H5N1 News and Research

Latest H5N1 News and Research

Vietnamese researchers say bird flu already resisant to Tamiflu

Scientists in Vietnam are concerned that the deadly bird flu may have infected two more people, and they suspect the virus may have mutated into a more dangerous form which could spread in mammals, and cause outbreaks in poultry.

15 Nov 2005

High alert as Taiwan finds highly pathogenic bird flu strain H7N3

According to officials in Taiwan they have found a highly pathogenic strain of avian flu, H7N3, in droppings left by a migratory bird.

14 Nov 2005

China checking another possible case of human bird flu

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), China is checking on a possible human case of bird flu in a northeastern province, the second part of the country to make such a precautionary diagnosis.

14 Nov 2005

Why the bird flu virus H5N1 is so deadly to humans

A study published today in the open access journal Respiratory Research reveals that, in human cells, the virus can trigger levels of inflammatory proteins more than 10 times higher than the common human flu virus H1N1.

14 Nov 2005

Bangkok has first human case of bird flu

Health authorities in Thailand are investigating the first confirmed human infection from bird flu in Bangkok.

13 Nov 2005

Bird flu in China now up to 8 in one month

The Chinese government has reported its eighth outbreak of bird flu within a month which indicates the virus seems to be spreading.

13 Nov 2005

Bird flu in two Kuwait birds a far weaker strain

According to health officials in Kuwait two birds infected with avian flu have been destroyed, but it seems the strain of the virus present in the birds is weaker than the one which has killed more than 60 people in Asia.

13 Nov 2005

Another bird flu death as $1 billion plan revealed to fight virus

The announcement by Health experts of a $1 billion plan to halt the spread of bird flu came at the same time as Indonesia said initial tests showed the virus had killed a 16-year-old girl.

9 Nov 2005

Will the world beat bird flu?- experts doubt it

As international health experts finalised plans at a UN conference in Geneva, on the spread of bird flu, Vietnam, reported its 42nd death from the avian virus.

9 Nov 2005

More dead birds in Malaysia raises bird flu alarm

Concern has been raised in Malaysia after a second flock of pigeons was found dead in the country's northwest.

8 Nov 2005

Chinese insurer offers bird flu cover

According to Chinese media sources a Chinese insurance company is offering a life policy specifically for bird flu.

8 Nov 2005

Dead poultry in Saudi tested for bird flu

According to local media reports, veterinary authorities are carrying out tests in order to determine whether poultry found dead in a farm in southwestern Saudi Arabia were infected with the bird flu virus.

8 Nov 2005

New Flu Chip can determine the genetic make-up of types of flu virus in 11 hours

A novel "Flu Chip" developed at the University of Colorado at Boulder that can determine the genetic signatures of specific influenza strains from patient samples within hours may help world health officials combat coming epidemics and pandemics.

7 Nov 2005

Bird flu will cost as much as $800bn

At a global conference at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, the World Bank has warned a bird flu pandemic could cost the global economy up to $800bn, which amounts to 2% of the global economy.

7 Nov 2005

About turn by China over suspected bird flu death

In a complete about turn Chinese authorities have now called in the World Health Organisation (WHO) to examine three suspected human cases of bird flu, including one of a girl who died.

7 Nov 2005

Getting the picture on bird flu

A massive cull of poultry in a northeastern part of China, hit by the country's latest bird flu outbreak, will be carried out by some 1,700 officials and backed up by armed police, who have been sent to the affected county in Liaoning province to slaughter the birds.

7 Nov 2005

Global battle plan to beat bird flu

In a three-day meeting in Geneva as many as 400 health and veterinary officials representing international agencies, are attempting to establish a global strategy to stop the spread of the deadly H5N1 virus triggering a human pandemic of bird flu.

7 Nov 2005

Mongolian birds provide Avian influenza virus samples

Avian influenza virus samples collected from wild birds in Mongolia by field veterinarians from the New York City-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have been selected by the World Health Organization to be part of a new human pandemic influenza vaccine currently in development.

7 Nov 2005

Expert says bird flu more likely to fly in by plane than by birds

The United States, China and France have all announced new efforts to fight a possible pandemic of avian flu, including $500 million to monitor the virus in poultry and practice runs for dealing with a dreaded outbreak.

3 Nov 2005

Bird flu drug combo could extend supplies

Doctors are saying that because of the scarcity of Tamiflu, presently being stockpiled by governments in the event of an influenza pandemic, supplies could be extended by giving it with another drug.

2 Nov 2005