Avian influenza
Experts warn that a pandemic is inevitable, with the World Health Organization (WHO) unable to predict when the next influenza pandemic might occur. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that a severe flu pandemic would result in 90 million Americans becoming ill and nearly two million dying. The
Avian influenza
As the total number of bird flu outbreaks in China reaches 21, a senior mainland official has warned that the risk of human H5N1 infection will only increase during the winter. Deputy Agriculture Minister Yin Chengjie stated that the virus has become more virulent, with not only chickens but also
Avian influenza
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) field veterinarians Drs. William Karesh and Martin Gilbert collected avian influenza virus samples from wild birds in Mongolia, which have been selected by the World Health Organization to be part of a new human pandemic influenza vaccine currently in development. The samples, collected during an outbreak
Avian influenza
Thailand has chosen a path of eradication through improved poultry production systems rather than vaccination to tackle the bird flu threat. The decision was made at a ministerial workshop chaired by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, with Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Khun Ying Sudarat Keyuraphan stating that the country will not
Avian influenza
Panic over the bird flu outbreak subsided temporarily as China's health department declared that a 31-year-old farmer who had contracted the disease has tested negative for the H5N1 virus. Liu Xiaocui, a resident of Heishan county in Liaoning province, was diagnosed with severe pneumonia on November 5 and
Avian influenza
Acambis, a vaccine maker listed on the London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, is poised to announce the completion of its pandemic flu vaccine, which is ready to enter clinical trials on Tuesday. The company will showcase this product, along with its third-quarter results, as part of a research and development
Avian influenza
Applied Biosystems has announced a comprehensive avian influenza response initiative, aimed at containing and responding to potential infectious disease outbreaks. This initiative includes the provision of standardized influenza detection kits for surveillance, ongoing sequencing information of the influenza virus, and access to a global influenza genome database. The goal of
Avian influenza
A novel vaccination approach to protect against pandemic influenza, developed by Antigen Express, a subsidiary of Generex Biotechnology Corporation, has been announced. The company's Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Robert Humphreys, will make a presentation at the 3rd annual "Vaccines - All Things Considered" scientific symposium in
Avian influenza
A treatment for flu that could be crucial in combating a pandemic is blocked in the UK due to rules designed to prevent the spread of "mad cow" disease. Scientists believe antibodies taken from recovered flu patients could be used to treat others, providing an additional defense against
Avian influenza
Trade restrictions on poultry products, imposed by some countries to safeguard human and animal health, are increasing the vulnerability of international global markets to price shocks and contradicting the spirit of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated. The restrictions, which often cover poultry from
Avian influenza
Taiwan has remained a rare bright spot, free from bird flu infection, but the government is not taking any chances. Premier Frank Hsieh recently announced a NT$1 billion (US$29.67 million) subsidy to encourage local poultry farms to set up protective nets around their facilities, citing the potential
Avian influenza
Hong Kong's experience in dealing with avian influenza has prepared the city for the potential threat of a global pandemic from the H5N1 bird flu virus. With a history of outbreaks in 1968, 1957, and 1997, where six people died from the virus, Hong Kong has a unique
