenza of all strains.
Does that panic any of you? You have a better chance of dying in a car crash.

Wash your hands! That's about all you need to do.

I was listening to the radio on my commute this morning and the guy says "we have been told not to use the word pandemic but now that the WHO has raised the level to 5 we can!"

The very fact that this "journalist broadcaster" is "told" what he can and cannot say makes that media outlet suspect.

One thing is for sure, the mainstream media are not actually journalists anymore and perhaps haven't been for some time. they are definitely being guided in what to say in order to serve an agenda and that agenda is of course profit and ratings.

The only thing sickening is the mass medias handling of this. They are unworthy.

golden arhat

04-30-2009, 05:38 AM

did you hear abotu the bovine growth hormone scandal in florida where 2 FOX reporters werent allowed to report the links between monsanto's milk BGH and cancer??

well yeah they refused to lie went to court buty then a few weeks later had to apologise and fox issued a public broadcast saying it was officially not guilty of lying after the court appeal

and the verdict of the trial was overturned not because fox wasnt lying but because it turned out

THERE IS NO LAW IN FLORIDA THAT SAYS LYING ON THE NEWS IS ILLEGAL

so they can legally say whatever they want, at least in florida anyhow :rolleyes:

brothernumber9

04-30-2009, 05:45 AM

I'm just waiting to get a good BBQ pulled pork sandwich or BLT on the cheap. Just glad that if I do get a craving for some pork or bacon that I'm not stuck in Egypt.

WinterPalm

04-30-2009, 07:34 AM

xcakid

04-30-2009, 09:02 AM

Well I live in Dallas Metro area where they are closing all the schools cause of 2 cases, and other suspected cases.

I am definitely staying way from people that are coughing and sneezing. Just to be safe.

Xiao3 Meng4

04-30-2009, 09:02 AM

I heard about that. But I seriously doubt anyone watches the news anymore...

Local news is important...

For global issues, the net is best I think.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/laurie_garrett_on_lessons_from_the_1918_flu.html

David Jamieson

04-30-2009, 09:57 AM

Local news is important...

For global issues, the net is best I think.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/laurie_garrett_on_lessons_from_the_1918_flu.html

yes, i agree with this statement.

BoulderDawg

04-30-2009, 10:35 AM

I'm going to start looking at air fares for this summer. After Biden said it was unsafe to travel by air I'm sure we're going to see some good deals!

The flu itself? Not concerned. If I get it I just get it.

banditshaw

04-30-2009, 10:58 AM

The general consensus is that Tamiflu is the best drug to counter the virus.
Sounds like another collaboration of sorts to stimulate Big Pharmaceuticals pockets. Media hype+gullible sheeple= $$$.

GreenCloudCLF

04-30-2009, 11:00 AM

The general consensus is that Tamiflu is the best drug to counter the virus.
Sounds like another collaboration of sorts to stimulate Big Pharmaceuticals pockets. Media hype+gullible sheeple= $$$.

The swine flu actually started when the shooter from the grassy knoll teamed up with Elvis and the Men in Black to create a biological superweapon for the sole purpose of discrediting Obama's first term in office.:rolleyes:

David Jamieson

04-30-2009, 12:01 PM

It's all a bid to kill the Mexican economy so Chrysler and GM can close all their plants there.

Notice how there is no talk in the media about the torture memos anymore too?

But I've said too much already.

I vote we call it the mmmmmpocalypse!

SPJ

04-30-2009, 01:59 PM

I read that swine flu will be worse or stronger than SARS.

mask, washing hand

---

:eek:

KC Elbows

05-01-2009, 05:50 AM

FYI, tamiflu gives your BBQ sauce a nice zing.

Xiao3 Meng4

05-01-2009, 07:57 AM

Critical Alert: The Swine Flu Pandemic – Fact or Fiction?

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/29/Swine-Flu.aspx

herb ox

05-01-2009, 08:25 AM

Thus far, I've heard a few differing approaches to managing the H1N1 pandemic. Outside of isolating yourself, washing hands frequently and avoiding touching your face, etc., the two herbal remedies I see everyone stocking up on are:

Jade Screen Formula (Yu Ping Feng San) - known to 'tighten the pores' to prevent the entry of exterior pathogens, this formula boosts the body's immunity to prevent catching colds. A delightfully simple formula comprised of: Huang Qi, Fang Feng, Bai Zhu. In summary, it raises the qi, eliminates wind and dries dampness. This is more of a constitutional formula, i.e. addressing deficiency in one's constitution.

The other formula taken by my teachers from China is Gan Mao Ling, a common cold remedy. This is more of a modern empirically derived formula that contains Ban Lan Gen (radix isatis), which has been shown to have antiviral effects in the laboratory. This is a "wen bing" or warm febrile disease formula specifically designed to combat strong flu-like influences.

This in mind, my current favorite is Ganmao Tuire Chongi, a granulated formula containing ban lan gen and da qing ye (both from the same plant) in addition to herbs to direct the actions to the lungs and respiratory system. It is usually found in a yellow or green box at the herbalist's shop, and only costs a few (under 10) bucks. I used this formula with great success last time I got sick, and beat back the cold in 3 days with no lingering phlegm, cough etc. My friends, by comparison, had the same cold and it lasted about 15 days untreated.

how do you prevent colds and flu? How do you battle 'em once you got one?

in health,

herb ox

brothernumber9

05-01-2009, 10:14 AM

One thing I still don't understand, is how a virus mutates, what causes a virus to mutate, or has a newly discovered strain sometimes always been around but just not identified. I understand things like Ultraviolet and cosmic rays, toxic agents, and genetic/genome manipulation can cause or account for some of the mutations, but because viruses are so genetically specific, given they are just shells with DNA or RNA sequences and instructions inside, it just makes me scratch my head sometimes. Are viruses perhaps more than publicly accessible science perceives to know about them ?

lkfmdc

05-01-2009, 10:23 AM

paranoia is running wild

GeneChing

05-01-2009, 11:24 AM

I do. I was there. (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=468) For that pandemic, sales of Banlangen (and the derivatives and permutations) went through the roof worldwide. I scrambled to get some before I went. That's good stuff for sure. Sifu Wing Lam turned me on to it when we first went to China in '91'. I still use it when I feel the onset of a cold, but it's very brand dependent. Some brands are far superior than others.

Given this thread topic, I'm tempted to merge this thread with the OT: Swine Flu - are you freaking out yet? (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53873) thread and bring it all down here to the TCM forum, just to get some action down here.

GeneChing

05-01-2009, 11:31 AM

I'm totally forwarding that one to all my friends. Tao of Pooh and flu of Piglet!

Here's a related thread on the TCM forum that I might merge with this one soon: Best remedy for Swine Flu? H1N1. (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=932322)

One of our warehouse managers just got back from Mexico. We've all been watching him. He's been coughing but just to scare us. The warehouse guys were all wearing masks yesterday, but it was because they were cleaning up and it was really dusty.

Time to burn some moxa (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=654). ;)

KC Elbows

05-01-2009, 11:32 AM

Samuel Jackson will NOT be getting this flu.

mawali

05-01-2009, 12:21 PM

Banlangen appears to do the trick in a US population due to the higher sanitary level. It also helps that the basic rules of washing hands, wearing mask, etc are good but in Mexico, immunity protection would already be compromised.
Rules are not as strict for vaccination, flu shots, etc annd the water situation is such that a local resident would suffer no problems due to exposure whereas the average American would immediately get diarrhea and such if they woud consume the local water supply. That in itself, is a telling matter.

taai gihk yahn

05-01-2009, 12:48 PM

what would be a H1N1 prophylactic TCM recommendation for a 4 1/2 year old (my son)? he's in generally very good health, NKA, constitutionally strong; he tends to run hot sometimes at night (he sleeps w/us, so I know, as he likes to kick off the blankets), he rarely gets colsa, and the few times have been when he runs around outside on those first warm days of spring, gets all sweaty, takes off his jacket and the next morning it's puffy eyes, sneezing, runny nose and post-nasal drip for a week or so (thanks to the grandparents for that last time, LOL); hx. + for one URI as an infant (basically daycareitis; abx. tx.), conjunctivitis x2 around the same time (abx. as well) and a few mild episodes of ot. med. (MD rec'd abx., we went w/"wait and see" to no adverse effect);

understand if you are not able to say based on above, of course;

thanks

herb ox

05-01-2009, 01:40 PM

Of course, consult first with your local qualified practitioner, but off-the-record, the Jade Screen formula is very gentle and at a half dose would likely do the trick...

From what you described, you son gets wind invasion - we always say not to get sweaty and go out into the wind - the pores are 'open', thus allowing for the easy passage of pathogens.

That's why any good Chinese mom/grandma/acupuncturist will remind you to wear your scarf when you leave the house... even in the summer!:D

cheers

ox

PS TGY, great synopsis- sounds like an episode of House!

AJM

05-01-2009, 05:17 PM

taai gihk yahn

05-01-2009, 07:21 PM

Of course, consult first with your local qualified practitioner, but off-the-record, the Jade Screen formula is very gentle and at a half dose would likely do the trick...
gotcha; thank you for your "off the record" assessment; actually, I was going have him see a friend / colleague who is an RN / LAc, just haven't had the time; but it's good to know what to have around in a pinch

From what you described, you son gets wind invasion - we always say not to get sweaty and go out into the wind - the pores are 'open', thus allowing for the easy passage of pathogens.
yes, I was thinking it had to do with "wind" something or other (my TCM database is somewhat limited); usually when he gets the sniffles, I dose him w/my sifu's "cure all" brew of ginger / lemon / honey - usually does the trick; also sleeping w/the camphor / menthol plug-in thingy works great;

That's why any good Chinese mom/grandma/acupuncturist will remind you to wear your scarf when you leave the house... even in the summer!:D
LOL - I am sooo trained by my sifu - as soon as it hits 60˚ or lower, everyone's wearing a hat and scarf - which is why I was so p/o'd this year, because I know what he's susceptible to, so I was totally circumspect keeping him healthy all friggin' winter, and of course the first warm day, the grandparents let him run around w/no jacket and get all sweaty - yeesh...

actually, one "old guy" I studied w/for a brief time had a great way of dealing w/the shock of going in and out of air-conditioned buildings/subways in the summer: before you go in (or out), you take a deep breath of the air you are in; then you walk into the other temp, holding the breath as long as you can; then you exhale that breath all the way and hold it out as long as you can; only then do you take a breath of the different air - by then you are much more acclimated - works like a charm, I gotta tell you, especially in NYC subways in the summer!

PS TGY, great synopsis- sounds like an episode of House!
I'm a PT, wife's an MD, it's all in a days SOAP note, LOL;

thanks again for your perspective;

Drake

05-01-2009, 07:22 PM

Word to the wise. If you do plan on starting a global conspiracy, make sure your staff doesn't accidentally get infected in the process. :D

herb ox

05-01-2009, 08:47 PM

I dose him w/my sifu's "cure all" brew of ginger / lemon / honey - usually does the trick;

Sounds tasty... and it makes sense... this is actually a very elegant yet simple formula... If I may digress... The ginger "releases the exterior", (makes you perspire) to release the "wind" (i.e. pathogenic factor), while removing cold and stopping cough. It also harmonizes the "ying and the wei"... say whaaat? :eek: If the Wei Qi is the protective qi, imagined as the front line of soldiers, the Ying Qi is the base with the reinforcements. (How's that for fanciful concepts? :p) Oh yeah, and ginger fortifies and warms the "middle burner" or the digestion, which is almost always weakened during illness.

The lemon, in traditional terms, is astringent and sour. In my opinion, this would check the above induced perspiration slightly to prevent damaging the fluids, while the honey tonifies the spleen and the yin and makes it darn tasty! Just float some of the Ban Lan Gen GeneChing was talking about in there and you got a flu fighter. It'd be kinda bitter though...:(

... before you go in (or out), you take a deep breath of the air you are in; then you walk into the other temp, holding the breath as long as you can; then you exhale that breath all the way and hold it out as long as you can; only then do you take a breath of the different air - by then you are much more acclimated - works like a charm, I gotta tell you, especially in NYC subways in the summer!

Now that I've never heard of! That's quite fascinating... I mean, how does that work? Is it 'cause you're adjusting your body or is it a form of qigong? Either way, I gotta try it. Thanks!

...it's all in a days SOAP note, LOL;

I suspected something was at play there...

Kind regards

herb ox

taai gihk yahn

05-05-2009, 06:58 PM

Sounds tasty... and it makes sense... this is actually a very elegant yet simple formula...
this is how my teacher sees TCM: elegant simplicity; and his "specialty" actually is healing teas; this particular one, which has been dubbed "Hon's brew" after him by us his students, works like a charm every time

If I may digress... The ginger "releases the exterior", (makes you perspire) to release the "wind" (i.e. pathogenic factor), while removing cold and stopping cough.
the way I see it, each of the ingredients contains natural antimicrobials, so that makes sense in terms of the "killing stuff" perspective; but thanks for the "digression";
oh, as far as perspiration, my sifu has commented that herbal TCM does 3 main things to get out the sickness: makes you sweat, makes you urinate or makes you throw up (I think in that order of preference); don't know if it's an oversimplicfication, but whatever;

It also harmonizes the "ying and the wei"... say whaaat? :eek: If the Wei Qi is the protective qi, imagined as the front line of soldiers, the Ying Qi is the base with the reinforcements. (How's that for fanciful concepts? :p)
very fanciful; but it is a great way to conceptualize it;

Oh yeah, and ginger fortifies and warms the "middle burner" or the digestion, which is almost always weakened during illness.
yeah, sifu is big on the basis of colds being digestive: recall him mentioning how one leads to the other, but that was the take home message;

The lemon, in traditional terms, is astringent and sour. In my opinion, this would check the above induced perspiration slightly to prevent damaging the fluids, while the honey tonifies the spleen and the yin and makes it darn tasty! Just float some of the Ban Lan Gen GeneChing was talking about in there and you got a flu fighter. It'd be kinda bitter though...:(
thanks - went out and got Gan Mao Ling tablets, some Si Shi Gan Mao Cha (ing: flos lonicera, fructus forsythiae, folium mori, herba lophatheri, radix isatidis, radix platycodi) and a basic combo of ban lan gen and da qing ye;

Now that I've never heard of! That's quite fascinating... I mean, how does that work? Is it 'cause you're adjusting your body or is it a form of qigong? Either way, I gotta try it. Thanks!
it's just helping the internal body not get hit w/the shock of the temp change: you know how when you walk out of an AC building in the summer and get hit w/the wall of heat? if you do this, take a deep breath of the cold air and hold it in when you go out, you don't feel it nearly as much; and by the time you exhale, hold it out and then finally inhale, your external body has adjusted, so the internal is able to handle the temp change better; works amazingly well, and very simple; key is to remember to do it! honestly, it's the best thing I ever learned from this guy...

I suspected something was at play there...
my personal goal is to one day write an entire SOAP note using only abbreviations...

Kind regards
likewise;

GeneChing

09-24-2009, 09:39 AM

I am going to do that merge I mentioned above now...

Sept. 16, 2009, 7:57 p.m. EDT ·
Traditional medicine can cure swine flu: Chinese state media (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinese-medicine-used-for-swine-flu-state-media-2009-09-16)
By MarketWatch

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Recent clinical trials in Beijing show traditional Chinese medicine is effective in preventing and curing the A/H1N1 virus, commonly known as "swine flu," according to a report Thursday in Chinese state media.

The report cited the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau as saying traditional cures were validated by five months of research, prompting the city to reserve 2 million doses of the unspecified treatment.

"The Beijing municipal government has invested 10 million yuan ($1.4 million) to test the effectiveness and safety of [traditional Chinese medicine] to treat A/H1N1 flu since May," the report quoted the city's chief of traditional medicine Zhao Jing as saying.

Zhao said that as of Sept. 1, a total 326 of 845 confirmed cases of A/H1N1 in Beijing had been cured with traditional treatments, adding that such cures proved "very effective" in combination with Western medicine.

The report also quoted Wang Yuguang, a senior expert with Beijing Ditan Hospital, as saying: "Clinical tests have showed that [traditional medicine] doses help reduce symptoms of fever, sore throat and cough. ... No side effects and adverse reactions have been reported."

Lee Chiang Po

09-24-2009, 12:46 PM

The H1N1 swine flu is not your regular flu. If it does not kill you, it will certainly make you think it is going to. I had it in the winter of 57/58. Actually January of 58, and I have to tell you that I have had regular flu several times before and since then, and none of it even compares to the swine flu. They called it the Hong Kong flu back then. The US government knows exactly what this flu is, and this is why they seem to be running scared over it. My question is just where the hell has this flu been hiding for the past 50 years?
You can pass it off as a conspiracy or whatever, but I would recommend that if you have access to it, get a vaccine shot for it. This stuff killed over 78,000 people in this country alone back then, and who knows world wide. It is nothing to worry about unless of course you are the one that gets it. One thing about it though, it never killed anyone that wasn't already praying for death.

18elders

09-24-2009, 01:12 PM

The Swine flu is a bit different virus from the one you had, the Swine is a H1N1 and the Hong Kong Flu is a H3N2.
I don't know which is worse but from what you stated it doesn't sound like fun to have the HK flu.

Lee Chiang Po

09-24-2009, 06:35 PM

Well, this one is killing people too. Not so many right now, but the flu season, or the regular flu season, has not even begun yet. This stuff has stayed around all summer long.
I was reading an article that actually called the 57/58 epidemic an H1N1 and said that some of us that are at least 50 years old might have immunity to it. Since it has been hitting young people mostly this could well be true. I have no idea what kind of flu it is, just going by the news article. Tamiflu only relieves the symptoms somewhat, but nothing can kill the virus out of you except your own antibodies, provided you have been vaccinated or have had it in the past. Well, if you survive it you should hold immunity to it from then on. Maybe.

David Jamieson

09-25-2009, 07:59 AM

in teh usa, some 30,000 people die of regular influenza every year.

In China, the number is harder to find out, because the state has a propensity for either lying about it to save face or not gathering data at all.

Having said that, the population model would approximate that CHina's death by influenza are same proportionately, so likely to be close to some 100k people a year dying of regular strains of influenza in China.

Having said that, TCM has no cure for the flu. If they did, it would be more widely practiced.

Fluid and rest. That's it.

H1N1's problematic, but not for long. It will get rolled into standard vaccinations soon enough. November will see the roll out of vaccines for H1N1 in Canada. We are taking a different approach than other countries because we are using the adjuvant variety fo the vaccine whereas other countries such as USA and European countries are deciding to go with non adjuvant variety.

taai gihk yahn

09-25-2009, 08:43 AM

Having said that, TCM has no cure for the flu. If they did, it would be more widely practiced.
hey! stop piszing on my placebo effect!:mad:
;)

Lucas

09-25-2009, 09:34 AM

THERE IS NO LAW IN FLORIDA THAT SAYS LYING ON THE NEWS IS ILLEGAL

must be the same in oregon. i was just recently involved in a bank hold up again and on fox news the story highlighting the institution had several flat out lies. i know because i was there, and some of the 'information' they reported was completely fabricated, without even a possibility of mis understood reporting. Just flat out made up.

its not new news, but the media does just flat out straight face lie with full intent to do so.

uki

09-25-2009, 01:57 PM

two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar a day... keep a healthy state of mind and everything will be okay. :)

Lucas

09-25-2009, 02:38 PM

i make sure to wash my hands as little as possible, eat as much food off of the ground and random places as i can get my hands on, and always, always lick my fingers after handling money.

uki

09-25-2009, 02:58 PM

always lick my fingers after handling money.9 out of 10 bills in america and europe have cocaine residual on them... free gummies. :D

Lucas

09-25-2009, 03:19 PM

9 out of 10 bills in america and europe have cocaine residual on them... free gummies. :D

yeppers lol.

id say, just from what i see in my line of work, 1 out of every 80/100 bills has visible blood on it. of course thats just the obvious spills/splashes/splatters of nice heafty bloody stains.

kfman5F

09-25-2009, 08:42 PM

My doctor friend recommended 2 teaspoons of elderberry juice every morning to keep from getting it.

chusauli

09-30-2009, 10:04 AM

Can't believe the stuff I am reading.

Swine flu or other flu is a form of Wind Heat in TCM. It is often treated with variations of Yin Qiao San and Xiao Chai Hu Tang with Ban Lan Gen.

I strongly recommend visiting a competent Licensed Acupuncturist with Herbal knowledge.

For those wishing to prevent it - wash your hands frequently, avoid touching faucets, handrails, door knobs with your hands (use a tissue or napkin), and take a Ban Lan Gen supplement recommended by an herbalist.

jdhowland

10-18-2009, 01:59 PM

[QUOTE=taai gihk yahn;932444]actually, one "old guy" I studied w/for a brief time had a great way of dealing w/the shock of going in and out of air-conditioned buildings/subways in the summer: before you go in (or out), you take a deep breath of the air you are in; then you walk into the other temp, holding the breath as long as you can; then you exhale that breath all the way and hold it out as long as you can; only then do you take a breath of the different air - by then you are much more acclimated - works like a charm, I gotta tell you, especially in NYC subways in the summer QUOTE]

I've been doing something like that most of my life, but with a variation: Where I live, there can easily be a hundred degree temperature difference between indoor and outdoor air. When you leave a heated building you take a breath, exhale slowly and gently "sip" small quantities of cold air to give your lungs and circulation time to adjust. You Canucks know what I'm talking about.

jd

GeneChing

11-04-2009, 11:58 AM

I drink a similar tea as a general detoxicant.

* November 4, 2009, 3:49 AM ET
Recipes from China’s Alternative Swine Flu Frontlines (http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2009/11/04/recipes-from-chinas-alternative-swine-flu-frontlines/)

Until recently, China has been fairly sheltered from bad news associated with the H1N1 flu virus. But since early October, when the country reported its first H1N1 death, temperatures have dropped and H1N1 cases are reportedly rising steeply, so a corresponding increase in anxiety levels is inevitable.

Amid such fears, the available science doesn’t always prevail.

On the Internet, rumors that H1N1 could be caused by vaccines prompted a strongly worded refutation from the Ministry of Health, while flu fears at a Beijing university spurred school authorities to rid the campus of stray cats, despite a lack of evidence that the animals play a role in the spread of the H1N1 virus. (And to be sure, Chinese authorities don’t help when they add restrictions to imports of pork products, which the WHO says would not transmit the H1N1 virus via consumption).

China has launched an ambitious H1N1 vaccination campaign and drug makers are operating at full capacity to produce vaccine doses. But even so, health officials say domestic vaccine makers will only be able to produce around 100 million vaccine doses by the end of March 2010,still a long way from the 390 million doses needed to inoculate targeted groups, such as military, medical personnel, students and the chronically ill.

Against that backdrop, Chinese traditional medicine (TCM) offers some alternative measures for H1N1 prevention. An official with the department of medical administration in the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine referred us to the following TCM recipes (available in Chinese here). She noted that the recipes are only intended as a reference, since variations among regions and individuals must also be taken into account.

Soup

5 grams scallion, 30 grams daikon radish, 3 grams parsley. Add an appropriate amount of water, boil and drink.

Salad

30 to 60 grams fresh “fishy grass” (aka cordate houttuynia) (fresh whiteflower patrinia or purslane may be substituted), blanched and mixed with garlic juice and vinegar.

Bean Porridge

1. 30 grams each red beans, green beans and white hyacinth beans, cleaned and boiled with 500ml water.

2. 30 grams each red peanuts, red beans and red dates, boiled with 500ml water. Add brown sugar to taste.

Tea

Three grams each green tea leaves, dried chrysanthemum flower and licorice steeped in boiling water. Three to five nasturtium flowers may be used as a substitute for the tea.

GeneChing

11-05-2009, 10:47 AM

I'm only posting the bigger ones...

China launches new swine flu medicine that cures in 3 days (http://en.rian.ru/world/20091103/156693963.html)
© REUTERS/ Wolfgang Rattay
10:5103/11/2009

MOSCOW, November 3 (RIA Novosti) - Sales of a traditional Chinese medicine against swine flu, which its producer says is especially effective for children, have been launched in China, a local newspaper said on Tuesday.

The China Daily quoted the deputy head of the Beijing traditional Chinese medicine bureau as saying that children with the flu should be cured with "No 2 Cold Medicine" within three days.

"Some children will be cured with only one dose, while others might need two," Tu Zhitao said.

The World Health Organization said it was not familiar with the traditional Chinese medicine recommended for children and could not comment, the paper said.

Tamiflu and Relenza are so far the only two approved antiviral drugs that are available for treatment of the H1N1 virus.

As the number of H1N1 cases reached 6,196 in Beijing as of Monday, 20 traditional Chinese medical hospitals opened 24-hour anti-H1N1 departments, the paper said.

An unidentified bureau official said the traditional Chinese medicine is very effective and does not harm the stomach, unlike western medicines. "Chinese medicine does not have this side effect. This No 2 cold medicine is an upgrade of former anti-flu medicines," the paper quoted her as saying.

Other experts said the medicine is basically the same as an ordinary Chinese anti-flu drug.

Nearly 50,000 confirmed swine flu cases have been reported in China. Seven people have died of the disease and 118 are in critical condition.

China was the first country to complete tests of a swine flu vaccine and started the vaccination campaign in September. The country plans to produce up to 360 million doses of the vaccine, and is set to allocate a total of $725 million on efforts to curb the disease.

TenTigers

11-09-2009, 09:29 AM

I've been drinking Airborne since before the flu season and all through it. It seems to help boost immune system. I also make sure I get plenty of fresh air, sunlight, rest/sleep, exercise, optimum nutrition, plenty of water, a good natural high potency multi-vitamin, and extra C.
I also heard that moxibustion to stomach 36 during this time is also good. Correct me on the points if I am mistaken.

GeneChing

11-20-2009, 10:44 AM

I traveled in China when SARS flu broke out (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=468) and remember a similar rush of TCM curatives. TCM never really provided a real remedy, but I packed my Banlaigen. Well, I always pack some Banlaigen when I travel in Asia. That's good stuff.

TCM may be another alternative in fight against H1N1 (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/1019540/1/.html)
By Channel NewsAsia's Hong Kong Correspondent Leslie Tang | Posted: 21 November 2009 0011 hrs

HONG KONG: Hong Kong Chinese medicine practitioners are collaborating with a Macau university to test what they believe is another alternative to combating the H1N1 virus.

If they are successful, the formula will be the first Chinese herbal prescription cure for H1N1.

As temperatures drop, Hong Kong health officials are bracing themselves for a second wave of H1N1 to hit the city.

Other than Tamiflu and flu jabs, Hong Kong R&D company Rorric Biotechnology believes it may be able to offer a less invasive cure to H1N1, using traditional Chinese medicine.

Dr Chow Ching-fung, chairman of Rorric Biotechnology, said: "This formula is effective in two ways. First, it combats and eliminates the virus. Second, it boosts the immune system, helping the patient to become stronger."

The formula is made up of 21 common Chinese herbs, such as honeysuckle and Bai Shu.

"Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of being proven to have fewer side effects as it uses herbal ingredients," Dr Chow added. "Western medicine contains a mixture of chemicals from the manufacturing process, so the risks are higher."

Dr Chow said he had prescribed the formula, which is currently in powder form, to 100 patients suspected of contracting H1N1 and they have fully recovered.

Moreover, tests at the Wu Han Institute of Virology have shown that the formula is not only effective against H1N1, but also other mutated forms of Influenza A.

Rorric Biotechnology is now collaborating with the Macau University of Science and Technology to test the formula on 300 patients over four months.

The first goal is to have the drug registered in Macau. If all goes well, the team hopes the drug's success will gain the support of authorities in Hong Kong to give it the green light.

- CNA/so

uki

11-21-2009, 10:02 AM

you won't see this (http://forum.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53135) potential remedy propagated any time soon... :p

chusauli

11-24-2009, 11:05 AM

Gene,

Its Ban Lan Gen - although the package you have may have incorrectly romanized it as Banlaigen.

Its quite a common remedy these days and a good preventative at the earliest hint of a cold.

If you're looking for a good remedy for tourista when you're travelling - I recommend Po Chai Yuen (known as Bao Ji Wan in Mandarin).

herb ox

11-25-2009, 11:00 AM

Thanks for the herb wisdom, Chu Sifu.

To clarify for those of us not so well traveled, turista refers to diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, etc. from eating or drinking in a foreign land. Often, these symptoms are caused by bacteria, viruses or protozoans in the food/water supply. The natives usually have much stronger resistance to these microorganisms from constant exposure since childhood. But we Westerners, with our weakened "cheeseburger and fries" digestion, are susceptible since our food supply in the States is relatively free from the likes of E.Coli, salmonella, etc (exceptions to the rule exist, of course!), therefore we never really built the resistance.

Po Chai Yuen / Bao Ji Wan is an effective remedy for nearly all gastrointestinal complaints from indigestion to nausea to diarrhea. For a bad case of the runs, I'd probably dose with Huang Lian Su[I], a tiny yellow pill used for dysentery, which is capable of performing small miracles.

Beyond those remedies, my favorite for treating diarrhea is a Japanese remedy called [I]Seirogan. This remedy is made with wood creosote as its base, and other powerful herbs to stop the symptoms and relieve discomfort. It smells so bad, though, that you can't touch the small, round and resinous pills, lest you smell like a foul creosote bush for the rest of the day :D

Stock up on the Po Chai before your thanksgiving meal and you'll be fine!

cheers,

herb ox

GeneChing

11-25-2009, 04:10 PM

I stand corrected. I didn't get that off the package. I got it out of my tattered memory. My bad.

uki

11-26-2009, 03:40 AM

I got it out of my tattered memory.perhaps the memory isn't tattered and it's just the pathways around it that have become overgrown...

from a mycological point of reference, the mushroom ganoderma lucidum, or ling chih, is highly prized - called the "mushroom of immortality" by the ancient chinese... supposedly it has gathered it's reputation thru the ability to strengthen ones immune system to above optimal levels. it is said that the most potent speciemens are the rare ones that are stalked, rather than shelved like other polypores, and naturally dried out standing... i found two of these in the florida woodland areas. a piece the size of your pinky tip, powdered, and drunk as a hot tea is the recommended dose. mushrooms in general are one of the least known and understood organisms on the planet - ultimately they are one of natures way of providing medicine to us... just minute amounts of any mushroom will change your biological and molecular structure. most mushrooms used for medicines do not require continued doses, one or two is usually enough to add an adequate amount of new molecular compounds to your body... respect is required though, some mushrooms can kill simply by consuming a small mouse nibble, others can rip your reality and perception of things to shreads, others are highly prized for their medicnal properties, others are highly prized for their taste, yet all mushrooms bring to us something we wouldn't normally put into our bodies... the more rare the mushroom, the more profound the effect it will have on you. :)

herb ox

11-26-2009, 10:46 AM

Right... the lingzhi mushroom is a highly revered tonic, recently subject to multi-level-marketing schemes mixed with coffee and other substances. In general, it's really good stuff!

However, don't start taking it AFTER you have contracted the flu. Start now, while you're healthy, and it'll decrease your likelyhood of contracting the flu, perhaps.

According to TCM theory, tonics are to be avoided (with some exceptions) when a person has a cold or the flu, as tonifying will only make the response to the invading pathogen more severe, thus worsening the symptoms. The term "trap the robber" comes to mind... as if a burglar was inside your home wreaking havoc. Most would not want to trap the burglar in the house, but instead would open the doors to let the burglar out (obviously not taking into consideration the martially oriented audience here on this forum). Taking a tonic while sick is like closing the doors on the robber, when instead, treatment to "release the exterior" is more appropriate, essentially venting the pathogenic factor (i.e. letting the robber escape).

in health,

herb ox

uki

11-27-2009, 12:50 PM

According to TCM theory, tonics are to be avoided (with some exceptions) when a person has a cold or the flu, as tonifying will only make the response to the invading pathogen more severe, thus worsening the symptoms. The term "trap the robber" comes to mind... as if a burglar was inside your home wreaking havoc. Most would not want to trap the burglar in the house, but instead would open the doors to let the burglar out (obviously not taking into consideration the martially oriented audience here on this forum). Taking a tonic while sick is like closing the doors on the robber, when instead, treatment to "release the exterior" is more appropriate, essentially venting the pathogenic factor (i.e. letting the robber escape).this of course is just a theory - not everyone follows the same train of thought. by locking the robber inside and you can then dismantle the threat piece by piece to ensure that it doesn't contaminate the rest of the community. :)

Dragonzbane76

11-30-2009, 02:51 PM

poor gas on your junk and light it... you'll completely forget about the pig Flu all together... :)

GeneChing

12-17-2009, 10:50 AM

Good ol' Ma Huang. I knew some nutbags back in the day who used it 'recreationally' :rolleyes:

* December 17, 2009, 7:58 AM ET
Old Formulas to Treat a New Flu (http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2009/12/17/old-formulas-to-treat-a-new-flu/)

Can traditional Chinese medicine beat swine flu?

Some Beijing medical officials think so, at least for mild cases of the disease. On Thursday, Chinese medicine officials announced that a traditional formula called Jin Hua Qing Gan” (金花清感) has been designated as the world’s first “optimized effective agent” for alleviating the symptoms of the H1N1 virus.

“The clinical study showed that Jin Hua Qing Gan can shorten the duration of fever, alleviate respiratory tract symptoms like sore throat, coughing etc.,” said Zhao Jing, director of the Beijing Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the press conference where the finders were announced.

Currently, however, it’s unclear if Jin Hua Qing Gan would directly replace other Western medicines to treat H1N1, especially in serious cases. “This is indeed an issue, as the target of our research are all H1N1 patients with slight symptoms”, said Wang Chen, President of Chaoyang Hospital.

The formula was developed and tested at several Western and traditional medical institutes in Beijing over the past six months. It is based on two major components, both of which have been used for centuries to treat fevers. One is Ma Xing Shi Gan（麻杏石甘汤), which has been used in China for more than 2,000 years, and Yin Qiao San (powder of lonicera and forsythia — 银翘散), which has been used for over 200 years to reduce fever.

The researchers said no adverse reactions have been found so far in patients who took the formula from the 28 traditional hospitals in Beijing that have been using it. A course of treatment costs about 80 yuan ($11.72).

In the future, Zhao said the new formula will have to go through an approval process. A license could be granted in January and the formula could come on the market in Beijing then.

It’s not clear if the formula can be exported. Ma Xing Shi Gan Formula contains Ma Huang, (herba ephedrae). Although this herb is widely used to treat asthma in China, it was sold in the U.S. as a weight-loss product in dosages far higher than commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. After several highly publicized deaths, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned it in 2004.

– Sue Feng and Ian Johnson

Fa Xing

12-17-2009, 11:01 AM

Good ol' Ma Huang. I knew some nutbags back in the day who used it 'recreationally' :rolleyes:

Yeah...uh...I need to fight of H1N1 too...any clue where I can sco...er...acquire some ma huang...:o

GeneChing

12-17-2009, 01:47 PM

... I remember drinking Ma Huang tea to alleviate allergy symptoms, not to get high.

This guy I knew had brewed up a batch to take to a Dead show and was convinced he was going to have some ecstatic drug experience with it. He drank some and then was acting like he was in some deep trip. I just laughed at him. He also advocated putting Tiger Balm on your temples to get high. I told him that was much more effective on his *****.

PlumDragon

12-18-2009, 08:59 AM

Interesting that Ma Huang would show up in a formula that treats wind-heat...I suppose in small doses it could one of a number of benefits...

Im not sure why they would need to put so much research into this. As other posters have probably already stated, Yin Qiao San and Gan Mao Ling both do the job quite well for this sort of thing and there are stronger recipes than these for those who need it. I even keep Gan Mao Jie Du Chong Jie in extract form for my wife, since she wont drink decoctions...

herb ox

12-18-2009, 04:06 PM

... advocated putting Tiger Balm on your temples to get high. I told him that was much more effective on his *****.

I seem to have a vague recollection of something similar. Only it was to treat flatulence... :D

ox

GeneChing

12-18-2009, 05:12 PM

So, did it work? (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8594)

GeneChing

02-22-2010, 10:37 AM

It sucked. My kid was diagnosed with it and I got sick about a week later. It was like a hard flu but the body temp regulation came and went so there would be moments when I felt okay, then others when I would have a temperature or chills. There was a lot of respiratory issues and I was coughing for over two weeks.

It cost me two weeks of kung fu practice and am looking very much forward to getting back into it tonight.

GeneChing

10-02-2018, 07:41 AM

Health officials 'very worried' as African swine fever spreads in Europe and Asia (https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/02/health/african-swine-fever-europe-china-spread-intl/index.html)
By Nina Avramova, CNN
Updated 3:14 AM ET, Tue October 2, 2018

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/180924130909-02-african-swine-fever-spread-092418-restricted-super-169.jpg
Veterinarians inspect a dead boar during an African swine fever outbreak exercise in Germany in June.

Story highlights
China has culled tens of thousands of pigs in response to outbreaks this summer
Wild boars and human behavior are believed to be the main causes of spread in Europe

(CNN)Global health officials are preparing for African swine fever, which has been spreading in pigs across borders since 2014, reaching Western Europe last week.

Humans are suspected to have caused the recent spread to Belgium, where eight cases were confirmed, as of September 25, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
The most recent cases, however, were reported September 25 in a Chinese slaughterhouse in Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, according to the organization. There have been 29 outbreaks in China since the first case was reported August 3. China has culled nearly 40,000 pigs in response, according to the the organization's database.
The virus reached China this summer and arrived in Western Europe for the first time in September in a separate simultaneous outbreak, leaving officials worried.
As of Friday, Belgium had culled 4,000 domestic pigs from the Étalle region, according to the country's national federation of slaughterhouses, cutting plants and wholesalers for pork. Thirteen countries have banned some sort of pork imports from Belgium: Taiwan, South Korea, Serbia, Singapore, China, Belarus, Australia, Japan, Philippines, Mexico, Uruguay, Malaysia and India.
"An outbreak of African swine fever is a very serious event," said Matthew Stone, the World Organisation for Animal Health's deputy director general for international standards and science. "The authorities of countries affected are under extraordinary pressure."
Globally, more than 361,000 infected wild boars and domestic pigs have been reported to the organization, with more than 119,000 deaths in 2018.
The disease is characterized by pigs developing hemorrhaging lesions on their skin and internal organs. All cases can result in death within 10 days of infection, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Financial consequences of an outbreak are substantial. Once the virus has been detected on a pig farm, the entire population must be culled.
Pork exports make up 8.5% of the European Union's total agricultural industry and 62% of the bloc's total meat exports, according to a 2016 US Department of Agriculture report.

Cross-border spread

Eastern Europe has witnessed several outbreaks of the virus over the summer, with Romania most affected.
The first case was reported in January near the Ukrainian border, and Romania has reported over 900 outbreaks since, mostly among backyard farm animals. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Romania have reported over 355,000 cases between them since 2014.
African swine fever, which affects only wild boars, warthogs, bush pigs and domestic pigs, is endemic in sub-Saharan and West Africa and was first detected in Kenya in 1921. Scientists agree that there are no health risks to humans, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/180924130643-01-african-swine-fever-spread-092418-restricted-exlarge-169.jpg
Veterinarians inspect a dead boar as part of a swine fever outbreak practice in Germany in June.

The disease is transmitted among pigs by direct contact with infected animals, their carcasses and bodily fluids or by consuming contaminated meat, usually discarded by humans, according to Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Union commissioner for health and food safety. Any objects from infected zones, such as boot soles or tires, can also carry the virus as they may transfer sources like blood, tissues, secretions and excretions of dead or sick animals, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
The virus first entered Eurasia in 2007g in Georgia via wild boar imported from Africa, said Andriukaitis, who chaired a meeting September 17 with Belgian ministers to discuss the handling of cases found in Belgium.
"The first outbreak in Georgia in 2007 was a full disaster. It fully destroyed pork production and led to a broad contamination," he said. After Georgia, the virus spread to Russia, Moldova and Belarus and, in 2014, entered the European Union via Poland and the Baltic states.
Now, the virus has reached Belgium, with ongoing outbreaks in Ukraine's Kiev region, resulting in the killing of 912 pigs. Nineteen new outbreaks were also recorded in Romania, mainly on backyard farms and national parks.
The virus shows no sign of slowing.

continued next post

GeneChing

10-02-2018, 07:41 AM

Human spread

Humans were the "most likely route of infection" for the boars in Belgium last week, believes Linda Dixon, researcher in genomics of African swine fever at the Pirbright Institute in the UK.
Since the infected pigs were found in a forest area, more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from any infected territories, she suspects that people consumed infected meat products and then left them in the forest where wild boars ate them.
There are no risks associated with eating infected meat, Dixon said.
In the rest of Europe the main factor for spread has been wild boar movements, illegal pig and pork meat trading and the movement of people and vehicles between countries, according to Andriukaitis.
Climate change and "absolutely different weather conditions" have helped African swine fever spread, he said, explaining that the virus is a very heat- and cold-resistant one.

Thousands infected in China

China has also been hit hard.
As of September 25, eight provinces were also reporting cases of African swine fever thousands of kilometers apart, with 2, 283 pigs infected. The country has seen 29 outbreaks, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health's database.
China is one of the world's largest producers and consumers of pork products, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Stone believes that the movement of live pigs or pig meat has been "instrumental in both initiation but also propagation" of the virus in China.
Dirk Pfeiffer, chair professor at City University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences in Hong Kong, believes that the wide geographical spread is due to the "extensive live pig trade network in China."
"Food waste is being widely fed to domestic pigs, which if contaminated with the virus, will greatly facilitate spread."
Where there is "significant illegal trade in live pigs, pork or food waste for feeding pigs," it becomes "virtually impossible" to find the source of the virus, Pfeiffer added.

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/180924131026-03-african-swine-fever-spread-092418-restricted-exlarge-169.jpg
Medical workers participate in a swine fever prevention exercise in China in 2014.

But investigations into how the virus was introduced are vital to prevent further spread.
China is undertaking standard procedures such as a movement ban of pigs and pork products from affected to unaffected provinces and culling on at-risk farms. "Forward and backward" tracing is also ongoing to identify the source of the virus and which other areas could have undetected infections spreading. The feeding of pig swill (food waste) has also been banned, Pfeiffer said.
However, given the size of the country and the number of outbreaks, Pfeffer believes there is a need for more trained veterinary staff who are familiar with the virus.
Given the number of countries now affected, preparedness programs, such as awareness campaigns warning people not to bring meat products from infected areas, are ongoing in most countries, Dixon said.

Schengen struggles

"Europe is very worried about further spread," Dixon said, with the large number of wild boars that roam freely being a primary concern, aided by the Schengen zone that allows Europeans to travel between 26 countries without any border checks.
Within the free movement zone, seven countries have reported outbreaks: Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Ways to keep wild boars from spreading the virus must include an understanding of the animal's movement, Stone said.
In summer 2017, the Czech Republic managed an outbreak of the deadly virus in its wild boar population by early prevention methods like targeted hunting, increased biosecurity, awareness campaigns and training of local people.
Other cases of African swine fever, like a 1980s outbreak in Spain, were also eliminated thanks to a reduction in free-range pig farming in the south of the country. But today's conditions make containing the virus harder.
"Now, we have different circumstances because of the single market, free movement of goods, the Schengen area and the different legal environments," Andriukaitis said.
Rest of Europe builds defense
The European Union has laid out contingency plans for dealing with African swine fever, including hunting bans in affected areas, movement controls, surveillance, ensuring high levels of biosecurity in all pig holdings, fighting illegal trade in meat or pig products and raising awareness in farmers and the local population.
In order to prevent spread of the virus to unaffected countries, Germany issued a decree allowing for hunting of wild boar populations during the entire year and has rehearsed response tactics in the case of an African swine fever outbreak. Denmark has approved plans for a fence along its border with Germany to stop wild boar movements between the countries as a precaution.
Andriukaitis has "doubts" about using a fence between countries as a prevention strategy because it wouldn't stop movement by humans or vehicles, which can still transmit the virus.w
The next hope is a vaccine.
African swine fever is a highly contagious DNA virus, the UK's Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said.
The European Union issued a research grant in 2018 for the development of an African swine fever vaccine in its Horizon 2020 program, the biggest EU research and innovation program.

Now it's a fever, not the flu.

GeneChing

12-07-2018, 10:42 AM

Stuffed pigs used in drill to instruct Hong Kong agricultural officials in how to cull sick animals in event of African swine fever outbreak (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2176783/not-so-cuddly-stuffed-pigs-used-training-drill)
Photos of the exercise, which were posted on health minister Sophia Chan’s Facebook page, proved to be a surprising social media hit
PUBLISHED : Friday, 07 December, 2018, 8:31am
UPDATED : Friday, 07 December, 2018, 12:52pm
Ng Kang-chung

https://cdn4.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980x551/public/images/methode/2018/12/07/3c3d2f4a-f924-11e8-93b8-bdc844c69537_1280x720_125204.JPG?itok=fipQ6ZZe

Toys pigs, with a price tag of up to HK$700 (US$89) each, were enlisted to a drill this week to help train Hong Kong agricultural officials in how to kill sick animals in the event of African swine fever spreading across the border to Hong Kong farms.

Whether it is a bargain or not is a matter of opinion, but taxpayers have been told the toy pigs will cost them a total of about HK$20,000.

The surreal scenes of officials, in full protective gear, playing with the pink fluffy toy pigs – sending them to the cull one by one – quickly attracted the attention of the public after the pictures were posted on the official Facebook page of health minister Sophia Chan Siu-chee.

The post, uploaded on Tuesday night, quickly became Chan’s most popular post in at least the past month, attracting over 43 comments and 156 “shares” in two days, compared with her usual Facebook posts that draw only a few comments.

One comment read: “The pigs are so cute.” Another read: “Can I adopt one?” Some were not too amused though, questioning if it was a waste of taxpayers’ money to buy toy pigs.

https://cdn2.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/images/methode/2018/12/07/3c75e2fe-f924-11e8-93b8-bdc844c69537_1320x770_125204.JPG
Agricultural officials conducting a swine fever culling drill using stuffed pigs. Photo: Facebook

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department confirmed in a statement on Thursday that it had conducted a “drill” two days earlier “to strengthen the preparedness of [the department] in case of an outbreak of [African swine fever]” on local farms.

The department did not elaborate on the mood of staff or the atmosphere during the training exercise, or who had first raised the idea of buying toy pigs for the drill, only saying that “more than 30 staff members, all of whom were from [the department], were involved in this drill”.

“A total of 28 big prop pigs (around HK$700 each) and two small prop pigs (around HK$80 each) were used during the drill. Prop pigs have not been disposed of but are currently stored away for reuse,” the statement read.

https://cdn3.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/images/methode/2018/12/07/3d275c78-f924-11e8-93b8-bdc844c69537_1320x770_125204.JPG
Marching the pigs to the cull. Photo: Facebook

How useful using toy pigs in a pig culling drill is, is anybody’s guess. The department statement also noted: “In reality, the method to be adopted for pig culling is subject to various factors, including the environment of the farm concerned, the number of pigs within the farm, the health conditions and size of the pigs, etcetera, and international guidelines on the culling of animals.

“Under objective conditions, [the department] will primarily make use of carbon dioxide for pig culling.”

Chan said in her post that she was there to oversee the drill, including inspecting the method employed to kill pigs. She was also briefed by the officers on their plans for a possible outbreak of African swine fever in Hong Kong farms.

https://cdn3.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/images/methode/2018/12/07/3cb1aa6e-f924-11e8-93b8-bdc844c69537_1320x770_125204.JPG
Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee with health officials during this week’s swine fever drill. Photo: Facebook

African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease that infects pigs. It does not affect other animal species or humans.

China reported its first outbreak in August in the north-eastern province of Liaoning. A total of 81 cases of the disease had been reported in 21 provincial regions as of December 3. Officials claimed the outbreaks were generally under control in China.

In her Facebook post, Chan said the government would take “decisive action” to minimise the impact on local farms if African swine fever were to spread to Hong Kong.

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Cheung

THREADS
Best remedy for Swine Flu? H1N1 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?53888-Best-remedy-for-Swine-Flu-H1N1)
Bacon!!!!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?48509-Bacon!!!!!!)
Year of the Pig 2019 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?71112-Year-of-the-Pig-2019)

GeneChing

12-18-2018, 08:50 AM

DECEMBER 18, 2018 / 3:59 AM / UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO
China agriculture ministry confirms new African swine fever outbreak in Chongqing (https://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFB9N1WP020)
1 MIN READ

BEIJING, Dec 18 (Reuters) - A new outbreak of African swine fever has been confirmed on a small pig farm in southwest China’s city of Chongqing, the country’s agriculture ministry on Tuesday.

The virus was detected on a farm with 23 pigs in Chongqing’s Bishan district, infecting eight animals and killing three, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement.

China, home to the world’s biggest pig herd, has reported around 90 outbreaks of the highly contagious fever since August and earlier on Tuesday launched a campaign to crack down on illegal hog slaughtering to contain the spread. (Reporting by Tom Daly; editing by David Evans)

THREADS
Best remedy for Swine Flu? H1N1 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?53888-Best-remedy-for-Swine-Flu-H1N1)
Bacon!!!!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?48509-Bacon!!!!!!)
Year of the Pig 2019 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?71112-Year-of-the-Pig-2019)

GeneChing

01-03-2019, 09:12 AM

This is really bad.

JANUARY 2, 2019 / 3:21 AM / UPDATED 9 HOURS AGO
African swine fever hits huge, foreign-invested Chinese farm (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-swinefever/african-swine-fever-hits-huge-foreign-invested-chinese-farm-idUSKCN1OW0RB)
4 MIN READ

BEIJING (Reuters) - China reported an outbreak of deadly African swine fever on a huge pig farm part-owned by a Danish investment fund, showing the spread of the virus to modern industrial farms expected to have the best levels of disease prevention.

http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20190103&t=2&i=1341606068&r=LYNXNPEF0209Q
A vendor prepares pork for sale at a market in Beijing, China December 26, 2018. Picture taken December 26, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee

The outbreak occurred on a farm in Suihua city with 73,000 pigs in northeastern Heilongjiang province, owned by the Heilongjiang Asia-Europe Animal Husbandry Co Ltd, a company established in 2016.

The farm’s herd included 15,000 breeding pigs, according to its website, and it was aiming to produce 385,000 pigs for slaughter a year. Some 4,686 pigs had been infected and 3,766 animals died, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said late on Wednesday. All animals on infected farms must be culled under current rules.

The farm is the largest yet to be hit by the disease, which has infected almost 100 farms across China since August 2018, spreading faster than in any other country to date.

More than 200,000 pigs on infected farms have been culled, according to a Reuters tally of official figures, while hundreds of thousands more in the vicinity have also been put down.

China has the world’s largest hog herd and the rapid spread of African swine fever has roiled the country’s trade in pork, the nation’s most popular meat, disrupting supplies and pushing up prices in some areas.

Neither Heilongjiang Asia-Europe Animal Husbandry nor its majority owner, state-owned Zhejiang Rural Development Group Co. Ltd, responded to calls for comment.

Steffen Schiottz-Christensen, vice president for North Asia at Denmark state fund IFU, confirmed the outbreak but declined to comment further as he had yet to be fully briefed.

IFU, which provides risk capital and advice for investment in developing countries, invested 28.4 million DKK ($4.32 million) in the farm in 2017, according to its website, although its shareholding has since been diluted, Schiottz-Christensen said.

“The African swine fever situation is only getting worse. Small farms, big farms, slaughterhouses, feed - the whole production chain basically all got hit,” said Yao Guiling, an analyst with consultancy China-America Commodity Data Analytics.

Beijing has banned feeding kitchen waste to pigs, and restricted transport of live pigs and products from infected areas.

But the virus has now reached 23 provinces and municipalities across China. The disease is deadly to pigs but does not affect humans.

“The policies are good, but the increasing outbreaks show that there might be some problem with execution at the local government level,” said Yao.

China’s agriculture ministry also said on Wednesday that slaughterhouses will need to test their pork products for African swine fever before selling them to the market.

Slaughterhouses must slaughter pigs from different origins separately, and can only sell the products if blood from the same batch of pigs tests negative for the virus.

If the virus is detected, slaughterhouses must cull all pigs to be slaughtered and suspend operations for at least 48 hours, according to the regulation, which will go into effect from Feb. 1.

(For a graphic on 'Swine fever in China' click tmsnrt.rs/2QMhmzL)

Reporting by Hallie Gu and Dominique Patton; editing by David Evans and Richard Pullin

THREADS
Best remedy for Swine Flu? H1N1 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?53888-Best-remedy-for-Swine-Flu-H1N1)
Bacon!!!!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?48509-Bacon!!!!!!)
Year of the Pig 2019 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?71112-Year-of-the-Pig-2019)

GeneChing

01-18-2019, 10:17 AM

UPDATE 1-CHINA URGES PIG FARMS TO RESTOCK AMID WORRIES OVER PORK SUPPLY, SWINE FEVER (https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/update-1-china-urges-pig-farms-to-restock-amid-worries-over-pork-supply-swine-fever)
1/15/2019
* China pork prices "very likely" to rise in H2 -govt official

* But does not expect them to climb in run up to Lunar New Year

* Wants pig farmers to restock quickly

* China battling African swine fever, has culled 900,000 pigs (Recasts; adds comment, detail)

BEIJING, Jan 16 (Reuters) - China's pig farmers should quickly replenish their herds, a government official said, as the world's biggest pork producer looks to curb price rises for the meat expected to bite later this year in the wake of African swine fever outbreaks.

Pork prices in China are "very likely" to rise in the second-half of 2019 as the number of pigs has been falling, Tang Ke at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Wednesday.

"We recommend most farmers adjust their production and increase replenishment in a timely manner," said Tang, even as they carry out steps to prevent and control African swine fever.

The comments come as China battles the world's fastest spreading epidemic of African swine fever, which has now reached 24 of its provinces and led to the culling of more than 900,000 pigs. The disease is deadly to hogs, but does not affect people.

The outbreaks have not yet hit national pork prices and supplies are currently "sufficient", said Tang, who expected no major volatility ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday beginning in early February when the meat is widely consumed.

However, measures implemented to control the spread of the disease have kept live pig prices in some parts of the country at loss-making levels, leading to liquidation by small farmers and slow restocking.

National pig stocks in December were almost 5 percent lower than the previous year's level, said Tang, while numbers of breeding sows were down by more than 8 percent. He did not give total numbers for the herd size.

"For three consecutive months the drop was more than the 5 percent warning level, meaning that in the second-half of this year, the number of live pigs to reach the market will be lower and the likelihood of pig prices rising is very big," he said.

The ministry would work to ensure production and supplies by smoothing the transport of pigs and making sure animals can be sold, he added.

The average weight of pigs in the country was at a record of around 124 kg (273 lb) in December, said Tang, indicating difficulty in selling pigs in key producing regions.

CONSUMER CONCERNS

For now, live pig prices are still low, and may even be slightly weaker in the run up to the Lunar New Year, Tang also said.

The average price of live pigs in the second week of January was 13.65 yuan ($2.02) per kg, down 1.6 percent from the previous week, and has dropped for four consecutive weeks, he added.

Pork prices have also declined in the last week by 0.9 percent to 23.55 yuan per kg, and are down almost 8 percent versus last year.

"The volumes of pork traded at monitored farmers' markets has dropped by 14.4 percent, consumer demand is weakening," Tang said. ($1 = 6.7684 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Dominique Patton; Editing by Joseph Radford)

THREADS
Best remedy for Swine Flu? H1N1 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?53888-Best-remedy-for-Swine-Flu-H1N1)
Bacon!!!!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?48509-Bacon!!!!!!)
Year of the Pig 2019 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?71112-Year-of-the-Pig-2019)

GeneChing

07-01-2020, 06:24 AM

Actually it never really went away.

HEALTH NEWS JUNE 29, 2020 / 8:06 PM / UPDATED A DAY AGO
China study warns of possible new 'pandemic virus' from pigs (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-pigs-idUSKBN2410BU)
David Stanway
3 MIN READ

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A new flu virus found in Chinese pigs has become more infectious to humans and needs to be watched closely in case it becomes a potential “pandemic virus”, a study said, although experts said there is no imminent threat.

A team of Chinese researchers looked at influenza viruses found in pigs from 2011 to 2018 and found a “G4” strain of H1N1 that has “all the essential hallmarks of a candidate pandemic virus”, according to the paper, published by the U.S. journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Pig farm workers also showed elevated levels of the virus in their blood, the authors said, adding that “close monitoring in human populations, especially the workers in the swine industry, should be urgently implemented”.

The study highlights the risks of viruses crossing the species barrier into humans, especially in densely populated regions in China, where millions live close to farms, breeding facilities, slaughterhouses and wet markets.

The current coronavirus sweeping the world is believed to have originated in horseshoe bats in southwest China and could have spread to humans via a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan, where the virus was first identified.

The World Health Organization (WHO) will read the Chinese study carefully, spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a Geneva briefing on Tuesday, saying it was important to collaborate on findings and keep tabs on animal populations.

“It also highlights we cannot let our guard down on influenza and need to be vigilant and continue surveillance even in the coronavirus pandemic,” he added.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily news conference on Tuesday that China was closely following developments. “We will take all necessary measures to prevent the spread and outbreak of any virus,” he said.

The study said pigs were considered important “mixing vessels” for the generation of pandemic influenza viruses and called for “systematic surveillance” of the problem.

China took action against an outbreak of avian H1N1 in 2009, restricting incoming flights from affected countries and putting tens of thousands of people into quarantine.

The new virus identified in the study is a recombination of the 2009 H1N1 variant and a once prevalent strain found in pigs.

But while it is capable of infecting humans, there is no imminent risk of a new pandemic, said Carl Bergstrom, a biologist at the University of Washington.

“There’s no evidence that G4 is circulating in humans, despite five years of extensive exposure,” he said on Twitter. “That’s the key context to keep in mind.”

More than 10.3 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 504,269 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

GeneChing

07-28-2020, 06:06 PM

GeneChing

08-04-2020, 10:15 AM

BUSINESS NEWS AUGUST 3, 2020 / 10:36 PM / UPDATED 12 HOURS AGO
China's hog futures set to make debut, but faces big challenges (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-futures-hogs-analysis-idUSKCN2500H3)
Emily Chow
6 MIN READ

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s long-awaited live hog futures contract is almost ready, offering a vital hedging tool for the world’s largest pork industry, which has been roiled by an African swine fever outbreak that devastated herds and sent pork prices soaring.

https://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20200804&t=2&i=1528250766&w=1200&r=LYNXNPEG73091
FILE PHOTO: An employee works next to signs showing pork prices at a market in Beijing, China December 8, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo

The country’s first live-animal physical-delivery contract has been planned for a decade, and is expected to be popular with domestic traders on the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE).

But complex delivery logistics, tight quality-control standards, a local lack of experience with futures contracts and a retail trading community that has wildly distorted other markets will be key challenges.

China typically slaughters about 700 million pigs annually and produces more than 50 million tonnes of pork – about half of global output. Hog and pork producers have traditionally relied on contracts that define volume and delivery requirements, but have little control over or insight into costs, especially in future months.

(GRAPHIC - China pork output vs world production: here)
https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/rlgvdnaobvo/China%20vs%20world%20output-USDA%20data.jpg
Reuters Graphic

That lack of cost control was made clear by the country’s widespread outbreaks of African swine fever, which since 2018 have nearly halved the pig herd and disrupted hog and pork supplies throughout the country.

Producers are now rebuilding the herd, which stands at 339.96 million head as of end-June, but average pork prices remain near record highs, making the launch of a transparent pricing and hedging tool a welcome development.

threads
Bacon!!!!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?48509-Bacon!!!!!!)
swine flu (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?53888-Best-remedy-for-Swine-Flu-H1N1)