Britain to cull 35,000 chickens after bird flu found on farm (Khaleej Times) LONDON - Britain was waking up Thursday to fresh bird flu fears with 35,000 chickens being sent for slaughter following the discovery of the virus among a number of dead poultry on a farm. [News Source]

35,000 birds to be culled in new avian flu outbreak (Guardian Unlimited) Bird flu: Immediate slaughter of 35,000 chickens in Norfolk ordered after dead birds found infected with an avian flu virus. [News Source]

Animal health body reports bird flu in Ivory Coast (Reuters via Yahoo! News) The first case of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has been reported in Ivory Coast, where 17 infected birds were found in the Abidjan area, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said on Wednesday. [News Source]

Animal health body reports bird flu in Ivory Coast (Reuters via Yahoo! Canada News) The first case of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has been reported in Ivory Coast, where 17 infected birds were found in the Abidjan area, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said on Wednesday. [News Source]

County Takes Flight With Bird Flu Plan (Lincoln County News) It is as if Chicken Little has been warning about the sky falling down, and people think there is really nothing to worry about when it comes to avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu. [News Source]

Avian flu and the poultry industry (Redwood Falls Gazette) Worldwide, there are only about 186 cases of reported "bird flu" or H5N1, the highly pathogenic avian influenza in humans resulting in 105 deaths. Currently, there are no reported cases of the avian flu being transmitted from one human to another. [News Source]

Galesburg lab certified for bird-flu testing (Pontiac Daily Leader) SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that the Illinois Department of Agriculture laboratory in Galesburg is the first lab in the state to receive certification to perform viral testing for avian influenza (AI). [News Source]

Myanmar to lift restrictions on bird-flu-affected areas. Myanmar will lift restrictions on bird-flu-affected areas before the end of this month after claiming that the avian influenza has been under control since April 6, said a statement of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department Tuesday. [News Source]

Feds give Michigan $3 million to prepare for flu pandemic. Michigan will receive $3 million in initial federal assistance to prepare for a possible flu pandemic, officials said Tuesday during a forum for state and local leaders. [News Source]

Rains fed the W. Nile threat. All that's needed to cook up perfect conditions for another bad West Nile virus season is a warm spell, state health officials warned Tuesday. [News Source]

Are we ready? A large-scale disaster like a pandemic flu or terrorist attack could overwhelm the nation's healthcare providers. [News Source]

President’s action over fuel seen as inadequate. Oil prices fell slightly on Tuesday after President George W. Bush attempted to cool consumer concerns about petrol prices hovering near record highs. But the proposals he unveiled are being seen by many industry-watchers -- and by the president’s political rivals -- as too little, too late and, finally, too temporary. [News Source]