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EU pumps $120 million into fight against bird flu

The European Union has promised to increase it's budget in the fight against bird flu to 100 million euros ($120.9 million), the figure includes an extra 20 million euros for research funds into avian and pandemic influenza.

17 Jan 2006

More deaths in Turkey and Indonesia from bird flu

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed Turkish health officials tests that show a fourth person, a young girl, has died from the H5N1 virus.

17 Jan 2006

Systemic spread of avian influenza virus in cats

Researchers at Erasmus Medical Center have demonstrated systemic spread of avian influenza virus in cats infected by respiratory, digestive, and cat-to-cat contact.

16 Jan 2006

Flu - not the only germ threat this time of year!

The flu hasn't even hit hard yet this year, but it seems like everyone's getting sick. What's the deal?

16 Jan 2006

Another child dies from suspected bird flu in Turkey

Health officials in Turkey say a girl who has has died in the eastern region of Turkey is suspected to have had bird flu.

16 Jan 2006

Carry a condom in Columbia or else face a fine

In an attempt to curb AIDS/HIV infections, unwanted teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, the western Columbian town of Tula is considering insisting it's teenagers carry condoms with them.

16 Jan 2006

Clinton's deal with drug companies will save millions of lives and millions of dollars

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has struck a deal with nine drug companies to reduce the cost of the second-line AIDS drugs.

16 Jan 2006

18 in Turkey with bird flu

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the number of people who have now fallen victim to the deadly bird flu virus in Turkey has risen to 18 from 15, and most of them are children.

16 Jan 2006

Centrally coordinated control campaign crucial to battle bird flu

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned today that the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza virus H5N1 could become endemic in Turkey and poses a serious risk to neighbouring countries.

11 Jan 2006

Turks calm and positive in dealing with bird flu outbreak

The positive response on the part of the Turkish authorities to the outbreak of avian flu has been commended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

11 Jan 2006

Russia ups the ante against bird flu yet again

As the avian bird flu virus continues its sweep across neighbouring Turkey, spreading panic in it's wake, the Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed his government to take measures to prevent a new outbreak of bird flu in Russia.

10 Jan 2006

As Turks struggle with bird flu experts say it will be controlled

As local officials were sealing off parts of the major cities of Ankara and Istanbul and thousands of birds were being culled, Guenael Rodier, head of a World Health Organization (WHO) team sent to investigate the outbreak said he believes the outbreak can be brought under control relatively easily.

10 Jan 2006

Detecting MRSA outbreaks

German researchers have proposed an automated DNA sequence-based early warning system to detect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreaks in hospitals, which they say could replace traditional slower techniques.

10 Jan 2006

Undersea tools with powerful jets of water are being redesigned to cut human bone and tissue

Robust cutting technology designed to withstand the rigours of the North Sea could soon be adapted to perform delicate surgery, thanks to engineers at the University of Edinburgh.

10 Jan 2006

Turks panic as bird flu sweeps across the country

Fears continue to grow in Turkey as more reports of suspected bird flu cases among people sweep across the country.

10 Jan 2006

New Australian chlamydia trial

General practitioners are being recruited for a world-first trial which University of Melbourne researchers hope will triple chlamydia testing rates among participating clinics.

10 Jan 2006

Turkey on alert as bird flu spreads

As the numbers of suspected bird flu cases in Turkey rises there is concern that the deadly virus is rapidly spreading across the country and is heading for mainland Europe.

9 Jan 2006

Travelers in Russia warned about bird flu in Turkey

Following the confirmation by officials that two children and one adult have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain in Turkey's capital Ankara, Russians are being warned against traveling to Turkey.

8 Jan 2006

Largest post-mortem study of SARS deaths teaches scientists about the disease

Led by John Nicholls of Hong Kong University, researchers from Hong Kong and from Toronto (two of the cities worst affected by the 2003 SARS outbreak) joined forces for a large and detailed study of the bodies of 32 patients who had died from SARS.

6 Jan 2006

Fruit bats a reservoir for Ebola virus

IRD researchers have succeeded in the first identification of bats as a potential natural reservoir of Ebola virus. Several epidemics of haemorrhagic fever have raged in the Republic of Congo and Gabon since 2001, hitting both humans and primates simultaneously.

6 Jan 2006