Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

SPECIAL REPORT: When avian flu control meets cultural resistance

Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part special report on bird flu in Vietnam. Part one, "Vietnam's success against avian flu may offer blueprint for others," appeared Oct 25.

(CIDRAP News) HANOI, Vietnam Nguyen Van Tich's farm lies at the end of a narrow dirt road that runs under the tall edges of rice paddies and snakes between old bomb craters turned into fish ponds.

Maryn McKenna

Study: Wood ducks could be sentinel for H5N1

(CIDRAP News) Researchers from the University of Georgia report that wood ducks and laughing gulls are highly susceptible to H5N1 avian influenza, which suggests those two species could be sensitive indicators of the virus's presence in wild birds.

SPECIAL REPORT: Vietnam's success against avian flu may offer blueprint for others

Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part Special Report on bird flu in Vietnam. Part two, "When avian flu control meets cultural resistance," appeared Oct 26.

(CIDRAP News) HANOI, Vietnam Among countries affected by avian influenza H5N1, Vietnam stands out twice over.

Maryn McKenna

DNA vaccine protects mice from 1918 flu virus

(CIDRAP News) Government researchers reported this week that they have developed a vaccine that protects mice from the deadly 1918 "Spanish flu" virus, demonstrating that immunization against it is possible.

Robert Roos

Tests reveal mild avian flu in ducks in 2 states

(CIDRAP News) Federal officials announced yesterday that final tests confirmed that a mild strain of H6N2 avian influenzanot the deadly H5N1 typewas found in green-winged teals in Illinois last month. Meanwhile, initial tests on wild ducks in Ohio also suggest a mild strain of avian flu.

Baxter says cell-based H5N1 vaccine shows potential in trial

(CIDRAP News) – Low doses of a cell-based avian flu vaccine triggered a good immune response to the H5N1 avian influenza virus, according to preliminary results of a clinical trial by Baxter International of Deerfield, Ill., maker of the vaccine.

Jim Wappes

WHO confirms 3 H5N1 cases in Indonesia

(CIDRAP News) The World Health Organization (WHO) today confirmed three fatal cases of H5N1 avian influenza in Indonesia, involving two women from Java and a boy from South Jakarta, bringing Indonesia's toll to 72 cases with 55 deaths.

Study supports concept of 2-stage H5N1 vaccination

(CIDRAP News) The human immune system may respond better to a vaccine for a new strain of H5N1 avian influenza if it is prepared in advance with a vaccine based on an existing H5N1 strain, the preliminary results of a government-sponsored study suggest.

Robert Roos

FAO launches disease crisis center

(CIDRAP News) To speed emergency responses to avian influenza and other animal and plant diseases, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) inaugurated a new crisis management center (CMC) at its Rome headquarters today.

Egypt, Indonesia each report an avian flu case

(CIDRAP News) The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that a 39-year-old Egyptian woman has H5N1 avian influenza, while officials in Indonesia reported another fatal human case there.