Bird flu stories
Indonesia says has suspected flu cases in children, Â Amid Flu Fears, No Kissing That Pet Bird,
Report Examines Bird Flu's Possible Impact, Â Scientists explain why viruses thrive during winter
Indonesia suspects that three children have bird flu. Two people who died in Vietnam did not have bird flu after all, but there is a new suspected case.
Countries have come up with a variety of advice and measures to prevent the spread of bird flu. Hong Kong advises against kissing pet birds. Vietnam has banned the sale of duck blood pudding but will treat anyone who catches the disease free hospital treatment. Shanghai will disinfect the shoe soles of all arriving travellers. The Philippines will ban all 23rd Southeast Asian Games athletes from bird flu-affected countries from visiting aviaries and poultry farms. Sagada in northern Philippine won't let visitors join in trapping migratory birds. There are many bans on poultry imports. Some countries will screen arriving travellers for symptoms, and/or plan to seal off their borders if the pandemic begins. China and the United States have announced new efforts to fight a possible pandemic. Five Southeast Asian nations - Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam - are to boost cooperation to fight the virus.
The Asian Development Bank predicts that 3 million people in Asia could die in a bird flu pandemic which would cause massive economic losses. The World Bank also warned of economic effects in Asia.
The pandemic would likely last for a year overall.
More avian cases are expected during the coming winter, when influenza viruses generally thrive. This is because people and animals crowd together more, under greater stress, and the viruses prefer cooler damper conditions. Bird flu can last much longer in colder water. Reduced ultraviolet light may also be a factor. Bird flu is more likely to get the opportunity to mix with another strain of flu and mutate into a deadly pandemic form during winter when people have other forms of flu.
Roche to Boost Anti-Flu Drug Production, Tamiflu® Economics
Pharmaceutical company Roche Holding AG says it will boost production of Tamiflu, the drug considered the best medical defence against a bird flu pandemic. It is in talks with other companies.
Tamiflu is made from shikimic acid, which is extracted from Chinese star anise (Illicium verum). There is little chance of reducing the amount of time taken to develop it, but a lot of money is being thrown at the problem by pressured governments. The company that developed the drug, Gilead, is in dispute with the company it sold an exclusive licence to produce and market the drug, Roche, and is trying to wrest control back. Gilead's shareholders include U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, former Secretary of State George Shultz and Gayle Wilson, wife of former California Governor Pete Wilson.
U.S. Flu Strategy Leans on States
State and local governments are likely to be on the front line in the event of an avian flu pandemic, but Democrats in the House and Senate are concerned that they may not have the financial resources.
Wildlife expert says control flu scare at source
Experts say that President George W. Bush's $7.1 billion plan to prepare for a possible avian influenza pandemic does not include catching the outbreak at source in birds, nor does it include much money for catching it before it reaches the U.S.
US plan paints frightening bird flu picture
The official U.S. plan to deal with a bird flu pandemic envisions a worst case scenario of nearly 2 million dead, hospitals overwhelmed and schools, offices and public transit closed for days or weeks. There would be no vaccine available and nowhere near enough drugs to treat sick people. Whilst the modern world has better medicine, it has much higher urban populations, more sick and elderly people and more international travel.
France tests bird flu response in Breton village
France has begun an exercise to test its ability to cope with an outbreak of bird flu. A farm has already been sealed off and roadblocks set up. No birds were to be harmed. French poultry consumption has fallen 20 percent.
Russia warns of risk of bird flu passing to humans
Russia's emergencies ministry says that new outbreaks of bird flu are likely this month due to migration patterns.
GMO chickens may help to lessen bird flu threat
British scientists are trying to produce genetically modified chickens which are resistant to all bird flu strains. They would not be ready in time for the anticipated pandemic, but for future ones.
Quest offers test to detect avian flu virus
In the U.S., Quest Diagnostics Inc. says that it has developed a test to detect the avian flu virus.
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