Avian influenza — known informally as avian flu or bird flu — refers to “influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.” Most human contractions of the avian flu are a result of either handling dead infected birds or from contact with infected fluids.
In a new study published online in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens, Dr. Vincent J. Munster, of Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, and colleagues identify new host species for avian influenza A virus (H5N1) and provide important information on the distinctions between the ecology and epidemiology of various global strains of the virus.
Bird flu has struck poultry in central Vietnam again. Bird flu has been found on a duck farm in central Vietnam.
An interactive “supermap” that portrays the mutations and spread of the avian flu around the globe over time should help researchers and policy makers better understand the virus and anticipate further outbreaks, according to a new study involving University of Colorado at Boulder and Ohio State University researchers.
Roche announces several new research initiatives to further study the use of Tamiflu against the evolving H5N1 avian influenza virus and outlined the future production strategy for Tamiflu.
Bird flu patients who get early treatment with the antiviral drug Tamiflu have the best chances of surviving while using steroids can do more harm than good, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
Statement given by Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, on the Approval of the First U.S. Vaccine for Humans Against the Avian Influenza Virus H5N1:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first approval in the United States of a vaccine for humans against the H5N1 influenza virus, commonly known as avian or bird flu.
Alarmed over incidents of dreaded bird flu in some neighbouring countries, the Indian government said it has issued an alert to states bordering the affected countries to keep a vigil on the poultry sector.
The Ministry of Health in Cambodia has confirmed the country?s seventh case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. It is the first case to be confirmed in humans in Cambodia in 2007.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced the death on 10 April of the 15-year-old female from Cairo Governorate.