Avian Influenza News and Research

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Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.

Indonesia struggling to cope as death toll from bird flu reaches 40

The World Health Organisation has confirmed the death of an Indonesian boy last month was from bird flu.

3 Jul 2006

Where bird flu began is a Chinese puzzle

A surprising revelation by a group of Chinese researchers has led to a formal request from the World Health Organization (WHO) for a meeting with officials of the Chinese Ministry of Health.

26 Jun 2006

China and bird flu - the plot thickens

The plot has thickened when it comes to China and bird flu.

26 Jun 2006

Indonesia confirms 51st case of human bird flu infection

The Indonesian Ministry of Health has confirmed the country's 51st case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

20 Jun 2006

USDA trains foreign scientists on diagnostic testing for highly pathogenic Avian Influenza

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Administrator Ron DeHaven today announced the training of 24 scientists from 19 countries on diagnostic testing for highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

19 Jun 2006

Experts descend on Jakarta to sort out bird flu outbreaks

An international team of experts are meeting in Jakarta this week to assess the avian flu situation in Indonesia.

19 Jun 2006

China's 19th case of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza virus

The Ministry of Health in China has confirmed the country's 19th case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

18 Jun 2006

USAID announces $5 Million award to track bird flu

USAID announces $5 million award to support the development of a global network to track avian influenza, with the aim of monitoring the role of migratory birds.

13 Jun 2006

Have we got it right about bird flu?

Health officials in Indonesia must have breathed a sigh of relief at the the World Health Organisation's (WHO) news that bird flu has been ruled out in the cases of four Indonesian nurses who fell sick after caring for people infected with H5N1 virus.

8 Jun 2006

49th Indonesian case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus confirmed

The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed the country's 49th case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

6 Jun 2006

Indonesia struggling to cope - quake survivors at greater risk of bird flu

Indonesia's devastating earthquake on 27 May, has so far taken the lives of over 6,000 people and injured 30,000 more.

6 Jun 2006

Migrating wild birds play a key role in transporting highly pathogenic avian influenza

Migrating wild birds have played and will likely continue to play a role in transporting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, or bird flu, over long distances.

5 Jun 2006

Avian flu facts

Avian influenza (also called "bird flu") refers to the strains of the virus that infect birds. Bird flu can cause widespread illness and death among birds, though there are many different strains, which vary in strength.

1 Jun 2006

Australia all set to tackle bird flu

Australia is one of only a few countries well prepared for an outbreak of bird flu in it's poultry population.

31 May 2006

Additional six Indonesian cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus

The Indonesian Ministry of Health has confirmed an additional six cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Three of these cases were fatal.

29 May 2006

Two more deaths from bird flu as Indonesia tries to track down souce of 'cluster' deaths

While Health officials in Indonesia are still trying to track down the source of infection in a cluster of six deaths in one family from H5N1 bird flu, tests show that two more people have also died of the same disease.

23 May 2006

Seven new cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus in Indonesia

The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed an additional seven cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Six of the cases were fatal.

18 May 2006

Seniors should be last in line when it comes to bird flu jabs

According to two U.S. medical ethicists, because stocks of bird flu vaccine are likely to be in short supply, in the event of a bird flu pandemic, the young should have priority over the elderly, ill and disabled.

14 May 2006

Renewed interest in studying influenza A viruses

The emergence of the avian influenza virus H5N1 that is currently devastating chicken flocks in many countries and threatening to unleash a worldwide epidemic among humans has triggered a renewed interest among scientists in studying influenza A viruses, according to investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

9 May 2006

Restricting air travel as good as useless when it comes to stopping bird flu

According to British researchers attempts to halt a flu pandemic by restricting air travel will have little effect and even in the best case scenario the speediest action will serve to delay it by only a few months.

3 May 2006