Egyptian woman dies of bird flu, 2nd in week
Reuters

CAIRO (Reuters) - A 25-year-old Egyptian woman died of bird flu on Sunday, the second fatality among humans in Egypt in less than one week, the Health Ministry said


China's latest bird flu patient discharged from hospital
Xinhua

NANJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The latest bird flu patient was discharged from an unidentified hospital on Dec. 26 in the eastern province of Jiangsu, local health authorities said.


WHO confirms H5N1 cases in Egypt, Vietnam
CIDRAP News

Dec 28, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) today confirmed three human cases of H5N1 avian influenza in Vietnam and Egypt, one of which was fatal, raising the global H5N1 count to 346 cases with 213 deaths.

WHO confirms H5N1 case in Pakistan cluster
CIDRAP News
Robert Roos News Editor

Dec 27, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced its first confirmation of a human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Pakistan, in a young man who was part of a family cluster of suspected cases and died of the disease.

Bird flu death toll in Vietnam nears 50
RIA Novosti
09:34 | 27/ 12/ 2007

HANOI, December 27 (RIA Novosti) - The Vietnamese Health Ministry confirmed on Thursday the 47th known death in the country from bird flu.

European countries report more H5N1 in poultry
CIDRAP News

Dec 27, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Germany, Poland, and Russia recently reported fresh outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry, according to media accounts and reports from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

Avian flu deaths reported in Egypt, Indonesia, Vietnam
CIDRAP News

Dec 26, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – A young woman in Egypt and another of almost the same age in Indonesia died of H5N1 avian influenza yesterday, raising the global H5N1 death toll to 211, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.

Russia Culls 600,000 Chickens At Avian Flu-Hit Farm
AHN
December 25, 2007 9:15 p.m. EST

Windsor Genova - AHN News Writer
Rostov-On-Don, Russia (AHN) - More than 600,000 chickens were culled at a Russian farm on Tuesday after tests confirmed an outbreak of the avian influenza virus.

Pigeons 'unlikely carriers of bird flu'
( Gulf News )
By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter


Dubai: Pigeons and doves are unlikely to carry the H5N1 bird flu virus, a top municipality official said yesterday.

Indonesia reports 94th bird flu death
ANTARA News

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A 24-year-old Indonesian woman has died of bird flu in the capital Jakarta, the health ministry said Wednesday, bringing the toll in the nation worst hit by the H5N1 virus to 94.

Vietnamese child dies suspectedly from bird flu
Xinhua

www.chinaview.cn 2007-12-26 10:15:14 Print

HANOI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A four-year old child from Vietnam's northern Son La province has recently died after showing bird flu symptoms, local newspaper Labor reported Wednesday

China tests human bird flu vaccine
( PRESS TV )
Tue, 25 Dec 2007 14:59:30

China has announced its success in the second phase clinical testing of the human vaccine against H5N1 virus which causes the avian flu.

UAE ready to deal with bird flu threat
( Khaleej Times )
By Asma Ali Zain (Our Staff Reporter)

24 December 2007

DUBAI — Health authorities in the country are reviewing the international situation on avian flu and are expected to update the existing plans to monitor the spread of the disease in the country as holidayers return.

Indonesia clears four of bird flu in cluster probe
ANTARA News

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has cleared four out of six members of a family hospitalised with bird flu symptoms, a health official said on Saturday, in a case that has raised concerns over potential human-to-human spread of the disease.

Polish government says new H5N1 flu confirmed
AFP
1 day ago

WARSAW (AFP) — A new outbreak of the potentially lethal H5N1 avian flu has been detected in northern Poland where cases have already been reported, the Polish Agriculture Ministry said Saturday

Common buzzard found dead in HK tests positive for H5N1
Xinhua

www.chinaview.cn 2007-12-21 21:37:12 Print

HONG KONG, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The common buzzard that was found dead earlier on Hong Kong's largest but thinly populated island tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu virus, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said Friday.

Five suspected bird flu patients moved to AI center

Serang, Banten (ANTARA News) - After three days of medical treatment at the Serang General Hospital, five suspected bird flu patients were moved to the special Avian-Flu (AI) center at the Jakarta-based Persahabatan Hospital by four ambulances on Friday.

Only limited human H5N1 spread in Pakistan
Khaleej Times
(Reuters)

21 December 2007


GENEVA - The World Health Organisation (WHO) suspects there has been only limited human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus in Pakistan, but international test results are pending, an official said on Friday.


Reports of potential H5N1 cases rise in Pakistan
Robert Roos News Editor


Dec 18, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Vigilance engendered by the possible family cluster of H5N1 avian influenza cases in Pakistan has led to many more reports of potential cases there, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said today.

More Bird Flu Cases From Tangerang
(Komnas FBPI)

Jakarta, December 14, 2007 - Bird Flu Information Center - A 47-year old man known as "M", from Cipondoh subDistrict, Tangerang Municipality in Banten Province is infected with the H5N1 influenza virus, according to tests conducted by the Health Research and Development Center of the Ministry of Healthand the Eijkman Institute in Jakarta.

Donors pledge $406 million to fight avian flu

Dec 7, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – International donors at this week's New Delhi conference on avian and pandemic influenza pledged about $406 million, including $195 million from the United States, to fight H5N1 avian flu, according to news reports.

One dies of bird flu in China
( The Hindu )

NANJING: A man in east China’s Jiangsu province died of bird flu on Sunday, the provincial health department reported.

Chinese man dies of bird flu
( Stuff.co.nz )
Reuters | Monday, 03 December 2007

A man in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu has died of the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, the official Xinhua news agency has said, in the first case in the country since June.

Campaign to Combat Bird Flu in Full Swing
Mohammed Rasooldeen, Arab News

RIYADH , 2 December 2007 — More than four million birds have been culled in the Kingdom since avian flu was first detected on Nov. 12 in 1,500 birds at a farm in Al-Kharj, said Agriculture Minister Dr. Fahd Balghunaim.

Bird flu virus remains entrenched in six nations: Report
( The Times Of India )
30 Nov 2007,

NEW YORK: Most of the countries in the world are now prepared to take quick measures to tackle avian flu, however the virus H5N1, which still remains entrenched in six nations, pose a worldwide threat, a joint UN-World Bank report has warned.

More bird flu at Saudi poultry farm
( Arabianbusiness.com )
by Lynne Roberts and Reuters on Tuesday, 27 November 2007

More cases of a deadly strain of bird flu have been found at a poultry farm in Saudi Arabia just weeks before the Muslims flock to Mecca for the annual haj pilgrimage, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday.

H5N1 poultry virus confirmed in Hong Kong
( WorldPoultry.net )
26 Nov 2007

The government has confirmed that a sick egret recently discovered in Hong Kong has tested positive for the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu.

Media can limit impact of disease outbreaks
( The News )
By Shahina Maqbool
11/26/2007
Islamabad

Responsible journalism can play a significant role in limiting the impact of disease outbreaks. Health journalists should refrain from being overwhelmed. They should tailor their response so that it is closest to reality, rather than being an exaggerated account that alarms the public and results in economic losses.

WHO hopes to resolve row on bird flu virus sharing

Geneva (ANTARA News) - Health officials this week reopen the thorny issue of bird flu virus sharing, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) says is vital for tracking the deadly H5N1 virus and developing vaccines against a potential pandemic.


UK Bird Flu Update: H5N1 Confirmed At 2nd Premises
( Scoop.co.nz )
Tuesday, 20 November 2007, 10:45 am
Press Release: UK Government

Avian Influenza update: H5N1 confirmed at second premises
Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (UK)

Laboratory test results have today confirmed H5N1 Avian Influenza in turkeys at one of the Dangerous Contact premises. These premises were confirmed as a Dangerous Contact, and placed under restriction, on 14th November.


DEFRA completes precautionary avian flu culls
( Farmers Weekly Interactive )
19/11/2007 14:07:00
FWi

DEFRA vets have completed the precautionary cull on four units managed by Redgrave Poultry, the same company that manages the unit at the centre of the current H5N1 avian flu outbreak near Diss.

Saudi Arabia culls birds after avian flu found
( The China Post )

Friday, November 16, 2007
Reuters

RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia has culled 50,000 birds at a poultry farm near the capital of Riyadh, which were found to have a deadly strain of bird flu, Saudi media reported Thursday.

Study says wild birds unlikely to bring H5N1 to Americas
Robert Roos News Editor


Nov 16, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – An analysis of influenza viruses collected from North American migratory birds over a 6-year period suggests that wild birds rarely carry avian flu viruses between Eurasia and North America, implying that the risk of the deadly H5N1 virus reaching the Americas by that route is probably low.

Turkeys culled in fears that avian flu may have spread to a second farm
( TIMES ONLINE )

Valerie Elliott, Countrsyide Editor

Turkeys suspected of being infected with avian flu were being culled at a second farm in Suffolk yesterday.

Bird flu death toll rises to 91

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A resident of Bengkalis in the Riau province, Sumatra, had died of bird flu recently raising the number of people in Indonesia who passed away after suffering from the disease to 91.

In a press statement on Monday the Indonesia health ministry stated that the victim had been declared positive with the H5N1 virus.

5,000 birds to be culled in fresh avian flu outbreak
( News.Scotsman.com )

AROUND 5,000 birds are being slaughtered after avian flu was confirmed in turkeys on a farm south of the Border.

PNC Special Report: Avian Flu - Asia-Pacific Warned Of New Winter Season Threat, New Deaths From 'Bird Flu'
( Pacific News center )

Mike Cohen, Pacific News Center Correspondent 11.NOV.07
12:04 p.m. Avian influenza continues to worry the Asia Pacific region's health officials. "One of the greatest threats to the survival of the human race," is how Dr. David Nabarro, the senior UN Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, told told reporters in Bangkok, and that while "Nations have made progress in containing the virus' spread, there remain some problem areas."

Avian flu strikes ducks in two more Vietnamese provinces

Nov 9, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Officials in Vietnam recently reported H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks at farms in two more provinces, bringing to six the number of provinces hit by the virus since early October.

Indonesia demands WHO return bird flu samples
( Peole's Daily Online )
+ - 16:25, November 09, 2007

The Indonesian Health Ministry has criticized the World Health Organization (WHO) for ignoring repeated requests for the return 58 bird flu viruses, local press said Friday.


UN warns of possible sharp rise in bird flu outbreaks ahead of Northern Hemisphere winter
( The Jakarta Post )

TOKYO (AP): Asia must keep watch for a sharp rise in bird flu outbreaks as winter approaches, the top U.N. influenza official said Friday, calling illnesses from animals "one of the greatest threats to the survival of the human race."

ES, Newest Bird Flu Fatality In Tangerang
( KOMNAS FBPI )

Jakarta, November 5, 2007 - Bird Flu Information center -
A laboratory test results from the Ministry of Health's Research and Development Center dated November 1, 2007 confirmed that ES (F, 30) from Tangerang Municipality, Banten Province is positively infected by the H5N1 virus. Another laboratory test from Jakarta-based Eijkman Institute is also required to confirm the test results. In almost all cases, the Eijkman's test results match the Litbangkes laboratory's test results.

Bird flu forces Bangladesh to cull chickens
Fri Nov 2, 2007 1:27pm IST

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh culled some 6,000 chickens after bird flu infected three more farms in the northern part of the country, officials said on Friday.

Brunei Endorses Asean Action On Avian Flu
(BruDirect.com )
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Minister of Industry and Primary Resources expressed the Sultanate's support for the second phase of the Regional Framework for the control and eradication of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Asean with the endorsement of the Asean Regional Strategy for the Progressive Control and Eradication of HPAI for 2008-2010.

Bird Flu Finds Children's Lungs Faster

ScienceDaily (Oct. 27, 2007) — New findings, reported in the journal Respiratory Research, about how the virus binds to the respiratory tract and lung suggest children may be particularly susceptible to avian influenza,.

Bird flu hits central Vietnam
Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:50:43
( Press TV )

Bird flu kills hundreds of ducks in Vietnam
Bird flu has killed nearly 300 ducklings in central Vietnam, the second outbreak found in the Southeast Asian country this month.

Bird Flu Claims Its\' 89th Death in Indonesia
( KOMNAS FBPI )

Jakarta, October 24, 2007 - Bird Flu Command Post - Bird Flu claims another victim in Banten Province. DA, a 5-year old girl from Tangerang District, Banten Province died on Monday October 22, 2007. A laboratory test results from the Ministry of Health's Research and Development Center dated October 21, 2007 confirmed that DA is positively infected by the H5N1 virus.

US gives additional US$38 million to help UN agency fight bird flu
( PR-inside.com )

ROME (AP) - The United States will contribute an additional US$38 million (¤26.76 million) to a U.N. program that works to control and prevent the spread of bird flu in animals worldwide, the U.N. food agency that runs the program said Wednesday.
With the new funds provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. support
for the program will total US$63 million (¤44.37 million), the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization said.

Bird Flu claims its' 88thdeath in Indonesia
( KOMNAS FBPI )

Jakarta, October 14, 2007 - Bird Flu Information Center - Bird Flu claims another victim in Indonesia. IR, a 12-year old boy from Tangerang District, Banten province died on Saturday October 13, 2007.
A laboratory test results from the Ministry of Health's Research and Development Center dated October 10, 2007 confirmed that IR is positively infected by the H5N1 virus.

INDONESIA BIRD FLU DEATH TOLLS UP TO 87

Jakarta, October 9, 2007 - Ministry of Health -
Test results from the Health Research and Development Center of the Ministry of Health confirmed that LT, a 44-year old woman from Pekanbaru in Riau Province, Sumatra is infected with the H5N1 influenza virus. Overall, Indonesia has now recorded 108 confirmed human H5N1 cases and 87 fatalities. The case fatality rate now stands at 80.55%. Up to today, Riau Province has recorded 5 bird flu positive cases with 4 fatalities.

Bird flu returns to Vietnam
( Digital Journal )

After months of no reported cases of avian influenza, ducks in Vietnam's Mekong Delta have tested positive for the virus, a local official said Thursday.

Fears of Indonesian human bird flu cluster recede

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Tests on Indonesian villagers suspected of being a cluster of human bird flu cases were negative for the feared virus, a health ministry official said Wednesday.

"Their results were all negative," said Momo, a Bird Flu Information Centre official, after tests on five people in Telaga Tujuh village, North Sumatra.

Eight suspected bird flu patients admitted to hospital in Medan

Medan, North Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Some eight suspected bird flu patients were admitted to Adam Malik Hospital in the North Sumatran city of Medan on Sunday night, a hospital spokesman said on Monday.

The spokesman, M Nur Rasyid Lubis, said the condition of six of the patients has begun to improve while that of the two others, a pregnant women and a three-year old toddler, remained serious.

"The condition of the two other patients is still worrisome," Nur Rasyid said.

H5N1 mutation that could help spark pandemic identified

Oct 5, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – An international research team led by the University of Wisconsin at Madison (UW-Madison) has identified a key mutation that would arm the H5N1 avian influenza virus with one of the tools it needs to more easily infect and spread among humans.





(Bird flu on Saskatchewan farm results in culling of 50,000 chickens
( News Medical.Net )
Disease/Infection News
Published: Thursday, 4-Oct-2007

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says chickens infected with a highly pathogenic H7N3 strain of avian influenza on a farm in Saskatchewan have all been destroyed.

AR, Newest Bird Flu Fatality in Jakarta
( KOMNAS FBPI )

Jakarta, October 1, 2007 - Ministry of Health - Test results from the Health Research and Development Center of the Ministry of Health confirmed that a 21-year old man, known as "AR" from Cengkareng area in West Jakarta, is the most recent confirmed H5N1 case in Indonesia. Overall, Indonesia has now recorded 107 confirmed human H5N1 cases with 86 fatalities.

Bird flu outbreak reported in Russia
( Sciense Daily )

MOSCOW, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Hundreds of thousands of birds at a poultry farm in Russia's southern Krasnodar Terroritory are being destroyed following an outbreak of bird flu.

50,000 birds to be euthanized by gas
50,000 birds to be eythnized by gas
( Canada.com )
Angela Hall, The Leader-Post
Published: Friday, September 28, 2007

The strain of avian influenza detected at a Regina Beach-area commercial operation is deadly to domestic poultry, but generally isn't a risk to humans, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says.

Second farm under quarantine over avian flu concern in Canada
( People's Daily Online )
+ - 09:47, September 30, 2007

Another chicken farm has been put under quarantine over fears of avian flu in Canada's central Saskatchewan province, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced Saturday.

Bangladesh, Thailand report H5N1 in poultry; Canada finds H7N3
Lisa Schnirring Staff Writer


Sep 27, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Officials in Bangladesh and Thailand recently reported new H5N1 avian influenza outDeadly bird flu can pass from mother to fetusbreaks on chicken farms, and Canadian authorities today confirmed an outbreak of H7N3 influenza on a commercial poultry farm in Saskatchewan.

Deadly bird flu can pass from mother to fetus


PARIS (AFP) — The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu can pass through the placenta of a pregnant woman to her unborn fetus, scientists reported Friday.

Singapore scientists speed up bird flu test
( ABC Radio Australia )

Last Updated 24/09/2007, 15:17:57 Select text size:


Scientists in Singapore say they've created a hand-held device that can detect the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus within half-an-hour.

Bird-flu outbreak brought under 'effective control'
( China.org.cn )

Local authorities are keeping a close eye on the bird-flu situation in the Panyu district of this South China city.

"The 68 people who came into close contact with the ducks killed by bird flu are receiving two medical checkups a day and all of them are said to be in good shape," a district government official surnamed Zhong, said.

Detecting Bird Flu: New Lab-on-chip Identifies H5N1 In Thirty Minutes
Science Daily — Researchers have successfully developed a miniaturized device that can be used to detect the highly pathogenic avian flu (H5N1) virus.

Bird-flu outbreak brought under 'effective control'
(China.org.cn )

Local authorities are keeping a close eye on the bird-flu situation in the Panyu district of this South China city.

"The 68 people who came into close contact with the ducks killed by bird flu are receiving two medical checkups a day and all of them are said to be in good shape," a district government official surnamed Zhong, said.



China confirms new bird flu outbreak
( Bangkok Post )


Beijing (dpa) - Chinese experts have confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in ducks in the southern province of Guangdong, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.

Nigeria: Bird Flu - 1,052 Birds Culled in Nasarawa
( All Africa.com )
Daily Trust (Abuja)

20 September 2007
Posted to the web 20 September 2007

Ahmed Tahir
Lafia

Over 1,052 birds have so far been culled in Panda Development Area of Nasarawa State in the wake of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) that affected the area just as the people of the area were commended for reporting early signs of the flu.

South China city reports suspected bird flu outbreak


www.chinaview.cn 2007-09-15 19:29:08
GUANGZHOU, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's southern city of Guangzhou has reported massive deaths of ducks in a village which are suspected to be a bird flu outbreak, according to information posted on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture.

RI to get $15 million from Japan to fight bird flu

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is to receive a Japanese grant worth US$15 million for its avian influenza eradication program, an Indonesian official said.

Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Shin Ebihara and the Foreign Affairs Ministry`s director general for Asia Pacific and Africa, Primo Alui Joelianto, signed a memorandum of understanding on the grant here Thursday.

Pacific flu threat 'serious as ever': WHO
( Radio Australia )

Last Updated 13/09/2007, 20:22:36


The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the threat of avian flu in the Pacific region is as serious as ever.

Members of the WHO's western Pacific region are currently in South Korea to discuss ways to combat bird flu after reports that many countries do not have the minimum systems in place to deal with an outbreak.

Indonesia to start producing Tamiflu

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will start producing oseltamivir (tamiflu) pills in an adquate amount this year in anticipation of the possibility of a further spread of the bird flu virus.

Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie said here on Tuesday the drug would be produced in an adequate quantity so the country no longer needed to import

Germany finds H5N1 in frozen duck meat

Sep 10, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – A government official in Bavaria said today there was a chance that some frozen duck meat contaminated with the H5N1 avian influenza virus made its way to consumers' tables, according to a German news agency.

Complacency on bird flu will be deadly - WHO
( Netscape.com )

September 11 2007 at 03:50AM

Jeju Island, South Korea - The World Health Organisation warned on Monday against complacency in the fight against bird flu, saying another human influenza pandemic is inevitable sooner or later.

Newest Confirmed Bird flu in Riau Province

Jakarta, September 6, 2007 - Ministry of Health – A 33-year old man known as “GS”, from Hang Kampar District in Riau Province, Sumatra is infected with the H5N1 influenza virus, according to laboratory tests conducted in Jakarta. Overall, Indonesia has now recorded 106 confirmed human H5N1 cases and 84 fatalities.

Bird flu continues to spread in Germany
( People's Daily Online )
+ - 10:44, September 08, 2007

Bird flu continues to spread in Germany after authorities identified new cases in two more duck farms, local reports said Friday.

Indonesia dismisses human transmission on bird flu


www.chinaview.cn 2007-09-03 19:37:16

JAKARTA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia confirmed that there has been no human-to-human transmission of avian influenza virus in the country, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Syupari said here Monday.

Warning of new bird flu danger
( THE AGE )
August 31,2007

BIRD flu has spread between several humans, according to a new study of deaths in Indonesia last year.

WHO confirms 5 Vietnam H5N1 cases, lists lab test criteria
Lisa Schnirring Staff Writer


Aug 31, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) today recognized five human H5N1 influenza cases from Vietnam dating back to late May, after publishing formal criteria for accepting positive test results for H5 flu viruses from national laboratories.

New poultry scare
Migrant birds have tested positive for the H7 strain of bird flu, reports Reem Leila
( AL- AHRAM )

The H7 strain of the bird flu virus has been detected in Egypt for the first time. Nine migrant birds, all of them ducks, tested positive for the virus when 6,432 samples were taken from the approximately one million birds that annually migrate over Al-Manzalah Lake in the Sharqiya governorate from central and eastern Europe. The recently identified H7 strain is thought to pose little risk, certainly in comparison with the virulent H5N1 strain of the virus.

Bird flu hits poultry in two Vietnam provinces

Fri Aug 24, 2007 6:12PM IST

HANOI (Reuters) - Bird flu has spread to two more provinces in Vietnam, killing hundreds of chickens and ducks, the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday

Second Bird-Flu Victim From Bali Confirmed
( KOMNAS FBPI )

Jakarta, August 22, 2007 - Ministry of Health – Test results from the Health Research and Development Center of the Ministry of Health and the Eijkman Insitute in Jakarta have confirmed that AS, a 28-year old female from Banjar Batu Gaing, Baraban, Kediri, Tabanan District in Bali is the most recent confirmed H5N1 case in Indonesia. In total, Bali has now recorded two cases, with two fatalities. Overall, Indonesia has now recorded 105 confirmed human H5N1 cases and 84 fatalities. The case fatality rate now stands at 80%.

Poultry farming must be re-examined: WHO - Summary
( Earth Times )


Geneva - The nature of poultry farming needed to be re- examined the head of the World Health Organization, WHO, said Thursday. WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said more and more diseases were emerging at the historically unprecedented rate of one per year, and more and more were spread from animals

Indonesia: H5N1 sample on its way to WHO
Robert Roos News Editor


Aug 17, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Indonesian officials said today they have sent a sample from a recent victim of H5N1 influenza to the World Health Organization (WHO), apparently ending the country's prolonged withholding of H5N1 samples.


More...


Antigen Sparing Adjuvant Strategy Might Increase Avian Flu Vaccine Production
( Medical News Today )

There is a strategy which could significantly boost the production of the avian influenza vaccine, allowing many more people to be vaccinated, according to an article in The Lancet. Professor Geert Leroux-Roels, Centre for Vaccinology, Ghent University and Hospital, Belgium and team said that if they combine the vaccine with an oil-in-water emulsion (adjudant) the body is able to produce six times as many avian flu neutralizing antibodies, compared to what the body can produce with a non-adjuvanted vaccine with an identical dose.

More...

Indonesia reports another H5N1 death

Aug 16, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – For the second time in 4 days, Indonesia's health ministry today announced a fatal human case of H5N1 avian influenza, this one in a 17-year-old girl from a town just west of Jakarta who died Aug 14

More...

Vietnam finds bird flu in poultry near China
Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:04AM IST

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam has detected a bird flu outbreak in the northern province of Cao Bang bordering China, the country's second infection among poultry so far this month, the Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday.

More...

Woman's death marks Bali's first H5N1 case

Aug 13, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Indonesia's health ministry today announced that a 29-year-old woman from Bali died yesterday of H5N1 avian influenza, signaling the first human case on the popular tourist island, and that her 5-year-old daughter had died earlier of a similar illness.

More...

BioTech Medics, Inc. Explores Patented SHBAN Solution as Potential Avian Bird Flu Water Prophylactic Additive at Poultry Farms
( Earth times )
Press Relelease


DALLAS, TX -- 08/14/07 -- BioTech Medics, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: BTME) announced today that research has commenced exploring the possibility of BioTech's Patented SHBAN(TM) Solution being used as a safe non-toxic prophylactic water additive in poultry farms. The product could be available this fall if testing is successful.

More...

New Bird Flu Cases Detected in Togo
( Medindia )

Three new cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu have been detected in poultry on farms in the west African nation of Togo, a report said Saturday.

More...

Vietnamese teenager dies of avian flu


Aug 8, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Vietnamese officials said yesterday that the death of a 15-year-old boy last week was caused by H5N1 avian influenza, according to news services.

More...

Jakarta warned of silent bird flu outbreak in poultry
(People's Daily Online )
+ - 14:29, August 08, 2007

Avian influenza has killed no less than 500,000 chickens in Greater Jakarta in the last six months but not all outbreaks have been reported to the health authority, local press reported Wednesday.

More...

WHO: Indonesia's withholding of viruses endangers world

Robert Roos News Editor


Aug 7, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – A World Health Organization official said yesterday that Indonesia is endangering the world's health by continuing to withhold H5N1 influenza virus samples collected from human patients.

More...

Flu mop-up after first-phase success
(The Telegraph ,Calcutta, India)
OUR CORRESPONDENT

Officials of the Manipur veterinary department carry out a poultry culling operation in Imphal
Imphal, Aug. 3: Manipur today began the second phase of its operation to eliminate the last traces, if any, of the deadly H5N1 avian virus that struck a farm on the outskirts of the capital town last week.

More...

Burma Confirm New Bird Flu Outbreak
( RFA )
2007.08.01

BANGKOK—Authorities in the central Burmese region of Bago have confirmed a new outbreak of avian influenza, officials told RFA’s Burmese service.

More...

World Tourism Organization
Tourism sector strengthens defences against Avian Flu
(Travel Daily News International
Wednesday, August 01, 2007


70 participants from more than 15 countries and several UN Agencies were gathered at the second UNWTO regional Avian and Human Influenza Simulation (AHI), which was actively supported by the government of Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to highlight the issues regarding Avian Flu.

More...

Manipur bird flu suspected to have come from Burma

Subhaschandra M
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

July 31, 2007 - July 31- Fingers are being pointed at Burma for the outbreak of bird flu to have crossed the border to the Indian state of Manipur.

Indian officials and traders suspect that the bird flu virus has come from Burma last week.



Pregnant woman is Vietnam's latest victim

Jul 31, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – A hospital official in Vietnam today said a 22-year-old woman who was 7 months pregnant died of H5N1 avian influenza 3 days ago, pushing the country's death toll from the disease this year to three.



Autopsy rules out flu death
- On assignment, but not culling
The Telegraph Calcutta,India
OUR CORRESPONDENT

Imphal, July 29: Manipur veterinary workers culling poultry in the state were a relieved lot today, after it was confirmed that one of their colleagues’ sudden death yesterday was not caused by bird flu. An autopsy report confirmed that the victim died after consuming formalin, a preservative that can lead to lead poisoning among humans

Commentary: The Coming Catastrophe - Avian Flu
(Caribbean Net News)
Published on Monday, July 30, 2007
By Dr Gilbert Morris

Health and illness -- or sickness beyond being generally unwell -- will be the main issue of our new millennium. And in a manner of speaking, we are off to a good start. The Avian (Bird) Flu (H5N1) threatens to repeat the 1918 global pandemic that killed 40 million people.

More...




UN Helps Indonesia With Bird Flu Rapid Response
(Scoop)
Friday, 27 July 2007, 8:18 am
Press Release: United Nations


UN helps Indonesia set up rapid response teams to control spread of bird flu
Without involving rural communities in the fight against bird flu, Indonesia will not be able to control the highly contagious disease, which has ravaged millions of poultry and already killed more humans in the archipelago than anywhere else in the world, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned today.

More...

India finds H5N1 in poultry after 1-year hiatus

Jul 25, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Animal health officials in India announced today that samples from chickens at a poultry farm in the remote northeastern Manipur state were positive for the H5N1 avian flu virus, signaling the country's first outbreak in more than a year.

More...

USDA lab confirms low-path H5N1 Strain in Virginia turkeys


Jul 17, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) today confirmed that turkeys at a Virginia farm were exposed to the low-pathogenic North American strain of the H5N1 avian flu virus.

More...

Jakarta still ‘probing the source of avian flu death' Published: Friday, 13 July, 2007, 01:54 Doha Time (Gulf Times)

JAKARTA: Medical officials in Indonesia are still trying to pinpoint the source of infection after a 6-year-old boy died of bird flu at the weekend, a health official said yesterday.

More...

In a Bird Flu Hot Spot, Community Radio Reporters Learn How to Cover the Virus

(Internews)
(July 12, 2007) Indonesian radio journalists learned how to stay safe while reporting on avian flu, how to conduct interviews with empathy, and how to communicate the risks of the virus accurately—all at a recent workshop in Bandung, West Java. Organized by Internews Network, the workshop was the first training tailored for Indonesia’s community radio stations in how to cover avian flu.

More...

Bird flu: Five warded for observation

(The Star Online)

PETALING JAYA: Five people have been admitted for observation at the Sungai Buloh Hospital after coming down with fever in wake of the bird flu outbreak at Kampung Paya Jaras Hilir in Sungai Buloh.

More....


Indonesia suspects ominous H5N1 mutations

Lisa Schnirring Staff Writer


Jun 6, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Officials from Indonesia's avian flu commission said today that the H5N1 avian influenza virus may have mutated in a way that makes it more transmissible from birds to humans, but a World Health Organization (WHO) official said the WHO had seen no evidence of such a change, according to news services.

More...

Avian Flu – A Continued Threat

(The Real Truth)

Despite having faded from importance in the eyes of most news media and the general public, avian influenza (or “bird flu”) continues to ravage certain parts of the world. According to a recent Boston Globe article, 44 people have contracted the disease this year, mainly in Indonesia and Egypt; 60% of these have died.

More...

UNICEF to distribute 100,000 bird flu prevention kits in Indonesia

UNICEF Indonesia/2007

By Arie Rukmantara

GARUT, Indonesia, 5 June 2007 – For people in Garut, West Java, a six-hour drive from Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, Monday is usually just the start of another work week.

More...

Malaysia culls chickens, says bird flu contained

By Yoong Chee Weng

KAMPUNG PAYA JARAS HILIR, Malaysia, June 7 (Reuters) - Malaysia has confined bird flu to three villages near its capital as teams of government workers and volunteers cull flocks of chickens and ducks to stamp out the H5N1 virus, health officials said on Thursday

More...

Fighting bird flu at the source

Written by Jim Birchard


The battle to protect Canadians from diseases that jump from animals to humans must be waged in the country of origin rather than here in Canada

More...

Vietnam reports H5N1 case ;Chinesepatient dies

Jun 4, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Vietnam's health ministry announced over the weekend that a poultry slaughterhouse worker was being treated for H5N1 avian influenza, and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed today that China's most recent H5N1 patient has died.

More...

Girl dies of bird flu, bringing national toll to 79

(The Jakarta Post)

JAKARTA (AP): An Indonesian girl died of bird flu after coming into contact with an infected chicken, bringing the national death toll from the H5N1 virus to 79, a Health Ministry spokeswoman said Sunday.

More...



Understanding avian flu
(Khaleej Times)
2 June 2007



IF PREDICTIONS of an avian flu epidemic in humans seem to sound more ominous with each repetition, an important reason is the paucity of scientific understanding of the process of mutation. There was thus a palpable sense of relief when an international team of scientists announced the other day that they had succeeded in isolating antibodies that could protect humans.

More...

Indonesia open to sharing bird flu samples under U.N. agreement

(The Jakarta Post)

JAKARTA(AP): Indonesia's health minister saidSaturday the country will share bird flu samples after the U.N. health agency approved an agreement it hopes will strengthen efforts to combat the ...

More...

China shares bird flu sample, first time in year

(Khaleej Times)
1 June 2007



GENEVA (Reuters) China has shared human bird flu samples for the first time in more than a year, giving a boost to international efforts to track the deadly H5N1 virus and develop vaccines, the World Health Organisation said on ...

More...

Plotting avian flu scenarios to improve preparedness
(Eldis)
Bloom, E.; de Wit, V.; Carangal-San jose, M.J. / Asian Development Bank (ADB) , 2005
This briefing looks at the possible economic consequences for Asia of a mutation of avian flu leading to human-to-human transmission, using different assumptions about the duration and virulence of the flu pandemic. The analysis looks at a relatively mild outbreak, and focuses on the short-run impact of a pandemic on aggregate economic activity. It finds that a pandemic will likely slow or halt economic growth in Asia and lead to a significant reduction in trade, particularly of services. In the long run, potential economic growth will be lower and poverty will ...

More...

Indonesia: H5N1 samples going to WHO again

May 15, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Indonesia's health minister announced today at the World Health Organization's (WHO's) annual meeting that the country has resumed sending H5N1 avian influenza virus samples to the WHO, appearing to end a 5-month
standoff over developing countries' access to vaccines

More...

Ghana: H5N1 not a new introduction
Related to other isolates from Sub-Saharan African countries WATTpoultry.com
Dateline: Ghana
Release Date: Tuesday, May 22, 2007

The analysis of the H5N1 avian influenza strain isolated from the outbreak occurring in Ghana clearly indicates that it is closely related to other isolates from Sub-Saharan African countries like Ivory Coast, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Nigeria and that it is less similar to the Asian strains currently isolated.

More...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Avian influenza: assessing the pandemic threat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHO guidelines on avian influenza: preparing for the pandemic

WHO / World Health Organization (WHO) , 2005

This report from the World Health Organization evaluates the present pandemic threat from avian influenza (also known as avian flu or “bird flu”). The paper consists of four chapters. Chapter 1 charts the outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in humans and poultry during 2004.

More...

Indonesia resumes sending bird flu samples to WHO

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhuanet) -- After refusing to share H5N1 avian flu viruses with it since the start of the year, Indonesia has resumed sending samples of the deadly virus to the World Health Organization (WHO), according to media reports Wednesday

Read more...

Singapore, US to help Indonesia fight bird flu outbreak
By Channel NewsAsia's Indonesia Bureau Chief Sujadi Siswo | Posted: 09 May 2007 1830 hrs

JAKARTA : Indonesia is fighting an uphill battle in its fight against bird flu.

The nation worst hit by the bird flu virus is now jointly working with neighbouring Singapore to control the spread of the H5N1 virus.


Read more...

What You Should Know about Using Facemasks and Respirators during a Flu PandemicCDC.gov

Photo courtesy of MoldexThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released interim guidance for the use of facemasks and respirators by the general public in certain public settings during an influenza pandemic. See the full guidance

Read more...

Bird flu death reported in Medan

MEDAN (JP): A 26-year-old woman who tested positive for bird flu died at a hospital in Medan, North Sumatra, on Saturday night, pushing the country's human avian influenza death toll to 76.

Read more...


Can vaccination free us from avian influenza?
By Jackie Linden

Scientists, politicians and other stakeholders met in Verona to discuss the role of poultry vaccination in the control of avian influenza. After two days of discussion and debate, the majority decided on a cautious “yes” but not as the sole method of control

Read more...

Global Program on Avian and Pandemic Influenza

Avian influenza (AI) or “bird flu” could be the next great global health threat. About 300 people have been infected and 169 have died since 2003 by contracting the virus through close contact with infected birds. But public health experts fear it is only a matter of time before the virus mutates into a form that passes easily among people, triggering a pandemic. Millions could die and economies would be crippled for months

Read more...

Jakarta tightens poultry regulation

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The City Council endorsed Friday a bylaw to control poultry farming and distribution in response to avian influenza outbreaks in the city.

Speaking to reporters after the endorsement of the bylaw, deputy governor Fauzi Bowo said the issuance of the regulation was timely and that he hoped people would comply with it.

Read more...

Bird flu deadly in Cambodia

A teenage girl has died after becoming infected with bird flu in Cambodia.
Dateline: Kampong Cham province, Cambodia
Release Date: Monday, April 16, 2007
16 April 2007-A 13-year-old Cambodian girl is the latest victim of bird flu, according to a report by China’s Xinhua news service.

Read more...

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced two new human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The cases have been confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3).

read more...

Avian Flu

WHO standoff with Indonesia over bird flu samples indicates battle between rich and poor
DENPASAR (AP): Bird flu has largely flown off the radar of the Western world, but people are still dying from it nearly every week in Indonesia.

Since the first case was reported two years ago, government officials have reported 74 deaths from the H5N1 strain in Indonesia - more than a third of the world's total. And it's not just the virus this nation is battling. It's also struggling to ensure that poor countries get their fair share of any new vaccine developed to stem the spread of a possible global flu epidemic.

Read more...

Web Exclusive: FAO speaks out on H5N1 ‘hot spots’
By Dr. Terry Mabbett

An FAO report highlights weak links in Indonesia, Egypt and Nigeria but praise is given to Turkey and Viet Nam.

10 April 2007-When it comes to H5N1 commentary on individual countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is usually guarded, preferring to encourage rather than to criticise. But recent events including surging number of human cases in Indonesia and Egypt, and first time appearance of human infection in West Africa, have clearly prompted the organisation into comment

Read more...

Avian influenza frequently asked questionsrevised 5 December 2005

What is avian influenza?
Which viruses cause highly pathogenic disease?
Do migratory birds spread the disease?
What is special about the current outbreaks in poultry?
Which countries have been affected by outbreaks in poultry?
What are the implications for human health?

Read more...

WHO vows vaccine stockpile for poor states

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Responding to calls from developing countries for the fairer distribution of bird flu vaccines, the World Health Organization will create a global stockpile of vaccines for poor countries.

Director general of the WHO, Margareth Chan, said Wednesday the global vaccine reserve would be of great importance for developing countries in their fight against avian influenza

More...


Web Exclusive: Human ‘sentinels’ for H5N1 in poultry

By Dr. Terry Mabbett
Since 2004 Cambodia has recorded just 20 outbreaks of H5N1 in poultry compared with over 2373 in neighbouring Vietnam.

16 April 2007-Seven all-fatal cases (most recent 3 April 2007) have been identified in Cambodia. Vietnam has recorded 93 human cases (42 fatal), the last on 14 November 2005. Ratio of H5N1 disease outbreaks in poultry to identified human infections is 3:1 and 25:1 respectively for Cambodia and Vietnam.

More...


Avian influenza: a threat to rural livelihoods, agricultural production and human health
FAO forms task force to monitor crisis, sends technical support missions to affected countries, convenes urgent meeting
Avian influenza was first identified over 100 years ago during an outbreak in Italy. Since then, the disease has cropped up at irregular intervals in all world regions. In addition to the current outbreak in Asia, recent epidemics have occurred in Hong Kong in 1997-1998 and 2003, in the Netherlands in 2003, and in the Republic of Korea in 2003.

More...

Avian Influenza

Avian Flu is ...

Avian flu (or avian influenza, and commonly known as bird flu) is an influenza type A virus that appears in many different sub-types classified according to the nature of the two components that make up the virus - haemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Haemagglutinin is a protein found on the surface of influenza viruses which is responsible for binding the virus to the cell that is being infected; neuraminidase is also found on the surface of influenza viruses.

More...




Indonesia Has the Most AI Case


RJ (mentioned as RY in previous press conference), a 15-year-old girl who lived in Central Jakarta, is positive of H5N1 virus and died on Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 05.10 p.m. She had her onset on March 28, 2007 and hospitalized in St Carolus Hospital, Central Jakarta since March 30, 2007 and in Sulianti Saroso Infection Hospital since April 2, 2007

More...


US,Indonesian scientists team up to tackle bird flu speread

American and Indonesian scientists have joined forces in a bid to halt the high number of bird flu deaths in Indonesia.

The US deputy undersecretary of agriculture, Charles Lambert, says the group will focus on stemming the spread of the virus in Indonesia's poultry industry.

More...