Pandemic Alert level should be raised to 2

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   This year, there has been a proliferation of avian flu outbreaks across the world. While there have been few recorded cases, if they would make the jump to humans they could spread extremely quickly. Furthermore, this year has been an epidemic year for H7N9.  The infection totals up to this point are the most of any of the 4 complete outbreaks over the years, and there are still months to go.

Far more troubling, China has simply stopped recording cases. Over the past years, China has provided daily updates of case totals. However, over the past month there has been literal silence, with only 2 provinces, Hunan and Hubei provinces reporting cases. These areas, rural areas in central China were there have been few cases in past epidemics have been reporting up to 20 cases each. What is really worrying is how many have been exported from other provinces. 
For example, when Guangdong province was still providing updates, they estimated ~14 cases by December. At that time, there had been numerous cases exported to other provinces. 
Even the official government health registry has been censoring information, as the most recent infectious deseases release has literally kept H7N9 off the list

https://*******.com/forum/forum/china-h7n9-outbreak-tracking/769823-can-china-keep-track-of-h7n9-avian-flu-cases-still-no-official-public-report-for-december-2016-from-nhfpc
********com/2017/02/the-skies-arent-they-only-thing-hazy-in.html

Because of this, and the continued (though diminished) spread of Zika virus, I think that we should raise the pandemic alert level to 2.

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tiger_deF Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote tiger_deF Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Pandemic Alert level should be raised to 2 Posted: February 05 2017 at 6:19am
	This year, there has been a proliferation of avian flu outbreaks across the world. While there have been few recorded cases, if they would make the jump to humans they could spread extremely quickly. Furthermore, this year has been an epidemic year for H7N9. The infection totals up to this point are the most of any of the 4 complete outbreaks over the years, and there are still months to go. Far more troubling, China has simply stopped recording cases. Over the past years, China has provided daily updates of case totals. However, over the past month there has been literal silence, with only 2 provinces, Hunan and Hubei provinces reporting cases. These areas, rural areas in central China were there have been few cases in past epidemics have been reporting up to 20 cases each. What is really worrying is how many have been exported from other provinces. For example, when Guangdong province was still providing updates, they estimated ~14 cases by December. At that time, there had been numerous cases exported to other provinces. Even the official government health registry has been censoring information, as the most recent infectious deseases release has literally kept H7N9 off the list https://*****.com/forum/forum/china-h7n9-outbreak-tracking/769823-can-china-keep-track-of-h7n9-avian-flu-cases-still-no-official-public-report-for-december-2016-from-nhfpc ******com/2017/02/the-skies-arent-they-only-thing-hazy-in.html Because of this, and the continued (though diminished) spread of Zika virus, I think that we should raise the pandemic alert level to 2.

jacksdad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Executive Admin Joined: September 08 2007 Location: San Diego Status: Offline Points: 47251	Post Options Post Reply Quote jacksdad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 05 2017 at 6:50am
	You have a point, tiger_deF. H7N9 news is clearly being suppressed in China, in marked contrast to previous years. You have to dig to see how bad it is, but exported cases alone should indicate a much higher number of human infections in mainland China than the official numbers suggest. Sorry the links were edited - the site's filters automatically do that.
	"Buy it cheap. Stack it deep" "Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong." Michael Leavitt, HHS Secretary.