Avian Flu - H5N1/H5N2/H5N8 - Pacific Northwest

Emergence of Highly Pathenogenic Flu in the Pacific Northwest (H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8)

Northern Pintail, British Columbia

A Highly Pathenogenic Strain of Avian Flu (WHO), H5N1, has appeared in Whatcom County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest, according to a report filed by Dr John Clifford, United States Department of Agriculture with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The report was filed 1/20/2015 for an event starting on 12/29/2014.  The incident involved a Green-winged Teal:Anatidae (Anas carolinensis).

The H5N1 strain's Eurasian lineage genes ( (PB2, H5, NP, MP) are over 99% identical to a gyrfalcon H5N8 strain found in Whatcom County.  It's North American lineage gene PB1 is 98% identical to a Northern Pintail H5N2 strain also found in Whatcom County, while other North American lineage genes (PA, N1, NS) are of low pathenogenicity (LPA I), according to the report filed with the OIE. This strain is a novel strain, and is different than strains appearing in Asia.

Discussion by Recombinomics  raises "the possibility of multiple constellations with the H5N2 sero-type"

The Pacific Northwest has experienced H5N2 and H5N8 strains during this fall and winter season in bird populations, as indicated by the US Department of Agriculture.

Mallard, British Columbia

Birds affected by avian flu this fall/winter 2014/5 season have included:

H5N1:  Green-winged Teal, Whatcom County, Washington.

H5N2:  Northern Pintail (Whatcom County, Washington), Broiler, Table Egg Layer, Turkey, chickens (Southern British Columbia), ducks and geese (Clallam County, Washington), mallard (Fern Ridge, Oregon), falcons (Canyon County, Idaho), turkeys, chicken, guinea fowl, water fowl (Benton County, Washington) .

H5N8: guinea fowl, chickens, ducks, geese (Winston, Douglas County, Oregon) , Wild Ducks (Idaho), grylfalcons, American Wigeon. guinea fowl, chickens, ducks and geese (Whatcom County, Washington)

The distribution of H5N2 and H5N8 in the Pacific Northwest shows an interesting pattern. Whatcom County, adjacent to the border between Washington State and British Columbia (Sumas-Lynden border crossing) offers an opportunity for mixing of the various avian flu types, given migratory paths and poultry stocks in the area. Other areas of concentration include Benton County, Washington, near Hanford, Washington as well as areas in Oregon and Idaho.

Avian Flu has a considerable impact on bird populations.  There have been limited cases of H5N1 in the human population, although one did occur in 2014 resulting from a flight from Beijing to Vancouver Canada and on to Edmonton.

Avian influenza is a disease naturally occurring in wild aquatic birds which can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.  It is very difficult for humans to become infected by avian influenza, although there have been some limited human cases.  H5N1 is sustained in the avian (bird) population but not is not currently sustained in the human population.

There has been one human death from H5N1 in North America.  On December 27, 2013, a woman travelling from Beijing, China, to Vancouver, B.C. and then onto Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, became ill on the Beijing to Vancouver leg of the flight. She was admitted on January 1, 2014 to an Edmonton hospital and died two days later.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the lead U.S. Agency for the management of health issues and has information on Avian Flu.

Recombinations and reassortments of influenza viruses provide potential opportunity for the development of new strains or of human to human transmission.  The occurrence of  H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8 in the Pacific Northwest in the fall-winter 2014-5 season raise interesting questions as to the development of the one H5N1 case identified this season and as to whether there is any relationship with the H5N1 death which occurred in the prior (2013-2014) fall-winter season.

It is interesting to consider various factors which may account for the development of highly pathenogenic avian influenza in the Pacific Northwest.  These considerations may involve the locations in which the birds were found, migratory patterns, climate change, environmental factors, and the availability of reservoirs and vectors in which the virus can mix, spread and potentially become sustained in various host or intermediate host various populations.

Marilyn Dunstan Photography
Mallard Duck Flying
Ducks

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention:
CDC
CDC-Avian Flu
Human Infection with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus


World Health Organization:
WHO
WHO-Avian Flu

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
Gyrfalcon H5N8
Northern Pintail H5N2

US Department of Agriculture (USDA-Avian Flu)

Flu.gov
Flu
H5N1

Recombinomics:
Fujian H5N1 Reassortment in Washington
Fujian H5N2 Clade 2.3.4.4 in North America
Fujian H5N8 Clade 2.3.4.4 spread in 2014

BBC News:
First N America H5N1 Bird Flu Death Confirmed in Canada

Wikipedia:
Green-Winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Influenza Virus Subtype H5N1
Influenza Virus Subtype H5N2
Influenza Virus Subtype H5N8

A Basketball Photo Essay

Garfield High School Boys Basketball Team, Seattle in the 2011 Washington Class 4A Tournament, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington...a basketball photo essay.

Glenn Brooks (1), Garfield H.S., Washington Class 4A Tournament, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington

Garfield H.S., Seattle played Puyallup H.S. , Puyallup, Gonzaga Prep, Spokane and Curtis H.S., University Place, in the Washington Class 4A Tournament, at the Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington, March, 2011. I’ve woven together thoughts and images of the competitive experience.

Daeshon Hall, Garfield H.S., Washington Class 4A Tournament, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington

Basketball is a competitive sport that combines so many elements of mental and physical ability, weaving speed with abrupt changes in movement, precision and sometimes solitude on the free throw line. It embraces elements of strategy, as the game clock may determine forcing the pace of the game. The leading team may elect to slow the pace down, playing keep away. The losing team may commit deliberate fouls, forcing the leading team to make foul shots, trading for clock time and shot opportunity.

Glenn Brooks (1), Garfield H.S., Chris Sarbaugh (24), Parker Kelly (10), Gonzaga Prep, Washington Class 4A Tournament, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington

Does the guard bringing the ball down the court elect to take the jump shot at a distance, pass off the ball to another player closer in to the basket, or perhaps to a wing man in the corner? Or does he drive down the key, finding a route inside without committing a charging foul, and make a layup or even dunk the ball?

Tony Wroten (2), Garfield H.S., Washington Class 4A Tournament, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington

These are all decisions basketball players need to make and they often make these decisions very quickly, in an instant, as matters change very fast on the basketball court. They are not pulling up an Excel spreadsheet on their cell phones and calculating the odds, or mulling it over, sleeping on it overnight. The brain does this type of calculation very well and quickly.

Garfield Player and Parker Kelly (10) (Gonzaga Prep)., Washington Class 4A Tournament, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington

Competition sets up a sense of flow, a flow to a goal, victory in the game, or perhaps beyond when a season title or a championship are involved. This sense of flow, being “in the game” may mean that shots flow more accurately, hitting only mesh, that the rebounding opportunities are there for the taking and that free throws are made, early and often. At other times, it seems, that teams can’t buy a shot.

Tucker Haymond (23), Garfield H.S. and Parker Kelly (10) (Gonzaga Prep)., Washington Class 4A Tournament, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington

It is a game of drama and intensity. Of emotion carefully crafted to play with intensity yet avoid excessive fouling which would give the player a ticket out of the game. Sometimes things flare out of proportion. It is the essence of sportsmanship to keep them from doing so as it could hurt the team.

Garfield Players and Coach, Timeout, Washington Class 4A Tournament, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington

However, there is no doubt that emotion can be used as a tool to fuel the players’ motivation to win the game. This is one function of a coaches timeout....to retool strategy and reignite emotion.

Tony Wroten (2) Shoting Free Throw, Will Dorsey (3) Behind, Garfield H.S., Washington Class 4A Tournament, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington

It is at the foul line where the pace momentarily slows. The player fouled stands on the line without contention, object of attention, studying and then shooting the free throw. Is the object to make the free throw? Most of the time it is. However a missed free throw on the second shot could lead to a rebound, a successful basket and a three point play.

In the end, one team has to lose. It may be because the winner has a stronger team, it may be because the losing team had an off night, or peaked too soon. Whatever the reason, the game was played, the decision rendered.

Tony Wroten (2), Garfield H.S., Washington Class 4A Tournament, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington

Rebounding is an asset in a basketball game, and so it is also an asset in being able to come back from a tough loss and win the next game. This is true resilience. It helps the athlete not only in the game they just won, but in fostering resilience down the road in games against other opponents, whether in High School or beyond, playing under the lights.

Tony Wroten (2), Garfield H.S. Guard, will be attending the University of Washington where he will playing Washington Husky Basketball.

The Garfield Bulldogs won their quarterfinal game against the Puyallup Vikings 90-80. The Garfield Bulldogs lost their Semifinal game to Gonzaga Prep Bullpups 53-66, who went on to beat Curtis H.S Vikings, University Place in the Washington Class 4A Tournament Finals 61-41.

The Garfield Bulldogs came back to win against the A.C. Davis Pirates, Yakima, Washington 75-68 to capture third place in the Washington Class 4A Tournament. Garfield H.S., coached by Coach Ed Haskins and his staff has an outstanding basketball tradition and can look forward to many great seasons.